The Griffin: volume 72, issue 05 - Oct. 19, 2001

              aimed at increasing overall recruitment and retention. The Enrollment committee then branched off into several subcommittees, one of which was the Subcommittee for Diversity; headed up by Sababu Norris, Director of the Multicultural Affairs Office, and Lily Adams Dudley, Director of COPE. The Subcommittee was enacted in 1998 and concluded its work in the spring of 2000 The administration, led by Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., also has had diversity on their minds—and it appears for quite some time. Fr. Cooke created an Enrollment Committee, which he chaired, The D.A. Representative will be an undergraduate student who will serve as the liaison between Senate and the student organizations that celebrate the diversity of the College. Such organizations include the Offices of Multicultural Programs and Student Disability Services. Student Senate came up with a proposal recently for addressing the diversity issue by creating a Diversity Awareness (D.A.) Representative who will sit among the organization's Cabinet. Applications have been accepted and are being reviewed. The post will be filled sometime next week. One of the hottest topics of debate for student government and college administration over the past few months has been the issue of diversity. Specifically, awareness is being raised concerning the lack of ALANA students and professors on campus. It is an area of college life needing reform, many say, criticizing the school for being "non-diverse." ALANA is an abbreviation for African- American, Latino, Asian American, & Native American students. Continued on page 3. Lack of campus parking drives student queries By Sarah Nemeth News Editor DAN FALKNER Blue Cross Ramp houses the majority of commuters' cars each day. Other students who weren't on campus at the time found out in other ways. Amy Nikiel was planning on attending a meeting for Circle Shawn Chapels was unaffected by the news. "1 went to South Park High School, where we'd receive bomb threats three times per week. After becoming immune to that, it made this threat seem insignificant to me." Students for the most part, however, didn't appear to be that upset or shocked. Most weren't even aware of what was going on, as the fire alarms went off in both buildings. "1 wasn't aware of what was going on until the announcement was made in Koessler. It seemed like a joke, almost unreal and unlikely," said Melissa Militello. "It's a shame that these threats disrupted the campus. Exams were taking place in Old Main and had to be rescheduled, not to mention the anxiety it brought to the surface," said Everett. "With everything that is taking place in world events, the last thing the campus needed was more anxiety and upset." "We take all threats seriously, and we'd like to thank the students, staff, and faculty for allowing evacuation to go in an orderly way with no panic," said Gary M. Everett, Interim Director of Public Safety. "We all must be more aware of our surroundings," he went on to say. "Please call us, if you have witness anything that seems suspicious." During the check, all common areas, restrooms, garbage depositories and suspicious packages were searched. Anything that appeared out of the ordinary was checked, and bomb searching dogs were sent to follow up that all was clear. Immediately following the calls, Public Safety split its staff in half to search both Old Main and the Health Science Center. Calls to the Buffalo Police Department were made and two lieutenants as well as the deputy inspector arrived to conduct the bomb check. Students in both Old Main and the Health Science Center were evacuated and sent to safe buildings, such as the Koessler Center, Palisano Pavilion, the Chapel and Monatante Cultural Center. There, students remained until the situation was clearly safe. Once Old Main and the Health Science Center were both evacuated, adjoining buildings including Bagen Hall, Churchill Tower and the Bouwhuis Library were also evacuated. Students and faculty were shaken out of classrooms in Old Main and the Health Science Center on Tues., Oct. 16 when calls for a bomb threat in both locations took place. At 1:00 p.m. Public Safety received notification that a bomb was set to go off in Old Main approximately two hours from the onset of the call. Seconds later. Public Safety received another call that was sent to Student Accounts stating the same situation in the Health Science Center. INSIDE The Public Safety Office requires parking permits so that parking on campus will be reserved only for Canisius students. The office declined comment but said that there aren't ways busy, and students fear with the amount of students crossing the street an accident is bound to happen. Other students show concern that the alarm that sounds when students cross Main St. may be insufficient as well. The street is al- safety. "I have to walk to my car in the ramp late at night. One night it was 3 a.m. That scares me," one student said. "There should be more accommodating parking at a school with $18,000 tuition," "I live five minutes from here and I leave an 35 minutes early to find a parking space." Students who do find a parking space are often required to park in faraway lots such as those at Spillman and Koessler lots. This is dubbed another cause for tardiness and duress among students. In some cases, students think the poor parking accommodations also compromises Many students are also concerned that spending time searching for a space, and then trekking the distance to their class rooms will mean being late for classes. Junior Gary Bostwick said, "The lead us to believe that because we pay for the permit that we're going to get a spot." Parking permits can be purchased at Office of Student Accounts for varying prices ranging from $ 50 - $ 100. What the student complaint is, though, is that a parking permit does not translate guaranteed parking space. Students say the lack of parking space on campus has resulted in tardiness to classes. Bostwick said, Continued on page 4. (POM IC Football breaks 24 game losing streak against Siena last weekend. Get more coverage on the game and celebration on Page 16. HtWi E Canisius supports over 90 clubs and oreanizations and vet student participation is at a staggeringly low percentage. Find out what Student Activities has to say about the issue on Page 5. m i JUM 0 ArtsCanisius offers a multitude of events that most are unaware of. Find out more about concerts, lectures and places on campus to visit on Page 8. Canisius College, Buffalo, NY Volume LXXII. Number 5 MOM C Can't seem to find a parking space in the proximity of Buffalo, much less near the ■i^ Canisius College campus? Che ©riffin voices its opinion on | parking woes on Page 7. Friday. October 19. 2001 DIVERSITY AWARENESS HEIGHTENS WITHIN ENROLLMENT DIVISION By Eric DuVall News Reporter By Nicole Festaiuti News Editor Bomb threat shakes school community While the college requires students to purchase and display parking permits, it does not guarantee a parking spot for all permit holders.Canisius College students are walking a lot these days. But not because they need the exercise. Continued on page 4 Another program set up was one that allowed students of color to get a small loan in case of emergency, then provide them with a way to work it off. The Subcommittee also provided ALANA students were with a voice, Dudley says. At one point, ALANA students were invited to speak before the group about test, organizers hope that it will allow all ALANA students in area high schools to see Canisius as a more diverse place, which they will feel comfortable in attending, along with raising awareness to the MLK festivities. According to Dudley, The goal of the committee was to, "recruit, admit, and create a more prepared campus for minority students." She also said, "(The work) was very productive on the side of all minority students." Among the group's accomplishments was the reinstating of the campus-wide Dr. Martin Luther King Day celebration. Each year, the MLK poetry contest is held for Canisius faculty and students. This year, the contest will be expanded to include students from all area High Schools. With this con- MEGHANN FITZGERALD Demographics of students at Canisius in 1999. <E\)c ©tiffin How Diverse Exactly is Canisius?