News - The Spectrum

NEWS

$40 million waste

By DANIEL GVERTZ | Jan. 28, 2005

Just 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, 2005

W. BasketballWednesday:Toledo81Buffalo60M. BasketballThusday:Buffalo78Marshall65

NEWS

Time to make UB sweatshop-free

By Editorial | Jan. 28, 2005

The 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, 2005

Hoping 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, 2005

Yassin 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, 2005

Just 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, 2005

For 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, 2005

One 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, 2005

It 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, 2005

Though 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, 2005

Wednesday 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, 2005

All 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.

NEWS

Bush's tepid tsunami response

By Editorial | Jan. 26, 2005

Relatively speaking, the U.S. government has been put to shame by UB's tsunami relief efforts. From librarians establishing a one-stop website to collect donations, to the table in the Union raising over $1,000, to the aid the UB community has raised outside of school, those in academic departments, administration, and the students are great examples of the tremendous outpouring of aid to areas devastated by the tsunami.In contrast, the United States government has pledged so little money that it has further damaged its already disgraced image.

NEWS

Sidelines

Jan. 26, 2005

Riding on topThe UB Bulls' wrestling team grappled its way to a second place finish last weekend at the New York State Collegiates, held in Oneonta.

NEWS

Pistachio's changes menu

By JESSICA PACKARD | Jan. 26, 2005

Long considered by students as the mysterious eatery on the second floor of the Student Union, Pistachio's has changed its menu this semester in an attempt to become as familiar to students as Putnam's and draw more hungry customers.Pistachio's has recently updated its look to accommodate the needs of students, said Jeff Brady, assistant food director for campus dining.

NEWS

Spoon's nodding noggin

By JACKIE O and JACKIE O | Jan. 26, 2005

UB has just hired Gene Corrigan to serve as a consultant to the University on intercollegiate athletic excellence.

NEWS

"Half Irish wake, half anguish"

By NICHOLAS MENDOLA | Jan. 26, 2005

With striking personal style, Bright Eyes' "Digital Ash in a Digital Urn" reveals what project mastermind Conor Oberst thinks about when he's not thinking about alcohol, misery, drugs and sex, and it's the earthly end-all be-all - death."Digital Ash in a Digital Urn" is one of two albums Bright Eyes released Tuesday, and is dedicated to Stella Marie Mogis and RoseMarie Gentile, two of Oberst's friends who passed away.

NEWS

Bulls turn the page with convincing win

By NICHOLAS MENDOLA | Jan. 26, 2005

With 13:34 left in Tuesday night's men's basketball game between UB and Northern Illinois at Alumni Arena, Bulls senior Danny Gilbert committed one of his four steals and was immediately fouled.

NEWS

Bulls will strive to play 40 minutes against Marshall

By DANIEL GVERTZ | Jan. 26, 2005

With another conference victory under their belts, the UB Bulls have faced the top teams in the Mid-American Conference, and now they are set to face the worst.The Bulls (11-5 overall, 4-4 MAC) match up well against the Marshall Thundering Herd (3-13 overall, 0-7 MAC), a team that has yet to pick up a conference victory this year.Marshall gets the majority of its points from a player coming off the bench in Joe Miles.

NEWS

"Students dodge, dive, duck, dip, dodge"

By SIOBHAN COUNIHAN | Jan. 26, 2005

After movie stars Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn splashed the big screen this summer as dodge ball warriors, the ball-chucking sport has seen a surge in nationwide popularity.Now UB has joined in on the gym class fun, offering dodge ball for the first time as an intramural sport.Because dodge ball is a standard sport in many elementary, middle and high schools, Edward Michael, director of recreation and intramurals, said he believes recent popularity along with nostalgia for the childhood game will generate plenty of interest."Students love the sport.