Young African Americans who use cocaine are six times more likely to suffer a potentially lethal episode of bleeding inside the brain than non-users, a case-control study of major risk factors for intracerebral hemorrhage in this population conducted by researchers at the University of Buffalo and Emory University has found.

Mary Beth Spina was a legend in her own time and among everyone whose life she touched. Eccentric, sardonic, good-natured, wildly expressive, she spent more than 40 years in the fields of journalism and press relations, the majority of it as coordinator of radio and television coverage for the University at Buffalo Office of News Services. Spina died Sunday (July 8, 2001) in her Clarence home. She was 59.

While there has been considerable research documenting the problems of children born to depressed and alcohol-abusing mothers, research scientists at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) have demonstrated that alcohol abuse, depression and other problems in the father also are related to children's development.

The Alumni Association of the University at Buffalo School of Management has pledged $150,000 to the school for creation of a symposium suite to be named in honor of John H. Shellum, assistant dean of external affairs at the school.

WBFO 88.7 FM, the National Public Radio affiliate operated by the University at Buffalo, is adding five programs to its weekend schedule and revising its Saturday and Sunday broadcast presentation effective the weekend of July 14 and 15.

The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership in the University at Buffalo School of Management will offer a series of executive education programs beginning in August. The programs are designed for high-level managers who wish to broaden their knowledge of leading-edge practices and network with other executives from a variety of industries.

The Institute for Tax Studies in the University at Buffalo School of Management is offering three courses leading to a Graduate Tax Certificate. To be held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, Aug. 20 through Oct. 22, in the Jacobs Management Center on UB's North (Amherst) Campus, the courses are part of a graduate-level 18-course, non-credit program on personal and business taxation.

The Freeman Foundation has awarded a $152,775 grant to the University at Buffalo School of Management to fund an annual educational trip to China for students enrolled in the school's Joseph T.J. Stewart Honors Program.

Robert Baier, professor of oral diagnostic sciences in the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and director of the Industry/University Center on Biosurfaces, has been appointed a member of the National Research Council's Committee on Marine Biotechnology: Development of Marine Natural Products.

The Buffalo entry in Solar Splash 2001, the eighth annual solar/electric boat regatta held June 20-24 on Hoyt Lake in Delaware Park, earned the "Outstanding Rookie Team" award in the contest.

More than 900 items of memorabilia from the Pan-American Exposition of 1901 -- culled from a very serious group of Pan-Am collectors and featuring everything from china and glass souvenirs, to postcards and posters and an official Pan-Am flag and quilt -- will be on display at the University at Buffalo beginning Aug. 1.

Football coaches at the University at Buffalo are going digital thanks to a $250,000 gift from former UB football player Gerald H. Scriver to the Division of Athletics for a video-editing system.

Researchers who have studied the issue of the impact of class size on the performance of children now have incontrovertible evidence that even a few early years of study in a small class of 13-17 peers will enhance a student's academic achievement all the way through high school.

The University at Buffalo Business Alliance has made two appointments within its Contracted Services Group. David K. Hollen, formerly senior sales engineer for Sintec Keramik USA Inc., has been named director of business development. Nicholas Randell, previously sales and marketing manager for Acres International Corp., has been appointed operations manager.

Richard Krause, residency program director for the Department of Emergency Medicine in the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has been named managing editor for the emergency medicine section of eMedicine, an online medical journal that provides textbook-quality articles on topics ranging from dermatology to sports medicine with one distinct advantage over the print variety: the information is truly current.

Three faculty members, four professional staff members and one librarian at the University at Buffalo have received 2001 SUNY Chancellor's Awards for Excellence from State University of New York Chancellor Robert L. King.

Three University at Buffalo faculty members have joined the ranks of distinguished professors appointed by the State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees.

Extremely hardy bacteria that contaminate computer-chip fabrication facilities and mean nothing but trouble for chip manufacturers have been reproduced under controlled conditions by University at Buffalo researchers, who believe they could be the basis for potentially powerful biophotonic materials.

In search of evidence that could help explain how certain species were created and how their genome has changed with evolution, a University at Buffalo evolutionary biologist and nine of his students enrolled in a new course on arctic molecular ecology are participating in a two-week research expedition to the arctic climes of Alaska.

The University at Buffalo has established a major center for scientific visualization and virtual reality designed to provide companies throughout New York State with a significant competitive advantage in high-tech product development.

MyUB, a personalized Web site linking University at Buffalo students to important information -- including academic and student services -- has earned the university designation as an IBM "Best Practice" partner.

Senior Vice President Robert J. Wagner has announced two appointments in the Division of University Services at the University at Buffalo. Kevin R. Seitz, associate vice president and controller, has been appointed senior associate vice president for university services. Michael LeVine, assistant vice president for financial services, has been named associate vice president and controller.

Researchers at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) have shown that families exhibit improvements in overall functioning, and in some cases reduced adolescent substance use, when parents receive help and support in coping with their child's substance-abuse problem.

Charles Atkinson Haynie, retired UB lecturer and former administrative coordinator for the university's Leo Tolstoy College, died Friday (July 20, 2001) in Hospice Buffalo after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 65.

Provost Elizabeth D. Capaldi has announced that Michael Bernardino, vice president of health affairs and executive dean of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has assumed the role of dean of the medical school, effective immediately.