News

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'Thumbsucker' definitely doesn't suck

Adolescence sucks. It's filled with tumultuous times when teenagers struggle to identify who they really are.The recently released "Thumbsucker," written and directed by Mike Mills, portrays this notion through a story about one such adolescent, Justin Cobb, played by Lou Taylor Pucci ("Personal Velocity"). Justin goes through his senior year of high school trying to figure out himself, his family, the mysteries of the opposite sex, all while trying to curb the thumb-sucking addiction he's had since childhood."Thumbsucker" follows the style of most modern independent films like "Garden State" and "Napoleon Dynamite," in which an involved plot takes a backseat to examination of the characters and their relationships with one another.

Prettier than an infected heroin hole

For a guy as pretty as Jared Leto, one wouldn't expect him to be the front man for a band as hard as 30 Seconds to Mars.Believe it.

Sidelines

Idbihi among top in MACMen's basketball hasn't started its season yet, but junior forward Yassin Idbihi has already begun to collect pre-season acknowledgement in the Mid-American Conference.Idbihi was named to the pre-season All-MAC East team, along with members of the Akron, Ohio and Kent State basketball teams.

Common drops out of Fall Fest lineup

Fall Fest lost one of its headlining performers last Friday when Common withdrew from the "Touch the Sky" tour to take a movie role.The announcement was made Tuesday only hours before the tour opened in Miami, though the rapper did perform in the opening show.

Schedule

W. SoccerFriday: at Toledo, 4 p.m.VolleyballFriday: vs. Ohio, 6 p.m.M. SoccerFriday: vs. Bowling Green, 7 p.m.Cross CountrySaturday: at Penn.

Weekend in Buffalo: 10.14.05

A taste of med school

For a lot of people medical school is just a dream. Requiring top grades, a healthy bank balance and dedication to studying hard for many years, only a lucky few see their dream realized. The University at Buffalo's School of Medicine offers an alternative to a full medical degree, in the form of the Mini Medical School.

Defenders of UB spirit

Right before almost every commercial break during every NFL game, the camera always pans to a cute young cheerleader, shaking her pom-poms in the name of team spirit.Whether watching cheerleaders gives the male sports fan added inspiration to cheer for his team, or he just likes seeing a beautiful girl do splits, handsprings and flips, there is no denying that cheerleading has become a valuable part of the game experience, if not a tradition on the field.Unfortunately for the men and women of the UB cheerleading team, the time, hard work and athleticism that goes into making flips and leading cheers look easy isn't always appreciated.

"Capen, caffeine and crunch time"

You know your life sucks when getting hit by a semi seems preferable to beginning another Monday, and another week of class.Heading home to let her dog out before 8 a.m.

Spectrometer: 10.14.05

Viqar chosen to lead SA Senate

In a unanimous decision by the Student Association Senate, Viqar Hussain was elected on Tuesday to be Senate chair, making him one of the select students in charge overseeing and organizing SA's nearly $3 million budget.As the face of the Senate, one of Hussain's main duties is to supervise any financial decisions made by the SA treasurer, including budget allocations for this year and planning for next year."Any penny spent by SA is overseen by 22 senators," Hussain said.The job also means dealing with the administration in hopes of improving student life both on and off campus, and approving resolutions from the SA Assembly."The Senate is the voice of UB and we stress to the administration the issues that need to be worked on to improve the student experience," Hussain said.The vote for Senate chair followed SA President Dela Yador's 'State of the Union' address at Tuesday's meeting, where all 22 senators convened for the first time this semester.The Senate breaks down into 17 voting members and five nonvoting members.

Unsung hero Knapp sets the table for soccer's offense

Being an outside midfielder is arguably the most difficult position on the soccer field.A midfielder is required to play both offense and defense, have more endurance than anyone one on the field and oftentimes is robbed of all scoring glory.None of that, however, seems to faze junior halfback Brian Knapp."The credit doesn't bother me too much," Knapp said.

Downtown Buffalo's redemption conundrum

Buffalo wants it both ways.Those leading downtown Buffalo's development agencies suffer from different visions that are seemingly at odds over what is needed for success.

Real world a shocker to UB grads

This is not the true story of seven strangers picked to live in a house and have their lives taped, to find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real.The real real world doesn't allow for most hip college graduates to live in multi-million dollar pads.

Disaster unites community again

It almost seems these days that the world can't go a week without another devastating natural disaster.Already in the midst of a major campus-wide fundraising effort, members of the UB community pooled their efforts for yet another disaster relief event Wednesday evening, filling Knox 110 with garbage bags of winter coats, bedding and clothing donations to help the victims of the recent earthquake in Southeast Asia.The event was both a fundraiser and memorial service in tribute to the victims of the recent quake that took well over 30,000 lives in the early hours last weekend.With heads bowed down, the attendees took a moment of silence to remember the people who did not survive the disaster and to also pray for those who did."Tonight, we want to introduce the issue because a lot of people are not aware of the suffering that is taking place over there," said Faisal Jawaid, president of the Pakistani Student Association, which hosted the event with Bangladeshi SA, UB Bhangra Club, Indian SA, Muslim SA, the Organization of Arab Students, and the Garba Raas Club.Part of the service included a slideshow with photographs of the devastation along with statistical information, which was followed by brief statements from representatives of the various student organizations.

Skywriting with fire

After their 2003 debut album "Katonah," Apollo Sunshine spent two years touring the United States, playing over 300 shows and perfecting their sound before recording this self-titled album.Although "Apollo Sunshine" flows smoothly, the sounds are a complex mixture of overlapping guitars, bass lines and percussion.As the album progresses, its refreshingly diverse sound makes it difficult to define a specific genre for the band.

SUNY Chancellor Ryan takes action in interim role

Since stepping into the role of interim SUNY chancellor in June, John Ryan has made waves in Albany and acted like more than just a placeholder, voicing support for a new tuition policy while overseeing several SUNY projects.Ryan assumed the role of acting SUNY chancellor following the resignation of Robert King, who stepped down amid criticism for tuition increases and his request for a paid sabbatical, which he later removed from consideration.King now holds an interim presidency at SUNY Potsdam.So far, Ryan, who was previously the president of SUNY Maritime, has been praised for the level of his drive and ambition."I'm proud to say that he's been working very hard with the students," said Peter Rizzo, one of four SUNY SA delegates for UB.

High standards

Randy Moss recently admitted on HBO's Real Sports that he occasionally uses marijuana. Ricky Williams retired from football prematurely after testing positive for marijuana multiple times.

Schedule

Nothing to report

Man assaulted and robbed on Main St.

In yet another violent criminal incident in the University Heights, an Ashland Avenue man was attacked and robbed by as many as four other men Sunday night at Main Street and Niagara Falls Boulevard, according to the Buffalo Police.The victim, whose name has not been released, told police that he was punched in the face and robbed of about $20 at around 11:30 p.m.