News

---

Romance for Sale

As Valentine's Day approaches, college students - notorious for being on a limited budget - continue looking for the perfect gift for that "special someone."For those seeking traditional gift items, Hallmark stores around the country have stuffed animals, sonnet-filled cards and heart-shaped candy boxes."I buy gifts, sometimes just a few things for friends," said Amy Jukam, a junior occupational therapy major.

An Uncertain Future for Tomorrow

"How do you function as a satirist when reality has become so ludicrous?"Political cartoonist Tom Tomorrow posed this opening statement to a sizeable audience at the Woldman Theater in Norton Hall last Thursday night.

Pumpkinhead' Speaks Out Against Proposed Tuition Increase

Last Friday, an anti-tuition hike protester wearing a pumpkin mask appeared on the Student Union balcony and addressed students gathered below.The small crowd scattered on the ground floor of the Union was brought to attention by feedback from the protester's megaphone and one Putnam's employee who yelled, "Look at that pumpkin!"The protester, known only as "Pumpkinhead," began a short, mumbled speech by repeatedly chanting, "I refuse to pay higher tuition."The protest was interrupted by what sounded like a megaphone short circuit, but he managed to throw a stack of flyers over the guardrail before running through the Union's promenade exit.The flyer read: "Join Pumpkinhead in protest of the tuition increase or submit to the state like dogs.

Increase Seen in Number of Classes Taught by TAs

According to a report presented by the Faculty Senate Budget Priorities Committee at the last Faculty Senate Executive Committee meeting, there are more UB students taking classes taught by teaching assistants than there were seven years ago.The committee collected information between 1996 and 2001 to determine the percentage of classes taught by TAs and non-tenure track faculty members, who are staff hired by UB and given two to three-year contracts.The report indicated that the percentage of TAs and non-tenure faculty members has been on the rise in departments throughout UB since the study was initiated in 1996, ranging from an increase of 3.6 percent in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences to an increase of 25 percent in the School of Management.A number of factors has contributed to the change in staffing since 1996, including a higher demand for classes as a result of increased enrollment, curriculum changes, difficulty recruiting tenured faculty and the fact that, the report stated, hiring TAs and non-tenure track faculty is cheaper."Non-tenured faculty are cheaper, have no voice in the institution and usually do not receive benefits," said Michael Cohen, chairman of FSEC.Cohen said there are advantages and disadvantages to the changing composition of UB's faculty.

Sidelines

Buffalo BanditsBuffalo's indoor lacrosse team exacted retribution for their only loss of the season with a 14-8 win over the defending NLL Champion Toronto Rock before a season-high crowd of 8,414 fans at the HSBC Arena Saturday night.Mike Accursi had four goals for Buffalo.

Slow Start Once Again Dooms Bulls at Home

The more you watch the Bulls, the more you see the same mistakes being made over and over again. Buffalo has been plagued by slow starts at home throughout the conference schedule and Sunday night was no different as the team fell at Alumni Arena to Northern Illinois 76-64 before 771 fans.

Overcapacity Students May Be Housed in Hotel Next Fall

Until space is made available in the residence halls, over 200 students may call a Western New York hotel "home."An expected 150-student increase in the size of the fall 2003 freshman class, coupled with UB's failed bid to buy the University Inn for student housing, may force officials to temporarily house students in a hotel.According to Joseph Krakowiak, director of University Residence Halls and Apartments, the plan will likely end the practice of placing overcapacity students in a full room.While Krakowiak said that UB has not yet to choose a facility, he said UB plans to house only transfer students and upperclassmen in hotels."We will go through a purchasing procedure that will enable all interested hotels to bid on our business next fall," Krakowiak said.Students will not live in the hotels for an extended period, Krakowiak said.

Counseling Services for College Students

A recent study conducted at the Kansas State University shows a sharp increase from 1989 to 2001 of college students seeking psychological counseling.

Clearing the Future for a UB Band

"It probably would be difficult if we cared enough about school," said Nick Mendola, a sophomore English major and Spectrum reporter.

Rewarding Excellence

As the University Honors and University Scholars programs at UB expand to give qualified students an academic experience outside the norm, nearly one-third of incoming freshmen will receive some form of academic tuition assistance next fall - the highest number in the university's history.In keeping with the trends across the nation, UB has increased its focus on and commitment to the honors programs and to the students they recruit."Our goal has always been to open up honors, and to open up our university for students," said Josephine Capuana, administrative director of the University Honors Program.

Letter To the Editor

Friday's (Feb.7, 2003) editorial addressing academic standards errs on two counts: notification of the need to select a major and rate of credit hour completion.Students who have completed 60 credit hours but have not yet been accepted in a major will be alerted, will be asked to consult an advisor and will be encouraged to apply for a major.

Better Than Stick Figures: 2.10.03

Unpleasant Times at Mount Pleasant for UB Wrestling

Instead of coming out of Mount Pleasant, Mich., with a massive upset, the UB Bulls wrestling team came home on a down note as they fell to the 16th-ranked Central Michigan Chippewas.Central Michigan got huge victories at the 174-pound and 197-pound division and downed the visiting Buffalo Bulls Friday night, 19-12.In what probably was the turning point of the entire match, UB's Gary Cooper had his personal 18-match winning streak snapped when he lost 6-3 to Mitch Hancock in the 174-pound matchup.

Don't Change A Thing

\tIn the beginning, there was man, woman and an invitation to spend the night together. When one asked about seeing other people, the other replied, "There are no other people!"And the laughs began."I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" has just opened at the Smith Theatre (on Main Street next door to Shea's) and the four-person cast runs rampant over an ever-shifting set of characters, melodies and jokes about the battle of the sexes.The cast is star-studded with performers any theater regular will recognize from recent productions around town.

Upcoming Games

UBM. BasketballTue: vs. Eastern Michigan, 7Local Pro TeamsBuffalo SabresTue: vs. St. Louis, 7

Free Falling

Twelve and counting.The losing streak continues for the UB men's basketball team after they dropped a 61-49 decision to the Ohio Bobcats before 5,532 fans at Ohio's Convocation Center Saturday afternoon.

Trend Continues as Appearance of Victory is Only a Mirage

Clang. Clang. Clang. That is the sound of the ball hitting the rim before it careens off into the hands of a waiting defender.

Rock's Steep Grade to Success

Out of the booming rock genre known as neo-metal sprouts Grade 8, scheduled to play at Runwayz on Saturday.

Amendments to SA Constitution Would Monitor Stipend Allocation

To avoid future discrepancies regarding the allocation of stipend funds for the Student Association Executive Board, SA Senator Gregory Haynes proposed several amendments to the SA constitution at Tuesday's SA Assembly meeting."(The changes) may seem trivial to a lot of people, but it is so important because it deals with so many issues," said Anthony Burgio, chairman of the SA Senate.The amendments - which included changes to the manner in which e-board members receive stipends and to the powers of the Emergency Powers Council - came in the wake of student outrage over the SA Senate's approval of a budget last year that allowed the e-board to use money from the mandatory student activity fee to pay their tuition."I want people to understand that (SA President Christian Oliver) and the e-board did nothing wrong with obtaining their stipends, they got senate approval," Haynes said.

Bus System Leaves Students Walking

One of the make-believe advantages of living on campus is easy access to class. However, if you live in the Ellicott Complex, you know that commuters are not the only ones who have problems getting to class on time.