As the students of the incoming freshman class take their first steps through the hallowed labyrinth that is the University at Buffalo during freshmen orientation, they will quickly grow comfortable with the sights, sounds and mechanics of college life. However, the biggest mistake college students make is becoming too comfortable. Many students fail to become active in all the campus activities. Learning about the activities is the first step of understanding the richness of UB, and all you need to do is do a little reading.
Founded in November 1950, The Spectrum has become the SUNY system's largest student-run newspaper and continues to be a staple of everyday campus life. Distributed every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in areas on and off campus, The Spectrum delivers up-to-date and breaking news as well as coverage of events that occur in UB and the Buffalo area. Students receive three credits of upper-level English credit as compensation for writing in The Spectrum, which is advised by Charity Vogel, a staff reporter at The Buffalo News.
As student's writing skills improve, they will find that promotion comes quite quickly. As desk editors, they will experience the hectic and turbulent life of professional journalists firsthand. Deadlines are always too soon, and there is never enough time for anything, yet the end results are always something to be proud of.
The Spectrum features sections that cater to each reader and writers' taste. Campus News writers write the hard, breaking news happening in UB every day. Arts and Entertainment writers focus on different art forms contained within Buffalo, from film and art exhibition reviews, to celebrity interviews. Sports writers cover the exciting sporting events and athletes of UB. Feature writers deal with stories that have a hint of novelty and fun to them. Phototographers capture the writers' words in pictures.
By reading up on the news and life of UB right from the beginning, the incoming freshman class can open their eyes to everything around them. The next step is to go out and join a club and see a show or two on campus. There is an unlimited amount of activities to broaden your horizons. You might as well; you've already paid for it all.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
