Both Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, are supporting the president in a decision to repeal the military's policy of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'
Every good writer can hook its reader in with a strong lede. With that being said, I've got two words for you – Jersey Shore.
In 2002, former President George W. Bush implemented the No Child Left Behind Act, which requires the testing of fourth and eighth graders each year in math and English to see if they are fulfilling expectations.
It is now obvious that the men's basketball team needs to revamp the way they approach games defensively. The losses continue to pile up and the team has now dropped to .500 in the Mid-American Conference, with their latest defeat coming Monday night at Alumni Arena.
Words of remembrance filled the Center for the Arts Mainstage Theater on Tuesday as family, friends and colleagues of former University President William R. Greiner gathered for his memorial service.
In only three days, the medical school club, Hands Across Borders, and the UB chapter of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) raised almost $600 from first and second year classes to support Haitian earthquake relief, and their fundraising efforts aren't stopping there. Hands Across Borders expanded on this effort on Saturday night when they sponsored a fundraising effort called Trivia for Haiti at Mister Goodbar. Bridget Buyea, a second-year medical student and president of Hands Across Borders, believes that efforts like these are the least she and her classmates can do to aid the ravaged country. 'We work really hard to be successful and learn the material that is presented to us everyday while in medical school. But it is also very important to make a difference,' Buyea said. 'At this moment, that means providing some monetary assistance to organizations that are better suited to help the people of Haiti while we continue our education.' Buyea acknowledges that although Hands Across Borders lacks the resources to make a hands-on impact in Haiti, they have the potential to make a difference. 'We all want to do something for the people of Haiti, but it is really difficult to do anything tangible while in Buffalo,' Buyea said. 'The best that we can do is listen to what the people who are down there need and do our best to assist them.' Nkem Nweze, co-president of the UB SNMA, agrees. 'I'm limited in the sense that I can't travel,' Nweze said. 'If I can help fund the trip for doctors, that would be making a big impact.' According to Nweze, the SNMA plans to partner with local organizations and hold medical supplies, clothing and food drives sometime next month. Nweze also hopes to organize events to motivate students to give to the relief effort. 'We want to have a lunch lecture and bring someone from the Department of Health to talk about the after effects of disaster in developing countries,' Nweze said. The SNMA members also intend to volunteer at Vive la Casa, a Buffalo-based organization that houses Haitian refugees. The volunteers hope to spend mornings and afternoons with the children housed at the center. The SNMA tentatively plans to travel to Haiti on a mission trip with the Christian Medical and Dental Association during the summer months. Both Nweze and Buyea encouraged their clubs to contribute online to Partners In Health, a worldwide health organization originally established in Haiti in 1987. Today, the organization is working to provide relief to the earthquake victims. Although SNMA doesn't have the means to travel to Haiti and directly help Partners In Health, Nweze is glad they have the opportunity to financially contribute to an organization that is so invested in bringing aid to Haiti. 'Partners In Health is closely, more intimately tied with the Haitian people,' Nweze said. 'We are helping them more indirectly, letting people know that they exist.' Buyea shares the same sentiment. 'We have all heard of Partners In Health from before we even entered medical school because of the amazing things they were doing in Haiti and elsewhere,' Buyea said. 'We were confident that they would use the money we donated to them well.' Buyea feels a strong responsibility to help the Haitian people who face natural disasters that are unlikely to occur here in Buffalo. 'We are so lucky to live where we do, even if it is kind of cold, and I believe we have an obligation to help those like the Haitians who have been unbelievably unlucky mainly because of geography,' Buyea said. Nweze is thrilled that so many students are eager to aid the desperate Haitian population, and is looking forward to the upcoming fundraising events. 'I'm happy to see so many people stepping up and helping,' Nweze said. 'These are people's lives we're talking about.' E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
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The best thing about sports is that they're un-scripted. On any given day, any team can come out on top. Athletes, like the rest of us, have good and bad days. Just think about any major upset and you'll realize that this is an undeniable truth. See the 1980 Olympics when the American national team knocked off the star-studded Soviets to win the gold medal. This game is referred to as the Miracle on Ice. They made a movie on it. It's arguably the greatest upset of all time. Enough said. Or how about when the New York Giants defeated the mighty New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII? The Giants were one play away from watching Tom Brady and Bill Belichick march off the field undefeated, grinning from ear to ear. Instead, David Tyree made one of the most remarkable catches ever, helping the Giants win. The numbers 18-1 now haunt everyone in the Boston area. More examples: Robin Soderling besting number-one seeded Rafael Nadal at the 2009 French Open, Division I-AA Appalachian State topping No. 5 nationally-ranked Michigan to end the Wolverines' season before it really started, and Buster Douglas, a 42-to-1 underdog, KOing Mike Tyson and shocking the world. The point is that there's a human aspect in sports. Aside from scoring ridiculous goals, knocking down impossible jump shots, and drilling 400-foot homeruns, athletes go home every night and deal with similar issues that we everyday people face. That's what makes sports great. We get to watch real people competing at the highest level. We witness bad days that turn into terrible losses. So why have we become so dependent on video replay? Referees are human, too. The mistakes that they make are part of the game, so why do we go out of our way to correct them? I've seen a ton of basketball games that lasted 20 extra minutes because the officials reviewed every little detail of the game. Granted, sometimes the replay can be helpful, but is it always necessary? It prolongs the game, often changes the outcome, and, most importantly, gives refs too much leeway to make mistakes. Sure, Ireland got the short end of the stick when the refs missed two hand-ball calls on Thierry Henry, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. It happens. No matter how hard it is for coaches, players and fans to watch the botched call the next day on SportsCenter, we must remember that mistakes are part of the game. When writing an essay, how carefully do you inspect every word that you type? Unless your anal, you know that spell check is going to fix your mistakes. Yes, you'll check your final product and find that your wrote 'on' instead of 'no' and the computer didn't recognize the error, however, I argue that before technology, people were a lot more diligent when writing and were probably better spellers. The same applies for refs and instant replay. Though they'll never admit it, knowing that you have the crutch of video footage helping you call the game hurts your sharpness and accuracy. If your mistakes are easily correctable, you become more prone to mess up. Blown calls suck and can leave a sports fan feeling cheated, but they're undoubtedly a part of the game. Before there were a million cameras flashing and recording every sporting event, video replay wasn't even a question. Sports made it this far without the sports spell check, so let's not jump on the bandwagon and try to change something that has withstood the test of time. If it ain't broke… E-mail: andrew.wiktor@ubspectrum.com
An intruder crept into the unlocked first story window of a house on Custer St. late one night last semester. Jenny Lipari, a senior nursing and psychology major, woke the next day to find money missing from her pocketbook and her roommate's cell phone and digital camera gone. 'It was scary,' Lipari said. '[Back home], things like that don't happen, so [being robbed] was a big shock – definitely not something I was used to.' University Heights, where Lipari resides, is the Buffalo neighborhood from Niagara Falls Boulevard to LaSalle Avenue. There, burglary is a fact of life. The Buffalo Police reported around 150 robberies in the area in 2008 – a number that had nearly doubled since 2003. Still, the area's nightlife, proximity to South Campus and cheap rent outweigh safety concerns for many as around 2,500 UB students who call the Heights their home. 'It's not the best area ever,' Lipari said. 'But it's cheap living and convenient because most of my classes are on South Campus. Also, a lot my friends live down here, so it's more convenient for going to parties and out [to bars]. On North Campus, you have to drive everywhere – it's a totally different experience.' The cost of living in University Heights is another plus for students. According to Sub Board, Inc. Student Owned Services, which helps UB students find available housing, an entire apartment goes for $500 to $800 a month. Ryan Acklin, a senior communication major, moved to the Heights this year from the University Village at Sweethome and said he found the cost of rent to be one of the area's most attractive qualities. 'It's way cheaper than where I lived before,' Acklin said. 'I paid $699 a month at Sweethome and I wouldn't say I got what I paid for – there was garbage in the halls and the buildings were cheaply made. The house I live in now is pretty well-built, it's just [about] one hundred years old.' Acklin pays $260 in rent for his apartment on Winspear Ave., but this number often reaches $400 a month when utilities are added. Mary Clare Fahey, coordinator of off-campus student services, says many students tend to overlook these concealed charges. 'Not all landlords are trustworthy,' Fahey said. 'Students don't always realize the hidden costs of living off-campus, such as paying the water bill or exactly how much the gas bill or cable television will cost them. Not all students do their homework in advance, so [taking extra costs into consideration] is something I would definitely recommend.' Access to transportation is another advantage for those living in the Heights. The UB Stampede bus system takes students to their classes on North Campus and a trip downtown is made less complicated with the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority metro rails nearby University stop. Those uncomfortable walking home from South Campus can utilize the Anti-Rape Task Force safety shuttle, which gives students living up to 1.5 miles away from campus a safe ride home, dropping them right off at their front door. Gerald Schoenle, chief of University Police, says his department, the Buffalo Police and the NFTA Police have made a joint effort to increase their presence in University Heights. 'Things have improved since last semester,' said Schoenle. 'There were still some isolated incidents of robberies, but we feel the joint Task Force has been very beneficial in this regard. We patrolled Main Street on bikes and Segways with all three agencies.' Despite their progress, Schoenle insists students take an active role in their own safety and adhere to general common sense precautions – something Fahey's office is working to promote. 'Statistically speaking, there is more crime in Buffalo than in Amherst,' Fahey said. 'So we've really worked on educating students about safety and crime prevention ... it's all about personal safety habits.' Lipari said that after their house was robbed last semester, her roommate was so distraught she wanted to leave Buffalo. 'I told her that it could have happened to anybody anywhere,' Lipari said. '[Robberies] also happen on North Campus – how many people do you hear of getting their computers stolen from Capen? If people are careless, things are going to happen.' Besides offering students advice on how they can protect themselves, off-campus student services also helps with issues like dealing with a roommate or landlord and how to be a respectful neighbor. The office has also teamed up with Student Life's Late Night Programs and the Amherst Theater on Main Street, located in the Tops Plaza across from South Campus, to present Midnight Movie Madness every Saturday. This event features free showings of newly released movies for the first 200 UB students with a valid I.D. Off-campus student services will also be throwing a 'moving off campus' fair on March 4 in the Student Union, which features personnel from campus legal services, environmental health and safety and the Getzville Fire Department to counsel students on how to live wisely on their own. For more information, visit http://livingoffcampus.buffalo.edu 'It's important for students to pay attention and take personal responsibility for their safety – and when in doubt, they should call my office,' Fahey said. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
The Friday Night Boys came back to Buffalo for the fourth time, this time in the middle of a snowstorm.
For the men's basketball team, Saturday's game against Northern Illinois served as an opportunity to stop the bleeding by winning a game for the first time in two weeks. The Bulls (11-7, 4-3 Mid-American Conference) took advantage and defeated the Northern Illinois Huskies (8-11, 4-3 MAC), 95-83, at the Convocation Center in DeKalb, Ill. Buffalo recorded season highs in total points and shooting percentage during its best offensive performance of the year. The conference victory snaps Buffalo's three-game losing streak. The team made 34 of 61 shots – including 8-of-19 shots from beyond the arc – for a 56 percent average from the field. Senior guard Rodney Pierce led the Bulls with 17 points, four rebounds and six assists in the win. Pierce went over 1,000 points for his college career, becoming the 16th player to reach that mark at UB, and the 10th player to do so in just three seasons as Bull. According to head coach Reggie Witherspoon, the sudden improvement in shooting percentage was a result of executing the offensive scheme to perfection. 'I thought our execution was great,' Witherspoon said. 'Even in transition when they scored, we got it out, ran the floor, and scored three seconds into the shot clock… What I also thought was good… we executed and ran the clock down, so we had to make a lot of passes. We were able to make passes, catch it, and get a shot in rhythm.' The offensive attack was balanced. Five Bulls scored in double figures, and the bench outscored the Huskies' reserves, 34-14. In addition to a powerful offense, the Bulls took good care of the basketball, recording 21 assists and only eight turnovers. Additionally, the team won the battle on the boards against the Huskies, who came into the game leading the MAC in rebounding. The Bulls outrebounded Northern Illinois, 38-34, after losing that battle in four-straight games. Defensively, the Bulls did a good job of getting stops and held the Huskies to 47 percent shooting from the field. 'I think our effort, energy, and concentration improved,' Witherspoon said. 'The last three games, our opponents shot over 50 percent from the field, and this one didn't.' The first half was closely contested and included nine ties and five lead changes. Trailing 19-17, the Huskies went on a 9-0 run to take a 26-19 lead. After the Bulls battled back to tie the score at 26, Northern Illinois made a 6-0 run. The Bulls rallied yet again and took a lead that they never relinquished when sophomore forward Dave Barnett hit a 3-pointer to make the score 39-36. Though the Bulls went into halftime leading 47-42, the team began to dominate in the second half. Buffalo hit 20 of 33 shots (61 percent) after the intermission. With 9:50 left to go, the Bulls extended their lead to 17 points, the largest lead of the game. After that point, the Huskies couldn't get within single digits of the Bulls to drop its third-straight contest. The Bulls' mistake-free play gave them a key road victory against a quality conference opponent. '[Northern Illinois] is a very good team on the rise,' Witherspoon said. 'I said that before last year, and I'm saying it again. This is a team that is going to be a very, very difficult one.' Senior guard Sean Smiley scored 13 points off the bench. Boyer recorded 12 points, five rebounds, and a game-high eight assists. Sophomore forward Mitchell Watt had 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting in just 17 minutes of play. The Bulls will try to keep their high-powered offense going on Monday, when they take on Western Michigan at home. The game will be at Alumni Arena and is scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m. E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
Last Thursday, Jeff Quinn hit obstacles on his way back to Buffalo from a recruiting visit in State College, Penn. An army of snowflakes attacked the new football head coach's windshield during the 200-mile trip, resulting in limited visibility throughout the drive. But Quinn could not let the limited view prevent him from hauling back to the home base. He was scheduled to meet with the faculty athletic representative on campus and was to meet with the football team's equipment staff afterwards. After the two meetings, Quinn met with every one of the team's 21 seniors, one-on-one. It was the first time that Quinn had the opportunity to meet with his upperclassmen for personal conversations. Quinn's exhausting Thursday was indicative of his first month on the job. A flurry of bad news, like quarterback Zach Maynard's departure, has made the future of the program unclear, but Quinn has surged forward with a heavy foot to strengthen the program. After 26 years of serving as an assistant, Quinn finally has earned the opportunity to run his own program and hasn't let bad news stop him from venturing out to strengthen the future of Buffalo football. He's living the dream and will work to succeed. 'When the opportunity presented itself to come to Buffalo and run my own team and be a head football coach, I had to take it,' Quinn said. 'There's only 120 of those jobs in the country. This has been my lifelong dream and goal, so this is what I was looking for, and Buffalo is a perfect fit for a guy like myself.' The new head coach, who was Cincinnati's offensive coordinator for the last three seasons, has been on the road nonstop since taking office in early January. With National Signing Day just days away, he's been racking up many frequent flyer miles by traveling to promote his system and philosophy to recruits. He failed to reel in some prospects, but he gained the confidence of many others. 'I've traveled thousands of miles on the air and thousands of miles on the ground, going in and out of homes,' Quinn said. 'It's been an unbelievable experience, but we've been well received and we're much further along than most people expected. Recruits wanted to know what I was about, and a majority of them loved everything they heard.' But Quinn couldn't convince one key player to be a part of his program. Maynard, who started 11 games at quarterback last season, left Buffalo and has created a huge void that Quinn must now fill. Maynard's decision didn't catch the 47-year-old coach by surprise, but Quinn's disappointment in Maynard was clear. 'Kids make decisions that they feel they think are best, whereas coaches feel differently sometimes,' Quinn said. 'He left without really knowing who I was, what our coaching staff was about and what we brought to the table.' The coach's travels have resulted in very little communication between him and his roster of players. Aside from a few group meetings and recent one-on-ones, the two parties haven't had many opportunities to discuss philosophies and express feelings to each other. When the players and coach met, Quinn sent strong messages. He told the group that every player has a chance to compete for a starting job. According to Quinn, whoever works the hardest and best fits the system will be on the field. 'The efficiency and effectiveness of what happens out [on the field] is dictated by those players,' Quinn said. 'I want each of them to understand that it's a competitive situation and they all have an opportunity.' The constant traveling has also left Quinn with little time to connect with his immediate family. Since coming to Buffalo, Quinn has only seen his family once and has been focused on strengthening his football family. His wife, a teacher, and their two children will relocate to Western New York at the end of the school year. For now, the split has affected both parties. 'It takes a big strain on my immediate family,' Quinn said. 'I always talked about two families, my Buffalo family and my immediate family, and a lot of the time, as a coach, your immediate family suffers. It's been tough on them and it'll continue to be tough on them and me.' When Athletic Director Warde Manuel introduced Quinn as Buffalo's new head coach on Dec. 22, Quinn knew his free time would be limited. This was especially true when Quinn had to pull quadruple-duty as Buffalo's head coach and Cincinnati's interim head coach, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for 11 days. Quinn stayed at Cincinnati until Jan. 1 to coach Cincinnati against the Florida Gators in the Sugar Bowl. This duty put Quinn even further behind in his Buffalo transition, but to him, leaving the Bearcats without a head coach was not an option. 'I had an opportunity to say I'm the head coach at Buffalo… but I felt [staying in Cincinnati was] the right thing to do,' Quinn said. 'I asked [Buffalo], and we had an agreement that I'd stay there through the Sugar Bowl.' Manuel understood and respected Quinn's decision. 'He has a deep concern for student-athletes as people, and that was in full display when we talked about the transition here from Cincinnati,' Manuel said when he introduced Quinn. 'He was worried about those kids in Cincinnati, given all the things they have been through.' Quinn's decision to stay at Cincinnati meant more work for him once he arrived in Western New York, but it showed his true character. 'I'm about these young men; it was proven over the course of my career of 26 years, and to be able to stay at Cincinnati at the Sugar Bowl showed the kind of football coach and person I am. I want these young men to understand that's why I'm here.' Once Feb. 3 hits and recruits make their final decisions, Quinn can finally take a deep breath and get settled in Buffalo, where his office is still being organized and boxes still need to be unpacked. He may also begin to instill his spread offense, assess the talent, meet players on a more consistent basis and make changes where he sees fit. But the work never stops, and Quinn's first month on the job introduced him to the stresses that come with being a Division I head coach. E-mail: david.sanchirico@ubspectrum.com
Attending a university with almost 30,000 students can be difficult, especially when it comes time to finding housing for the next year. With the University Residence Halls & Apartments only able to provide on-campus housing to roughly 7,200 students, most are forced to find an alternative. The University Village at Sweethome The University Village at Sweethome, located in Amherst, is a relatively new apartment complex that houses up to 825 students. 'One of the big advantages we have are private bedrooms and private bathrooms, and amenities in our community center like a movie theatre and a private 24-hour gym,' said Brad Brokaw, the leasing manager for the University Village at Sweethome and previous leasing manager for the Villas at Chestnut Ridge. Along with private bedrooms, the complex offers fully furnished apartments with a full-sized kitchen and stackable washers and dryers. University Village at Sweethome also provides free tanning, a hot tub, swimming pool, basketball courts, and much more in their community center. Residents can take advantage of a private shuttle from the property to Flint Loop on North Campus, running Monday through Thursday at 7 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. and on Fridays at 7:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. For a four-bedroom and four-bathroom apartment, each resident will pay a monthly rent of $649. Most utilities are included, but residents will need to split their monthly electric bill with their roommates. The complex also offers a two-bedroom and two-bathroom apartment for $719 a month, and a one-bedroom and one-bathroom apartment for a monthly fee of $899. Owned and managed by American Campus Communities, the company decided to expand upon the University Village at Sweethome complex with the building of the Villas at Chestnut Ridge in 2008. The Villas at Chestnut Ridge The Villas at Chestnut Ridge house an estimated 552 students and offer the same amenities as the University Village at Sweethome, but offer a different style of living with hardwood-style floors and leather furniture. 'We had about 200 residents transfer over to the Villas because of the hype and excitement about having a new place,' Brokaw said. ' But we had full capacity the next year [at Sweethome.] It's just about preference for having a flat or townhouse style apartment. The Villas at Chestnut Ridge also offer a fully equipped community center with a gym, hot tub, a media room and an upgraded fitness center. After stopping at the center, residents can pick up a private shuttle to North Campus throughout the day. Students interested in submitting a housing application can apply for a four-bedroom and four-bathroom floor plan for $669 a month, a two-bedroom and two and a half bathroom for $779 a month, and a one-bedroom and one-bathroom studio apartment for $899 or a deluxe upgrade for $919 a month. However, some students find the monthly rates of Villas at Chestnut Ridge to be unaffordable and unnecessary. '[I] lived in the Villas because I was forced to. I couldn't live on-campus because the apartments were full,' said Krista Vierthaler, a junior accounting major. 'It's way too expensive…I don't like the people who run it.' For those who can't afford the monthly rates of the Villas at Chestnut Ridge and the University Village at Sweethome, there are other off-campus options to take advantage of. Amherst housing Owned by MJ Peterson Corporation, Peppertree Village, Liberty Square Apartments and London Towne Apartments offer one and two bedroom units on Chestnut Ridge Rd. in Amherst. Barbara Bellacose, property manager for Peppertree Village, said that rent varies for each property depending on its size and square footage. For London Towne, housing over 165 residents, rent ranges from $880 to $940 per month for a two-bedroom and one-bathroom unit, and from $755 to $780 a month for a one-bedroom and one-bathroom unit. 'I moved to [London Towne Apartments] because it's so much cheaper and it's really nice and big for the price we pay, and it's a great location,' said Jenna Darron, a junior intended physical therapy major. Students searching for an on-campus feel in an off-campus setting, beyond the borders of Amherst, can look to Collegiate Village located on Affinity Lane. Collegiate Village 'It's a good secondary option to the University Heights if you're looking to live around here…we're five minutes away from the Elmwood area or downtown, and it's definitely a nice location if you're looking to get away from the Amherst area,' said Courtney Braun, leasing and marketing director for Collegiate Village. With apartment style living on over 50 acres, the complex is open to college students throughout Buffalo and offers fully furnished apartments with washers and dryers in each unit, full appliances in the kitchen, card access building entry, and a Residential Life department that plans various social events and programs for residents. 'We have a lot of medical students and graduate students who have a lot of their classes on South Campus. We also have a huge number of students who go to school on North Campus as well,' Braun said. For students without a car, Collegiate Village provides a shuttle service to the Main Street Metro Rail, trips between North Campus and South Campus, and stops to Buffalo State College, Wegmans and the Galleria Mall. Collegiate Village offers a variety of units, such as a one-bedroom and one-bathroom for a monthly rate of $863 per resident, a two-bedroom and two-bathroom unit for $740, a three-bedroom and three-bathroom unit for $695 each month, and a four-bedroom and four-bathroom for $628 each month. 'We're almost at full capacity now with about 400 students,' Braun said. 'For the fall, we're hoping to have 600 beds. Each year we're increasing the numbers of beds we have available to local Buffalo students.' Whether students choose to live in the Villas at Chestnut Ridge in Amherst or Collegiate Village in Buffalo, there are a variety of options for those wishing to live off-campus in a safe and secure environment. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
Living on-campus is affordable, convenient and helps new students adjust to college life. Over 7,200 University at Buffalo students lived on campus last year, according to Jeanette Zalba, Associate Director of University Residence Halls & Apartments. '[Students] make so many connections when they are living and working close to people,' said Zalba. 'Living on campus fully immerses students in campus life.' North Campus Ellicott Complex Located on North Campus, these lego-looking constructions are divided into a maze of six quads - Richmond, Wilkeson, Spaulding, Porter, Fargo and Red Jacket. Each has their own eight to 10 interconnected buildings that house mostly freshmen and sophomore students. 'The thing I loved about Ellicott was that there were so many people to interact with,' said Alexandra Rosinky, a senior accounting major. 'I'm still very good friends with all of the people that I met my freshman year.' For many students, the Ellicott Complex is the ideal living situation because there are a lot of people and all the necessary amenities. The complex is equipped with two dining halls, located in Richmond and Red Jacket, a computer lab, gym, food court and a convenience store. North Campus is within walking distance to classes from Ellicott, but the Stampede stops every few minutes to pick up students to take them to the Student Union. Governors Complex Commonly dubbed 'Gover-nerds,' Governors is home to many of UB's honor students, international students and freshmen. Governors is split up into Lehman, Dewey, Roosevelt and Clinton, named after four New York governors. Students typically take the short ride to the academic complex by hopping on the Stampede, but the distance only requires a short walk. According to Dominic Dellaquila, a senior accounting major, the living situation in Governers was not idyllic when he lived there his sophomore year. 'The size of the rooms was the main thing. They were very cramped,' said Dellaquila. 'It was just too quiet [and] not a lot of people interacted.' The main draw about Governors is that it is located closer to campus and generally is a quiet place for those who would like to study. In addition, this complex also offers the convenience store Teddy's, where students can buy food, school supplies and more. Room Rates Room rates for North Campus dormitories vary. Single rooms are $3,324, doubles are $2,874, large doubles in Ellicott are $3,096, triple rooms are $2,733 (triples with their own bathrooms are $2,748), and quads are $2,469 (added bathrooms are $2,814), according to the URH&A Web site. South Campus Located on Main St., South Campus offers Goodyear, Clement, Pritchard, Schoellkopf, MacDonald and Michael Halls. Although these dorms are a 15-minute bus ride from North Campus, most enjoy their proximity to the city of Buffalo. 'I liked living on South Campus because everything was so accessible,' said Leighann Meyer, a junior nursing student. 'There were [shops] across the street and also the train to go downtown was right there. I don't have any complaints about living there.' South Campus only has one dining hall so students find that there is more of a close-knit family feel, especially when first starting off their college careers. 'When you live on South, most of the friends you make live there too so everyone is right there,' said Daniel Mecca, a senior English and media study major. 'The conditions of the buildings weren't the best, but if you're willing to take that step down, the community aspect of living on South Campus made me happy that I started my college experience there.' The South Campus dormitories also house Main St. Store, a convenience shop, located in Goodyear Hall a dining hall, as well as Clark Gym and its basketball courts, a swimming pool and expansive gym. Room costs are the same as Ellicott, with the exception of large doubles priced at $3,264.
It's safe to say that 2010 hasn't exactly started off the way the American people would have liked. Life for millions of Americans hasn't been particularly easy, considering unemployment is at an all-time high. The economy grew 5.7 percent, the best quarterly performance since 2003. This is obviously good news, yet there still aren't jobs to be found. Personal spending still remains very weak. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Without a steady income, Americans cannot spend. The fact remains that Americans need the Jobs Bill proposed by the president because the private sector can't do it alone. Employment leads to Americans getting income, which leads to spending. The problem is that the economy is missing about 10 million jobs. The House has passed a bill that gets the ball rolling on creating jobs, but the Senate is still dragging its feet. Republicans and a few Democrats who are more worried about the deficit are the reason for the hold up. The deficit is worth worrying about, but there is no way to get the American economy back online unless millions of jobs are created. President Obama called for cutting taxes on small businesses. This, along with the elimination of the capital gains tax, should encourage some investors to invest again. The biggest proposal for stimulating job creation is a tax credit for more than a million small businesses for the purpose of hiring new workers or raising wages. Results from this should be seen almost immediately. Tax relief for business has always been a major point in the platform of the GOP. But at first mention during the State of the Union, Republicans didn't even bat an eyelash. If this is a point of contention, then it would prove beyond any doubt that Republicans are more concerned with their party's interests rather than the American people's – at least until the election. A final job bill should be a collaboration of ideas from both the House and Senate. It should contain the House's proposal for extending unemployment benefits and providing more aid to states. Without the assistance, states would be forced into deeper budget holes. The end result would be laying off large portions of their work force. It should also include the Senate's plan to create jobs that create more energy efficiency. The president was correct for wanting to focus on expanding clean energy sources. It would provide an abundance of new jobs and also move this country away from dependence on foreign oil. There shouldn't be any debate about what needs to be done. Jobs need to be created; that isn't a political ideology. Americans want leadership and bold action. The time for debate is over. The country is in dire straits. Every American sees this hardship and is starting to grow tired of the bickering in Washington. Republicans and Democrats need to put their heads together and come up with an effective job bill.
It's a common sentiment that the university apartments aren't worth as much as they cost. However, many students feel that their convenient location is worth shelling out a bit more. Flint Village, located directly across from Park Hall, is only a three-minute walk from the Spine. Although it doesn't have a gym like Hadley, it's also only a 10-15 minute walk from Alumni Arena. The apartments themselves are passable – certainly not luxurious, but not decrepit either. One of the best things about living on campus is that if anything breaks, there are maintenance workers who can fix it. However, the wait for these services in Flint can vary from several hours to several weeks. Another problem students can run into is the issue of noise control. 'The first floor gets kind of noisy; there are no restraints on that, so I find myself going to Capen to get work done,' said Katie Pecora, a senior dance major. '[But] it's clean and convenient.' Like Hadley, the apartments are somewhat small for four people, but the only real issue is with the kitchen. Flint Village has the smallest of the three kitchens, leaving tenants with only enough room for two people to cook at a time. There are not enough cabinets to store everyone's food and utensils, and there is only one drawer for everyone to share. Many students have to purchase extra shelving or store non-perishables on top of the fridge, on counters or even in the living room. Overall, the Flint apartments are fine for the two or three years students will be living in them. The convenience of living on campus is the real draw and is often enough to tip the scales in the apartments' favor. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
Iran is very good at the chess game that is international politics. Tehran has shown no change in course while trying to resolve the dispute over its nuclear program. Even after months of engagement by the United States, Iran still has no rebuttal for the United States overtures about its nuclear program. President Obama needs to start being proactive about the situation. Years after the United Nations Security Council first demanded that Iran stop its pursuit of enriching uranium, which can be used for nuclear fuel or weapons, Iran's response is to keep the centrifuges spinning. In turn, Washington plans to circulate a new round of sanctions to the rest of the international community. This would be the fourth set of sanctions in as many years. Many would argue that the UN Security Council has no right to try to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The five permanent members – the United States, England, France, China and Russia – are all nuclear powers. Many nations in the international community share the United States's concern. But Russia and China have strong economic ties to Iran, so each has tried to water down sanctions previously. Because of this, the Security Council has been rendered ineffective, allowing Iran to pursue its nuclear interests. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton issued a very public warning to China to accept the most recent sanctions or face diplomatic isolation from the United States. Let's not forget that it was only last fall that Iran was discovered to have a secret enrichment facility plant. The world powers proposed a deal with Tehran: open all nuclear facilities to international inspectors and send its stock of uranium abroad to be turned into nuclear reactor fuel. That wouldn't have solved any problems, but at least it would have bought more time for a long-term solution to be worked out. However, the political elite of Iran rejected that deal. This is where the international community has been for months. The situation is complex and it's a very sensitive time within Iran as well. Fallout from last June's presidential election is still being contested. The government has cracked down on any political protests and there have been accusations of political executions. The proposed sanctions must inflict maximum damage to a regime that is so repressive. But it will be tough to accomplish without hurting the average Iranian citizen, and negotiations must be continuous. Many Middle East experts have theorized that the government is in a weakened condition and that the United States is trying to improve relations and focus on regime change. The United States has a long history of regime change, going all the way back to overthrowing the queen of Hawaii in 1893. This country even played a major role in staging a coup d'état in Iran once already, in 1953. The world watched as the United States fell flat on its face with regime change in Iraq. Not shocking either is Iran's claim that the opposition is a tool of the West. The United States and its allies must be very conscious of the fact that the Iranian people are extremely prideful and independent. A solution must be found as soon as possible; after all, the centrifuges keep spinning.
Both Elmwood Village and downtown Buffalo offer wonderful living options for University at Buffalo students. Nationally ranked as one of the top 10 neighborhoods to live in, Elmwood and the surrounding Allen and downtown area offer pleasures both artistic and aesthetic. Home to the best bars, clubs, restaurants, and art galleries in Buffalo and Western New York, students longing to break away from the North Campus minutiae can find hipster bliss when they make their home downtown. Shanice Cherry, a senior English major, has lived on Elmwood for over a year. 'The night life is fabulous. I live a few blocks from Allen Street, and there [are] always a lot of live shows, bands, art shows, and more,' said Cherry. Since most places don't advertise the way University Residence Halls & Apartments do, students wishing to move must rely on word of mouth, or do their own research, to find their perfect downtown house or apartment. However, Sub-Board, Inc, provides resources for UB students to find off-campus housing, most notably its Web site, offcampushousing.buffalo.edu. Craigslist and local networking venues are also available for students to use to find housing on Elmwood and downtown. Living so far away from both North and South Campuses can present a fair amount of issues for students. Fortunately some transportation options, although largely inconvenient, are available. '[The Downtown Campus] has a shuttle to South, and that's how I get to school,' Cherry said. Unfortunately, the Downtown Campus's shuttle, the Blue Line, only arrives and departs twice an hour. Colin Morrissey, a senior nursing major, has lived in the Elmwood area all his life. 'Everything in Buffalo is here – food, bars, the works. There's always something to do and it's very welcoming,' said Morrissey. Morrissey was sure to endorse Elmwood and downtown's relatively close proximity to South Campus, something often misunderstood by UB students. 'It's maybe a 15 minute trip if you ride your bike, especially in the summer,' Morrissey said. According to Sub-Board's Web site, rent in Elmwood averages $500 per person. 'The blocks running off of Elmwood Avenue are lined with fine examples of residential Victorian architecture and are more expensive properties,' the site states. Morrissey mentioned the growing popularity of the Elmwood area and the increasing difficulty students may have in finding an affordable place to live there. '[The Elmwood neighborhood] is on the rise and living there can get expensive,' Morrissey said. Living in the downtown area is somewhat more varied, in the range of $400 to $2,000 per month. 'The rent depends on the location of the apartment and the amenities and luxuries included,' Sub Board's Web site said. Living in the downtown and Elmwood areas also presents problems for students with cars. 'Most of the houses [in the area] have really small parking lots, and finding places to park can get really difficult. It can become a disadvantage, especially if you live on a street where you have to move [your car] at certain times,' Morrissey said. A less desirable aspect to take into consideration when moving downtown is the close proximity to the less than reputable side of urban Buffalo. 'Elmwood runs parallel to some really bad areas, especially past Richmond Avenue. If you're planning to move down there, I'd suggest becoming familiar with the area first,' Morrissey said. For students wanting to live either farther downtown or in the Elmwood area, the question of how to go about getting to class is pertinent. Students without cars usually make use of the Metro Rail system, which runs in and outbound all day, and ends at University Station on South Campus. The negative aspect of this mode of transportation is the often tedious and tiring task of boarding it, especially if students have class early. Students should make sure to leave at least an hour earlier in order to make it to class on time. 'The distance [and having to take public transportation] is the only bad thing about living this far downtown,' Cherry said. Intimidation and inconvenience aside, the option of moving downtown is one UB students should consider. When weighing living selections, if students like intellect, artistic independence and a cultural hub, there's no other option. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
Every fall semester, an incoming class of freshmen embarks on a journey called 'college,' although not every path is the same. Some students decide to live on campus, while others decide to commute to school. As a senior in high school trying to figure out where she would go, Samantha Kovler, now a sophomore communication major, always had the desire to dorm and looked forward to having a home away from home. 'I wasn't sure where exactly I wanted to go [to school]. I didn't feel like I should stay at home and commute to school, although my mom suggested me staying on Long Island,' said Kovler. 'I wanted that going away experience, where I would live on my own in a dorm, meeting tons of different people.' Kovler's curiosity and desire for independence led her to the University at Buffalo, where she was placed in Governors's Lehman Hall her freshman year, despite the fact that it is not a freshman dorm. Nevertheless, Kovler was satisfied with her new living quarters. 'I liked the setup of Governors. Each suite had its own lounge, which was useful for gatherings with people and especially for studying,' Kovler said. Kovler now lives in Ellicott, which she likes just as much. While Kovler was packing her suitcases and beginning her journey to Buffalo, Jessica Conboy, a sophomore French major, was doing the same. After going away to school for a semester, Conboy had a change of heart. 'I switched and just decided to stay at home,' said Conboy. 'I think dorming is fine if you're far from home, but I chose to commute because it's not far from my house and it saves me a lot of money.' Conboy believes that commuting is an attractive option for those who do not mind living with their parents. She enjoys the perks like free laundry service, home cooked meals, privacy and little distraction. However, Conboy considers parking to be a hassle, as do many other UB commuters. 'Parking is ridiculous. You have to get here early and fight for parking spots unless you have a really early or really late class,' Conboy said. Conboy does not feel like she is missing out on any college experiences by commuting. She believes if a student truly wants to get involved on campus and meet people, they will, regardless of living quarters. One of the most important factors in determining whether she would dorm or commute, Conboy says, was money. 'I've talked to my parents about this before and I'm pretty sure that I save about $10,000 a year by living at home, which is completely insane and makes me really glad that I'm at home … since I pay for my schooling, that's less loans to pay back,' Conboy said. Conboy and her parents are correct in their approximations. According to the UB Web site, room and board averages around $10,092 a year. Mark Johnson, a junior business major, also commutes because he thinks it is the smarter financial decision. However, he believes finding and making friends is a difficult task. 'As a commuter, you miss out on a lot of girls and miss out on meeting people on your floor. I'd have more friends if I lived on campus. It's easier to meet people when you dorm,' said Johnson. For some students, the hefty price of freedom is difficult to afford. Jessica Orchard, a sophomore communication major, became a residence hall advisor to help relieve the cost of room and board. 'I'm paying for school on my own and have taken out the maximum amount of loans possible because I cannot fund my schooling out of pocket right now,' said Orchard. 'Dorming is nice, but now that I think back, if I could have the choice, I'd still be living at home and saving my money.' The decision of whether to room on campus or remain at home is an important one. At UB, both options have their share of merit, and in the end, it is up to the individual student to choose the environment most suitable for him or her. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
Let's be honest – MTV has always been better than VH1. I think it's safe to say that MTV has consistently managed to cause more hype, therefore earning more popularity points. With shows like For the Love of Ray Jay and Real Chance of Love, VH1 has epically failed at being a good channel. Yet, over the last 10 years or so, MTV has been chasing at the heels of VH1 and done a straight nose-dive into Patheticville, USA. One of their newest addition to its plethora of bogus ‘reality' TV shows has taken the cake. Yes, I mean Jersey Shore. Don't get me wrong; I enjoy laughing at Snooki doing naked back flips in a bar just as much as the next guy. Heck, I confess. I seriously considered hitting up PURE nightclub on Friday to try and catch a peek of her ‘poof' while she was there. My concern is simply that this is the best MTV can do nowadays. With the exception of Teen Mom and ABDC, which I have grown unhealthy obsessions for, I find myself now shaking my head at nearly every single show I come across on my once beloved channel. Silent Library, Is She Really going Out with Him, My Life As Liz…really what in the world are the producers of these shows thinking? I guess it's not so fair to blame it all on the makers of these mindless shows, though people in our society are the ones guilty of actually watching it. I simply can't wrap my head around the idea that watching this nonsense – fist pumping, quirky fake high school tales, d-bag boyfriend turmoil and awkward dares among a room of giggling men – is now considered good television entertainment. Sure, virtually all entertainment channels have gone downhill in recent years. Pushing the envelope seems to be the new thing, but at what cost? At the rate stations like MTV are going in completely brainwashing society into thinking blowouts, cursing and utter stupidity are cool, I'm going to have to build an underground world in order to raise and shelter my future children from media's corruption. I know MTV has every right to melt my brain with these lame shows. If we are all going to give them the ratings, why would they cancel the current shows? I also know that I'm capable of getting my lazy butt up to get the remote and change the channel, but it's the principle. If I overhear one more dead serious conversation among a group of friends about the personal lives of Pauly D and J-Wow, I might jump off the nearest bridge. At first, I fed into the excitement over Jersey Shore because the ridiculous personalities its characters possessed made me feel as though I had an IQ equivalent to Einstein's. I got a kick out of making fun of the bronzed bimbos. But recently, I swear that the people around me are no longer laughing at the antics of the show, but instead are admiring them. Jersey Shore is taking over the world and frankly, it's scaring me a bit. I mean, look at me. I've devoted an entire column to depict the show. I'm not praising it, but the fact that I'm putting energy into thinking about it just confirms the haunting hypnotizing power these shows have on us all. It saddens me a bit to realize that a good chunk of my peers don't share the same sentiment and will excitedly continue to pay $25 cover to see attention-whore Tila Tequila and 30-year-old Robin from The Real World do Jagerbombs then dance on top of the bar. Call me crazy but I'll save my $25 for a rainy day. Give me Animal Planet, give me TLC, shoot even give me a little Lifetime, but I refuse to be a MTV zombie any longer. E-mail: jennifer.good@ubspectrum.com
Solutions by The State News
