Features

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Safeguarding democracy: staying informed this election season

Voting by mail, early voting, electronic machines and AI Robo calls are all impacting American elections. Keeping track of new election phenomena and understanding them are confusing. This is why political scientists and election scholars Connor Dowling, Shawn Donahue, Christy McCormick and Jacob Neiheisel came together in UB’s Center for the Arts to discuss safeguarding democracy in America.

The 2024 election could define your reproductive future, UB professors say

During the Sept. 10 presidential debate, former President Donald Trump claimed that women are receiving abortions in the ninth month of pregnancy, calling them “executions.” Moderator Linsey Davis fact-checked the former president in real time, stating, “There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born.”

UB’s Student Engagement office: what is it, and why should you care?

Past the smell of sushi and smoothies, the Student Engagement office stands blue and tall at Student Union (SU) 150, so why do so many students miss it?

UB students share the best and worst fashion trends

From TikTok to the catwalk, fashion is moving faster than ever — and UB’s 30,000-plus students are quick to make new styles shine on the Spine. The Spectrum asked six UB students to weigh in on which trends they’re loving and which ones need to be tossed aside.

Spectrum recommends: UB FALLin’ in love

Settling into new classes means that semester-start rush of excitement is fading fast into homework stress, pumpkin chai lattes and colder weather. With all there is to do, how can anyone find time for that special someone? To help you out, The Spectrum staff have gathered a list of dates that will make your fall fling become your Halloween boo — without the ghosting.

Immigration: a political and humanitarian cause

In less than two months, many members of the UB community will vote for the 47th President of the United States. Current key issues include abortion, the economy, international issues and immigration. According to immigration lawyer and UB Associate Law Professor John H. Giammatteo, the next president has a big impact on the policies that affect immigration.

How UB students are decorating their dorms

In a whirlwind of marketing emails and Pinterest boards, deciding how to decorate a space in college can become overwhelming. Personifying a personal space boosts overall mental health and organization — helpful for not forgetting to buy a $100 textbook. See how UB students are embracing the blank canvas that is their dorm room.

Slang: from appropriation to bringing communities together

Slay. Demure. Period. Eat up. Bussin’. Cap. Cringe. 

Best of The Spectrum 2023-24

As the academic year comes to an end, The Spectrum would like to recognize its staff for all of the hard work, long hours, and professional-grade reporting that they contributed in 2023-24. From breaking news, to in-depth features, to social media and photography, this year’s Spectrum staff went above and beyond to inform the UB community.

Wings over South Campus

South Campus’ MacKay Heating Plant tower is home to a family of rare birds: peregrine falcons. UB installed a “Falcon Cam" to observe the two eggs and two hatchlings.

Chinese roommate, meet Algerian roommate

Senior computer science major Mohamed Ali Larbi Daho Bachir and 2023 graduate Jorge Zhang, better known as “Algerian roommate” and “Chinese roommate” respectively, regularly post wholesome and humorous videos of their daily lives and travels to the UB 2024 Snapchat story.

Ranking Buffalo's thrift shops

Don't know where to get a second-hand dress or used jewelry near UB's North Campus? Spectrum assistant news editor Sarah Owusu visited three thrift shops in the Buffalo area.

Meet UB’s newest (and furriest) therapist

Finn, a therapy-dog-in-training, is the latest addition to the Veteran Services department and is already making some students’ days a little better.  

UB alum bikes across New York State to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research

The cycling initiative raises money and awareness to advance Alzheimer’s research toward a cure. The cause hit close to home for Ryan; his father-in-law and mother-in-law were both diagnosed with the brain condition.

Spectrum sex survey 2024

The faces of hope: UB’s first on-campus suicide prevention walk

Approximately 500 students and community members registered for the first annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk and Roll. Some attendees told The Spectrum about why they were there. 

‘This is an art form’: How Jonathan Golove revived rock music at UB

“I think too often [rock music] gets neglected as an art form,” Golove said. “People talk about it as though it were just a throwaway… But I don’t believe that. I believe that the best of the rock musicians are really good artists. They take what they do very seriously, and what they make is of real quality, so it’s worthy of study.”

UB medical students bring awareness to female genital cutting

Alyssa Reese, a fourth-year UB medical student, is working alongside the UB Human Rights Initiative (HRI) to inform the local medical community about female genital cutting.  

More than just the tip of sexual wellness

Want to know what services UB provides for safer sex? Want to know what UB health providers wish more students knew about sexual wellness? Look no further. 

How choosing the wrong smoke spot can land you in hot water

It’s legal to smoke weed almost anywhere in New York — just not on campus, due to federal laws. But some students still try to find on-campus smoke spots.