Features

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FEATURES

Shoeless and shameless

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Oct. 13, 2019

Matthew Romanyk’s longboard is the only thing separating his bare feet from the pavement and a terrible brush burn when he weaves his way between students, down Putnman Way and toward the Student Union.  As he approaches the thick crowd gathered around the SU, Romanyk needs to come to a stop without using his feet to slow himself down. Instead, he jumps off, simultaneously flicking his board into his hands and lands on his bare feet –– not a scratch on them. 

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FEATURES

Writing her own story

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | Oct. 9, 2019

Gabriella Hall didn’t consider race a “big deal” growing up. But she still felt “different” from her peers. She said she was the only black person in her prestigious International Baccalaureate program at City Honors High School.  She didn’t understand why, but moments like these inspired her to explore racial injustice.

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FEATURES

Crockin’ out

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Oct. 9, 2019

Many students come to college without knowing how to cook for themselves.  The process can seem overwhelming, but the answer to salvation is sitting somewhere in a Christmas Tree Shop. The crock-pot has been around for over 70 years and it’s time to start making warm, hearty meals and accept slow cooking as one of the most rewarding cooking techniques. 

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FEATURES

Oh baby: Buffalo’s famous adult baby, Riley Kilo, discusses her passion for the adult-baby community

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Oct. 6, 2019

Riley Kilo starred on TLC in 2011. But she isn’t a glamorous toddler or a bride looking for her dream wedding dress.  She is an adult baby.

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FEATURES

Buffalo’s best cafes to hang out, do work

By VINDHYA BURUGUPALLI | Oct. 6, 2019

Getting out of the house –– and your sweatpants –– can do wonders for productivity. While Capen and Lockwood can get boring, and so can hanging out in your dorm, or anywhere on campus, Buffalo has some great spots to relax on a study break.  We’ve compiled some of Buffalo’s best cafes (in no particular order) you can go to for studying, meetings or just hanging out with your friends. 

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FEATURES

Buffalo’s best New York-style pizza

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | Oct. 6, 2019

A true New Yorker knows what good pizza is: hand tossed until it’s stretched to give perfectly wide slices, foldable yet crispy crust, zesty tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese thicc enough to make your girlfriend jealous.  Buffalo may be in New York State, but the pizza often doesn’t live up to the city’s standards. We compiled a list of Buffalo’s pizzerias that come closest to offering true New York-style pizza.

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FEATURES

Buffalo’s best thrift shops

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET and VINDHYA BURUGUPALLI | Oct. 6, 2019

There’s two types of thrift shopping. There’s “vintage” shopping, which essentially consists of going to high-end antique stores, spending Depop money on a worn-out denim jacket and running home to share your “gnarly experience” with your friends who aren’t cool or trendy enough to ever understand.

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FEATURES

Hella hidden hikes

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Oct. 6, 2019

Fall is underway and while it’s been surprisingly warm, we can’t expect the good luck to last in Buffalo.  Although the Buffalo area doesn’t boast tall, impressive mountain ranges, there are still a number of interesting hikes in the area to enjoy while the weather still permits. From rock cities and outdoor art exhibits to natural fireplaces under waterfalls, the area has many unique places to explore. 

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FEATURES

‘A light at the end of the tunnel’

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Oct. 2, 2019

At just 17 years old, Anthony Vargas didn’t know who was watching when he spoke in front of the United Nations on the International Day of Peace in 2014. His speech was internationally televised. He may have even been in the same room as President Barack Obama. He wasn’t sure.

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FEATURES

Get to snow Schussmeisters

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA and SOFIE ROBINSON | Sep. 29, 2019

Buffalo is known for its snow. It is not, however, known for its skiing. But that doesn’t stop Schussmeisters Ski Club –– a student-run club at UB founded in 1960 –– from making the best of the nearby slopes.

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FEATURES

Directing dreams: UB filmmaker reflects on success, science fiction and finding inspiration in the U.S

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Sep. 29, 2019

Daeil Kim wrote sci-fi and fantasy stories for friends and family when he was younger. He loved creating his “own world” as a kid. That love quickly turned into visual storytelling and filmmaking after he graduated high school, until his stories weren’t just gifts to loved ones.

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FEATURES

Cookie craze catches on at UB

By ASHLEY GUGLIELMO | Sep. 25, 2019

Teeshan Udayakumar is a night owl. He likes staying up –– and eating –– late. But he didn’t expect to change his eating habits to accommodate UB’s meal hours when he arrived on campus this semester. “Having nothing to eat after 12 [a.m. some days] does not cut it for me,” Udayakumar, a freshman computer science major, said.

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FEATURES

Around town: Fall-ing in love with Buffalo

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Sep. 25, 2019

Starbucks employees knew it was coming. They’ve been training for this battle since they were handed their first green apron. They knew what they signed up for, but they were not ready for Aug. 27.  They weren’t ready for the return of pumpkin spice, but UB students were.

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FEATURES

DJ AJ: The man behind the music

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Sep. 22, 2019

It’s mid-day, and the Student Union is swarming with students. Lines are long and tables are full. The building is noisy with chatter.  Suddenly, a deep bass riff starts to resonate throughout the building. The light buzz intensifies as its source leaves The Commons and heads toward SU. 

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FEATURES

HVNNIBVL takes LA

By AMAL ELHELW | Sep. 22, 2019

John Hannibal remembers when he was 12 years old and the other kids would be playing video games, while he was home learning how to produce music.  He wanted to do something "cool" and "different." Music was his avenue to do that.

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FEATURES

Running it back: Student DJ looks to expand business

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | Sep. 22, 2019

Jordan Nicholson began DJing when he was 15 years old. But he had to “retire” for three years while he was a running back on Monroe College’s undefeated football team. Although an undefeated season is usually exciting, Nicholson and his teammates were bored. So Nicholson decided to borrow the baseball team’s speakers and change that.

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FEATURES

Self-care through skincare

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Sep. 19, 2019

Disclaimer: I’m not a dermatologist. Make sure to patch test any new products to avoid skin irritation. (And check in with a professional.) Gone are the days of Proactiv and St. Ives apricot scrubs. Skincare has taken over in this new age of self-care and self-preservation. But as new companies and formulas continue to advance, approaching the world of skincare becomes more intimidating with each new buzzword-filled article. Acids? Retinoids? I’m getting an English degree! 

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FEATURES

Passion over profession

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Sep. 18, 2019

Jasmine To –– a junior psychology major –– left her paints at home to take classes for two years. She wanted to pave her way toward a practical, financially responsible career. Now, she realizes she’s been working toward a future she didn’t choose for herself. 

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FEATURES

Shinedown expects ‘biggest show’ of 2019

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Sep. 12, 2019

Shinedown will bring “the biggest show of 2019” to Buffalo on Sept. 27.  The performance, taking place at KeyBank Center, is part of Shinedown’s “Attention Attention World Tour” featuring a setlist of the band’s sixth studio album. 

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FEATURES

UwUB: Anime class teaches visual appreciation

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Sep. 11, 2019

Students filed into Fillmore 170 Wednesday afternoon in the anthropology department’s lecture hall.  But the students aren’t being quizzed on dinosaur bones or ancient civilizations.