Start New Discussion Title: Post:

College Prowler

Academics

Freshmen are herded into the lecture halls like cattle to the meat grinder. The powers that be shove up to 400 kids in a class, mostly taught by TAs, while at the same time, glorifying the University for its renowned faculty. After freshman year, though, the classes thin out. Now that I’m a senior, most of my classes are 20 kids, and they’re taught by the professors that the recruitment brochures had touted so highly.

Athletics

Being a varsity athlete, I’d say that varsity sports are big and, for the most part, successful. Although our revenue-producing sports are inconsistent at times, the University definitely would not be the same without the athletic environment.

Campus Dining

There are a ton of things to eat, but just be careful about what you take into your body. The average college kid goes nuts during the first few weeks of school and eats only pizza and ice cream, because it’s available. There are foods that won’t contribute to your love handles; you just have to be smart enough to eat them. As far as taste goes, there’s enough variety that almost everyone can find something to eat. Two tips: never eat anything called a ‘Monster Burger,’ and always get up in time for brunch on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Those brunches will be the best meals of your college career.

Campus Housing

Get in Governors if you like to study, or if you just like your peace and quiet. I’ve lived there for two years, and I love it because I don’t have much tolerance for late-night tomfoolery in the middle of the week. If you’re up for that and you’re looking for a more exciting place, go to Ellicott. Stay off South Campus if you can avoid it.

Campus Strictness

I think there is some racial profiling. Most of my black, male friends have been stopped on campus while doing nothing more than walking to their dorms. I never hear my white friends complain about this. So, while the police do a decent job of keeping our campus safe, they could do well with some lessons in progressive thinking.

Computers

The Unix machines for engineers are supplied by Sun Microsystems. They are powerful machines, but if a lot of people are in the lab the day before something is due, the server gets bogged down. Recently, half of the main Unix lab was replaced by Dell machines, running the newest version of Redhat Linux written specifically for UB. For programming, these machines are a good amount faster than the Sun machines, but other things the Sun machines were good for have not been completely debugged on the Linux machines. Hopefully these problems will be rectified over the summer.

Diversity

There’s a good mix of guys and girls from all cultures. You can meet all new types of people from all over the world—including Canadians—giving you new insights every day.

Drug Scene

It’s fairly common to end up with a stoner in your hall in the dorms, but that is about the extent of drug use. Most drug use here is recreational.

Facilities

The Student Union leaves much to be desired. It’s a big open atrium that’s never quite clean with bad food and poor acoustics. Fortunately, there are nicer places to visit and eat on campus. Lockwood Library makes a fantastic study place with its big round windows and low-level lighting. And it’s pleasant to watch dancers or robots or painters while you snack and study in the Center for the Arts atrium.

Greek Life

I can give my opinion on Greek life from the African American perspective. I used to think Greek life was nothing but organized cliques. But when I go to an event and they have that section where all the Greeks give their frat/sorority call and do their stroll, I get a little envious. Those kids are so full of pride for their organizations. Greek life might not be for me, but it is for many students at UB. Whether you hate it or love it, everyone can acknowledge that Greek life is a substantial part of UB’s student life.

Guys & Girls

After a long, cold winter, springtime in Buffalo is great because all the hot chicks come out from hiding and sunbathe while studying for their final exams in tiny tank tops and shorts.

Local Atmosphere

There’s something for everyone in Buffalo. Once in downtown, there’s a gallery, theater, or movie house every few blocks. Buffalo boasts one of the most thriving art scenes in the state, from contemporary art to photography to sculpture and back again. The problem, it seems, is getting students to venture from the comfort of their dorms in Amherst into the city. While a subway system connects South Campus to downtown, few students utilize it.

Nightlife

House parties that involve alcohol and socializing generally draw a white crowd, while the parties with loud reggae music blaring and couples wall-to-wall dancing, sweating, and loving it draw a predominantly black crowd. The bars and clubs on Main Street are an attraction from Thursday to Saturday night. The clubs downtown are hot spots for after parties, reggae and hip hop parties, and hot guest performers. Partying is a word to which all young people relate.

Off-Campus Dining

Food is the best part of Buffalo. The best food is probably by the bars. Sal’s Pizza has a New York City flavor, while Jim’s SteakOut is a combination of Subway and McDonald's on steroids. So many places are open all hours of the night for late-night munchies, with decent prices, since it’s fairly inexpensive to open anything in Buffalo.

Off-Campus Housing

For those who like a quiet area, there are many off-campus locations away from the Heights where students live. The Colony Apartments, right off North Campus, are a really safe and quiet apartment complex where many people are happy living.

Overall Experience

I love UB—good people and good parties. You can’t beat the price if you live in-state, because the education you get for most of the majors is excellent. Most of the professors have won awards and written their own books.

Parking

Parking got so bad that the University commissioned a company to do a study of parking a few years ago. They came back and said that there are enough spots, just not enough close ones. Park at the Center for Tomorrow, they said. Take the shuttle, they recommend. They said you shouldn’t circle the lots for an empty spot. I say circle the lots, and stalk people who are headed to their cars. It may not be the most polite thing to do, but I’m parking close, while Mr. Nice Guy is parking at the Center for Tomorrow.

Safety & Security

Crime can be a problem, but generally it's pretty safe. From Sunday to Thursday, there is an anti-rape task force that will walk people back and forth from 7 to 12 p.m., but that's not that great.

Transportation

The South Campus bus, although it gets crowded, is a really good method for getting down to the bars on Main Street so you don’t have to worry about getting a designated driver or calling a cab. Another really convenient method of transportation is the subway, which runs directly from South Campus to downtown. Driving and parking downtown can be confusing anyway, so taking the subway is always a good method. The only problem is that it stops running really early (around midnight or 1 a.m.), which can be constricting.

Weather

Buffalo has the absolute worst possible combination of wind and freezing temperatures. I can recall some times when the wind was so harsh you could not walk up hills because you were blown backwards.