Features - The Spectrum

Florence Ayeni, senior health and human services major and BSU president, is a full-time entrepreneur and student leader who dedicates her time to helping others.

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Florence Ayeni: a student entrepreneur with a desire to help others

By BRITTANY GORNY | Sep. 8, 2019

Florence Ayeni’s father taught her that helping people can, in turn, allow people to help themselves. When Ayeni was young, her father, a pastor, selflessly brought a homeless man into their home. He told her the man was her uncle from Nigeria who came to live with the family. And when Ayeni’s father was deported for four years and nine months in 2008, the man who she believed to be her uncle took care of Ayeni and the rest of her family.

“Lip gloss fanatic” and entrepreneur, Monique Nembhard talks about the experience of starting her business, Bad Gyal Cosmetics, and her plans to go bigger.

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Gloss boss

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | Sep. 4, 2019

Then, as a freshman, Nembhard started Bad Gyal Cosmetics in May, selling lip products to people across the world.

Although he had no interest in becoming an entrepreneur, Jorel Cunningham became “The Shea King”, to give back to his black and Latinx Buffalo community.

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‘SheaKing’ up UB one hair product at a time

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | Sep. 4, 2019

Jorel Cunningham’s afro is rich in moisture and thickness and its sheen of oil could be seen from his roots to the very ends of his hair. Cunningham’s afro could make any afro-lover proud, but it wasn’t always affordable to maintain.

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Skirting unnecessary costs

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Sep. 4, 2019

Being a student is really expensive. UB students might get a better deal than those who opted for private colleges, but in-state undergraduates still pay upwards of $7,000 per year on tuition alone. Out-of-state undergrads, graduate students and professional students pay significantly more. But tuition is only one aspect of the cost of student living. Housing, food and additional fees pile onto what is already a steep bill.

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No car, no problem

By VINDHYA BURUGUPALLI | Sep. 4, 2019

Are you tired of the same old food on campus and itching to expand your taste buds? Many students don’t own a car, and it becomes a hassle to access places off campus that aren’t in walking distance. But there are a few great options off campus students can access without a car by using the UB Stampede –– a service most students pay for –– to get to restaurants around North Campus and on Main Street.

Local musician BadMoodRude is no stranger to the music industry, but never expected to be negotiating contracts for her music to appear on television shows.

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Songwriting and solidarity: Introducing BadMoodRude

Aug. 28, 2019

BadMoodRude would have never considered a career as a musician two years ago. The local personality was known around Upstate New York as a music promoter and online mental health advocate, but she began producing her own music at the request of her late grandmother.

Sophomore Daphne Da Silva amongst piles of boxes.

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Freshmen find friendship among boxes, rideshares

By SAMANTHA VARGAS and JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Aug. 28, 2019

Cameron Reyes, a freshman chemical and biological engineering major, spent a month on campus for UB’s Access to College Excellence program over the summer, but that didn’t make saying goodbye to his mom last week any easier. “My mom was sad. Everybody else that came was sad,” Reyes said. “I’m the youngest [sibling] and also the last one to go to college so I guess she was proud but sad because I won’t be home with her anymore.”

Gianna Damico came to UB unsure about what she wanted to pursue. Now between balancing academics, athletics and art, she’s unsure about what to pursue first.

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Diligent dreamers: Gianna Damico, UB’s renaissance woman

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | July 26, 2019

Gianna Damico never plans on wasting time. For her, life is about making the most of competition, physical exercise, academic pursuits, painting, graphic design and more. Between school, sports and her passion for photo-realistic portraits, Damico is one of UB’s budding renaissance women.

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Queen of UB: Daphne York

By TANVEEN VOHRA | June 18, 2019

Matthew Groth pouts into a vanity mirror in his bedroom, admiring his jawline and fixing his already-perfect hair. A 10-foot rack stands next to him, housing over 15 wigs and enough fake jewelry and form-fitting outfits to satisfy a production of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.”

Dr. Scott Williams reads at the Pure Ink poetry slam at Buffalo’s Gypsy Parlor. Friends of Williams said his readings are unlike anything they’ve heard before.

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Poetic problem solver

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | June 9, 2019

Dr. Scott Williams has mastered just about everything he’s set his mind to.

2019-20 Student Association President Yousouf Amolegbe stands in front of the SA office in the Student Union. Amolegbe hopes to use his position to advocate for sexual violence and mental health awareness and an increase in black faculty on campus.

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Fashion-forward, student-first: Yousouf Amolegbe, a versatile leader

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | June 8, 2019

Yousouf Amolegbe made his way through the Student Union between meetings wearing a simple outfit: a black bomber jacket, blue shirt, camo pants and black sneakers.

Inside the National Grid building in Buffalo. UB students recently helped National Grid reduce its carbon footprint.

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Students save 200,000 pounds of carbon in eight weeks

By PATRICK SUTER and TOGZHAN SEILKHANOVA | May 17, 2019

Students in Ryan McPherson and Elizabeth Thomas’ “Climate Change and Sustainability” class had just eight weeks to partner up and achieve one goal. They had to reduce a local business’ carbon output by 10,000 pounds, roughly the amount produced by a year of driving.

Taking a trip is one way to find inspiration after graduating. Leaving college is an intimidating endeavor that leaves many students wondering what to do next.

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Five things to take up after college

By CIAN GONZALEZ | May 9, 2019

Congratulations, fellow seniors. After four years or more of trials and tribulations, your UB degree is just around the corner.

Alumni Arena during one of UB’s commencement ceremonies. Hours of labor go into each ceremony so they can happen right after each other.

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Guardians of graduation day

By THOMAS ZAFONTE | May 9, 2019

Between sound, lighting, sets, multiple ceremonies, managing thousands of people, video graphics and more, UB employees have plenty to oversee during commencement season. Director of University Events Bill Regan and his staff oversee the logistics and most of the staging for every ceremony in Alumni Arena. Ceremonies fall on the same day at UB, giving UB Facilities and events workers only four hours to have the building ready between graduations.

Anyssa Evelyn, the SA vice president, is speaking at the first CAS commencement next week.

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The voices of UB commencement

By THOMAS ZAFONTE | May 9, 2019

Mike Brown is ready for “the biggest honor” of his UB career. Brown was selected to be the student speaker at the undergraduate commencement ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences this year.

UB Student Association President Gunnar Haberl looks out at campus from the Student Union balcony. Haberl reflected on his year as SA president and discussed his plans for the future in an interview with The Spectrum.

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Student Association president reflects on year in office

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET | May 9, 2019

Gunnar Haberl remembers putting a sword through someone’s neck in front of at least 50 different crowds. The outgoing Student Association president isn’t a murderer, though. He was a child magician showcasing his favorite trick with a tape-measure sword. Haberl didn’t have to pull any tricks on anyone this academic year, but he admits he did his best to mend SA’s relationships with departments, not disclosing whether or not he used magic in the process.

Sarah Bienstock, UB psychology major, photographed with two of her tattoos. The columns represent the lives of Jewish children cut short in the Holocaust and underneath is the Hebrew word “Zachor” or “remember.”

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UB Ink: A student's tattoo story

By JORDANA CHAZAN | May 5, 2019

Sarah Bienstock represents her vulnerable side in the artwork on her arms, back, legs and ribs. Every drawing has a secret meaning that reminds her of the chapters of her life.

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Listen the stress away

By LEAH HIGGINS | May 5, 2019

Exam season is here and students across campus are pulling all-nighters in Capen, begging for extensions and experiencing the stress of finals.

Representatives from Brailsford & Dunlavey allowed students to voice their opinions on the future of the Student Union with stickers. They held an event early Wednesday to get feedback on ideas for the future renovations of the SU.

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Contractors ask for student input on future Student Union

By CIAN GONZALEZ | May 2, 2019

The Student Union is undergoing a transformation that may include new lounge spaces and outdoor areas after this semester. The building’s future design was up for debate Wednesday in the SU lobby, as students gave feedback to an outside development advisory firm. Representatives from Brailsford & Dunlavey, who are tasked with the Student Union Master Plan, stood by the main entrance with posters set up to showcase their ideas. The master plan will dictate students’ future use of SU and South Campus’ Harriman Hall.

Steven Browne and Gary Sheedy play a show at Mohawk Place. Sheedy and Browne are members of UB band Previous Love.

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Previous Love: UB band makes it big in Buffalo

By TANVEEN VOHRA | May 2, 2019

Moody lyrics, angsty rhythms and transcendent vocals engulf the members of Previous Love as they practice in a soundproof basement in their own world.