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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.

Upcoming Games

BuffaloM. BasketballMAC QuarterfinalsAt Cleveland

UB Talent Goes Global

During a night of food, fun and entertainment, a variety of international student organizations showcased their cultures Friday night on a Student Union stage.The International Fiesta, run by the International Clubs Council, hosted over 15 different music and dance acts that sampled both traditional and modern aspects of various cultures.Prior to the show, an equally diverse palette of foods - ranging from Indonesian to Latin American - lined the Flag Room for a multicultural dinner.For many participants, the Fiesta was about more than just entertainment."UB is diverse and the International Fiesta is a good opportunity for it to become integrated," said Shana Malette, a freshman nursing major who performed in the soulful "Sankofa" with the African Dance Troupe.

Bulls Host Huskies Tonight in Alumni

There is madness in the air today.March's zealotry has officially begun, as collegiate squads across the country share a common objective this week: a conference championship, and thus an automatic NCAA bid.

I Bull-ieve In A Thing Called Love

On Feb. 25 against Kent State, the Bulls threw a party. And everyone came.At courtside was the white-haired wizard, former President William R.

Trading Pens for Guns

Richard Brautman knew it was coming for weeks.When the time came, however, he was given 48 hours to pack up his life at UB and prepare to head to the other side of the world.Brautman, a member of the National Guard, was called away from his classes in March 2003 and deployed along with the rest of his unit to bases in Europe and the Middle East.When the United States invaded Iraq in March 2003, it altered the course of many lives, including Brautman's, who was in his first semester of industrial engineering courses at UB after spending two years at Niagara County Community College."It was too much to do in too little time," said Brautman, who fixes aircraft for the 107th Air Refueling Wing of the National Guard at the Niagara Falls Air Force Base.While Brautman cannot disclose exactly where he has been stationed previously, he did say UB was very helpful in making the leaving process as easy as possible so could concentrate on more important things.With the help of a strong support structure that included the Student Response Center, his engineering advisor Jane Sinclair and the Office of Veterans Affairs, Brautman, 23, was able to withdraw from his classes and receive full tuition and fees reimbursement."A lot of students were being called up and the university wanted to make that as seamless as possible," said Sinclair, senior academic advisor in the engineering department.

Correction

A photo that appeared with a story on a debate involving Islam and Christianity incorrectly identified the speaker in the picture.