News

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Sidelines

BasketballFor only the second time in his career, Turner Battle has been named the Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week.

"Seasonal Fashion Trends Feature Tweeds, Sparkles and Pointy-Toed Shoes"

As the icy months of winter roll in, Buffalo natives and visitors struggle to stay both warm and fashionable.

GSA Fee Increase Passes

Graduate students voted to keep their activity fee mandatory and increase it by $9 before Thanksgiving break, allowing the GSA more breathing room in their budget to provide services and improve existing programs.The referendum, which comes up for a vote every four years, consisted of two questions.

Bombs vs. Books

Less than two months ago, John Simpson gave a pointed speech at his inauguration as UB's 14th President about the importance of public higher education that is accessible to everyone.He noted that democracy thrives on an educated populace, and that as our economy becomes more knowledge-based, higher education is the key to economic and national successes.The speech resonated with many people at UB, all of whom should be concerned about the actions being taken in Congress regarding Pell Grants, the single most important piece of help the federal government gives to low-income students.The Bush administration has proposed a cut to the program, which could leave 1.2 million low-income students with reduced grants and 100,000 students without any grants at all.

Checkstops: Prevention is Better Than a Cure

With few days left before the end of the fall semester, most students have already gotten their spring semester schedules finalized.

Bulls Get One-Second Chance

While most students took off for home to celebrate Thanksgiving, the University at Buffalo men's basketball team took to the hardwood to capture a winning record.Last Tuesday night the Bulls beat Fairleigh Dickinson at home in storybook fashion.

Bulls Look to Get Even Against Northeastern

After losing their first two games of the season, the UB women's basketball team has a chance to even their record at 2 before even playing a home game in Alumni Arena.The Bulls (1-2 overall, 0-0 Mid-American Conference) will travel to Boston to take on the Northeastern University Huskies (1-3 overall, 0-0 America East), a team coming off a recent 10-point victory over IUPUI."(Northeastern) is going to put a lot of defensive pressure on us, they are a very good rebounding team, they put a lot of pressure on the boards," said UB head coach Cheryl Dozier.

Ben Sargent Cartoon: 12.01.04

What? No Clowns?

"A Thousand Clowns" is a disappointing romantic comedy that utilizes unremarkable, base humor.The play, which opened this weekend at Studio Arena Theatre, features six nearly believable actors and comedy consisting mostly of funny voices and props.

Profs to Post Some Course Syllabi Next Fall

With the semester winding down, the Student Association has made mixed progress on several reforms it proposed in early November.Burgio has scored a success by working with Kerry Grant, vice provost for Academic Affairs, to secure an online program that will post course syllabi months before the semester starts so that students can better prepare for classes and judge what they're getting into.However, progress has come more slowly on reforms to student insurance, campus dining services, a proposed winter music festival, and changes to the campus parking policy.Burgio said the course syllabi posting program will be voluntary at first, but he expects to have 30 to 40 percent of courses participating, especially general education courses."It looks like we'll have something up and running in August 2005," he said.Still in the works are proposals for a second, cheaper Sub-Board health insurance plan, and several rules changes in the Student-Wide Judiciary's procedures.Burgio said SA is still "weighing the benefits" of an alternative insurance plan, and there's so much to sift through regarding the SWJ, that some of it is even over his head."It's coming along a little more slowly than I'd like," he said, adding that SA will issue a comprehensive report in March to address all the final changes.Burgio also had a meeting several weeks ago with Mitchell Green, executive director of FSA Campus Dining, to discuss what Burgio said were policies unfair to students.

Bulls Ready for Raiders

After destroying the Sycamores of Indiana State last week by nearly 30 points, the men's basketball team (2-1 overall, 0-0 Mid-American Conference) will return to action tonight at Alumni Arena where they'll face the Colgate University Red Raiders (2-2 overall, 0-0 Patriot League).UB will look to continue its winning ways and win its third game in a row after dropping the 2004-2005 season opener to UConn on Nov.

"Family, Friends Mourn Fallen Soldier"

It didn't matter to David Roustum that he was in his senior year of college, or that he was only months away from earning his degree.

Bulls Break Into Win Column Over Lafayette

After losing their first two games of the new season, the UB women's basketball team came home and found the HSBC Arena to be the change of scenery they so desperately needed.UB (1-2) rode the hot hands of forward Viorica Badinici in a 54-45 victory over Lafayette (1-2) on Sat., Nov.

Sidelines

WrestlingUB was able to score an 11th place finish out of 13 teams in the Lock Haven Mat Town Tournament.

Scoreboard

Men

"Ming's Caf?PI: Great Food, Better Atmosphere"

For those who think of Chinese food only in its takeout form, Ming's Caf?

Effects of Giant Store Debated

Buffalo city officials have given the thumbs up to a huge project that will locate an arena-sized Bass Pro Shop in the old Memorial Auditorium on Main Street in downtown Buffalo.The project will bring an infusion of people and money to Buffalo's waterfront, say some local officials.Bass Pro Shops specialize in equipment ranging from fishing and hunting to camping supplies, boats and other outside activity gear and apparel.

The Internet Gaming Revolution

What is the one thing that could devastate the current online gaming market? Freedom. In a genre of gaming dominated by monthly fees, the majority of which average around $15 a month, the most frightening thought for developers like Mythic and Sony is that a free game will emerge to rival and possibly replace the existing games."Guild Wars," a fantasy PC game slated for a February 2005 release, promises to do just that.

Not Seeing Any Lighters

Despite being labeled by many as immature and by some as just plain out of his mind, rapper Eminem has managed to top the billboard charts again.What was anticipated was the crass, yet intelligent lyrical potency that his listeners were accustomed to on some of his previous work, albums like "The Slim Shady LP" and "The Marshall Mathers LP." However, "Encore" only keeps its listeners waiting in anticipation for originality and an actually good song.

Class Sends Wrong Message

My biggest gripe about pornography is that, in my opinion, it sends the wrong message to young people about sexual relationships between a man and a woman ("Porn Class Heats Up Spring Registration," Nov.