News
NEWS
Kus calls it quits
By DANIEL HONIGMAN | Jan. 28, 2005A legend in Western New York volleyball circles, Sally Kus stepped down from her position as the University at Buffalo head volleyball coach on Jan.
NEWS
Editorial ignored giving
By TIM MINTER | Jan. 28, 2005Your editorial, "Bush's tepid tsunami response," makes a fatal mistake - it all but ignores the giving on the part of private citizens, and evaluates the generosity of the American people based on the relief given by the government.Consider: how many of us gave privately to tsunami relief?
NEWS
Students mourn lost lives
By SIOBHAN COUNIHAN | Jan. 28, 2005Members of the UB community gathered for memorial services Wednesday and Thursday in remembrance of the devastating tragedy that struck South Asia just one month ago.Speakers at the services, which were held Wednesday in Harriman Hall and Thursday in the Student Union Theater, encouraged those in attendance to maintain hope while mourning the lives lost."It's a time for reflection, grief and sadness, but also a time for hope," said Mary Clare Fahey, community service coordinator for the Leadership Development Center.
NEWS
Battle of Bands turns platonic
By PAUL MEGNA | Jan. 28, 2005While Tuesday night's snow made driving treacherous, those who fought the weather to attend the final round of Merlin's Battle of the Bands were rewarded.
NEWS
FSEC approves review of gen ed classes
By BEN CADY | Jan. 28, 2005A plan to assess the strengths and weaknesses of UB's general education program was passed by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee at their meeting Wednesday in Capen Hall.The committee also listened to President John Simpson talk about the latest SUNY tuition plan, and its members welcomed Peter Nickerson for another two-year term as chair.The goal of the general education review is to let teachers know whether they are sufficiently addressing educational goals developed by SUNY, said Michael Ryan, UB's new vice provost for undergraduate education."Though (the process) may be tedious, it provides a mechanism for us to have meaningful feedback and to make improvements in the instruction of undergraduates," Ryan said.Next fall, UB's assessment office will begin randomly sampling test results from students in general education classes and comparing those results to the educational goals.Courses in information management, natural sciences, social sciences, and World Civilizations will be evaluated next year, according to the draft plan of the General Education Assessment Review group.The process will not be a burden on teachers, said Carol Tutzauer, assistant director of assessment for undergraduate education.
NEWS
$40 million waste
By DANIEL GVERTZ | Jan. 28, 2005Just over a week ago, our newly reelected president issued his second inaugural address. Though I am a liberal, I will not go on one of those all-too popular, "Not MY president" tirades, even though I really want to.No, I will support my Constitution and acknowledge that this man is, in fact, my president by virtue of a plurality vote in the Electoral College.However, that does not mean I will ever support his fiscal actions.At a time when jobs are scarce, money is tight and morale is down, President George W.
NEWS
Scoreboard
Jan. 28, 2005W. BasketballWednesday:Toledo81Buffalo60M. BasketballThusday:Buffalo78Marshall65
NEWS
Time to make UB sweatshop-free
By Editorial | Jan. 28, 2005The Simpson administration has faced some tough decisions over the past year. Administration reorganization, focusing UB's academic reputation, and hiring a new athletic director are all require in-depth analysis to get it right.UB recently made the noble decision to consider affiliating with a sweatshop-monitoring group.
NEWS
Protest asks UB to join workers' rights group
By RENA DUBS | Jan. 28, 2005Hoping to increase student awareness of President John Simpson's coming decision to affiliate UB with a workers rights group, student activists carried signs, delivered speeches and chained themselves to sewing machines in front of Capen Hall Thursday afternoon."The goal of this rally is to try and get UB affiliated with the Worker Rights Consortium," said Students Against Sweatshop member Kelly Miller, freshman environmental engineering major.The Worker Rights Consortium is an independent monitoring board that investigates labor conditions for over 130 colleges and universities that sell clothing products.Since the start of the school year, Students Against Sweatshops members have lobbied for UB administrators to sign with the Worker Rights Consortium rather than the Fair Labor Association, which group members say is not as effective as the WRC.Dennis Black, vice president for Student Affairs, will be making his recommendation on the issue to President Simpson sometime next week.According to Black, Simpson has shown an interest in affiliating with a labor group, but "UB had made no decision."Over 30 people gathered for the half-hour rally, where patches were distributed to show their support for joining the Worker Rights Consortium.
NEWS
Have you seen Yassin?
By ALEX RUBIN | Jan. 28, 2005Yassin Idbihi believes that the University at Buffalo men's basketball team is going to the NCAA tournament."We're the most talented team, we just have to play together," Idbihi said.Those are some pretty strong words, but nobody is going to argue with the 6-foot-10-inch 275-pound gentle giant of a starting center.At the age of 21, Idbihi has already lived an adventurous life that spans three continents.
NEWS
Second-half run powers Bulls past Marshall
By NICHOLAS MENDOLA | Jan. 28, 2005Just two nights after struggling to hold on to a big lead against Northern Illinois, the UB men's basketball team had to come from behind to defeat the Marshall Thundering Herd.The Bulls (12-5, 5-4 MAC) used a career-high 25 points from center Yassin Idbihi and a stingy second-half defense that held Marshall (3-14, 0-8 MAC) without a point for over nine minutes to pull away with a 78-65 win in front of 3,114 at Alumni Arena.Trailing by four at the half, and by as many as seven in the second session, UB head coach Reggie Witherspoon did something very unusual, switching to a zone defense.
NEWS
Students drawn to Sweethome complex
By JENNIFER FUSCO | Jan. 28, 2005For the first time since UB's on-campus apartments were built, all five complexes are seeing competition from a new neighbor, University Village at Sweethome.The $30 million complex on Sweet Home Road near North Campus - which has been promoting its swimming pool, spa, tanning beds, movie theater, indoor basketball court and fitness center - is nearing its August 2005 completion date.And as the deadline for on-campus apartments arrives Monday, the state-of-the-art Sweethome complex has sparked the interest of many UB students from freshmen to seniors, in addition to Buffalo residents."Applications are 40 percent, and gaining every day," said Michael Cipriano, the director of marketing of the Texas-based housing company, American Campus Communities.The company has already built between 35 and 40 housing complexes in the United States, and recently sent four UB students to their most recent site in Irvine, Calif.
NEWS
Super Mario poses double threat for Bulls' opponents
By JENNIFER GILLAN | Jan. 28, 2005One would never compare him to his namesake, but Mario Jordan's actions certainly reflect Michael Jordan's famous words: "Some people want it to happen.
NEWS
"At porn class, novelty hasn't worn off"
By DENA-KAY MARTIN | Jan. 28, 2005It is rare to find a lecture hall in Knox more than three quarters filled on a non-exam day. To have every seat occupied and even have a need for extra benches in the back of the classroom is almost unheard of.This was the scene in Knox 20 on Wednesday afternoon, as Professor Alex Halavais stood patiently in front of his Cyber Porn and Society class and waited for the majority of students to get settled.However, due to the number of students and the nature of his class, there is never really a sense of students being settled in Com 497 - especially not this early in the semester."Every class so far, I've been surprised because the course is online," said Halavais of his unusual class size.
NEWS
Esthero enchants on eclectic EP
By EVAN PIERCE | Jan. 28, 2005Though she never really left, electronica chanteuse Esthero has come back with an EP as eclectic as her collaborators, but might be too radical for the Pop Music Nation.In her 1998 release, Breath from Another, Esthero aimed to become the hip-hop generation's Sade, and she certainly has the instrument - her rich voice flows through your head like Willie Wonka's chocolaty-smooth river.
NEWS
Bulls lose to Rockets despite bench player's big night
By DEAN ADAMS AND DANIEL GVERTZ | Jan. 28, 2005Wednesday night in Toledo the UB women's basketball team suffered a tough loss, despite a breakout performance from freshman Flynn Pyykkonen.The Bulls fell to the Toledo Rockets (9-9 overall, 5-2 MAC) by a final score of 81-60, despite Pyykkonen's 22 points.
NEWS
Student musicians poised for greatness
By NICOLE COLEMAN | Jan. 28, 2005All famous musicians started somewhere. A small town open mic, a high school concert, or in the middle of the living room floor, taking it a few chords at a time every step of the way.Big dreams, big talent, a spark of inspiration here, a bit of hard work there, and love of the game is only half the battle towards fame, fortune and big record deals.For some student musicians in Buffalo, the swanky limos and estates and lavish parties and clothes are quite a few big dreams away.At the core of these students' dreams are making music and finding that special connection.
