Features - The Spectrum

FEATURES

Corona-can I take you on a date?

By REILLY MULLEN | Apr. 9, 2020

Quarantine came at an inconvenient time for all of us. Whether it was for seniors who aren’t quite ready to say goodbye to their college days or for those who no longer have close friends at home like they do at school, saying goodbye this early is hard. But a less serious, yet still disappointing, result of vacating campus midway through the semester is the toll it can take on students’ love lives. Relationships become exponentially more difficult for couples who aren’t ready for the challenge of distance or are stuck inside a tiny apartment together all day (and it doesn’t look like the New York State self-quarantining guidelines are ending anytime soon).

FEATURES

Fighting off the quarantine 15

By CHLOE FERNEY | Mar. 29, 2020

With most of New York, and the U.S., under quarantine, all gyms are closed and leaving many without a place to work out. For some, the lack of exercise increases anxiety and depression, which is likely already heightened from the COVID-19 outbreak. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to stay fit while staying at home and helping flatten the curve. Be sure to shake up your self-isolation with one of these convenient at-home workouts.

Student modeling a jumpsuit from Aquamaia's line during BSU's Black Explosion.

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Black Explosion ‘Rebirth’ educates and entertains

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | Mar. 8, 2020

Flute Fingers, a performer at Saturday’s Black Explosion fashion show, approached the stage on a hoverboard, playing Drake and Future’s “Life is Good” on his flute. Soon after, the performer wound up serenading an audience member with a flute rendition of Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up.”

The Latin American Student Association performed at the International Fiesta on Saturday. Their performance was about domestic violence and they won first place out of all the performances.

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LASA wins International Fiesta

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | Mar. 2, 2020

At the end of its International Fiesta performance Saturday, the Latin American Student Association stormed the Center for the Arts stage, holding signs to protest domestic violence. The display was the final emotional moment in the club’s first-place victory at SA’s annual dance competition. It marked LASA’s fourth win since 2011, with a performance that illuminated domestic violence within the Latin American community.

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Around the world in four plates

By LIA SITRIN | Mar. 1, 2020

The Student Union may be one of the most popular places for UB students to grab their grub, but some students say the impersonal feeling of campus food leaves them craving something a little closer to home.

Criminal justice advocate and member of Central Park Five, Yusef Salaam speaks to Spectrum editors.

FEATURES

The Spectrum’s exclusive interview with Yusef Salaam of the ‘Exonerated 5’

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN and JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Feb. 26, 2020

Yusef Salaam and the four other members of the ‘Exonerated 5’ did not receive compensation until 12 years after the Daily News declared ‘We got the wrong kids’ on Oct. 11, 2002. Over a decade earlier, the ‘Exonerated 5’ were wrongfully accused of raping ‘The Central Park Jogger.’ Salaam was imprisoned for nearly seven years for a crime he did not commit.

The stage where student performers read poetry and rapped.

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Students show love for black culture through art

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | Feb. 23, 2020

Iaisha Johnson was “nervous” approaching the stage Friday night in Goodyear Hall. But once she finally stood in front of her 45 peers, she became more confident. For three minutes, Johnson shared her pride for her culture and was a force on stage. Whenever she said, “I’m black, y’all,” her audience responded, “how black?” in unity.

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Fantasy Island becomes a fantasy

By NEIL KAVANAUGH | Feb. 23, 2020

Fantasy Island, an amusement park in Grand Island, permanently closed on Wednesday and students are reflecting on the childhood summers they spent there.

The Campus Tees store in the Student Union.

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Campus Dining and Shops reward points to expire ahead of new reward program launch

By ELIZABETH NAPOLITANO | Feb. 19, 2020

Students have until March 13 to redeem campus reward points at UB Campus Tees. After that, points awarded through dining dollar purchases, campus cash purchases and meal swipes will expire. Under the current program, students can use points at any time during their UB career, but participants forfeit all accumulated points if they have not reactivated their dining plan within 12 consecutive months. Many students, unaware of the program’s rules and restrictions, unknowingly forfeited their points by failing to redeem them before the end of the 12-month period. Now, students hope others will take advantage of the program before the March 13 deadline to avoid forfeiting their points, too.

Vaughn Law, sophomore communication major

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Intersecting identities

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | Feb. 16, 2020

Vaughn Law says they struggled to be open with their bisexuality while embracing their Hong Kong-Vietnamese culture. Since their intersecting cultures have “similar values,” including a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to sexuality, they feared coming out. And today, only some family members know of their sexuality.

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Protect yourself

By REILLY MULLEN | Feb. 9, 2020

With STD rates on the rise, students may need a refresher on their middle school “sex-ed” classes. Students are having unprotected sex –– according to The Spectrum sex survey, 23.3% of students who are sexually active say they do not use any form of contraception –– leaving them vulnerable to sexually-transmitted disease diagnoses and unwanted pregnancies. UB offers several types of contraceptives to students for free. All you have to do is schedule an appointment at Michael Hall –– which offers free STD and pregnancy testing –– to find out what best fits your needs. Emergency contraceptives, like Plan B, are available on North and South Campus, but they aren’t cheap.

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Leading an eco-friendly life

By VINDHYA BURUGUPALLI | Feb. 5, 2020

Conversations and global movements surrounding climate change in the last few years have taken off. Greta Thunberg, even at 16 years old, has taken the climate change movement by storm.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is an organization that focuses on changing public views on drug use and abuse.

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Discussing Drugs

By ELIZABETH NAPOLITANO | Feb. 5, 2020

Avishai Afek said he knows students are doing drugs but felt those who struggle with drug use don’t know where to turn. So he created a place for students to freely talk about drug use and drug policy.

DMS professor and filmmaker John Fiege in his office in the Center for the Arts.

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Behind-the-scenes with John Fiege: DMS professor and filmmaker advocates for the environment

By VINDHYA BURUGUPALLI | Feb. 2, 2020

John Fiege has been pepper sprayed by police and has watched environmental activists chain themselves to the bottom of a truck. But Fiege isn’t an activist. He’s an award-winning filmmaker.

FEATURES

Broke b---h gift guide

By REILLY MULLEN and BELINDA THONGSAVANH | Dec. 4, 2019

Students often struggle to find cute and creative gifts that won’t break the bank. But don’t fret, we compiled a holiday gift guide with cost-efficient, thoughtful and non-denominational gifts that show loved ones how much they are appreciated and won’t ‘sleigh’ your bank account.

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The Disney+ takeover

By ASHLEY GUGLIELMO | Dec. 4, 2019

Many UB students have invited a mouse into their homes. But they aren’t putting out traps, they’re making popcorn and getting ready for a nostalgia-binge.

UB Spider-Man recreates iconic Spider-Man poses outside Student Union.

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‘Your friendly on-campus Spider-Man’

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Dec. 4, 2019

On Nov. 26, as students began to leave campus for fall recess, Spider-Man appeared on the top of the bridge connecting the Student Union to the Commons. He wasn’t fighting any villains or web-swinging.

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‘Fragile’

By JACKLYN WALTERS | Nov. 25, 2019

Haley Sheehan stands at the podium in front of her public speaking class, notecards in hand. She’s the first to present all semester. She looks at her professor and the 24-person audience and nods, signaling she’s ready. She takes a deep breath. “I’m a stripper,” she says.

Cole Hastings, a UB alumni, has established a personal training service through individual coaching, plant-based meal plans and personalized workout routines.

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Getting swole with ‘soyboy’

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Nov. 23, 2019

When people think of bodybuilders, most imagine spray tans, giant muscles and vain attitudes. But Cole Hastings wants to move away from the “meathead” stereotype.

Shea’s Performing Arts Center hosted the national tour of “Jersey Boys” from Nov. 15th to 17th.

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‘Jersey Boys’ takes Buffalo crowd back in a ‘time machine’ of its own

By REILLY MULLEN and ISABELLA FORTUNATO | Nov. 17, 2019

Audience members shielded their eyes as they were blinded by the same light 1960s rock band the Four Seasons experienced at its sold-out shows. The "Jersey Boys” cast members faced upstage, with their backs turned toward the audience as they shared the feeling of stardom with the nostalgic crowd, some of whom were fans of the foursome since their start.