News

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Better Than Stick Figures 3.12.04

Teach-in Educational and Motivational

I am writing in response to the article "Students Learn Basics of Labor Activism at Teach-in" in the March 8 issue of The Spectrum.I attended the teach-in last Saturday, and I found it very educational and motivational - UB Students Against Sweatshops put together a very nice program.

UB Mourns Drowning Death of Recent Graduate

Twenty-three-year-old UB graduate Aaron J. Coonick of Endicott, N.Y., passed away while vacationing with friends in Florida on March 3.According to the Binghamton Press, Coonick drowned after being pushed from a dock outside Cactus Jack's Bar in Key Largo, Fla., shortly after midnight.Officials ruled his death a result of horseplay, but family members say they are investigating the incident further.Coonick is survived by his father and mother, Thomas and Juliene, his brother Thomas and his sister Melissa.According to Thomas, Coonick's older brother, Coonick received his bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting in January 2003.

Liberals Have Moral Hypocrisy

I am writing in response to the article "Dueling Realities" written by George Zornick in the March 10 issue of The Spectrum.I remember the very touching scene of all of the members of Congress holding hands singing "God Bless America" after the attacks of Sept.

Peace Center Invites Citizens to Say No Once More

As President George W. Bush deployed the first American troops to Iraq on March 20, 2003, city streets across the globe teemed with millions of citizens who said they wanted a different solution to Iraq's supposed danger.A coalition of about 650 local and national groups throughout the United States - known as United for Peace and Justice - has not forgotten that day.Once again, United for Peace and Justice, who helped stage the Feb.

Editorial Cartoon 3.12.04

Sidelines

Reggie WitherspoonAfter already snatching up CollegeInsider.com's Mid-Major Coach of the Year award on Monday, Bulls' head coach Reggie Witherspoon grabbed another prestigious title on Wednesday.Witherspoon was named the Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year for 2003-04 after bringing UB to a 17-11 (11-7 MAC) record thus far.

Activist Urges Work for Latino Rights

"Wake up! Wake yourselves up! Open your eyes to what's happening around you."Wednesday afternoon, the bellowing voice of Vicente "Panama" Alba resonated through a Student Union room full of people who came to hear the activist and former member of the Young Lords, a radical 1960s activist group."The world is not going to change unless you change it," he said, looking intently into the eyes of students in the front row.Invited to speak by the Educational Opportunity Program Student Association, Alba's purpose was to reach out to students and "wake them up" to the struggle of minorities in America for racial, religious and cultural acceptance.Dennis Febo, a SUNY Student Association delegate and member of EOP Student Association, said the club invited Alba to bring students together to think about issues that are currently affecting them.Since the 1960s, Alba has molded a career as a political rights activist.

Hate the Hype

I have a ridiculous habit of finding, and befriending, a wide array of people.Let me tell you, I have a heat seeking radar for the Shady Guy - I can find him within a 50-mile radius.

Scoreboard

BuffaloMAC Basketball QuarterfinalsAt Cleveland

Trip Odometers Account for Extra Miles on SA Vans

This is in response to the article "While SA Vans Add On Miles, Some Van Records Don't Add Up" in the March 10 issue of The Spectrum.I would like to clarify what Erin Shultz terms as "hundreds of miles unaccounted for." As I explained in our meeting, the trip odometer on these vehicles is the same as the regular mileage odometer.

To Go Or Not to Go

While some students win the daily battle with the snooze button and drag themselves out of bed in time for class, others find it more worthwhile to just sleep in.

"Bulls Are on the Rise, Suddenly Everyone's a Fan"

Students have been begged for it long enough - and they're not begging for the sign in front of the Student Union to light up.

Comfort Music at the Mohawk

When describing his band's musical style, Jordan Warner, vocalist and guitarist of Sea Ray, says, "It's music you can wrap around yourself like a warm blanket."The dreamy, atmospheric sound put forth by Sea Ray, a psychedelic rock sextet from Brooklyn, New York, is reminiscent of such a comfort.

"While SA Vans Add On Miles, Some Van Records Don't Add Up"

This is the first of a multi-part series exploring the Student Association's use of the Mandatory Student Activity Fee, what the money goes toward and whom it benefits.One of the perks of being a Student Association club is access to SA's fleet of vans, which clubs can use to transport members or materials to various activities - something club members and SA officials say is a tremendous benefit.However, loose record keeping of the vans, including hundreds of miles unaccounted for and foggy rules regarding usage have called their van practices into question.The Student Association purchased six 2002 Dodge Caravans in June of 2002, which cost a total of $97,200, according to SA officials.Since May, the fleet has racked up a total of 81,527 miles and used hundreds of dollars in gas money, paid for by the Mandatory Student Activity Fee, the $69.75 fee paid by all full-time undergraduates.SA President George Pape said the vans are a necessity for a lot of clubs and many could not operate without them."Let's face it," Pape said.

Council Elections Expand Their Scope

For two years now, being the lone student representative on the UB Council was the most important position nobody knew about.This year, officials expect a competitive race could let the cat out of the bag.After two consecutive years of one-candidate elections, this April's UB Council vote is expected to be a tight contest, according to Jennifer Tuttle, who currently is serving her second term as the council's student member.This year's vote, which takes place April 5-7, will mark several firsts for a UB Council election, including the first time the election is being run by Student Life and the first time elections will be held online.Already several candidates have handed in petitions to vie for the position, but the official list of candidates cannot be published until the deadline is passed, according to Jennifer Wantz, student government liaison.The UB Council-which serves as the primary oversight and advisory body to UB, its president, and its senior administrators-is required to exist under New York state education law and consists of 10 members.

Shakin' it Like a Salt Shaker

I'm treading on thin ice with this one, so before it gets totally played out, a quote from "Lil' Jon" to describe Monday night's UB playoff game."YEAAAAAAAAAAH!"Seriously though, how intense was Monday night's game?

The Curse of Don Quixote

The goal of documentary filmmakers Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe was to create a film on the making of Terry Gilliam's film, "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote."What they ended up with was the complete opposite."The Man of La Mancha" is an often-funny - though eventually painful - account of the unmaking of Gilliam's film version of Cervantes' classic novel, "Don Quixote."UB professor and filmmaker Bruce Jackson and Dorthea Braemer, executive director of Buffalo's non-profit arts center, Squeaky Wheel, were at the Market Arcade Monday night to introduce a screening of the film."There are very few films about how films get made," said Jackson.

Discrepancies in SA Van Use

The Student Association provides something that few other SUNY schools do: vans for student use. But with that power comes responsibility.

UB Students Getting 'Haused'

Hey look, a dead horse.With the figures finally released regarding the prices for "talent" at SA's "Fests," I did a little dance, swallowed my own vomit and prepared for a job I only wish I could be granted - the job that now belongs to Maggie Hausbeck, SA Entertainment director.Taking the middle figure of The Spectrum's anticipated talent cost for MTV's Campus Invasion Tour, the tour featuring Hoobastank, Ima Robot and Lostprophets that comprises SA's Spring Fest 2004, this hypothetical budget consists of the $32,000 spent on Springfest and the $210,000 spent on Godsmack, Lil'Kim and Nas for Fallfest 2003.$242,000.Not adjusting for inflation - I believe SA adjusted for the inflation of the year 2067 - if you were to reawaken Bobby Orr, he could play almost seven seasons of defense for the Sabres based on his 1967-68 salary of $35,000.Alas, we're talking concerts.