The Griffin: volume 66, issue 16 - Mar. 8, 1996

              Cooke went on to denounce these attacks, stating that "violence against one member of the community is violence against all." "These incidents are clear-cut examples of bias related or hate crimes," stated John Barker, director of Public Safety. "We are doing everything we can to bring incidents of this nature to closure on campus." The second seminar, presented by special guest speakers from AIDS Community Services, was entitled "A Look at Homophobia and Its Impact on Society and the College Community." The USA meeting was followed by two seminars held on Wednesday, one at 2:30 p.m. addressing student safety concerns and one at 4:30 p.m. addressing homophobia and its impact on society. In a statement which captured the spirit of the assembly, sophomore Erin Hayes said, "This is not a homosexual issue but an issue of being violated as a human being. I know that together we can create an atmosphere of peace and justice on this campus." should not feel threatened on campus." Another speaker at the event, Dr. Jeffrey McConnell, chair of computer science, added, "The safety and protection of students is not negotiable—students Leah Susan Ranke, an attorney retained by both victims, stated that the assailants in both attacks "are believed to be C a n i s i u s College students and, if not in fact the same individuals,are individuals who are in close contact and communication with one another." Cooke's statement also makes it clear that "if the individuals found responsible for these reprehensible acts prove to be Canisius students, I assure you they will no longer be welcome on this campus." In a statement issued on Monday, March 4, regarding these assaults, Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., stated that "both assaults appear to have been motivated by a perception on the part of the attackers that that the women are lesbians or sympathetic to homosexual causes." The two incidents, which occurred respectively on Wednesday, Feb. 7 and Sunday, March 3, appear to have been motivated by the perception that the victims were lesbians and/or sympathetic with homosexual causes. Canisius College students and faculty • reacted this week to express outrage over two assaults against Canisius students with sex-bias overtones. The issue of intolerance on campus was addressed at both Tuesday's Undergraduate Association (USA) meeting and two seminars held on Wednesday. "The other guys proved something. Everybody stepped their game up to another level." —Darrell Barley Senior basketball player 66 Fairfield will improve the chances of the Griffs gaining a 12 through 14 seed. Other factors in Canisius' favor are their 19-10 "We should have been there a couple of years ago," said senior Micheal Meeks. "We were MAAC (regular season) champions, and we really achieved something. We went to the NIT, and we won a couple of games there and beat some great teams. I think that's what college basketball is all about, and I had a taste of what it was, except for the NCAA tournament. It was just one goal, one March Madness, indeed. After a 39 year drought and four long years of frustration for its three seniors, the Canisius College men's basketball team has a one way ticket to the Big Dance after winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament over the weekend. Kevin Thompson, Javone 'Bam' Moore and Fred Dupree share their excitment with former Golden Griffin Dana "Binky" Johnson as Barley celebrates in the background. PhMtjashleydorcely Barley appreciated the lengths the team went to in order to make sure that he gets to play one more game. "I know Micheal's been playing great right now, and I know Mickey (Frazier) wanted it as bad as anybody, maybe even worse than me. But the other guys proved something," he said. "Everybody stepped their game up to another level." The Griffs say that they won this one for 'D'—senior Darrell Barley, who was sidelined for the past couple weeks with a knee injury and recently broke his thumb in practice last week and wasn't able to play in the tournament. step, that I haven't gone to yet, and after doing that...it isn't just that I'm excited to go, but that when I'm 90 years old, I can look back and say I was a part of this." "He has a great dry sense of Photo by ASHLE r DORCEL Y Darrell Barley, Mickey Frazier and Micheal Meeks take a minute to kiss the dream. by Mark Ciemcioch Griffin Sports Editor humor and he's kept everybody loose," said head coach John Beilein of Barley. Meeks, a four-year teammate of Barley and roommate for the weekend, said, "He's just got so much pride in himself and so much confidence in his teammates that he's just been able to go to each person and say, 'Listen, I'm not here, but just because I'm not here, doesn't mean you can't do this or we can't do that.'" But now the tournament is over, and the team awaits for the NCAA selection to announce the brackets for the Big Dance. The Griffs will find out when, where and who they will face in the opening round this Sunday night in a live broadcast shown on ESPN at 6:30 p.m. Plans are underway for the team to assemble at the Aud Club in downtown Buffalo that night among friends and alumni to watch at 4 p.m. All students are welcome with a Canisius ID. Canisius and MAAC officials are lobbying to get a higher seed for the tournament. Beilein hopes that the victory over Iona, which was ranked as high as 55 in the computer rankings, and number Golden Griffins get ready to dance Canisius wins elusive MAAC title and gains bid to NCAA tournament record being marked with an asterisk—Barley, MAAC Player of the Year, was out for several late games; and the fact that the conference is ranked 13 out of 30 conferences (compared to 20th last year). "1 know we deserve it, because we worked hard all year. We were down and we didn't have the breaks that we needed because of the injuries," said Beilein. "I hope when they take us into consideration, they take us as the fiflh seed that won the tournament, rather than the team that lost four out of its last five and won the tournament, not as a sneak-in." Beilein and the rest of the team will find out on Sunday if their efforts are successful. Personally, Meeks is hoping for an Orlando spot. He wants to do what every other athlete does after a championship—Go to Disney World. Easter plans hopping along (see page 6) Onward, Golden Griffins When Hillary comes to town... (see page 2) (see page 12) VOLUME LXVI, NUMBER 16 FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1996 Campus in uproar over hate crimes by Kevin M. Jones Griffin News Editor the Grifiin Serving the Canisius Community Since 1933 USA addressed student safety concerns and possibilities for creating a more tolerant campus community during its Tuesday meeting. The meeting, which was held in the Student Center Auditorium and attended by more than 100 people, served as an open forum to discuss the issues.Jeffrey Pirrone, USA president, stated, "We hope that the student senate condemns any violent act perpetrated on any individual, especially a hate crime." "The safety and protection of students is not negotiable--students should not feel threatened on campus." —Dr. Jeffrey McConnell Chair of computer science