Features

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FEATURES

Putting new meaning to the phrase '2-in-1'

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Nov. 17, 2019

Oak and Iron is breaking boundaries in Buffalo’s tattoo community as the first tattoo shop with a full-service salon, priding itself on being one of the most inclusive studios in the area.  The shop’s slogan is “keep Buffalo beautiful,” and the owners do just that. Married owners Ashley and Jessica Fox created the shop in response to the “male-dominated” tattoo community, hoping to create a safe space for patrons and employees. They prioritize hiring artists and estheticians from marginalized communities and support the community through charity efforts.

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FEATURES

Hungry for change

By CHLOE FERNEY | Nov. 13, 2019

UB’s Challah for Hunger is holding its annual Campus Hunger Awareness Week from Nov. 18-22 in response to roughly 41% of four-year university and community college students who “do not know where their next meal is coming from.”  Challah for Hunger, a national organization taking action against hunger, will be selling and delivering fresh challah, a Jewish pastry, for $3 throughout the Buffalo area. Chabad of Buffalo has offered its house and supplies for the cause. Students on the Chabad board and Greek Life volunteers will be baking the challah. Patrons must preorder challah through Challah for Hunger’s online form by Nov. 15 and the group will bake and deliver the orders on Sunday Nov. 17. All proceeds will go toward local hunger relief through FeedMore WNY, a collaboration between The Food Bank and Meals on Wheels.

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FEATURES

There’s snow place like Buffalo

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA , SAMANTHA VARGAS and REILLY MULLEN | Nov. 13, 2019

It’s only November, but “Barefoot Longboard Guy” Matthew Romanyk has to wear shoes again. Buffalo’s winter is quickly approaching and a thick layer of snow blankets UB’s campuses. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the Western New York area on Sunday and Monday and Tuesday’s flurries resulted in a record 11.1 inches of snow for Nov. 11. Winter weather can be expected to last roughly until April and, while some students were ready for the abrupt weather change in Buffalo, others were less prepared.

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FEATURES

UB students weigh in on reparations for slavery

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Nov. 10, 2019

Jeffery Clinton says he can’t forgive or forget the injustices his family and community endured throughout U.S. history. Clinton, a senior English and African American studies major and president of the African American Studies Academic Association, is a descendant of slaves. 

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FEATURES

Paying to pass

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA and ASHLEY GUGLIELMO | Nov. 10, 2019

Students expect to pay for textbooks and supplies before the semester begins. But many were surprised to find out they’d have to start paying for UB’s new online testing system, ProctorU.

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FEATURES

‘Running through the six with my votes’

By REILLY MULLEN | Nov. 3, 2019

While Americans watched the umpteenth Democratic debate, a monumental faceoff was happening just a few miles north of Buffalo.  Oct. 21 marked Canada’s 43rd parliamentary election, complete with the drastic approval ratings, numerous scandals and controversial seat changes that make election seasons so exciting.

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FEATURES

Erie County executive candidates: Who’s running in Tuesday’s election

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Nov. 3, 2019

Local elections have never been as popular as the presidential election, but local government has a tangible impact on the local community. Voters can decide on a lot of important issues on Tuesday during Election Day. 

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FEATURES

Costume calamity

By CHLOE FERNEY | Oct. 30, 2019

With spooky season in full swing and Halloween under way, many students have been planning their costumes for weeks, if not months.  If you aren’t one of these well-prepared, ahead-of-the-game people, don’t fret. You won’t have to be a devil, cat or witch for the third year in a row. Here are some last minute, cheap and easy Halloween costume ideas that you can throw together from simple, thrift shop finds.

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FEATURES

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery to close for two-year construction on Monday

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Oct. 30, 2019

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery will close its doors to the public for the next two years on Monday. The closure will allow workers to construct a new building on the art museum’s north end. This is the Albright-Knox’s third major expansion in 114 years since it’s had a permanent location and the gallery expects the various additions to add 30,000 square feet of museum space. The Albright-Knox intends to open a satellite branch in Buffalo’s east side in January. Professors and community members have contrasting opinions on how the museum’s absence will affect Buffalo’s art scene.

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FEATURES

The giving-back glow-up

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Oct. 27, 2019

Students often find themselves with extra time during the week but aren’t sure what to do with it.  Many join clubs or pick up extra shifts at their job, but some students need an extra sense of accomplishment.  That’s where volunteering comes in. There are many volunteer opportunities across Buffalo, ranging from helping out at food banks to spending time with animals.

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FEATURES

Pop stars and politics

By REILLY MULLEN | Oct. 27, 2019

A Natural Sciences Complex classroom is packed for a Cases in Civil Liberties class with Professor Shawn Donahue, who’s presenting his 17th slide on Allied Structural Steel Company v. Spannaus. Suddenly, the chorus of Taylor Swift’s “22” erupts in the background. Everyone is looking around to see whose airpods momentarily disconnected. 

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FEATURES

Seize the cheese

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Oct. 24, 2019

Chef’s Restaurant regularly sold over 200 pounds of mozzarella cheese daily last year. Now, at its new location off North Campus, Chef’s is looking to double that.  Chef’s Italian restaurant opened a second location in Amherst, Chef’s On the Go, which functions as a to-go style restaurant with limited seating and a drive-thru, requiring customers to call in or order on the Chef’s app. Students are looking forward to getting their signature spaghetti parm on the go, and those who can’t make the four-mile drive from North Campus can order through DoorDash for a small delivery fee. 

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FEATURES

Halloween on Hertel

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Oct. 24, 2019

On Saturday, hundreds of drunk adults wearing Halloween costumes will get lost on their way from Del Denby Tavern to Gramma Mora’s, and you could be one of them. Step Out Buffalo is holding its third-annual The Crawling Dead: Halloween Bar Crawl from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. The Halloween-themed bar crawl features deals at 17 bars and restaurants spanning 1.4 miles of Hertel Avenue. Ticket holders have access to a shuttle bus running up and down Hertel “all night long” and the tickets, which are $10 for pre-sale and $15 at the door, include free entry to all participating venues. The bar crawl features more than 60 exclusive deals spread throughout the 17 venues and a free slice of pizza from Bob and John’s La Hacienda.

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FEATURES

A new society for soloists

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Oct. 20, 2019

Manuel Pena Cruz has struggled to stay motivated with his music at UB. The senior psychology major was an active musician in high school and the president of his high school music club for two years. When he arrived at UB, Pena Cruz joined The Buffalo Chips –– UB’s male a cappella group –– but soon realized that the group wasn’t for him. He is more of a solo artist.

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FEATURES

Think before you ink

By CHLOE FERNEY | Oct. 16, 2019

Getting a tattoo is risky business.  There’s always the chance of getting stuck with a bad tattoo for the rest of your life, and unfortunately, it happens all too often. Roughly 23% of people with tattoos in the U.S. regret at least one of their tattoos, according to a poll by the Fresh Start Laser Tattoo Removal Clinic.

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FEATURES

Artist spotlight: Mavi

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Oct. 13, 2019

Mavi was released from the hospital on his birthday last year. His illness and surgery disrupted his career, as the Charlotte rapper was preparing to take his “first big step onto the main stage.” This year, he celebrated his birthday to the tune of his debut album “Let the Sun Talk.”

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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.