Features - The Spectrum

Spectrum editors sat down with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ronan Farrow ahead of his Distinguished Speaker Lectures.

FEATURES

Exclusive Q&A with acclaimed journalist Ronan Farrow

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET and THOMAS ZAFONTE | Mar. 29, 2019

Ronan Farrow has gone from a 15-year-old college graduate to joining a White House administration at 22. Farrow, now 31, has been heralded for his reporting on sexual abuse cases, winning the Pulitzer for his reporting on the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal. Farrow had an exclusive interview with The Spectrum shortly before his speech in the Center for the Arts for the 32nd Distinguished Speakers Series.

Residents of the Q3C Co-op sit in their community library. Co-ops offer an alternative housing option for many young people.

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Co-existing in small numbers

By Isabella Nurt | Mar. 28, 2019

The Nickel City Housing Cooperative holds its potluck dinner on Monday or Wednesday nights, where a mix of people sit around a large dinner table eating a vegetarian meal, almost like a family.

Poster image from the documentary “The Accountant of Auschwitz.” The Buffalo International Jewish Film Festival is bringing critically acclaimed international films to Buffalo.

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Jewish Community Center prepares to hold 34th annual Buffalo International Jewish Film Festival

By Isabella Nurt | Mar. 18, 2019

The 34th annual Buffalo International Jewish Film Festival — the longest-running film festival in Buffalo — will take place March 22-28. The Jewish Community Center-run festival will feature critically acclaimed documentaries and dramas from around the world.

The Spectrum found empty containers labeled “corrosive” at the top of a stairwell in the Biomedical Education Building on Friday and Monday. UB had the containers moved by Tuesday morning following a Spectrum report.

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Hazardous waste containers found on South Campus

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET and THOMAS ZAFONTE | Mar. 7, 2019

The Spectrum found four hazardous waste containers on South Campus, three months after a state audit report criticized the university for its hazardous waste storage. The containers were in the Biomedical Education Building in areas accessible to students and the public late Friday afternoon.

Naan-Tastic workers serving customers their unconventional Indian cuisine. The novel restaurant, which opened its doors on Friday, is owned and operated by UB alum, Aman Singh, and his brother, Ajay Singh.

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Naan-Tastic: a revolution in fast food

By Isabella Nurt | Feb. 28, 2019

When UB alum Aman Singh and his brother Ajay Singh opened the doors to Naan-Tastic this past weekend, they were hoping to start a revolution in Buffalo. A food revolution.

Photos courtesy of UB Archives (Boxes E, H, I), Wikipedia Commons (Boxes B,F,G), Spectrum Archives (Box A), Geni (Box C), FindAGrave (Box D)

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The name game

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Feb. 25, 2019

Most students don’t know former UB President Clifford Furnas was an Olympian. Or that Carolyn Tripp Clement might have made the first local phone call in Buffalo. But, if you ask students where their buildings are, their last names roll off the tip of the tongue.

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‘Riders on the storm’

By TANVEEN VOHRA | Feb. 25, 2019

Jacob Brill had “the best bad idea” on Saturday night. The National Weather Service issued a high-wind warning for Sunday and five sophomore students knew exactly how to take advantage of it.

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Around town: Best thrift stores

By Isabella Nurt | Feb. 21, 2019

Thrifting — it’s like getting hand-me-downs —only they come from strangers and you pay for them. But thrifting is really the best way to update your closet while on the college budget. There are so many reasons to skip the mall and thrift. Buying used clothing is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Is it really necessary for you to buy those mass-produced faded mom-jeans from Urban Outfitters when there is a perfectly good pair at your local thrift store? Is there anything more satisfying than when someone asks you where you got your cool new leather jacket and you can say you found it at a thrift store? Take that, Sharon, I know you’re trying to cop my style, but you’ll never find this at Forever 21.

Anna Seidl stands in front of ice-covered Lake LaSalle. The theater performance student has built a local reputation for wearing shorts during the winter.

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Feeling the breeze

By Isabella Nurt | Feb. 17, 2019

The Buffalo winter is upon campus and students are shuffling through the slush and zipping parka coats up to their noses to stay warm. But Anna Seidl, a sophomore theater performance and psychology major, said she never wears a coat outside during the winter.

A student reads a book inside the Music Library alone. Faculty and students still have concerns over the library's future, following the retirement of the library’s archivist.

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Uncertain and understaffed

By THOMAS ZAFONTE | Feb. 17, 2019

UB’s Music Library is now down to only one part-time librarian, which leaves the future of the library unknown. Former music librarian John Bewley is no longer an active librarian, according to Elizabeth Adelman, interim vice provost for University Libraries. Bewley, who retired this January, was the only music archivist at the library, according to UB Libraries’ website. The Spectrum reported in December that music faculty and students were concerned for the future of the library, following cuts to the staff. Bewley was the last librarian working with a music degree at the library.

Drag queen Victoria Jenkins (left) gets tied up in ropes by shibari artist Daryle “Twist Ties” McKnight (right). For both Jenkins and McKnight, the art is about aesthetic rather than sexual pleasure.

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Chains and whips excite audience at Fetish Night

By TANVEEN VOHRA | Feb. 16, 2019

A crack of a whip ran through the air as dominatrix Sade von Masoch spanked her “hellcats.” The crowd counted up to 40; the number of spanks for Masoch’s birthday.

Students walk through the Student Association’s museum for Black History Month in the SU lobby. The Black Student Union, African Student Association and SA are trying to spread awareness for Black History Month.

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Commemorating with community

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | Feb. 14, 2019

The Black Student Union, African Student Association and the Student Association are looking to spread awareness for Black History Month this February.

Photo Illustration of students eating Sugar Babies caramels. UB students are finding life as a sugar baby as an alluring cash-making alternative.

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Seeking broke girls

By Isabella Nurt | Feb. 11, 2019

Krystina Minckal* was struggling. Her minimum-wage job at FedEx was not covering her car payments last year. Single and broke, Minckal decided to look for a sugar daddy.

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Best sex and love podcasts

By LEAH HIGGINS | Feb. 11, 2019

You could have all of your sex questions answered while mindlessly walking to class. All you have to do is turn off your tired daily mix and let your headphones transport you from the Baldy walkway to a Marvin Gaye music video. Last year brought us some of the best sex podcasts yet, and here are the ones you should be listening to.

The Career Services office space at 259 Capen Hall. UB’s new career program, Here to Career, will work alongside Career Services to give students a better experience at school.

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Working for the future

By THOMAS ZAFONTE | Feb. 7, 2019

UB is looking to transform the job search experience with a new program: Here to Career. The program, which works directly with Student Life and Career Services, will give students on-campus jobs and pair them with advisers from multiple UB departments. This semester marks the launch of the program.

Father Roy Herberger stands in the congregation space at the Newman Center. Herberger recently returned from a suspension from the Buffalo Diocese after being exonerated from a sexual abuse complaint.

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Life after controversy

By Isabella Nurt | Feb. 3, 2019

Father Roy Herberger, a priest at UB’s Newman Center, returned to active ministry in December. He returned to a warm welcome in light of a six-month suspension, caused by a sexual abuse claim.

Students taking notes during a large lecture in 170 Fillmore Hall. Students have extra time this semester to add a class to their schedule, after the add/drop period was pushed back following last week’s storm.

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Best classes to join during add/drop period

By THOMAS ZAFONTE | Feb. 3, 2019

Spring is here, but that doesn’t mean you’re not still panicking to figure out your schedule. Most students may have a heavy workload already and are looking for classes that are more enjoyable rather than tedious. We’ve compiled some classes that are not only worthwhile to take, but won’t feel so burdensome once midterm and final exams season hits. This list should come in handy after UB extended the spring semester add/drop deadline to 11:59 p.m. on Thursday.

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.