News - The Spectrum

Officer Scott Marciszewski is giving a presentation during the active-shooter training session. He went over the ‘Run, Hide, Fight’ method, the active shooter protocol based on the department of Homeland Security’s response model.

NEWS

University police hold active-shooter training session

By HARUKA KOSUGI | Mar. 12, 2018

University police discussed what to do when an active shooter is on campus during two active shooter training sessions held last Wednesday and Friday. UPD began conducting “walk-in” training sessions last year to teach students and faculty how to react in an emergency shooting event. The training, conducted by interim Chief of Police Chris Bartolomei and Officer Scott Marciszewski, went over “Run, Hide, Fight,” active-shooter protocol based on the Department of Homeland Security’s response model.

Jennifer Schechter presenting the report of the treasurer at the GSA meeting on Wednesday. Schechter (left) is pictured next to GSA President Tanja Aho (center) and Vice President Connor Walters (right).

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GSA votes in support of TA stipends, student anti-gun violence demonstrations

By ANNA SAVCHENKO | Mar. 12, 2018

The Graduate Student Association Senate passed a unanimous resolution supporting current and prospective students who wish to participate in anti-gun violence demonstrations.

Kari Winter moderating a Q&A with Margaret Atwood on Friday’s Humanities to the Rescue event, “An Evening with Margaret Atwood.

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Acclaimed author Margaret Atwood charms UB community

By ANNA SAVCHENKO | Mar. 12, 2018

Margaret Atwood said she understands why people are concerned about the future of the humanities. Atwood’s sold-out keynote address, “An Evening with Margaret Atwood,” kicked off the “Humanities to the Rescue” weekend on Friday in the Center for the Arts. Her speech was part of a UB’s Humanities Institute project that aims to illuminate the importance of the humanities in the current socio-political climate

UPD responding to the last gun-related incident to happen on campus. UPD Chief Deputy Joshua Sticht said students should keep themselves safe by signing up for UB Alerts on their phones.

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UB officials announce support for students protesting gun violence

By HARUKA KOSUGI | Mar. 7, 2018

UB has joined dozens of universities across the country in announcing it will not penalize prospective students who choose to peacefully protest gun violence. Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the site of a mass shooting on Feb.

Former UB Professor Kushal Bhardwaj was honored as Erie County Educator of the Month in February. The popular instructor's appointment at UB ended Jan. 10 after nine years at the university. UB will not comment on the circumstances surrounding his removal.

NEWS

Dr. B no longer a UB employee

By MADDY FOWLER | Mar. 7, 2018

After being removed from the classroom last semester amid allegations of misbehavior, Dr. Kushal Bhardwaj is no longer a UB employee as of Jan.

NEWS

News briefs

By News Desk | Mar. 7, 2018

Campus UB to hold free ‘repair fair’ next Monday in Student Union UB STEM is hosting a free repair fair next Monday from noon to 3 p.m.

Retired UB Professor Royal Roussel died on Feb. 24. Pictured here on South Campus in 1972, Roussel started at UB in 1967 as an English professor, chaired the media study department 2000-13 and returned to teaching DMS before retiring in June 2017.

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Retired media study professor Roy Roussel dies

By DAVID TUNIS-GARCIA | Mar. 7, 2018

Royal Roussel, a retired professor in the media study department, died Saturday, Feb. 24 after a battle with cancer. Roussel came to UB in 1967 as a professor in the English department before switching to media study in 1996.

NEWS

More UBF fracking investments revealed

By SARAH CROWLEY | Mar. 7, 2018

The UB Foundation has invested in at least six fracking-related firms, according to its most recent tax documents.

NEWS

Graffitied hate-speech found in residence halls

By News Desk | Mar. 7, 2018

Campus Living reported “racist graffiti” found in both Goodyear and Spaulding residence halls. The racist graffiti in question is a combination of “racial slurs” directed at African Americans and “hate images” like swastikas, said UPD Chief Deputy Joshua Sticht.

Members of Fossil Free UB are presented with shared governance award. For two years, Fossil Free UB has asked the university to divest its fossil fuel-related holdings.

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Fossil Free UB students honored at third annual shared governance day

By SARAH CROWLEY | Mar. 7, 2018

Students of Fossil Free UB were awarded Tuesday for their commitment to working with faculty and administrators across the university throughout their divestment campaign. For the last two years, the student-led group has pressured the university and specifically the UB Foundation to divest all fossil-fuel related holdings to live up to UB’s sustainability goals.

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Faculty committee recommends changes to current academic integrity policy

By SARAH CROWLEY | Mar. 5, 2018

Faculty members proposed creating a new office to handle cases of cheating and academic dishonesty, after a two-year-long study showed most students and faculty find the current academic integrity policy confusing, and the disciplinary process long and overly punitive.

The Graduate Student Association will vote Wednesday on a proposal to increase stipends to a living wage level for graduate student teaching and research assistants. The UB Living Stipend Movement has been rallying for a "living stipend" since the beginning of the academic year.

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GSA to vote for immediate action on TA stipends

By ANNA SAVCHENKO | Mar. 5, 2018

The Graduate Student Association will vote Wednesday on a proposal to increase stipends for graduate student teaching and research assistants.

NEWS

News briefs

By News Desk | Mar. 5, 2018

Campus New partnership provides HIV and hepatitis C research opportunities for UB students UBMD Internal Medicine has partnered with Evergreen Health to serve patients with HIV and hepatitis C, according to UB Now. Students and residents at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences will research the diseases, looking at ways to improve patient care and outcomes.

A National College Health Assessment report showed that 25 percent of UB students experience some degree of food insecurity, or the lack of access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

NEWS

On-campus food pantry proposal to tackle food insecurity at UB

By ANNA SAVCHENKO | Mar. 1, 2018

UB students are partnering with Student Life to create an on-campus food pantry, after a National College Health Assessment report showed 25 percent of UB students experience some degree of food insecurity. Sub-Board I, a non-profit corporation owned by the seven student governments, sent a proposal to Student Life on Feb. 25 to create a university-funded, on-campus food pantry. While the initial budget proposal of the pantry indicates an annual cost of $25,000, SBI officials said it will become self-sustainable in regard to food costs

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State comptroller's report raises questions about UBF spending

By SARAH CROWLEY | Mar. 1, 2018

SUNY officials failed to provideadequate financial oversight of the system’s 30 campus foundations –– whose combined assets total more than $2.1 billion –– state watchdogs concluded in a report released Tuesday by New York Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. The report details a number of questionable expenditures at the UB Foundation in particular, including salaries paid to individuals also earning a state salary and contract awards handed out without competitive bidding. Among the comptroller’s findings: SUNY has not audited 16 of the 30 campus foundations –– private, nonprofit entities that control fundraising, property management and other capital investments for the universities –– in at least a decade. The report also found UBF, the largest campus foundation in the SUNY system with more than $1 billion in assets, was one of 10 SUNY foundations operating without an active contract.

Gwynn Thomas and Marla Segol, professors in the newly reinstated standalone Department of Global Gender and Sexuality Studies, discuss the program’s return to independent status. Thomas and Segol feel the department’s standalone status will improve visibility of the program on campus.

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Global gender and sexuality studies becomes independent department

By MADDY FOWLER | Mar. 1, 2018

After being folded into the Transnational Studies Department for 10 years, Gender and Sexuality Studies is once again a standalone program. Faculty Senate reinstated the Gender and Sexuality Studies Department’s independent status after a unanimous vote at the senate’s first meeting on Feb.

Mithil Kadam, Celaster Denisraj and Arjun Sivaprakasam, graduate students in industrial and electrical engineering, respectively, sit in UB's Intercultural and Diversity Center. The three weighed in on international student enrollment at UB, and offered input on the decline.

NEWS

International student enrollment declines at UB

By SARAH CROWLEY | Mar. 1, 2018

Rising costs in education, gun violence and growing competition from countries like Canada, Australia, Germany and the U.K.

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International UB community weighs in on U.S. gun culture

By HARUKA KOSUGI | Mar. 1, 2018

Givary Muhammad was shocked by the stash of guns in his Californian host-family’s home.

24th National Security Adviser Susan Rice took to Alumni Arena for her Distinguished Speakers Series speech Wednesday night.

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Susan Rice speaks at UB Distinguished Speakers Series

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET and BRIAN EVANS | Mar. 1, 2018

Susan Rice has worked with U.S. presidents since 1993. She spent four years working closely with President Obama as national security adviser, five years as a United Nations ambassador and four years as assistant secretary for African Affairs under President Clinton.

The Spectrum sat down with Ambassador Susan Rice for an exclusive interview before her Distinguished Speakers Series speech Wednesday night.

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A conversation with Ambassador Susan Rice

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET and BRIAN EVANS | Mar. 1, 2018

As a force in the White House under two administrations, Susan Rice was present for some of the most combative times in modern politics. Ahead of her Wednesday night appearance at this year’s Distinguished Speaker Series, the former National Security Adviser under the Obama Administration sat down with The Spectrum. Q: Working for both the Clinton and Obama administrations, can you describe the transition?