News - The Spectrum

NEWS

"New Leaders for SA Senate, Assembly"

By RACHEL BELLAVIA | Oct. 13, 2004

Two weeks after elections, the Student Association Senate met for the first time this semester and chose junior Mazin Kased as Senate chair.For most undergraduates, the Senate's importance lies in its job to allocate SA funds and finances."The Senate has been monitoring finances and been providing some serious benefits and results," said SA President Anthony Burgio in a State of the Student Association address before the meeting.After his election to the chair position, Kased touched on the allocation issue and emphasized that funds should be properly distributed to clubs, both large and small."Even with the ($10) increase, we are trying to make sure that students get enough money," he said.

NEWS

Students Take Play to Belgium

By RUBEN MUSSAFI | Oct. 13, 2004

The student actors UB has to offer are exceptionally professional, even in rehearsal. Spectrum had the chance to catch rehearsals of Rebecca Gillman's "Spinning Into Butter" before its debut this weekend.The title of the play comes from Helen Bannerman's 1921 book, "The Story of Little Black Sambo." The play is about an African-American student at a university who becomes the recipient of hate mail, which sends the students and faculty into a state of shock.

NEWS

Players Who Hazed Freshman Will Get Transcript Notation

By JENNIFER FUSCO | Oct. 13, 2004

The UB soccer players charged with hazing will receive a permanent transcript notation of the incident on their student record, according to UB officials.Recently, the SUNY administration put a direct emphasis on how the act of hazing will affect students' transcripts.In a letter sent out to all SUNY schools last April, SUNY Chancellor Robert King recommended that "each campus should develop a 'permanent transcript notation' policy that addressed hazing and other serious violations of the student conduct code, especially conduct which leads to the death or serious physical injury to another person."On June 8, the SUNY advisory central administration sent out an additional letter, stating the same hazing policy recommendation and adding that, "students found responsible for hazing and other serious violations of the student conduct code will receive, as part of their sanction, a permanent transcript notation."According to Dennis Black, vice president for student affairs, the soccer team incident was UB's first try at implementing the permanent transcript notation.

NEWS

Offensive Strings Attached

By GARY VIDER | Oct. 13, 2004

Trey Parker and Matt Stone fans are on high alert for this weekend's release of "Team America: World Police." The creators of Comedy Central's hit cartoon "South Park" test the limits of tactlessness in their new comedy, crossing world politics with puppet sex.But Parker and Stone conduct the onscreen magic necessary to make a puppet puke, leaving absolutely nothing to the audience's imagination.The film, directed by Parker, tells the tale of a fictitious group of superhero puppets that call themselves Team America.

NEWS

New Assembly Speaker Wants To Be 'Great Voice'

By JEREMY G. BURTON | Oct. 13, 2004

The Student Association Assembly elected Hassan Shibly to the position of Assembly Speaker Tuesday afternoon at the group's first meeting of the year.Twelve members of the assembly attended the meeting, run by Vice President Dela Yador.

NEWS

Sidelines

Oct. 13, 2004

Athletes of the WeekThe University at Buffalo named their Male and Female Athletes of the Week, with honors going to UB soccer players Mirnes Biscevic and Natalia Crofut.Biscevic, a senior defense/midfielder on the UB men's soccer team scored the winning goal in UB's 2-1 overtime victory over Bowling Green on Sunday.

NEWS

A Profile of Strength: Abdarahmane Wone

By KATHERINE BECZAK | Oct. 13, 2004

Mauritanian tea, boiled in a small kettle, mixed with flowers of spearmint, has a light-brown, almost greenish tint.

NEWS

Women's Soccer Struggles

By JON BIELICKI | Oct. 13, 2004

The UB women's soccer team returned from a long road trip with a tie and a loss against two conference foes.The Bulls (3-10-1 overall, 2-5-1 MAC) managed to come away with a 2-2 tie on Friday when they visited defending MAC Champion Western Michigan.

NEWS

Put SA Senate Meeting On Your Schedules

By Editorial | Oct. 13, 2004

Less then three weeks ago, The Spectrum endorsed the Student Association's request for a $10 increase in the mandatory student activity fee.

NEWS

No Flu Shots at UB This Fall

By BILL NIELSEN | Oct. 13, 2004

With the temperature dropping and flu season advancing, UB will be unable to provide flu shots for nearly 3,500 students enrolled this semester, according to UB Health Services.In the past, UB has provided vaccinations to students in order to prevent outbreaks of sickness on campus, but this year the corporation that provides UB with the medicine, Chiron, will be unable to release a supply for the fall 2004 through the winter 2005 period due to their license being suspended in Great Britain.The news came as a shock to UB Health Services in the wake of a nationwide shortage of the vaccine.

NEWS

"Help Us, Help You (Read: Free Stuff)"

Oct. 13, 2004

Dear Spectrum reader,We

NEWS

Soldiers Know Truth of Iraq War

By MICHAEL F. STRASSER | Oct. 13, 2004

I am writing in response to Sami Hanna's letter to the editor, which appeared in the Oct. 11 issue of The Spectrum.I wish Justin well and know that when he deploys, there are more than enough patriots at home with prayers and care packages to provide the support he will want on his mission.Justin, your response was an easy target for the likes of Hanna because it is what you believe and came from your heart.

NEWS

Star Spangled Eyes

By JOSEPH SILVENT | Oct. 13, 2004

The Boss, The Poet, Creedence Clearwater Revival front man, the country beauties, and the ever-so-political Eddie Vedder are just a few of the artists chosen as the inspiration for the "Fahrenheit 9/11" soundtrack."An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing," are just a few words originally written by Bob Dylan, covered on this album on track two by Bruce Springsteen.

NEWS

Running the Asylum

By COLLEEN BURTON | Oct. 13, 2004

On Friday night at the Mohawk Place, the small stage was strewn with strange instruments. Everything from the banjo to the bass, from the violin to the washboard made an appearance.The Asylum Street Spankers were in Buffalo.There is perhaps nothing more refreshing than a cowboy with a washboard strapped over his chest, ready to jam for an eager audience."Hello, Buffalo.

NEWS

Air Attacks Abound in Week Five

By CHRIS LIPPA | Oct. 13, 2004

Led by an outlandish amount of yards in the air by many of the league's premier quarterbacks, the NFL's week five a few close games but for the most part, saw the favorites take home victories.Minnesota 34, Houston 28In what shaped up to be a very close game, the high-flying Vikings (3-1) continued to dominate their opponents through their air attack.

NEWS

Hangovers: Nature's Punishment For Those Who Overindulge

By MARGO THIESEN | Oct. 13, 2004

Students have been hearing about the dangers of alcohol since elementary school. Programs like "D.A.R.E." and "Just Say No" are designed to create awareness of alcohol's dangerous effects from a very young age.But these educational programs have nothing on Mother Nature and her dreaded hangover."A hangover is telling your body that drinking too much was very bad for you, and that you should not drink that much ever again," said Marla Jurek, a certified rehabilitation counselor at the Wellness Center.Besides severely taxing the body's liver, kidneys, brain and other internal organs, alcohol puts those who overindulge at risk of death."Alcohol is a poison and it can kill you, just like any other poison," said Frank Johnson of the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information.Ingesting alcohol dehydrates the body, drains it of vitamins and minerals, and depresses the central nervous system, Johnson said.

NEWS

Icon Rocks On

By JOSEPH SILVENT | Oct. 13, 2004

A city plagued with the inevitable consequences of crime not only turned away crowds but also devastated the Icon, located at 391 Ellicott St.

NEWS

"Problems With Lot Lighting, Blue Light Phones Addressed by Safety Committee"

By JENNIFER NIELSON | Oct. 13, 2004

Students are less safe on campus because of problems with blue light phones and insufficient lighting in parking lots, UB and community officials said Tuesday at a Personal Safety Committee meeting.Amy Vincent, a representative from the Anti-Rape Task Force, said many students have complained to her over the years that the blue lights on safety phones are too high up and the lights themselves aren't strong enough at night."The pole is too high up and the trees cover the light, causing the students to wonder where the nearest blue light phone is located," Vincent said.Another problem with the blue lights is that some of them are often damaged or knocked over by snowplows during the winter months because they are too close to the curb, said John Grela, director of public safety.Grela added that just this week, UB has started the process of fixing the blue light units "vandalized" by snowplows last winter.

NEWS

Bush Slashes Funding For Family Planning

By JESSICA PACKARD | Oct. 13, 2004

President George W. Bush has put a plan into action to discontinue family planning funding to the United Nations Population Fund.

NEWS

Women's Tennis Returns From Strong Tournament

By JOHN HARDOBY | Oct. 13, 2004

The University at Buffalo women's tennis team left Vestal, N.Y. this past weekend with a collection of wins after competing in a four-team invitational at host school, Binghamton University.The two-day tournament was a non-scoring event that was played in a blind dual format, in which the four teams faced off against each other, head-to-head."Every tournament we want to walk out with our best game, we want to play for every point," said UB head coach Kathy Twist.