By
Carlo Figliomeni and Jeremy Booth
University at Buffalo
The Graduate Case Seminar of 1997 was an overwhelming success, combining an optimum amount of both technical seminars and social events. On the weekend of January 17-19th (or 16-20th if you are Juan Hector Gil II of University of Texas at El Paso), 58 students representing Beta Alpha Psi chapters across the country braved the wintry weather and safely arrived in Buffalo, New York to enjoy the weekend's challenging events.
For most travelers, arriving in Buffalo was a challenge in itself. Throughout most of the nation, Friday's weather was not accommodating to travelers. But, those who did make it into Buffalo were warmly welcomed by members of the Zeta Theta Chapter. On Friday, students were provided packets which included brief descriptions on what to do and where to go in Buffalo and in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Also, students were given additional cases that were to be looked at and used to stimulate conversation on Saturday.
Friday evening 50 of the attendees were treated to a buffet at the Hyatt Regency which included Buffalo's notorious chicken wings. Following dinner, the students were taken to a National Professional Indoor Soccer League game pitting the first place Buffalo Blizzard against the then second place Detroit Rockers. In a wild and exciting game Buffalo pulled out a 22-14 victory that was filled with end-to-end rushes and some spectacular saves by the net-menders of each team. George Parman of Florida International University was able to leave the game with pride as he gave his souvenir, a soccer ball kicked into the crowd after a Buffalo Blizzard goal, to a young lady in the crowd. In obtaining this ball, he aggressively overpowered his Beta Alpha Psi peers and is now entitled to free food at participating Pizza Hut restaurants.
Following the game, many of the students ventured to Buffalo's downtown social area on what turned out to be a somewhat chilly Buffalo evening. Shortly afterwards, the students returned to the hotel in hopes of being well rested for challenges awaiting them on Saturday.
As Saturday morning finally arrived, so did the "Pittsburgh Five" (Shannon Willett of Western Kentucky University, Robin Moore of Appalachian State University, Graham Vesely of Central Missouri State University, James Matthew Barfield of East Carolina University, and the self-pronounced "leader of the pack" Roger Ainley of Murray State University) who decided to wait until Saturday to join everyone in Buffalo. The day's events began with a breakfast at 8:15 a.m. After a greeting by the Colgate Toothpaste Kids@ (Jeremy Booth, Coordinator of 1997 National Graduate Case Seminar, and Carlo Figliomeni, Zeta Theta Chapter President) and Sterling Wetzel, Director of National and International Programs, the students were enlightened by Walter M. Primoff and James A. Woehlke of the New York State Society of CPAs who discussed the changing CPA Profession and Issues Facing the Accounting Profession. At 10:45 the students were divided into smaller discussion groups that focused on one of three pre-chosen cases, either tax issues, financial accounting matters, or legal/ethical issues in the accounting profession.
After lunch, the afternoon sessions involved students and moderators returning to their discussion groups to conclude their morning discussions. At 3:15 students were greeted by another set of moderators and began discussing the various cases handed to them upon arrival in Buffalo. At 5:15 p.m. dinner was served. Shortly after the dinner, several students were called to the podium to discuss their experience in Buffalo. These students were B.J. Burks of Texas Tech University, Scott Ashworth of the University at Central Florida, and Amy Norman of Bentley College and each spoke highly of not only the technical sessions but the hospitality and entertainment also provided.
Following the banquet two busloads of students traveled to Niagara Falls, Canada. For many it was their first opportunity to witness the power and beauty of the Falls, the scenic Niagara landscape, and the many attractions that have made Niagara Falls a worldwide tourist attraction. Students strolled the Clifton Hill area under the leadership of Paul Houghton and Jeremy Booth, visited the multitude of museums, haunted houses, the Hard Rock CafJ, and the newly erected Casino Niagara. Also, Jeremy Booth would like to invite everyone to return to Castle Rock to finish the Karaoke that was abruptly interrupted by the "cooler."
Overall, the 1997 National Graduate Case Seminar was a rewarding experience. It served as an opportunity for students to expand their knowledge base and more importantly make valuable contacts with other students and professionals in the industry. The Zeta Theta Chapter has enjoyed the honor of hosting this event and would like to wish the best of luck to Brian Padgett and the rest of the Delta Iota chapter at Texas A&M University, the hosts of next year's event.
The success of this year's event could not be achieved without the numerous students in attendance (listed in alphabetical order in the following paragraph). Equally as important is the hard work and dedication provided to the Zeta Theta Chapter by the following individuals Dr. Ronald Huefner (faculty adviser), driver Dr. Sanford Gunn, session moderators Professor Robert Chatov, Professor Susan Hamlen, Christopher Braun(Ernst & Young, LLP), Jay McWatters(KPMG Peat Marwick,LLP), David Gaulin(Price Waterhouse, LLP), Phillip Gaulin(Deloitte & Touche,LLP), Kathleen Carey(Freed, Maxick, Sachs and Murphy, PC), Scott Banach and Thomas Grogan(Brock, Schechter & Polakoff), speakers Walter Primoff and James Woehlke (NYS Society of CPAs), writer of the tax cases Professor Ann Burstein Cohen, Accounting & Law Department secretary Janet Kiefer, and of course, the members of the Zeta Theta Chapter.
The weekend's participants included:
| Roger Ainley | | Murray State University |
| Scott Ashworth | | University of Central Florida |
| James MatthewBarfield | | East Carolina University |
| Katherine Bir | | University of Alabama |
| Michael Birnbaum | | Hofstra University |
| Sue Bonar | | New Mexico State University |
| Janet Bonds | | University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| Eric Bottom | | Southern Illinois University at Carbondale |
| Christopher Brown | | University of Georgia |
| Billie J. (B.J.) Burks | | Texas Tech University |
| David Burrell | | Georgia State University |
| Caroll Christensen | | Idaho State University |
| Marion Yihjen Chung | | University of Houston |
| Ronald Cotter | | Arizona State University West |
| Helen Deer | | University of South Florida |
| Joshua Elliott | | University of South Carolina |
| John Fletcher | | Auburn University |
| Charity Fries | | Montana State University at Bozeman |
| Juan Hector Gil II | | University of Texas at El Paso |
| Usha Gopalakrishnan | | Marquette University |
| Tim Griffin | | University of Missouri at Kansas City |
| Bill Hardin | | Mississippi State University |
| Mark Hayes | | George Washington University |
| Beckie Hill | | Brigham Young University |
| Wendy Horinek | | Oklahoma State University |
| Paul Houghton | | State University of New York at Buffalo |
| Barbara Jackson | | Southwest Missouri State University |
| Anna Jamison | | Clemson University |
| Colby Jones | | Kansas State University |
| John Kim | | Virginia Tech |
| Renee Koo | | Case Western Reserve University |
| June Liu | | California State University at Los Angeles |
| Lori Logsden | | Western Illinois University |
| Kelly MacDonald | | University of Montana at Missoula |
| Juliet Markovich | | University of Houston at Clear Lake |
| Gareth Montague-Smith | | University of North Carolina at Wilmington |
| Diane Moore | | State University of New York at Albany |
| Robin Moore | | Appalachian State University |
| Devona Newport | | San Diego State University |
| Amy Norman | | Bentley College |
| Brian Padgett | | Texas A&M University |
| George Parman | | Florida International University |
| Mark Peters | | Temple University |
| Justin Radcliffe | | University of Oklahoma |
| Randall Rothberger | | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga |
| Brenda Sharp | | Ohio University |
| Lena Shey | | Baruch College, City Univesity of New York |
| Tonya Smith | | Wichita State University |
| Scott Stevens | | Stephen F. Austin State University |
| Allison Tays | | Millsaps College |
| April Thompson | | University of Tulsa |
| Cameron Tune | | University of Denver |
| Cindy Van Der Aa | | University of Texas at Arlington |
| Graham Vesely | | Central Missouri State University |
| Paula Vogelhut | | Georgia Southern University |
| Shannon Willett | | Western Kentucky University |
| Tammy Wiseman | | Middle Tennessee State University |
| Hilary Woodworth | | University of Michigan at Flint |
