Year of the City Spring Semester in Review

With the start of the spring 2013 semester, Buffalo State continued to celebrate the Year of the City through its exhibitions, performances, research, and—most importantly—its people.

Spencer Morgan, ’12, a graduate of Buffalo State’s museum studies programs, has adopted Buffalo as his hometown because of its future and its heritage. Morgan, who now resides in Buffalo, is the curator for the Steel Plant Museum of Western New York.

Flurrious, the annual winter celebration held by the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, included a presentation by Buffalo State students who belong to the student chapter of the National Science Teachers Association. The group, headed by senior Ryan Frost, showed the audience what real cold is by dipping fruits and flowers into liquid nitrogen, which instantly freezes them. Other activities included seeing a snowflake under a microscope.

The strong connection between Buffalo State and the city of Buffalo is, of course, a two-way street. Phillips Lytle LLP, an international law firm headquartered in Buffalo, gave $5,000 to Buffalo State. The gift supported the American Mock Trial Association’s Regional Tournament, which Buffalo State hosted in February.

Also in February, Buffalo CarShare and Buffalo State entered into a partnership, thanks to the support of the John R. Oishei Foundation. Students, faculty, and staff who take part will be able to use one of two brand-new cars placed on the Buffalo State campus. “This helps us respond to student concerns about available parking, and demonstrates our commitment to sustainability,” said Michael LeVine, vice president for finance and management at Buffalo State. The program has been well-received and the numbers of participants are growing.

Patrick Whalen, chief operating officer for the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, presented “The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus: Collaboration at Its Best” on February 21, as part of the Year of the City lecture series. In addition to the Emerging Scholars lecture series, which presents campus scholars discussing urban-related topics, two more Year of the City lectures have been scheduled.

On Tuesday, March 19, author Timothy Bohen will discuss his popular book, A Very Brief History of the First Ward: Buffalo’s First Irish Neighborhood, at 4:30 p.m. in Bulger West. On Thursday, April 25, Buffalo State’s own Thomas Reigstad (pictured at left), professor emeritus of English, will discuss his recently published book, Scribblin’ for a Livin’: Mark Twain’s Pivotal Period in Buffalo. Jeff Simon, renowned Buffalo News critic, described it as “a definitive look at Twain’s Buffalo years.”

Buffalo State continued its faculty and student concerts, which are open to the Western New York community. February events included an opportunity to hear music featuring Spanish and Cuban composers as well as the Buffalo State Wind Ensemble, joined by members of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Also in February, the Great Lakes Center announced it has received a grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to set up a Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management office in Western New York. Its purpose is to manage and, where possible, eradicate invasive species. The Great Lakes Center was chosen in part because it has demonstrated its ability to lead this important regional initiative.