Last week, Elias Ayoub ’17, president of the Undergraduate Student Association (USA), traveled to Albany with a group of Canisius students to participate in New York Student Aid Alliance Advocacy Day.  He and the Canisius contingent asked legislators to continue their support of all New York college students by increasing funding for TAP and opportunity programs.

While there, Ayoub was interviewed by the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU).  He spoke about his Canisius experience and stressed the importance of being able to choose where to attend college.  Ayoub’s full interview is now available on CICU’s YouTube Channel.  Click here to watch.

Submitted by: College Communications

There are lots of activities this weekend in the Koessler Athletic Center (KAC) as your Golden Griffin men’s basketball team concludes its regular season with a pair of games.

On Friday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m. Canisius hosts Fairfield. Free bobbleheads will be given to the first 200 ticketed fans and to the first 300 students (with ID) entering from the pre-game birthday party for Petey. The Griffs are one game ahead of the Stags in the conference standings.

Sunday, February 26, is Senior Day and the Hall of Fame Ceremony. Golden Griffins Phil Valenti and Kiefer Douse will be honored before the game for their contributions to Canisius basketball. Tip off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. At halftime, Canisius welcomes six inductees into the Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees are:

Andrea Bunten Sykes ’05 (Softball), Kevin Downey ’06, MBA ’07 (Basketball), Bryan Worosz ’05 (Hockey), Becky Zak Kelly ’06 (Basketball), the 1962-1963 men’s basketball team and this year’s recipient of the Rev. Paul J. Dugan, SJ, Award, James Lauffenburger ’60, PhD.

For tickets, call 888-TIXX. Remember, faculty and staff receive a discount with a valid ID.

Submitted by: John Maddock, associate athletic director, external affairs

The Canisius women’s lacrosse team opens its 2017 home schedule this Saturday, February 25, as it hosts Columbia at the Demske Sports Complex. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. Admission is free to all fans.

Canisius, the defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) champions, are currently 1-2 on the year after falling to nationally-ranked Syracuse last weekend. The Griffs earned their first win of the 2017 season on February 13 with a 15-11 victory at Oregon.

Submitted by: Matt Reitnour, assistant athletic director, communications

The Canisius College Chorale, under the direction of Frank Scinta, continues its 2016-2017 Sacred Spaces Concert Series with a performance on Sunday, February 26 at 5:00 p.m. in St. Stephen’s Church, 2100 Baseline Road, Grand Island. The program is free and open to the public and features works of Vivaldi, Whitacre, Lauridsen, Dawson and many others.

Sacred Spaces stems from an idea the choir proposed 10 years ago to feature its music in some of Western New York’s most beautiful and acoustically resonant environments – namely, the sanctuaries of our region’s present and former churches. As a result, the choir has visited nearly 30 houses of worship with its repertoire of sacred and secular music spanning five centuries.

Now in its 20th season, the Canisius College Chorale remains one of Western New York’s most active collegiate music ensembles. Composed of 120 undergraduate and graduate members, the chorale regularly presents concert programs to school, church and community audiences throughout Western New York and Southern Ontario. In recent years, the chorale boasts performances with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Ars Nova Chamber Musicians, Canerata di Sant’ Antonio Chamber Orchestra, Amherst Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus and the Dave Brubeck Quartet.

Please join us for a lovely evening of great choral music.

Submitted by: Frank Scinta, adjunct professor, fine arts