News

---

"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.

Better Than Stick Figures 3.10.04

Train of Thought 3.10.04

Sidelines

Men's BasketballReggie Witherspoon and Yassin Idbihi were the first Bulls to garner postseason awards on Monday.

The Cleveland Express

While teams like Manhattan, Northern Iowa and Gonzaga have already earned their berth into NCAA Tournament by winning their respective conferences; the University at Buffalo is just starting to catch that March madness fever that those teams already have.The fever is spreading, fast nonetheless.A record attendance of 8,971 witnessed the Bulls (17-11, 11-7 Mid-American Conference) rewrite history in their first MAC playoff victory and Buffalo will need all the support they can get in Cleveland, Ohio, home of the 2004 First Energy MAC Tournament.Toledo (19-9, 12-6 MAC) is just under two hours from Cleveland, making their Quarterfinal game against the Bulls seem like a home game for the Rockets according to a few MAC coaches.

Dueling Realities

Last week, President George W. Bush kicked off his re-election campaign with advertisements featuring flag-draped coffins being dragged out of the smoldering ruins of the World Trade Center.

Does Size Really Matter?

When low-cut jeans showcase plumber cracks at every corner and Starbucks and Wal-Mart have grabbed just about every piece of available real estate, the important question still reigns supreme.Does size really matter?To answer this sometimes-startling question, many would definitively say "yes." On the other hand, some brave souls who feel compelled to root for the under dog would dare to say empathetically, "No it does not."In choosing the proper bookstore, the question remains the same: Whether to go to a massive corporate conglomerate like Borders or Barnes and Noble, or a smaller locally-owned, independent store such as Talking Leaves or Queen City Bookstore."We were founded as an alternative to the then-corporate chain stores," said Jon Welch, owner of Talking Leaves.

The Culture Lost in 'Translations'

When Captain Lancey and Lieutanent Yolland of the British Army are directed to rename and re-map Baile Ballybeag, Ireland, they've no idea of the rich language and history they're destroying.This month The Irish Classical Theater Company is exploring what is lost when an ancient language is translated and transformed, in Brian Friel's "Translations."For the ICTC, which doesn't deal strictly in Irish subjects, this production seems like a fitting endeavor for them to delve into.

Campus Police Seek Suspect in Hit-and-Run

A female student was hit by an unidentified vehicle on Hadley Road in front of Governors Residence Halls Monday night and taken to the Erie County Medical Center where she was treated for minor injuries.According to John Grela, director of public safety, there are few details about the incident since there are no reported witnesses."The best we could put together at this point in time is that the lady was crossing a street and was hit by a vehicle," he said.The driver of the vehicle, which Grela said was probably a dark green or brown SUV, did not stop after hitting the girl."She was found lying in the road," Grela said.

Scoreboard

BuffaloM. BasketballMAC First RoundMonday: Buffalo90Northern Illinois73

Getting It Wright

To every Batman there is a Robin. Behind every Simon, a Garfunkel.There's the star of the show and then the guy behind the scenes.

Bulls Beat Huskies in Front of Record Crowd

An hour before game time the entire student section was packed, with a large portion already chanting and screaming their heads off in preparation for the Buffalo Bulls' first ever Mid-American Conference home playoff game.By tip-off, not a seat in Alumni Arena was available and fans lined the rim of the arena to make up the largest crowd to ever watch a basketball game in Alumni Arena (8,791).But just 12 minutes into the game it appeared that the Northern Illinois Huskies were on the verge of taking the UB faithful and more importantly, the UB Bulls out of the contest.

Fall Fest Was Worth It

The editorial in the March 8 issue of The Spectrum titled "Spring Fest Under Funded" stated the Student Association is "out of touch with the desires of the students" due to "mismanagement and irresponsibility." This is in reference to the recent announcement of Spring Fest Campus Invasion Tour.

Gao Minglu and the Dawning of a New Era

Historically, China and the United States have not been two kindly superpowers. Dating back to China's rise to Communism and the ensuing bloodshed of the Korean War, there has been much mistrust between the two economic and military powerhouses.Today, relations between the two are strengthening.Nowhere is it more apparent than in the future arrival of "The Wall: Reshaping Contemporary Chinese Art," a major art exhibit coming to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in 2005.Organized by Gao Minglu, an assistant professor in the Department of Art History, this ambitious exhibition is poised to be the largest installation of contemporary Chinese art to travel beyond its borders.

Yassin 'The Dream' Runs Wild

Monday night against Northern Illinois, the Buffalo Bulls entertained a crowd of 8,971 with a game that can be best described as masterful.The first half was anything but lackluster.