News

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Student Government Elections Marred by Controversy

It was not a good year for elections at UB, as virtually every election held was fraught with complaints of impropriety - and a number were overturned.The school year began with students learning that the results of the previous spring's Graduate Student Association Executive Board elections were void, due to fraudulent conduct by a candidate.Treasurer candidate Sanjeev Saha allegedly distributed sweatshirts to graduate students before the election in exchange for votes and student identification numbers that could be used to cast votes via the Internet.The GSA Election Committee overturned the results as criticisms of online voting grew.

"Two Steps Forward, One Step Back"

This year, Buffalo became home to two new nightclubs: La Boom and The Sphere.The doors to a Main Street party favorite for UB students have finally reopened after much delay.

President Greiner Inches Toward Retirement

President William R. Greiner's announcement of his plans to resign the office of the president took some by shock early this year and left many wondering what his - and UB's - future will be.Greiner said he plans to remain at UB as a professor in the School of Law, where he served prior to his administrative positions within UB."I always said I would not retire as president," Greiner said.

Ground Zero Flag

Captain Stephen Spall, a 1985 UB alumnus, presented President William R. Greiner with an American flag flown over Ground Zero during the UB convocation ceremony on Sunday, Sept.

Artists Make Buffalo a Brighter Place

This year saw a wide variety of art exhibits both at UB and in the wider Buffalo community. While the Albright-Knox Art gallery featured artists like Laylah Ali, Frank Moore and Amedeo Modigliani, UB's art department and galleries presented (sometimes in conjunction with local art venues) the work of many of UB's art students."Young Photography: Multiple Expressions":One particularly notable piece in the exhibit is "Trojan Funeral Sacrifice." The piece, by Bradley D.

Heart Breaker

The UB women's basketball team was a bright spot in a difficult year for UB's major sports. On Tuesday March 4, UB and Kent State met in their final regular season game with a possible East Division title on the line.

Train Of Thought: 4.28.03

Byrned to a Crisp

This is the final installment of The Spectrum this year, which means the summer is finally upon us.

Early Decision Admittance Comes Under Fire

In November of 2002, Yale University and Stanford University announced that they were going to discontinue their binding early decision admittance policies, beginning with the Fall 2004 school year.

"Wild Parties, Vaginas and Fat Ladies Singing"

UB Theater was on fire this year with presentations of everything from the experimental to the just-off-Broadway.Last fall, the Department of Theater and Dance presented "The Wild Party," in the first production of the musical since it's off-Broadway premiere.Not every college production receives as much attention as a premiere, so it's exciting for the cast to be giving life to a relatively new piece.Andrew Lippa, who wrote "The Wild Party," visited UB during the show's run and will attend a few performances.

"What Goes Around, Comes Around"

Edit Note: This was an amazing game, as those of you who were there know. Kent State was a great team who made an appearance in the MAC Championship game, and there were some classic quotes from this story, Battle's in particular is great.With 7.6 seconds left in a game tied at 66, University at Buffalo guard Turner Battle charged down the floor, and dropped a beauty through the net to give Buffalo a two point lead over Kent State with only 2.3 seconds remaining.Play resumed on a full-court pass down to Kent State's star forward Antonio Gates that was tipped and fell into the waiting hands of Bryan Bedford for a last second, last chance three-pointer that hit nothing but net and silenced the rabid crowd."When I saw that shot go up I had a feeling it was going in," Battle said.

Four of the Year's Big Releases

Hometown folk/rock goddess Ani DiFranco released two albums this year: "So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter" and "Evolve." Staff Reporter Nora Hasson on "So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter":One of the best things about Ani DiFranco as a performer is her ability to make her songs into living things.

Wartime Gas Prices Pinch Students' Pockets

Conflicts in the Middle East and a strike in Venezuela were both factors that played a role in elevated gas prices this year.

"Students, Administrators Butt Heads over UB Sweatshop Policies"

In December, UB Students Against Sweatshops held a press conference to announce they were talking to the administration about aligning the university with the Worker Rights Consortium, an independent monitoring body that investigates the business practices of companies producing merchandise bearing college and universities' logos.At the press conference, Dan Cross, a member of UBSAS, said the organization had a meeting with Dennis Black, vice president for Student Affairs, earlier in the week to discuss steps the university was taking to ensure that products bearing the UB logo were not manufactured in sweatshops.According to Cross, a junior history and Spanish major, the conversation with Black was successful.

Better Than Stick Figures: 4.28.03

Broncos Prevail in Thriller with Ball State

Nobody talked about Western Michigan, but in the end it seemed so obvious. The No. 4 seed was not seeing the attention that the MAC's other elite teams were seeing, but the Broncos were a team that was growing up before everyone's eyes.

Students Question UB Policy Forbidding Co-Ed Rooming

Each year, as students begin a new semester, finding the right living situation depends as much on with whom they choose to live as where.

Speakers Series 'Distinguished' by High-Profile Lineup

Time magazine's "Person of the Year," a best-selling novelist, an astronaut, a politician and a well-known television personality graced the halls of UB this year for the 16th year of the Distinguished Speakers series.Katie Couric kicked off the series in October, when she spoke to a packed Alumni Arena audience about her television career and her husband's unsuccessful battle against colon cancer.

"Boys of 'Fraternity Life' Face UB, Buffalo Reprimands"

MTV's choice to film its reality-based television series "Fraternity Life" and "Sorority Life" on campus this year stirred up controversy across not only campus, but in the city of Buffalo as well.In the wake of the Princeton Review ranking UB at No.

Three Blind Dates

The Spectrum put out an open call to UB singles to be participants in The Spectrum's all-expenses-paid "Experiment in Romance" series in celebration of Valentine's Day.