Features - The Spectrum

Freshman Ben Meister skis behind his friend’s jeep on North Campus. Meister and three of his friends became internet famous after their ski adventure during Wednesday’s snow day.

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Blizzard Boys

By BRENTON BLANCHET | Feb. 3, 2019

Ben Meister, Ethan Pitts, Michael Herrick and their Jeep-driving friend Grady became the most popular guys on campus Wednesday; after Barstool Buffalo shared a video of them shredding across campus on Instagram. University Police reported three incidents of illegal car-rear skiing on Wednesday. The freshman group’s ski trip was a product of YouTube inspiration, 10 years of skiing experience and having a friend with a car –– something not all freshmen are used to.

On Monday, St. Joseph’s University Parish held a panel on how Catholics and the Diocese can move forward after the sexual abuse scandal.  The Roman Catholic Church is in the midst of a sexual assault crisis which has affected Catholics around the world and right in Buffalo.

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A testament of faith

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET , THOMAS ZAFONTE and JACKLYN WALTERS | Dec. 6, 2018

Monsignor Patrick Keleher of UB’s Newman Center does not want Catholic students to lose faith, despite the reemergence of a 17-year sexual abuse scandal that has again rocked the Catholic Church.

The Music Library is a 51-year-old collection of 224,000 scores, LPs and more located in Baird Hall.

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Music faculty, students concerned with Music Library's future

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Dec. 6, 2018

James Currie is worried about the future of UB’s Music Library. Since he came to UB 15 years ago, he said, he has seen dramatic changes to the library.

Renuka Ramanadhan, a business administration major, is currently recovering in the hospital after being hit by a car outside her Hadley Village apartment.

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Rooting for Renuka Ramanadhan

By TANVEEN VOHRA | Dec. 6, 2018

International student Renuka Ramanadhan bought a Calvin Klein coat last summer to help her survive her second Buffalo winter. But she hasn’t shown it off to her friends this winter.

Students scatter from the South Campus when police released canisters of tear gas during an anti-Vietnam War demonstration.

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An academic revolution: Professors, community members reflect on UB's active political past

By Isabella Nurt | Dec. 3, 2018

It was 1970 and Bruce Jackson was eating his typical dinner near South Campus. But Jackson, a new faculty member at the time, noticed trouble.

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More than a number: How UB responds to mental health emergencies, concerns on campus

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Nov. 19, 2018

Nearly every day at UB’s Counseling Services office, mental health officials respond to a student in a state of crisis, university reports show.

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Water you drinking?

By KIRSTEN DEAN | Nov. 19, 2018

Water from fountains around campus is H2Okay, according to a Spectrum study. Though the pH of water from some fountains fell below recommended U.S. Environmental Protection Agency levels, the water on North Campus was consistently safe to drink and free of harmful metals like lead, the study found.

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Buffalo's Flyest

By Isabella Nurt | Nov. 19, 2018

One of the most celebrated American holidays is fast approaching: Black Friday. This week, millions will stampede into chain clothing stores across the nation to snag the hottest trends. But if you prefer not to join the masses in this major frenzy, try visiting some locally owned stores instead.

Tristan Reynolds, a senior mechanical engineering major and SU manager, discussed how the Student Union is not student-friendly. Club officials, SA government and others involved in the SU met on Wednesday to discuss UB’s Student Union Master Plan.

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The Student Union of the future

By KIRSTEN DEAN | Nov. 15, 2018

In 1984, UB built the Student Activities Center, now called the Student Union. Now, 34 years later, UB is looking to update the most-populated building for students on campus. SA leaders, club officials and other UB community members gathered on Wednesday in SU Room 250 to discuss plans to move the union into the current century.

Nofisat Olajumoke-Adekunle shared her experiences as an international student at the panel luncheon on Monday.

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UB community members undecided in university's commitment to international students

By TANVEEN VOHRA | Nov. 15, 2018

Daae Jung said she believes international students should demand a refund from UB. “I mean what are [international students] getting, other than this really traumatizing experience of isolation and even humiliation,” Jung, a graduate student in the English department, asked.

Drag queen Alice Raige answered questions from the community during the Q&A portion of the drag show on Friday.

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Drag in the day

By TANVEEN VOHRA | Nov. 12, 2018

Angel Yutig, a junior health and human services major, said she never thought she’d see the day someone would deepthroat a dildo in the middle of the Student Union.

Dr. Zachary Schlader stands in front of a temperature-controlled room that he uses in many of his studies. Schlader, an assistant professor in the department of exercise and nutrition sciences, conducts research on exercise physiology, behavior and thermoregulation.

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A thermo-dynamic professor

By KIRSTEN DEAN | Nov. 12, 2018

From 2002 to 2006, Dr. Zachary Schlader controlled the post as a power forward for the Austin Peay State University Governors basketball team. But there was an off-the-court problem. Schlader’s class schedule conflicted with hoops. As a biology major, he needed to take chemistry and biology labs, but practice got in the way.

Kurt Cobain shreds in front of 7,000 fans at Alumni Arena in 1993. Cobain and his band Nirvana played a sold-out show at UB 25 years ago today, and students brought them here.

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Reaching Nirvana

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET | Nov. 5, 2018

It’s 1993 and Kim Greenfield is sitting on her living room floor, talking on the phone with Nirvana’s attorneys. She’s shuffling through 30 pages of paperwork for the grunge band’s upcoming UB performance when she sees an interesting detail in the band’s requests.

Rebecca Kennedy cares for her five-month-old son. Kennedy is one of a number of mothers who have participated in Dr. Xiaozhong Wen’s study.

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UB professor looks to help pregnant women quit smoking through research

By TANVEEN VOHRA | Nov. 5, 2018

Rebecca Kennedy spent two years recovering from her drug addiction. Kennedy, who started smoking cigarettes at 12 years old, is now a 24-year-old mother. As her five-month-old son Jaxson plays on her lap, Kennedy said she feels like she’s been judged her whole life.

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Donation data reflects political differences between UB employees and Council members

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Nov. 1, 2018

A number of deans, faculty and staff donate primarily to Democrats, according to political donation data –– a stark contrast to UB Council members, who give money across party lines, records show.

Johannes Nitsche, a SUNY distinguished professor in the chemical and biological engineering department, said his department is the source of violence prevention and safety workshops hosted by Health Promotion in September.

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UB Health Promotion raises awareness of sexual violence through workshops

By Shamini Priya Gopalakrishna | Nov. 1, 2018

One in five women experience sexual violence while in college, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Forty-eight students have experienced sexual violence after arriving to UB, according to UB’s 2017-18 Sexual Assault Prevention Program. Through education and workshops, the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering is looking to make a change.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand spoke to residents in a town hall discussion on Friday. Gillibrand answered questions about healthcare, public transit and selective service.

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Senator Kirsten Gillibrand hosts town hall event at UB

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET and TANVEEN VOHRA | Oct. 29, 2018

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) discussed immigration, the U.S. economy and climate concerns during a town hall event at UB on Friday. Gillibrand, who is running for re-election on Nov. 6, answered questions for roughly an hour at Slee Hall. Jean Wactawski-Wende, dean of the School of Public Health and Health Professions, moderated the town hall, but no attendee who asked questions identified themselves as a student.

Men’s bathrooms are notoriously gross, but The Spectrum sought out the worst of the worst. From urinals to stalls, these restrooms might just be the scariest things on campus this Halloween.

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The top five spookiest bathrooms on campus

By ARSH ISSANY | Oct. 25, 2018

As an avid bathroom user –– mostly due to high consumption of C3 –– I have become a campus bathroom connoisseur. Through my two years at UB, I’ve used almost every male bathroom on North Campus. When duty calls, you don’t refuse.

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Give your corpse pose a glow up

By JACKLYN WALTERS | Oct. 25, 2018

Blacklights? Check. Body paint? Got it. “Monster Mash?” Already playing in the background.

Buffalo’s Grand Central Terminal, abandoned since 1979, has recently undergone efforts to restore the once-mighty train station. However, no amount of fixing-up can remove spirits from the station’s hayday that still haunt the spacious halls.

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Buffalo Haunts

By KIRSTEN DEAN | Oct. 25, 2018

Buffalo is known for our unfortunate sports teams and our love of chicken wings. But embedded deep into the cold tundra are a number of frigidly haunted places. Here are just a few of the Queen City’s most spooky locations. Take a visit … if you dare.