News - The Spectrum

NEWS

Inquiring minds want to know

By SAMANTHA MAZIARZ | Sep. 1, 2004

If Agent Scully from "The X-Files" were a real person, she would probably work here in Amherst at the Center for Inquiry.The center, which houses the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), has offices in almost every country around the globe but their world headquarters is right across the street on Sweet Home Road.CSICOP, founded in part by ground-breaking astronomer Carl Sagan and prolific science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov, aims to promote scientific literacy by objectively investigating all types of paranormal and fringe-science claims.

NEWS

While We Were Gone

By NICHOLAS MENDOLA | Sep. 1, 2004

Somewhere within the unquenchable, hellish inferno that encapsulated the new releases of this past summer was a little corner of heaven in which ten or so artists congregated to bring a little piece of heaven to an otherwise dismal season.Radio hip-hop had the finest summer, presenting us with long-awaited releases from the Roots and the Beastie Boys, "The Tipping Point" and "To The 5 Boroughs," respectively."The Tipping Point," the follow-up to 2002's "Phrenology," was a little bit of a departure for the Roots: more pop, less street, all good.

NEWS

"WOW, WHAT A DIFFERENCE"

By ALEXANDER CHENG AND MIKE FLATT | Sep. 1, 2004

Every summer comes complete with its load of heavily touted blockbusters, most which fizzle and fade like Pop Rocks.

NEWS

Bulls Plan to De-Claw Eagles in Season Opener

By CHRIS LIPPA | Sep. 1, 2004

This year, the first Thursday night of the semester means a whole lot more than just heading down to Chippewa Street for a night on the town.

NEWS

Upcoming Games

Sep. 1, 2004

BuffaloM. SoccerWednesday vs. Colgate at 7 pmVolleyballWednesday at Syracuse 7 pmFootballThursday at Eastern Michigan 7 pm

NEWS

Graduation Goodbyes

By SAMANTHA MAZRIAZ | Apr. 26, 2004

The semester is coming to a close, and for many graduating seniors, these days will be their last at UB.As they sell off dorm furniture, hand out commencement tickets and begin mailing resumes, many must decide what will become of the romantic relationships that have blossomed during their time here.

NEWS

Home Town Bragging Rights

By JUSTIN HAAG | Apr. 26, 2004

Four teams, two days, one winner.This Tuesday, Western New York's highest caliber collegiate baseball teams face off at Dunn Tire Park to decide who will get a year of local bragging rights.In day one of the tournament, UB will meet the Niagara Purple Eagles at 3 p.m.

NEWS

Bills First Round Breakdown

By PATRICK FINCH | Apr. 26, 2004

The initial reaction by many Western New Yorkers on Saturday was: "Huh?"However some of us, including myself, completely understood and agreed that by drafting Lee Evans and J.P.

NEWS

More Beautiful With Age

By JACKIE O and JACKIE O | Apr. 26, 2004

I remember it as if it were yesterday.After an entire year of proving my driving capability on the roads of my little suburban town in my father's Nissan Maxima, on my 17th birthday I was presented with what I consider to be my current pride and joy: a dull, metal colored 1990 Buick Regal.Accented by a hideous maroon interior, the car was clearly a bargain, but it was the best birthday gift that my father could have ever given me.Bigger than a boat and impossible to park at first, it was clear that my American-made vehicle was going to keep me unharmed in the various accidents that awaited me in my future.I had my share of troubles with the Buick, as any used car owner does, but in essence my 1990 Buick Regal has been and continues to be solid and reliable.

NEWS

Upcoming Games

Apr. 26, 2004

BuffaloBaseballTuesday-Wednesday: at Big 4 Tournament

NEWS

Media Scholars Meet for Major Conference at CFA

By RYAN MCCARTHY | Apr. 26, 2004

North Campus became a popular international destination this weekend, thanks to the Department of Media Study's international conference "FreeCollaboration."FreeCollaboration was a four-day long event, running from Thursday night to Sunday afternoon, with dozens of scheduled events taking place throughout the weekend.Organized by assistant professor of media study Trebor Scholz and University of Queensland, Australia media theorist Geert Lovink, the conference focused on new ways of using technology for communication and collaboration."The main focus is on online collaboration," said Scholz.

NEWS

"Paint My House, Eli Manning"

By NICHOLAS MENDOLA | Apr. 26, 2004

There are times when it only takes 2.5 hours or so to cause so much pressure to build up inside someone's head that the only answers are:a) frontal lobotomyb) millions of broken blood vessels and hemorrhaging brain tissue.One of those times occurred this weekend, where in a span of mere hours, the nation learned of one man's selfless dedication and another's selfish greed, both in the domain of professional football.Former Arizona Cardinal Pat Tillman, 27, was a specialist in the 75th Ranger Regiment, a light infantry unit from Fort Benning, Ga.

NEWS

"Hoobastank Rocks, But Students Stay Away"

By HEATHER NELLIS | Apr. 26, 2004

Alumni Arena can hold 8,464 spectators at a normal event. Spring Fest failed to utilize this space.At first glance the annual concert, which this year featured Ima Robot, Lostprophets and Hoobastank, looked as though it had attracted an impressive crowd.

NEWS

Bulls Take Two in Wild Series

By JENNIFER GILLAN | Apr. 26, 2004

If the same two baseball teams play each other three days in a row, what are the chances the games will be somewhat similar?Well, it depends.

NEWS

Student Athletes Pay Tribute to Two of Their Own

By GEORGE ZORNICK | Apr. 26, 2004

Two fallen members of the athletics community at UB were honored by fellow athletes and administrators during ceremonies Sunday on North Campus.The crew team dedicated their regatta against Eastern Michigan Sunday morning to Nan Harvey, the associate athletics director and senior women's athletic administrator who died last fall after a battle with cancer.Later in the day, the crew team participated in a tree dedication for their teammate, Christine Dickerson, who was a freshman on the team when she was killed in a car accident in December 2002.Crew team member Sara Sheffer participated in the Harvey Cup and later spoke at the 15-minute memorial ceremony and tree dedication for Dickerson.Sheffer said the team felt it was important to create their own memorial to Dickerson in addition to the family's memorial on campus, which is located on the Amherst Bike Trail behind the dorm Dickerson lived in as a freshman."This was from the student athletes as a whole," said Sheffer.

NEWS

Rowing in the Rain

By JUSTIN HAAG | Apr. 26, 2004

Even the torrential downpour couldn't quiet the enthusiastic crowd cheering on the UB women's crew team as two boats raced neck and neck to the finish line in the last race of the inaugural Harvey Cup on Sunday.From the efforts of the seniors on UB's second varsity eight boat, you couldn't tell that the Eastern Michigan Eagles had already won the Harvey Cup, which is awarded to the winning varsity eight team of the regatta each year.

NEWS

Orientation Will Offer More Options

By JENNIFER FUSCO | Apr. 26, 2004

In late June, thousands of high school students around the world will throw their mortarboards in the air, trade their locker pockets for dorm decorations and clear their schedules for UB's freshman orientation.UB's orientation process consists of several two-day orientations, running from July 8 to Aug.

NEWS

NBA Playoff Update

By PAUL FEUER | Apr. 26, 2004

If the East needs one thing to brag about this year, it could be that the favored teams have been more dominant than the West, so far.

NEWS

"Pat Tillman, Pioneer and Cardinal, Dies in Afghanistan"

By Editorial | Apr. 26, 2004

The American public was presented with two conflicting messages and symbols this weekend, as NFL player Pat Tillman was killed in action in Afghanistan and the nation saw the first pictures of deceased soldiers returning from Iraq.In the case of the anonymous flag-draped coffins, we heard from Bush administration officials that the images should be secret in order to respect the families.

NEWS

Contestants Get Down and Dirty at Oozfest 2004

By NATIA DAVITI | Apr. 26, 2004

Coated in mud from head to toe, 128 teams battled each other in the 20th annual Oozfest mud volleyball tournament Saturday for a first-place trophy and a lot of fun at the mud pits near South Lake Village.The theme of this year's Oozfest - with its 21st anniversary next year - was "Almost Legal."The 128 co-ed teams of students, faculty, alumni and community members were allowed a maximum of eight players.The $120 it cost each team to participate included a playing fee, doughnuts for breakfast, subs for lunch, t-shirts and side events such as a three-legged race and root beer pong."There's always crazy stuff going on.