News - The Spectrum

NEWS

Spring Semester Extended

By NOA BRECHER | Nov. 5, 2001

Seeking to address a shortage of instruction days under New York State Education Department policy, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School Kerry Grant proposed a change to the spring 2002 semester calendar at last Wednesday's Faculty Senate Executive Committee.The change will add four instruction days during finals week, removing two reading days and moving two days of exams to the weekend immediately after classes end.UB's currently scheduled spring semester is only 14 weeks long, falling one week short of the state's 15-week minimum requirement for full-time study.

NEWS

Faculty Senate Considering University-wide Absence Policy

By NICK FARNOLO | Nov. 5, 2001

Class absence policies will be standardized university-wide if a proposal currently under consideration by the Faculty Senate is ratified.The proposal requires professors to specify their absence policies in course syllabi and provide make-up opportunities for justified absences, including illness, family emergency, religious observances, transportation failure and "participation in University sponsored or endorsed activities." These activities include field trips, athletics competitions and performances, all of which are now accepted as valid excuses at each professor's discretion.Students, in turn, must notify their professors in writing at least a week in advance of planned absences, "provide reasonable evidence of the causes of absences" and complete missed course work.Currently, no university-wide policy exists.

NEWS

"Women's Swim Downs Akron, Falls to Ohio"

By ADAM BROWN | Nov. 5, 2001

Coming off a win last weekend in their opener against Siena College, the UB women's swim team split two meets Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena.

NEWS

Terrorism from Beginning to End

By DYLAN HALL | Nov. 5, 2001

In an effort to educate the UB community on the causes of the United States-Taliban conflict, the Office of International Educational Services and the Council on International Studies and Programs hosted a discussion of "Terrorist Attacks on the U.S.

NEWS

Men's Soccer Enters MAC Tournament on a High Note

By TAI KHANDAKER | Nov. 5, 2001

On the strength of a solid first half, the men's soccer team defeated St. Francis University 2-1 Friday night to finish their regular season unbeaten in their final four games.The Bulls' final regular season record stands at 8-6-2 (2-3-1 in the MAC) and they will be the fourth seed for the MAC Tournament at Akron next Saturday.Friday night the Bulls executed a nearly flawless first half, connecting on two shots, scored by freshman Justin Higgins and sophomore Patrick Beckley respectively, to push UB ahead and ultimately put the game out of reach.

NEWS

Letter To The Editor

By CHRISTOPHER SMYKAL | Nov. 5, 2001

To The Editor:I could not help but respond to Aja Badame's deplorable opinion piece in Friday's Spectrum, entitled "Credit Gap." The author attempts to blame creditors for lack of foresight into her own financial matters.

NEWS

Elementary Ed. Certification

By Editorial | Nov. 5, 2001

A group of UB students is now discovering their career plans were squashed last January when the New York State Board of Regents barred them from admission to graduate teaching certification programs.

NEWS

Bulls Football Report Card

Nov. 5, 2001

Rushing defenseWhile Ohio's option offense may be the last of a dying breed, they have effectively moved the football and scored all season long.

NEWS

The Great (Un)Equalizer

By EMILY DALTON SMITH | Nov. 5, 2001

Last week, Buffalo officials announced the impending layoffs of 433 teachers from the city's school system.

NEWS

Hard Choices for Some of NY's Would-be Teachers

By KEVIN PURDY | Nov. 5, 2001

At a meeting last month for prospective graduate elementary education students, a recent Syracuse University graduate asked what he was expected to do with his bachelor's degree in communications, no longer an undergraduate major approved for admission to UB's Graduate School of Education.Told by Kim Truesdell, associate director of the Teacher Education Institute at UB, that he could obtain a degree in an approved field and apply to the school again, he stood to say, "Forget this, I'm leaving the state," and abruptly left the room.For some seniors about to enter UB's Graduate School of Education, new teacher certification requirements, part of an initiative undertaken by New York's Board of Regents, will necessitate another year or more of undergraduate study for an additional degree, a move into school counseling or other non-instructional capacity or relocation to another state.Students without a bachelor's degree in one of seven learning standards areas - arts, history and social sciences, humanities, foreign languages, mathematics, natural sciences and writing - cannot obtain a state teaching license after the new guidelines take effect on Feb.

NEWS

The Option is Mine

By AMIN SIAD | Nov. 5, 2001

Ever since the issue surfaced during the 1996 elections, I've pondered over whether prayer should be permitted in public school.

NEWS

"Volleyball Swept by Eastern Michigan, Loses Heartbreaker to Marshall"

By SUNG CHO | Nov. 5, 2001

This weekend, the UB women's volleyball team was home for two MAC matches against the Eagles of Eastern Michigan University and the Marshall University Thundering Herd.After completing the two matches, the Bulls remain winless in MAC conference play with a 0-14 record (5-29 overall). Despite the weekend losses, there were still a few bright spots and personal milestones reached, which the beleaguered team could look to for inspiration.

NEWS

Hands-on Technology Showcased at CFA

By KEVIN PURDY | Nov. 5, 2001

An assemblage of some of the world's preeminent thinkers on the impact of technology descended upon the Center for the Arts last weekend, discoursing on the limits of technology and humanity in the age of the omnipresent computer.But that's only what the symposia would have you believe.

NEWS

Letter To The Editor

By TIMOTHY M. ROBERTS | Nov. 5, 2001

To The Editor:I am writing this letter in response to Amin Siad's article entitled, "To Dorm or Not to Dorm," in Monday's issue (Oct.

NEWS

Weekend Scoreboard

Nov. 5, 2001

UBFootballBuffalo 44, Ohio 0Men's SoccerBuffalo 2, St. Francis 1VolleyballEastern Michigan 3, Buffalo 0Marshall 3, Buffalo 2Women's SwimmingBuffalo 159.50, Akron 89.50Ohio 137, Buffalo 106Men's SwimmingOhio 156, Buffalo 87ProfessionalBuffalo BillsIndianapolis 30, Buffalo 14Buffalo SabresBuffalo 4, Tampa Bay 1Ottawa 3, Buffalo 0

NEWS

Media Studies Program Fits Within Students' Frame

By NIKAY PATTEN | Nov. 5, 2001

The term "media studies" often conjures with it images of independent filmmakers toting massive cameras and equipment around a bustling set en route to Hollywood.

NEWS

Correction

By Editorial | Nov. 5, 2001

In the article "UUP Rallies for Rights of Part-Timers" published Nov. 2, Charlotte Pressler was misquoted as saying, "Among teachers teaching 100 to 200 level English courses here at UB, 94 percent are part-time or adjunct professors." The correct statement is, "94 percent of the 100- to 200-level classes being taught in the English department this fall (2001) are taught by graduate teaching assistants or part-time lecturers."

NEWS

No Bull: UB Blasts Ohio 44-0

By MATT ALBERT | Nov. 5, 2001

No, this is not another misprint.In as dominant a performance as can be seen in any level of football, the UB Bulls (2-7, 1-6 MAC) steam-rolled Ohio University 44-0 to pick up their first conference win, and the first home win of the Jim Hofher era, Saturday afternoon.

NEWS

Child Pornography

By Editorial | Nov. 2, 2001

U.S. Supreme Court justices debated Tuesday the conflict between artistic expression and the unintentional implications of the 1996 Child Pornography Prevention Act, which was passed to prevent sexually explicit depictions of minors but could result in censorship of mainstream media.

NEWS

Bobcats Bring Option Offense Into Cellar Dweller Showdown

By MICHAEL SCOTT | Nov. 2, 2001

From talking to players and coaches on the University at Buffalo football team, one would think this week's opponent, the Ohio Bobcats, are 6-1 instead of 1-6.While their record is not a misprint, it is misleading; Ohio (1-6, 1-4 MAC) brings the nation's third-ranked rushing attack to UB Stadium to take on the Bulls (1-7, 0-6 MAC) Saturday at 1 p.m.The Bobcats have faced some formidable opponents this season, losing tough road games to Akron and West Virginia.