Best of the Spectrum 2024-25

As the 2024-25 year comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to spotlight The Spectrum— the reporters, editors and photographers who’ve made it all happen.

From covering protests to campus events, this year’s staff went above and beyond. Here’s a look back at some of the standout stories and visuals produced by our team this year:

Best News stories: 

1. ICE cancels 13 UB students’ visas; reasons unknown - Mylien Lai and Sol Hauser
2. UB researchers would lose $47M to Trump funding cuts, Gillibrand, Kennedy warn - Mylien Lai
3. UB communist group calls for expulsion of “white nationalist and Zionist” students and staff - Ricardo Castillo

Best Sports stories:

1. ‘There’s a balance where I can do everything for everybody’ - Izabella Ducato
2. Mid-season report: How has coach Lembo impacted UB Football? - Rodrigo Feijão
3. ‘Comeback season’: Lexie Thompson details her journey back to the field - Rodrigo Feijão

Best Feature stories:

1. ‘African Diaspora’— Celebrating South African culture through taste-testing - Sophia Stines
2. How UB students are decorating their dorms - Sophia Stines
3. The meaning of St. Patrick’s Day - The Spectrum - Haley DiMisa

Best Arts stories:

1. ‘It’s been a part of our lives for years’: Mohawk Place’s unfortunate close - Marina Noack
2. Buffalo in popular media - Nadia Brach
3. The influence of celebrity endorsements on elections - Josh Pawlik

Best Opinion pieces:

1. Study abroad: the most important education in college - Nadia Brach
2. ACL tears: The overlooked research gap - Izabella Ducato
3. A friend for everything - Josh Pawlik

Best photo/video:

1. Buffalo AKG's public tribute to Black History Month - Brooke Chavanne
2. What's the Fit? - 2024 Music is Art Festival - Kya Smith
3. Demonstrators protest new UB assembly policies against chalk and amplification - Mylien Lai, Xiola Bagwell, Blaze Nie

Ricardo was the Editor in Chief and can be reached at ricardo.castillo@ubspectrum.com

Hannah was the Managing Editor and can be reached at hannah.rashad@ubspectrum.com  

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