UB Undergraduate Academies- Spotlight on the Weekly Themes

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Thanksgiving Break

2009-11-19T06:27:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Break: November 25-27

Enjoy your break guys! Relax, visit friends, catch up on homework and see family!

Happy Thanksgiving!

~The Academies

International Education Week: November 15-21

2009-11-12T09:14:00.000-08:00

International Education Week: November 15-21

An initiative of the U.S. Departments of State and Education, International Education Week (IEW) is part of an effort to promote international understanding and build support for international educational exchange. International Education Week is celebrated at UB to share the richness of other cultures, expose members of the UB and Buffalo communities to the diverse perspectives of those cultures and, hopefully, increase community members’ cross-cultural awareness, curiosity and knowledge. IEW is celebrated at UB through performances, lectures, presentations, films, displays and exhibitions.

(Found at http://wings.buffalo.edu/intlservices/special_events.html)

Learn More about the Weekly Theme:

International Student and Scholar Services:

The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) provides many programs for UB’s international students. They give information on applying for Visas, tax information and knowledge on living in Buffalo. Workshops and programs are hosted to promote cultural awareness to all of UB’s population.

For a complete list of events during International Education Week, please visit:

http://wings.buffalo.edu/intlservices/documents/IEW2009Flyer-11X17.pdf

How can I get involved?

Related Majors:

Anthropology

Art/Art History

Asian Studies

Classics

Cultures and Identities (Global Gender Studies)

Dance

Film Studies

History

International Studies

Linguistics

Music

SA Clubs

African SA

Bangladeshi

Caribbean SA

Chinese SA

FASA

Indian SA

Indonesian SA

Italian SA

Japenese SA

Korean SA

LASA

Malaysian SA

Organization of Arab Students

Pakastani SA

Polish SA

Taiwanese SA

Turkish Sa

Ukrainian SA

Vietnamese SA

Other Resources:

Undergraduate Academies Websites:

Our Social Networking Site:

It’s not your typical Facebook updates!

Twitter:

Stay informed on UA activities from your phone or computer with Twitter:

Center for Student Leadership & Community Engagement (CSLCE)

Local Buisness and Economy Week

2009-11-03T10:37:00.000-08:00

Local Business & Economy: November 8-14

Buffalo’s economy history has hit both ends of the spectrum. This City was at one point of the richest in the country. Now, Detroit and Cleveland are the only US cities that are poorer than Buffalo. Since the steel industry left in the 1980s, an air of depression has been felt in this city until very recently. Currently, a motivated youth force has been trying its hardest to revitalize Buffalo.

Learn More about the Weekly Theme:

Buffalo First:
Buffalo First is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization comprised of local independent businesses, organizations and concerned citizens working to build a more local, green and fair economy for all. We do this by educating consumers, businesses and policy makers.

http://www.buffalofirst.org/

Bidwell Farmer’s Market
The Elmwood-Bidwell Farmers Market is considered by many to be the best market of its type in Western New York. In fact, Artvoice recognized the market in its most recent "Best of Buffalo" issue and, judging from the ever-increasing crowds, it's a sentiment shared by many.

http://www.elmwoodmarket.org/

Block Club Magazine
Block Club is based in the beautiful, surprising, historic, thought-provoking and all-around incredible city of Buffalo, NY. The company formed in early 2007 with Block Club Magazine, a locally supported bi-monthly publication which celebrates the many wonderful people, organizations and businesses which help to make Western New York such a great place to live, work and play.
In two short years, Block Club has expanded to offer graphic and web design services for small to medium businesses in the Western New York area (and beyond).
We are located in The Neighborhood Collective, a special multi-unit space in the heart of the Elmwood Village, which is shared by a handful of creative businesses. In everything we do, Block Club strives to be fresh, young, original and fun.

http://blockclubonline.com/

Albright-Knox Art Museum

The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, founded in 1862, is the governing body of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. A major event in the life of the Academy occurred with the construction of the Albright Art Gallery, a generous gift from Buffalo entrepreneur and philanthropist John J. Albright. Intended to serve first as the Fine Arts Pavilion of the Pan-American Exposition in 1901, it was completed too late for that purpose in 1905. Additional galleries are located in Clifton Hall, which is connected to the main Gallery by an underground pedestrian link.
Today, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery enjoys a worldwide reputation as an outstanding center of modern art. Thomas Hoving, art historian and former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, recently said that "the Albright-Knox Art Gallery should be on everyone's list to see, for it's an overwhelming art experience. Small, intimate, and seductive, the museum has one of the most thumping modern and contemporary collections in the world." The Gallery's collection is especially rich in post-war American and European art, acquired mostly through the generosity of its patron, the late Seymour H. Knox, Jr. Abstract expressionism, pop art, and art of the 1970s through the end of the century are well represented by exceptional examples by artists such as Gorky, Pollock, Warhol, and Johns. In addition, the Gallery visitor will find that the permanent collection offers a panorama of art through the centuries. Impressionism and Post-Impressionism are well represented by such leading French artists of the nineteenth century as Gauguin and van Gogh. Cubism, surrealism, constructivism, and other trends of the revolutionary twenties and thirties are documented by a large selection of significant works by Picasso, Braque, Matisse, Derain, Miró, Mondrian, Rodchenko, and others.

http://www.albrightknox.org/

How can I get involved?

Related Majors:
Management
Economics

Local organizations:

Buffalo First

Other Resources:
Undergraduate Academies Websites:
http://academy.buffalo.edu/
Our Social Networking Site:
http://ubacademies.ning.com/
It’s not your typical Facebook updates!
Twitter:
Stay informed on UA activities from your phone or computer with Twitter:
http://twitter.com/UBAcademies

The SOLOIST/ RENT

2009-10-22T10:46:00.000-07:00

Life Perspectives: THE SOLOIST/RENT: October 25-31
The arts can help shed social issues in a new light. Literary works, music and the fine arts can expose problems that people might many not be aware of. The Soloist and Rent both touch upon topics that negatively impact different people.

Learn More about the Weekly Theme:

Race: an arbitrary classification of modern humans, sometimes, esp. formerly, based on any or a combination of various physical characteristics, as skin color, facial form, or eye shape, and now frequently based on such genetic markers as blood groups.

Urbanism: the way of life of people who live in a large city.

Prejudice: any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable

Gender: sexual identity, especially in relation to society or culture

Substance Abuse: pathological use of alcohol or drugs, characterized by daily intoxication, inability to reduce consumption, and impairment in social or occupational functioning; broadly, alcohol or drug addiction

Poverty: the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor; indigence.

Materialism: preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values

Information on Speakers:
Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj:
Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj is the director and choreographer for the production of RENT at UB, and is also the Artistic Director of the Rebel Theater. His profession credits include being a former Associate Artistic Director of Syracuse Stage and work at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Prince Musical Theatre, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars and Amas Musical Theatre in NYC.

Nathan R. Matthews
Nathan R. Matthews is the Director of Musical Theatre at UB. As Riverside Opera Ensemble’s founding Producing Artistic Director in NYC, he has helmed events that included the participation of Leonard Bernstein, Rosemary Harris, and Harolyn Blackwell. On Broadway he was Music Associate for Children and Art, the Stephen Sondheim 75th birthday gala, and he served as Mark Hamill’s keyboard coach for Amadeus, directed by Sir Peter Hall. He has served on the music staff of the Santa Fe Opera.

Undergraduate Academies Websites:
http://academy.buffalo.edu/
Our Social Networking Site:
http://ubacademies.ning.com/
It’s not your typical Facebook updates!
Twitter:
Stay informed on UA activities from your phone or computer with Twitter:
http://twitter.com/UBAcademies

Leadership Week: October 18-24

2009-10-20T05:53:00.000-07:00

Leadership Week: October 18-24

What does being a leader mean to you? Does it mean taking charge of a group? Is it being a role model?

Learn More about the Weekly Theme:

Definitions:

Deming's 14 points

Management philosophy to help organizations increase their quality and productivity:

1. Create constancy of purpose for improving product or service.

2. Adopt the new philosophy.

3. Stop dependency on inspection to achieve quality

4. End the practice of awarding business on price alone - minimize cost by working with a single vendor.

5. Constantly improve every process for planning, production, and service.

6. Institute training on the job.

7. Adopt and institute leadership.

8. Drive out fear.

9. Break down barriers between staff areas.

10. Eliminate slogans, exhortations, and targets for the work force.

11. Eliminate numerical quotas and goals for the workforce and management.

12. Remove barriers that rob people of pride in workmanship and eliminate the annual rating or merit system.

13. Institute a vigorous program of education and self-improvement for everyone.

14. Put everyone in the organization to work to accomplish the transformation.

empowerment

A condition whereby employees have the authority to make decisions and take action in their work areas, jobs, or tasks without prior approval. It allows the employees the responsibility normally associated with staffs. Examples are scheduling, quality, or purchasing decisions.

esprit

The spirit, soul, and state of mind of an organization. It is the overall consciousness of the organization that a person identifies with and feels a part of.

five why's

The practice of (Japanese) asking "why" five times when confronted with a problem. By the time the fifth why is answered, they believe they have found the ultimate cause of the problem.

Grassroots vs. Astroturf movements

Grassroots movements start at the community level. Citizens organize over a concern that they are faced with.

Astroturf movements mimic grassroots movements, but are started by lobbyists who are pushing an agenda.

Leadership

The process of influencing people while operating to meet organizational requirements and improving the organization through change

participative leadership

A style of leadership in which the leader involves one or more employees in determining what to do and how to do it. The leader maintains final decision making authority.

The Art and Science of Leadership

Information on speakers:

The Center for Student Leadership & Community Engagement (CSLCE) develops in students an understanding and appreciation of self, others, and community by inspiring students to explore a life of active citizenship. Through our programs, services, and the process of leadership development, students cultivate a personal philosophy to make a positive change within a group, community, or global society.

Center for Academic Development Services

The Center for Academic Development Services (CADS) is a unique support service network designed to provide talented students who demonstrate enormous potential with the advice, guidance, and support they need to help realize their dreams and achieve academic success. The Center provides a variety of academic and social enrichment experiences. These include, but are not limited to, academic advising, personal and social counseling, tutoring, mentoring, workshops, courses and advocacy. Advising and counseling staff are readily available and will be a source of invaluable support to you.

Intercultural & Diversity Center

Every day on our campuses and within the community we all have a unique opportunity to interact and learn from other people of very diverse backgrounds and lifestyles. As a model for inclusive excellence and to foster multicultural/global knowledge, awareness and skills, each of our programs is concentrated within three core themes for diversity, inclusion and social justice.

Other Resources:

Undergraduate Academies Websites:

Our Social Networking Site:

It’s not your typical Facebook updates!

Twitter:

Stay informed on UA activities from your phone or computer with Twitter:

http://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/map/map.html

Water as a Resource or Human Right

2009-10-06T06:48:00.000-07:00

Water as a Resource or Human Right
October 11-17, 2009

Join us as we explore issues surrounding water access, sanitation, and distribution throughout our world. Is water a resource to be sold and controlled, or is access to clean, safe drinkable water a basic human right? And if it is a human right, how do we change the system to ensure universal access? How does our relationship to water in the United States and the “First World” differ from that of those living in “Third World” countries?

Learn More about the Weekly Theme:
DID YOU KNOW?
• Less than 1 percent of all water on Earth is available as groundwater and surface water suitable for human uses such as drinking and cooking. The remainder is either salt water (97 percent) or is locked up in ice (just over 2 percent).
• 66% of the human body is water
• An individual in the US uses approximately 100 gallons of water a day (all uses)
(facts from http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/kids/water_trivia_f acts.html)
• Each day more than 4,400 children under the age of 5 die in 3rd World Countries as a result of illnesses contracted by use of impure water
• 1 Billion people in the world today do not have access to clean water
(facts from http://www.healingwatersintl.org/surveys)
According to the World Bank:
• 220 million urban residents in the developing world lack a source of safe drinking water near their homes.
• Ninety percent of urban sewage in the developing world is discharged into rivers, lakes, and coastal water ways without any treatment.
• Agriculture consumes 60 to 80 percent of the fresh water resources in most countries, and as much as 90 percent in others. (http://www.worldbank.org/depweb/english/modules/environm/water/index.html)
Percentage of Population without Reasonable Access to Safe Drinking Water

Reasonable access to safe drinking water is defined as the availability of at least 20 litres per person per day from an improved source within 1 kilometer of the user's dwelling.
(Data and Map from: http://www.theglobaleducationproject.org/earth/human-conditions.php?format=print#2)

UA SPEAKER FOR THIS WEEK:
Dr. James Jensen
Dr. James Jensen is the Professor and Undergraduate Studies Director of the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering. He is also the faculty head of the Research Exploration Undergraduate Academy.

UA EXCURSION FOR THIS WEEK:

Niagara Falls
From UB Green: http://www.ubgreenoffice.com/?p=122
“HYDROPOWER IN WESTERN NEW YORK
Niagara Falls has a rich history of hydroelectric power. In fact, at one time the Falls were completely turned off because too much water was being diverted to the American and Canadian hydro-facilities. In 1881 Charles Brush of Ohio arrived in Niagara Falls with 16 electric carbon arc lights and a generator to illuminate the falls. Jacob Schoellkopf, owner of the former Schoellkopf generating station located near the Falls, offered electricity from his water turbines to power Brush’s generator, creating the first hydroelectric generating station in the world. Tragically, this same generating station later collapsed into the river in a sudden explosion due to water seepage within the structure. Other early Niagara Falls hydro power facilities include the Edward Dean Adams plant where power was first converted from DC to AC. Today the Niagara Power Project, located about 4.5 miles downstream from Niagara Falls, is the largest electricity producer in New York State, generating 2,400 megawatts —enough power for 3 million households. To produce this much power, the Niagara Project diverts as much as 22.5 million gallons of Niagara River water per minute from Niagara Falls. The Niagara Project also utilizes pump storage to pump water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir at night so that additional hydropower will be available during periods of peak electrical demand during the day.”
How can I get involved?
Related Majors:
Civil Engineering
Engineering Physics
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Studies (Social Sciences Interdisciplinary)
Geography
Geological Sciences
Issues surrounding water access and sanitation can also be studied from the perspectives of:
Anthropology
Sociology
History
Political Science
Public Health and Medicine
For a complete list of majors and degree programs at UB, please visit: http://www.buffalo.edu/home/academicprograms/
SA Clubs
Environmental Network
Geography SA
Geology SA
Engineers for a Sustainable World
American Society of Civil Engineers
For a complete list of student organizations at UB, please visit: http://www.sa.buffalo.edu/clubs.html
Local organizations
Buffalo Niagara Riverkeepers- http://bnriverkeeper.org/
Erie County Water Authority-http://www.ecwa.org/web/home.jsp?o=Home
UB Green- www.ubgreenoffice.com

Undergraduate Academies Websites:
http://academy.buffalo.edu/
Our Social Networking Site:
http://ubacademies.ning.com/
It’s not your typical Facebook updates!
Twitter:
Stay informed on UA activities from your phone or computer with Twitter:
http://twitter.com/UBAcademies

Cultural Identity and Expression

2009-09-24T10:41:00.001-07:00

Cultural Identity & Expression: October 5-9

The United States is a very unique country because it is made up of very unique people. Just think about the different layers of cultural identity: there is your country of origin or ancestry, your regional identity (Southern, Northern, West Coast, East Coast), your city identity (Buffalo Bills fans, Boston accents), and your local identity (East Side, West Side, South Buffalo, Elmwood Village). All of these components foster cultural diversity that can be used to stimulate the exchange and creation of new ideas.

Learn More about the Weekly Theme:

Definitions:

Ethnic Enclave vs. Ghetto: An ethnic enclave, or ethnic neighborhood, is a neighborhood, district, or suburb which retains some cultural distinction from a larger, surrounding area. A ghetto is described as a "portion of a city in which members of a minority group live; especially because of social, legal, or economic pressure.” So what is the difference? Choice. People choose to live in an ethnic enclave, people are forced into a ghetto.

Body Language: Body Language is a very important aspect of communication. Even though it is non-verbal, it is said that humans communicate with each other 60-70% of the time through body cues.

Examples:

· Hands on knees: indicates readiness.

· Hands on hips: indicates impatience.

· Lock your hands behind your back: indicates self-control.

· Locked hands behind head: states confidence.

· Sitting with a leg over the arm of the chair: suggests indifference.

· Legs and feet pointed in a particular direction: the direction where more interest is felt

· Crossed arms: indicates submissiveness.

Regional Dialects:

There are three major dialect regions of the United States: Inland North, the South, and the West. The rest of the country is transitional, with a blend of accent types. There are also many different pockets of local accents as well.

Can you guess all of these dialects correctly:

This link highlights the history of all the types of regional and local dialects:

http://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/

Cultural Diffusion: the process by which a cultural trait, material object, idea, or behavior pattern is spread from one society to another

Background information:

What else symbolizes Buffalo more than the chicken wing? See how Buffalo's cultural identity has spread throughout the world:

http://www.geography.ccsu.edu/harmonj/atlas/buffwing.htm

12 Exciting Ethnic Enclaves: These neighborhoods have kept their cultural identities in countries that are different from their own.

http://weburbanist.com/2009/07/27/12-exciting-ethnic-enclaves-international-districts/

Please Call Stella….

http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_atlas.php

The link above is a database of English speakers from all over the world reciting this phrase:

"Please call Stella. Ask her to bring these things with her from the store: six spoons of fresh snow peas, five thick slabs of blue cheese, and maybe a snack for her brother Bob. We also need a small plastic snake and a big toy frog for the kids. She can scoop these things into three red bags, and we will go meet her Wednesday at the train station."

The purpose of that exact phrase is that it hits many of the sounds the English language can produce.

Information on this week's speaker, Dr. David Fertig:

Dr. David Fertig is the director of both the German language program and the department of language programs. He received his PhD. from the University at Michigan in German Language and Literatures.

Visit Dr. Fertig's page for a listing of all of his work:
http://wings.buffalo.edu/linguistics/people/faculty/fertig/fertig/

Videos on how to read Body Language:

How can I get involved?

Related Majors:

Anthropology

African American Studies

American Studies

Art

Asian Studies

English

Film Studies

Geography

Latina/Latino Studies

Media Studies

Music

Philosophy

Romance Languages and Literature

Women's Studies

SA Clubs

African SA

Bangladeshi

Caribbean SA

Chinese SA

FASA

Indian SA

Indonesian SA

Italian SA

Japanese SA

Korean SA

LASA

Malaysian SA

Organization of Arab Students

Pakastani SA

Polish SA

Taiwanese SA

Turkish SA

Ukrainian SA

Vietnamese SA

Local Organizations:

The International Institute

Journey's End Refugee Services

Other Resources:

Undergraduate Academies Websites:

Our Social Networking Site:

It’s not your typical Facebook updates!

Twitter:

Stay informed on UA activities from your phone or computer with Twitter:

http://ccf.buffalo.edu/default.php

Research in the Social Sciences and Humanities

2009-09-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

Research in the Social Sciences and Humanities

September 27-October 3, 2009

Learn More About the Weekly Theme:

Research occurs in many different ways and many different locations. When most people think of research they think of controlled experiments conducted in a laboratory by chemists and physicists, or biologists studying living organisms under a microscope or in the field. But research in other fields, the social sciences, such as anthropology, sociology, psychology and political science, and the humanities, such as English, history, classics, etc. often takes quite a different form. Join us as we explore the wide variety of research conducted “beyond the lab”.

Some characteristics of social science/humanities research:

· Qualitative and Quantitative

· Often involves uncontrollable factors (human behavior, the inconsistencies of historical preservation, etc.)

· Human-centered

UA Event Featured Speaker:

Dr. Greg Fabiano (Counseling, School and Educational Psychology)

“Currently, Dr. Fabiano's research interests focus on evidence-based treatments in home, school, and recreational settings. He is principal investigator on a grant from the Institute of Educational Sciences that investigates procedures for enhancing the outcomes of children with ADHD in special education. He is also principal investigator on an NIMH grant to continue the development of parenting programs for fathers of children with ADHD. Dr. Fabiano has published over 20 peer-reviewed papers related to the effective assessment and treatment of children with ADHD.” http://ccf.buffalo.edu/staff_bios.php

UB’s Center for Children and Families:

The Center for Children and Families (CCF) is an interdisciplinary center at the University at Buffalo, supported by the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences. CCF faculty members represent a number of departments, including Psychology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Counseling/School Psychology.

The mission of the CCF is twofold: (1) to study the causes, mechanisms, outcomes, and treatments for mental health and educational difficulties of children and adolescents, and (2) to provide education and services for their families and professionals.

Our goal is to increase the body of knowledge regarding mental health and educational problems of children and adolescents, to promote the dissemination of pertinent knowledge throughout the professional community, and to develop, evaluate, and provide state-of-the-art treatment and related services to children and families with these problems, as well as to provide training in evidence-based practices to the educators, mental health, and health professionals who work with these families.

Current research at the CCF focuses on:

“A variety of research studies are being conducted at the present time. The focus of these projects is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of treatments for ADHD. By participating in these studies, children and families provide valuable information to researchers that may lead to new or improved treatments for ADHD.”

Jobs in the Social Sciences and Humanities

Interested in a job in the social sciences, but not sure what type of job you can actually get?

Check out these resources:

· Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos054.htm

· Humanities and Social Sciences Net Online: (posts academic position announcements in a wide range of fields)

http://www.h-net.org/jobs/

· USAJobs.com (Listing of government positions)- Link is to a search run specifically for social science opportunities:

http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/search.aspx?jbf571=2&FedEmp=N&FedPub=Y&sort=rv,-dtex&vw=d&re=134&caller=basic.aspx

These are just some places to start, there are many many more opportunities out there. You just have to look, and think outside the box! Many positions are appropriate for social scientists and those with degrees in the humanities, but they do not specifically advertise for an “anthropologist” or “psychologist”.

How Can I Get Involved?

Related Majors:

African American Studies
American Studies (Center for the Americas)
Anthropology
Art (now Visual Studies)
Art History (now Visual Studies)
Classics
Communication
Comparative Literature
Economics
English
Geography (certain subfields within geography)
Global Gender Studies (formerly Women's Studies)
History
Interdisciplinary Studies, Social Sciences
Linguistics
Media Study
Music
Philosophy
Political Science
Psychology
Romance Languages and Literatures
Sociology
Theatre and Dance
Visual Studies (formerly Art and Art History)

Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences:

Arts Management Program
Asian Studies Program
Canadian Studies Program
Caribbean Cultural Studies Program
Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior
Informatics Program
Jewish Studies Program
Journalism Program
Polish Studies Program
Professional Science Management Advanced Certificate Program
Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Programs

For a complete list of majors and degree granting programs @ UB visit: http://www.buffalo.edu/home/academicprograms/

SA Clubs:

Anthropology SA

Communications Undergraduate SA

Political Science SA

Student Visual Arts Organization

Undergraduate Psychology Association

American African Studies SA

For a complete list of SA clubs on campus and contact information visit: http://www.sa.buffalo.edu/clubs.html

International Peace Day: September 20-26, 2009

2009-09-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

International Peace Day: September 20-26
“There is never a good war or a bad peace.” ~Benjamin Franklin
In 1981, the United Nations marked September 21 International Peace Day. This global holiday encourages all of mankind to cooperate to create a peaceful world.

"There are only two forces in the world, the sword and the spirit. In the long run the sword will always be conquered by the spirit." — Napoleon Bonaparte

Learn More about the Weekly Theme:

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE- SEPTEMBER 21
“The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982.
In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace.
By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged all of mankind to work in cooperation for this goal. During the discussion of the U.N. Resolution that established the International Day of Peace, it was suggested that:
"Peace Day should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples…This day will serve as a reminder to all peoples that our organization, with all its limitations, is a living instrument in the service of peace and should serve all of us here within the organization as a constantly pealing bell reminding us that our permanent commitment, above all interests or differences of any kind, is to peace."
Since its inception, Peace Day has marked our personal and planetary progress toward peace. It has grown to include millions of people in all parts of the world, and each year events are organized to commemorate and celebrate this day. Events range in scale from private gatherings to public concerts and forums where hundreds of thousands of people participate.
Anyone, anywhere can celebrate Peace Day. It can be as simple as lighting a candle at noon, or just sitting in silent meditation. Or it can involve getting your co-workers, organization, community or government engaged in a large event. The impact if millions of people in all parts of the world, coming together for one day of peace, is immense.
International Day of Peace is also a Day of Ceasefire – personal or political. Take this opportunity to make peace in your own relationships as well as impact the larger conflicts of our time. Imagine what a whole Day of Ceasefire would mean to humankind.”

Read more about the background and history of this day at: http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/

DEFINITIONS:

Peacebuilding: This concept is different from peacekeeping or peacemaking. Peacebuilding strives to create a long-term culture of peace, rather than just focusing on current conflicts.
"Positive creativeness is the fundamental quality of the human spirit. Let us welcome all those who, surmounting personal difficulties, --- propel their spirits to the task of peacebuilding, thus ensuring a radiant future."
(Nicholas Roerich)

Global Ceasefire:

Personal Ceasefire: On September 21, declare your personal ceasefire. This means to stop all conflicts you have on a personal level. Here are some things to think about:
 It can mean re-evaluating conflicts in our personal lives. Do we have relationships where confrontation or lack of communication is dominant? What can we do to improve these relationships?
 What can we do to make sure all members of the family feel seen and heard? Why not declare a 24 hour ceasefire between siblings, where every quarrel has to be solved in a creative and peaceful way?
 In school, are there people that are left out or harassed? What can we do to stop this?

 At work, is conflict and competition affecting how people perform their duties and how they feel about themselves?
 In your community, are there groups of people that don’t get along? How can we as an interest group reach out to others and start a conversation?

INFO ON SPEAKERS:

UB DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER: KOFI ANNAN
“Kofi A. Annan of Ghana, the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, is the first to be elected from the ranks of UN staff. His first five-year term began on 1 January 1997 and, following his subsequent re-appointment by the UN Member States, he will begin a second five-year term on 1 January 2002.
As Secretary-General, Mr. Annan has given priority to revitalizing the UN through a comprehensive programme of reform; strengthening the Organization's traditional work in the areas of development and the maintenance of international peace and security; advocating human rights, the rule of law and the universal values of equality, tolerance and human dignity; restoring public confidence in the Organization by reaching out to new partners and, in his words, by "bringing the United Nations closer to the people". The Secretary-General has also taken a leading role in mobilizing the international community in the battle against HIV/AIDS, and more recently against the global terrorist threat.
Born in Kumasi, Ghana, on 8 April 1938, Mr. Annan studied at the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi and completed his undergraduate work in economics at Macalester College in the United States in 1961. From 1961 to 1962, he undertook graduate studies in economics at the Institut universitaire des hautes études internationales in Geneva. As a 1971- 1972 Sloan Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mr. Annan received a Master of Science degree in management.
Mr. Annan joined the UN in 1962, working for the World Health Organization in Geneva, where he later also served with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. At UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Annan held senior positions in a diverse range of areas, including human resources management (1987-1990), budget and finance (1990-1992), and peacekeeping (March 1992-December 1996). He was Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping at a time when nearly 70,000 military and civilian personnel were deployed in UN operations around the world.
Before becoming Secretary-General, Mr. Annan received a number of special assignments. In 1990, he facilitated the repatriation of international staff and citizens of Western countries from Iraq after it invaded Kuwait. He subsequently led initial negotiations with Baghdad on the sale of oil to fund humanitarian relief. From November 1995 to March 1996, Mr. Annan served as the Secretary-General's Special Representative to the former Yugoslavia. As Secretary-General, Mr. Annan has used his good offices in several delicate political situations, including an attempt in 1998 to gain Iraq's compliance with Security Council resolutions, as well as a mission that year to promote the transition to civilian rule in Nigeria. In 1999, he helped to resolve the stalemate between Libya and the Security Council, and to forge an international response to violence in East Timor. In 2000, he certified Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon. Since the renewed outbreak of violence in the Middle East in September 2000, he has worked to encourage Israelis and Palestinians to resolve their differences through negotiations based on Security Council resolutions and the principle of "land for peace".
The Secretary-General has strengthened partnerships with civil society, the private sector and others outside of government whose strengths complement those of the UN. He has called for a "Global Compact" to encourage businesses to respect standards relating to the environment, employment laws and human rights. In April, 2000, he issued a report on the UN's role in the 21st century, outlining actions needed to end poverty and inequality, improve education, cut HIV/AIDS, safeguard the environment and protect peoples from violence. The report formed the basis of the Millennium Declarations adopted by national leaders attending the UN Millennium Summit that September.
Calling the HIV/AIDS epidemic his "personal priority", the Secretary- General issued a "Call to Action" in April, 2001, proposing the establishment of a Global AIDS and Health Fund, which has since received some $ 1.5 billion in pledges and contributions.
Since the terrorist attacks hit the United States on 11 September 2001, the Secretary-General has played a leading role in galvanizing global action through the General Assembly and the Security Council to combat terrorism. The Secretary-General has received honorary degrees from universities in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, as well as a number of other prizes and awards for his contributions to the aims and purposes of the United Nations.
The Secretary-General is fluent in English, French and several African languages. He is married to Nane Annan, of Sweden, a lawyer and painter who has a great interest in understanding the work of the United Nations in the field. Two issues of particular concern to her are HIV/AIDS and education for women. She has also written a book for children about the United Nations. The Annans have three children.”
From Les Prix Nobel. The Nobel Prizes 2001, Editor Tore Frängsmyr, [Nobel Foundation], Stockholm, 2002
This autobiography/biography was written at the time of the award and later published in the book series Les Prix Nobel/Nobel Lectures. The information is sometimes updated with an addendum submitted by the Laureate. To cite this document, always state the source as shown above.
Source = http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2001/annan-bio.html

WNY PEACE CENTER
Featured Speaker: Elea Mihou
Monday September 21, 2009 at 1:00 PM in 17 Norton Hall
Elea Mihou is the executive director of the Western New York Peace Center, a nonprofit organization based in Buffalo with a forty-two year history of working for global justice. Ms. Mihou is a graduate of the University of Buffalo, earning her Master’s of Urban Planning from the School of Architecture and Planning. Students, faculty and staff are welcome to join us as Ms. Mihou shares her knowledge of the international day of peace, as well as her experience as a local community advocate for peace.
http://wnypeace.org/about/home.php
http://buffaloactivist.wnypeace.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7_POKWWgno&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpeaceday.ning.com%2Fvideo%2Fpeace-in-many-languages&feature=player_embedded

How can I get involved?

Related Majors:
Anyone can be involved in promoting peace in our world, regardless of your major or profession! However, if you are interested in disciplines that actively engage in the study of peace-building and international and intra-national relations, you might want to check out:
Anthropology
Political Science
Sociology
History
Geography
International Studies (Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Concentration)
Legal Studies (Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Concentration)

For a complete list of majors at UB, please visit: http://www.buffalo.edu/home/academicprograms/

SA Clubs
Anthropology SA
Geography SA
Political Science SA
Community Action Corps

For a complete list of SA clubs at UB visit: http://www.sa.buffalo.edu/clubs.html

Local organizations
WNY Peace Center: http://wnypeace.org/join/volunteer.php

Other Resources:
Undergraduate Academies Websites:
http://academy.buffalo.edu/
Our Social Networking Site:
http://ubacademies.ning.com/
It’s not your typical Facebook updates!
Twitter:
Stay informed on UA activities from your phone or computer with Twitter:
http://twitter.com/UBAcademies

City Life: September 13-19

2009-09-11T10:02:00.000-07:00

City Life: September 13-19, 2009

Buffalo- whether you call it “The Nickel City”, “The Queen City”, “The City of Light” or “The City of No Illusions”, it is a great place to live. Having existed over 200 years, Buffalo’s history has been dynamic. At around the year 1900, Buffalo was the eighth most populated city in the United States and also one of the wealthiest. One hundred years later, Buffalo is the third poorest city, and the 47th most populated with 100,000 less people living in it than a century ago. Is Buffalo a lost cause? Absolutely not! That dynamic history has given this city a lot of potential. The Undergraduate Academies invites you to explore the city, and its future, with them during the City Life theme week.

Learn More about the Weekly Theme:

What's in a name?

Buffalo. What do you think of? A hulk of a beast lumbering through the prairie? Here’s a fun fact, Buffalo were never in this area. So why name the city after an animal that’s not native to it? Well the popular theory is that French Explorers saw the Niagara River and commented on the “Beau Fleuve” (beautiful river)- slur that together in an English accent and you have “Buffalo.”
Buffalo’s has racked up a lot of nicknames over its lifetime. The Buffalo News has put together this short list detailing them:

http://www.buffalonews.com/185/story/765297.html

In rough chronological order, then, here’s a look at what the city has been called and why.
• “Queen City more queen of the Lakes.” Cynthia Van Ness, director of library and archives at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, found this regal sobriquet in print in the 1842 Buffalo City Directory, published by Horatio N. Walker, who called his directory “an indispensable index to the rise and progress of our QUEEN CITY OF THE LAKES.”
So wear that crown proudly, Buffalo! In his 1951 pamphlet, “Nicknames of American Cities, Towns and Villages, Past & Present,” Gerard L. Alexander writes, “Consider that with respect to ‘The Queen City of the Lakes,’ (i.e., The Great Lakes) there are five or six populous, handsome, century- or-more-old cities on the shores of these five noble fresh water inland seas: could not the possessor of the proud title as justly be Chicago or Duluth or Toledo or Cleveland or Milwaukee or Toronto?” Yet it is Buffalo that has the name, along with one variation, “The Queen of the Lakes.”
But what exactly does it mean to be “the Queen City”? Is it an indication of second-place status, as a queen walks behind her king? Or is it like chess, when the queen reigns supreme?
“Well, the question is, is any place called the king city?” asked Van Ness. After a brief search, she concluded, “I don’t think ‘the King City’ is as much a city nickname as ‘the Queen City’ is.”

• “The Bison City.” This natural application of the shorter name for the city might be as old as Buffalo itself, although it’s a bit erroneous. Bison and buffalo are actually two different species. The shaggy humped ungulates with the massive heads that we proudly claim as our namesake animal are bison –American plains bison, to be exact, with the emphatic trinomial “Bison bison bison.” How the word “buffalo” was applied to this country’s bison is still being debated, although it might have come from European explorers who were familiar with lightly-furred, smooth-backed African and Asian buffalo.

• “The Flour City.” This description was applied to Rochester in the 1800s and later changed to “the Flower City” to honor the many seed-sellers and plant nurseries of our eastern neighbor. But several sources list Buffalo as “the Flour City,” too. In his 1951 book, George Earle Shankle wrote: “Buffalo is designated ‘The City of Flour’ because of the facts that it is a great transshipper of wheat from the western grain fields to eastern and other milling centers, and it is credited with being the second largest flour-milling center in the United States.” His source for this is a book from 1892, when this could have been true. But it’s a reference that’s now lost on people here.

• “The Electric City (of the Future)” and “The City of Light.” Both of these terms were ambitiously applied to Buffalo around 1901, when the city boasted the dazzling, electrically illuminated wonderland of the Pan-American Exposition. The exposition’s Grand Court was lighted by 200,000 bulbs, and the 400-foot-tall “Electric Tower” was studded with 40,000 lights. The power that lighted the Exposition grounds was generated at Niagara Falls.

• “The Nickel City.” The Indianhead nickel, issued in 1913, was designed with a bison on the reverse and was also called “the buffalo nickel.” Designed by James Earle Fraser, the coin, although attractive, had raised portions that were easily worn away. The design was minted for only the minimum 25 years and discontinued in 1938.
The crisp sound of the “Nickel City” nickname keeps it a local favorite. Valerian Ruminski, Lackawanna- born founder and director of Nickel City Opera, says he sought a phrase that reflected Buffalo but wasn’t Buffalo. But as he publicizes the company, he finds that “not everybody understands what this association is. If you’re from California, you are not going to understand what a nickel has to do with the city of Buffalo.” The opera company’s logo, which shows the buffalo from the coin, helps explain the link visually.

• “The City of Good Neighbors.” This one is easy to nail down. Buffalo became the City of Good Neighbors on Jan. 23, 1940, when Mayor Thomas L. Holling introduced a resolution making the phrase the official municipal slogan and ordered “that said slogan be imprinted, if practicable, on all city stationery hereafter to be printed.” The resolution passed, but only by a vote of nine to six, even though Holling promised to submit his next budget a month early and gave the council’s Republican majority “a box of cigars as a token of good will,” according to that day’s Buffalo Evening News.

• “The Beautiful City of Homes, Diversified Business and Progressive Outlook.” This mouthful of a moniker is listed only in Alexander’s 1951 pamphlet. It never caught on. I wonder why not?

• “The City of No Illusions.” Michael Morgulis, the graphic designer who operates New Buffalo Graphics, sat down in 1977 with a small group of students and professors from UB’s Department of American Studies to design a logo for the department.
“We knew we needed something catchy,” says Morgulis. “Somebody said, ‘I just read this great novel by Ursula K. LeGuin –‘City of Illusions,” and it could be “Buffalo, city of Illusions!” ’ and I said, ‘No way! It’s got to be City of NO Illusions!’
“I made about a dozen T-shirts for the program, and all of a sudden people started calling, knocking on the door and it just took off. I’ve been producing it now since 1977.”
Morgulis said he likes the phrase for several reasons. “It works in terms of being a catchy phrase, but it also works because Buffalo is a unique and interesting place, aside from the weather and the chicken wings. We really do have a wonderful history.”
Sales took off in 2005 when Brad Pitt was photographed wearing a shirt with the logo on it. “Everybody wondered how he got that T-shirt, and I don’t know how it happened,” said Morgulis. “But the photo was everywhere, including People magazine, and I sold so many T-shirts after that, all over the world.”

A Sentence of Buffalos.
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
Believe it or not, that sentence is grammatically correct.
The word buffalo has three meanings:
1) the animal
2) the city in New York
3) to bully, confuse or bamboozle
Let’s take a look at the sentence again:
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
Let’s add in some words to clarify:
Buffalo buffalo whom Buffalo buffalo buffalo also, in turn, buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
Let’s look at it again, changing the word to bison when it means the animal.
Buffalo bison Buffalo bison buffalo buffalo Buffalo bison.
Now, let’s modify that, changing the word to bully when it’s used as a verb.
Buffalo bison Buffalo bison bully bully Buffalo bison.

Finally, let’s add the words back in:
Buffalo bison whom Buffalo bison bully also, in turn, bully Buffalo bison.

And edited for style:
The bison from Buffalo who are bullied and/or bamboozled by other bison from Buffalo, strangely, bully and/or bamboozle bison from Buffalo as well.

Light Rail: a local rail rapid-transit system using large, single passenger cars, railroad-type signals, and, usually, private rights-of-way. Buffalo has one local line that runs from South Campus (University Station) to the Erie Canal Harbor

Greenways: A corridor of undeveloped land that is reserved for recreational use or environmental preservation. The City of Buffalo was fortunate enough to have famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted develop parkways of green corridors through the city. These were to be the “lungs” of the city. In 1868, Buffalo was becoming industrial and crowded, so these greenways provided breathing space.

Check out http://buffaloolmstedparks.org/ for more detailed information about these famous parks.

Suburbanization: Suburbanization is the process of people leaving the downtown centers of cities to outlying suburbs around it. This process has a long history starting with the railcar, but was intensified by the widespread use of the car. While it is true that Buffalo’s population is declining, many of its suburbs have grown!
Sprawl: Sprawl refers to the inefficient spreading of population across an area.

How can I get involved?
Related Majors:
African American Studies
American Studies
Anthropology
Architecture
Asian Studies
Civil Engineering
Economics
Environmental Design
Environmental Engineering
Geography
Industrial Engineering
Latina/Latino Studies
Political Science
Social Work
Women’s Studies

SA Clubs
College Democrats
College Republicans
Community Action Corps
Outdoor Adventure Club
Urban Renewal
Local organizations

PUSH
Buffalo ReUse
Buffalo News
Buffalo Rising

Other Resources:
Undergraduate Academies Websites:
http://academy.buffalo.edu/
Our Social Networking Site:
http://ubacademies.ning.com/
It’s not your typical Facebook updates!
Twitter:
Stay informed on UA activities from your phone or computer with Twitter:
http://twitter.com/UBAcademies

Green Farming: September 6-12

2009-09-03T06:32:00.000-07:00

Green Farming: September 6-12

Have you ever thought about where and how your food is produced? It sometimes isn’t as simple as you would think. Take this fact for example: New Yorkers grow 990 million pounds of apples a year, but only eat 135 million pounds of apples- however will still import apples. Industrial farming and agriculture shape the environment and contribute to global warming. Green farming, which actually uses the techniques of farming that humans have used since the birth of agriculture, has made its way back into the practice of growing our food.

Learn More about the Weekly Theme:

Definitions:

Local vs. Organic: Local produce is produced in close proximity to its consumers. Food that is produced organically was grown without the use of harmful pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. Organic livestock are those animals that have not been injected with growth hormones. It is important to note that local production and organic production are not mutually exclusive. Local food can be produced non-organically, while organic food can come from hundreds of miles away.

Benefits for Local Food: decrease in transportation costs and pollution, increased investment in the local economy, the person who supplies your food has a face,

Benefits for Organic Food: no harmful chemicals used that can have an effect on individuals and the environment

Which type of Agriculture do you prefer?

Urban Agriculture: farming that takes place with in cities. Many times, food can be grown on vacant or abandoned lots in community gardens

Compost: organic material that can be used as a soil amendment or as a medium to grow plants

http://www.howtocompost.org/

CSA: Community Supported Agriculture. This system involves farmers selling shares of their food to citizens in their local community. It is a way for them to sell produce directly to people and not to major corporations.

Vermiculture: is a method of composting involving worms to break down organic waste into fertilizer

GMO: Genetically Modified Organism- the United States uses many seeds that have had their DNA altered to grow bigger produce quickly

Information on this week's speakers:

Dr. Samina Raja:

Dr. Raja’s research focuses on planning and design for healthy communities and the fiscal dimensions of planning. Her research on healthy communities examines the influence of the food and built environments on obesity and physical activity. Given the interdisciplinary nature of this topic, Dr. Raja collaborates with colleagues from UB’s School of Medicine and the School of Public Health and Health Professions. An ongoing multi-year study, conducted in collaboration with the School of Medicine, examines the effect of the built environment on obesity among youth, and has received over a million dollars in funding from the National Institute of Health.

Massachusetts Avenue Project:

The Massachusetts Avenue Project proudly hosts the Growing Green Program, a youth development and urban agriculture program about increasing healthy food access and revitalizing the Buffalo community through urban farming, healthy nutrition, environmental stewardship and social enterprise. In addition to its urban farm Growing Green also hosts a youth enterprise, a farm to school initiative, a mobile market and runs various workshops related to urban agriculture.
www.mass-ave.org

Videos and Other Resources:

The Future of Food:

Urban Farms Spark Renewal:

A list of Erie County Farmers' Markets

Farming as therapy for recovering Addicts

Polyface Farms: Old School Agriculture

A Farm on Every Floor

Foodsecurity.org: Listserv on Local and Organic Food Movement

Links to 11 Green Food Radio Shows

Not Eating Out in New York: Join the Slow Food Movement!

Local Harvest: How to find Local Food near you!

How can I get involved?

Related Majors:

Environmental Design

Architecture and Urban Planning

Nutrition

SA Clubs

UB Green

Local organizations:

Grassroots Gardens: Buffalo's Community Garden Facilitator

Urban Roots: A Community Garden Center in Buffalo

Buffalo Locavore: A Buffalo Based Blog on Local Food

Undergraduate Academies Websites:

Our Social Networking Site:

It’s not your typical Facebook updates!

Twitter:

Stay informed on UA activities from your phone or computer with Twitter:

http://www.student-affairs.buffalo.edu/leadership/aboutus.php

The Academies Experience: August 30-September 5

2009-08-27T07:53:00.001-07:00

The Academies Experience: August 30-September 5

Learn More about the Weekly Theme:

UB’s Undergraduate Academies are communities of common interests that focus on three broad issues: Civic Engagement, Global Perspectives and Research Exploration. The Academies provide students with a distinctive and comprehensive undergraduate experience. We welcome students from all fields and connect them with faculty and staff—in the classroom, in the residence halls, and through out-of-class activities. The Academies value the diversity of people and interests. We look beyond disciplinary boundaries. And we are committed to enhancing fully the undergraduate experience to enhance our personal and intellectual development, as that of our university at large.

The Undergraduate Academies goal is to build a close knit community of students who support each other socially and academically. The Undergraduate Academies are:

-Engaging communities of individuals who share an interest in a common theme. Members exchange ideas, learn from one another, and shape the academy experience through relevant coursework and out-of-class activities. The academies also foster collaborative learning through innovative campus learning spaces, residence hall accommodations, and electronic networking.

-Flexible hubs of exploration and study which can make a student's time at UB truly transforming. The academies highlight and facilitate experience which help students take advantage of UB's vast academic resources in a way that meets their individual needs. In keeping with this spirit, students are free to tailor their level of involvement in the academy to meet their academic goals.

-Diverse, representing the full range of interests and backgrounds of UB's student body. Each acadmey will take full advantage of their opportunities for dialogue presented by the diversity which is inherent to major public reserach universities.

-Trans-disciplinary, enabling partnerships across a wide array of academic disciplines. The academies will encourage a high level of curiosity and seek boundary- breaking approaches to the challenges of the twenty-first century.

-Sustaining, as they enhance valuable skills and ignite in each student the desire to become lifelong learners, active citizens and agents of change.

The Undergraduate Academies Office in 17 Norton Hall also has a learning lab that is equipped with laptops you can borrow, a coffee and tea bar, comfortable couches, a great and quiet atmosphere to study and a friendly staff that is there to help!

How can I get involved?

Related Majors:

The Undergraduate Academies is designed to supplement and enhance all majors offered at UB!

On Campus Organizations:

Center for Student Leadership & Community Engagement

UA Liaison:

Terri Frysh

(716)645-6469

150 Student Union

“The Center for Student Leadership & Community Engagement (CSLCE) develops in students an understanding and appreciation of self, others, and community by inspiring students to explore a life of active citizenship. Through our programs, services, and the process of leadership development, students cultivate a personal philosophy to make a positive change within a group, community, or global society.”

SLCE offers several programs that assist students in developing and practicing their leadership skills and also sponsor community service activities. Check out their site to see what is going on this semester!

Pillars of Leadership

Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (CURCA)

http://curca.buffalo.edu/

UA Liaison:

Tim Tryjankowski

(716)645-7778

14A Capen Hall

Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (CURCA)

The CURCA office links interested undergraduates with faculty members on UBs campus who are willing to take on undergraduates in their research. This allows you to develop your research skills in your field and network with faculty on campus. CURCA also offers $500 research grants for undergraduate research projects, which mimic the professional grant writing process, providing an excellent experience for learning an important job skill. They also host the yearly Celebration of Academic Excellence, during which students can present the results of their research in a public forum. Visit their site today to take advantage of the many opportunities available to get involved in your field of choice and build your resume as an undergraduate.

Photo of Timothy Ung at the Celebration of Academic Excellence

Study Abroad

http://wings.buffalo.edu/studyabroad/

Study Abroad Office

(716)645-3912

210 Talbert Hall

The Study Abroad Office provides resources for those students who wish to take their studies overseas. There are a variety of types of programs and a number of countries to choose from. Scholarships are available. Studying in another country is a great opportunity to see other perspectives and start thinking more globally.

Photo of Josh Maiger on his trip abroad

Intercultural & Diversity Center

http://www.ub-diversity.buffalo.edu/

UA Liaison:

Jennifer Elliott-Fowler

240 Student Union

(716)645-2434

Diversity is a big part of the University at Buffalo’s campus. The Intercultural and Diversity Center provides opportunities to interact with people from different backgrounds and lifestyles. Their office can be found at 240 Student Union

Clubs and Activities:

UB offers many clubs and organizations to suit everyone’s interests, but if you find that they are missing one of yours, there is always an opportunity to start a new one! Please visit the link below to see the full list of clubs:

http://www.student-affairs.buffalo.edu/directory/index.php

These on campus organizations will be at the UA Partner Resource Fair on Thursday, September 3^rd from 5-7pm:

Career Services

http://www.student-affairs.buffalo.edu/career/

UA Liaison:

Megan Pendergast

(716)645-2232 x114

259 Capen Hall

Career Services offers resources, links, workshops and individual counseling on career options, resume writing, and much more. They also coordinate the Meet-A-Mentor program which links UB alumni, parents and community members with undergraduate students to provide them with career guidance and advice. Click through their site to take advantage of the fantastic material and resources.

Student Advising Services

http://sas.buffalo.edu/index.php

UA Liaison

Jerry Godwin

109 Norton Hall

(716) 645-6013

Student Advising Services provides support to students who may not know what major they want to pursue and advice on how to find out what their academic goals are. Check out their website for a list of Student Success workshops.

Pre-Health

http://prehealth.buffalo.edu/

Pre-Health Advisement Office

(716)645-6013

109 Norton Hall

The Pre-Health advisement office offers workshops for undergraduates who may be thinking to about pursuing a career in a health related field. They will also help guide students with their academic paths.

Photo of an Academies hosted Pre-Health panel

The latest edition of the UB Freshmen and Sophomore Prehealth Handbook can be found at:

http://www.prehealth.buffalo.edu/gettingstarted/index.php

Pre-Law

http://sas.buffalo.edu/prelaw/

Pre-Law Advisement Office

(716)645-6013

109 Norton Hall

For those students interested in law school, the Pre-Law advisement office will help you with your application process by providing workshops for undergraduates to take. LSAT practice exams are also offered.

Other Resources:

Life and Learning Workshops are provided by UB as a resource to support students beyond the classroom. They range from adjusting to college to issues of diversity and leadership. A list of Life and Learning workshops offered can be found at:

http://workshops.buffalo.edu/

Special Events

http://www.student-affairs.buffalo.edu/special/

Special Events Office

(716)645-6147

352 Fargo Quad

The Special Events office has the listing of this year’s Distinguished Speakers series as well as information about commencement when the time comes!

Undergraduate Academies Websites:

Our Social Networking Site:

It’s not your typical Facebook updates!

Twitter:

Stay informed on UA activities from your phone or computer with Twitter: