News - The Spectrum

The "LevelUp" gaming lounge opened Monday.

NEWS

Buffalo Esports gaming lounge opens its doors

By JACK PORCARI and SOPHIE MCNALLY | Mar. 15, 2022

Monday saw UB’s “LevelUp” gaming lounge open its doors to experienced gamers and curious students alike. The lounge combines a large game room, “gaming console pods” and high-tech computers for work or leisure. Located opposite Lockwood Library, “LevelUp” has its gaming provisions open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and its computing facilities from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Four undergrads will be running in the upcoming Student Association presidential race.

NEWS

Student Association e-board elections draw at least nine candidates

By GRANT ASHLEY | Mar. 10, 2022

A total of nine candidates — four for president, three for vice president and two for treasurer — are running for positions on the Student Association e-board for the 2022-23 academic year, SA Chief of Staff Will Eaton confirmed in an email Tuesday.

Students descend the Natural Sciences Complex stairs in masks.

NEWS

‘I have mixed feelings about it’: students react to the end of UB’s mask mandate

By GRANT ASHLEY | Mar. 9, 2022

For the first time since New York State implemented its mask mandate on April 15, 2020, no students, faculty, staff or visitors — vaccinated or not — were required to wear masks indoors following UB’s decision to lift its requirement on Saturday.

The building located at 4350 Maple Road will serve as a Student Health Services center beginning in the fall, according to the administration.

NEWS

UB delays Student Health Services center opening

By KYLE NGUYEN | Mar. 9, 2022

The new Student Health Services center on Maple Road is no longer expected to open to students this semester, Vice President for Student Life Brian Hamluk told The Spectrum last week.

Students packed Alumni Arena in 2019 for Spring Fest, an annual Student Association music event.

NEWS

What has the Student Association spent its $4.6 million budget on?

By JULIE FREY | Mar. 9, 2022

UB's "student activity fee" helps fund extracurricular activities, student events like Fall and Spring Fest and finances necessary SA services like legal fees. Here’s a list of some of the best-attended events from the last semester-plus.

UB will not require masks to be worn on campus beginning March 5.

NEWS

UB to nix mask requirements on campus starting March 5

By REILLY MULLEN | Mar. 2, 2022

UB will not require students, faculty, staff or visitors to wear masks “in most settings” on campus “regardless of vaccination status” beginning March 5, Vice President for Student Life Brian Hamluk announced in a school-wide email Wednesday.

UB President Satish Tripathi said he is looking on in “disbelief, anguish and horror” at the situation in Ukraine.

NEWS

‘Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people’

By JULIE FREY | Mar. 2, 2022

UB President Satish Tripathi released a statement Monday expressing UB’s solidarity with Ukraine and its people.

Two of One World Café’s five eateries — Kali Orexi and Tikka Table — are projected to open in late March.

NEWS

Campus Dining still looking to hire 80 employees to staff One World Café

By JUSTIN WEISS | Mar. 2, 2022

Campus Dining is still looking to hire more than 80 employees to staff One World Café, the three-story, 53,500-sq. ft. international-themed eatery located outside of Capen Hall.

A sign welcomes visitors to Buffalo State College.

NEWS

UB ‘in discussions’ to lift indoor mask mandate

By DAN EASTMAN | Mar. 2, 2022

UB announced Monday that its mask mandate will remain in place for the time being, and that a decision to relax its mask requirement would be made in collaboration with SUNY and Erie County leaders.

Residents of Flint Village 301 were without hot water from Feb. 5-10.

NEWS

Flint and Hadley Village residents contend with hot water shortage

By KAYLA ESTRADA | Mar. 1, 2022

Residents of UB’s Flint Village 301 and Hadley Village 110 and 113 were without hot water for a few days in early February as the result of boiler issues.

New York State will lift its mask requirement in schools, effective Wednesday.

NEWS

New York will lift mask mandate for K-12 schools on Wednesday

By JUSTIN WEISS | Feb. 27, 2022

New York’s statewide mask requirement in schools will be lifted, effective Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced in a press conference Sunday afternoon.

UB has launched a new initiative called “True Blue,” which is intended to highlight the students, faculty, staff and alumni who make up the university community.

NEWS

‘True Blue’ aims to build a strong community

By KAYLA ESTRADA | Feb. 23, 2022

University Communications and the True Blue student cheering section have collaborated on a new initiative called “True Blue,” which aims to create a long-term sense of community at UB.

The Koessler Administration Building on Porter Avenue at D’Youville University, formerly D’Youville College.

NEWS

D’Youville granted university status

By KYLE NGUYEN | Feb. 23, 2022

D’Youville College will be known as D’Youville University after the New York State Board of Regents voted unanimously to grant the 114-year old institution approval for the name change on Feb. 15.

Niagara Falls visitors enjoy a view of the falls in October 2020.

NEWS

Canada will loosen border restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers starting Feb. 28

By GRANT ASHLEY | Feb. 18, 2022

Canada will allow fully vaccinated travelers to enter the country with negative COVID-19 rapid test results starting Feb. 28, Canada’s Public Health Agency announced Tuesday.

The Student Association formally voted to derecognize 17 clubs.

NEWS

SA derecognizes 17 clubs this semester

By KYLE NGUYEN | Feb. 16, 2022

UB’s Student Association formally derecognized 17 permanent clubs at an SA Senate meeting last week.

The 11th annual Life Raft Debate, held Tuesday in the Student Union Theater.

NEWS

UB holds 11th annual Life Raft Debate

By REILLY MULLEN and GRANT ASHLEY | Feb. 16, 2022

Just over 100 students faced the aftermath of the apocalypse for the 11th year in a row in the Student Union Theater Tuesday to the tune of “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” by R.E.M.

Students board the Stampede during the fall 2020 semester.

NEWS

Stampede follows reduced fall schedule, despite new hires

By KAYLA ESTRADA | Feb. 16, 2022

As was the case last semester, Parking and Transportation Services has had to contend with debilitating local and national trends, which resulted in a 20% reduction to its bus fleet.

Students, faculty and staff will still be required to wear masks indoors.

NEWS

UB will continue to require masks indoors

By GRANT ASHLEY and SOPHIE MCNALLY | Feb. 16, 2022

UB will continue to require mask wearing on its campuses, the university announced in a campus-wide email Friday.

Graduate students sent Valentine’s Day cards to President Tripathi asking for universal stipends and fee elimination.

NEWS

GSEU writes love letters to Tripathi asking for graduate student love

By JULIE FREY | Feb. 16, 2022

Eight graduate students piled into the cramped Graduate Student Employees Union office in The Commons on Valentine’s Day to write Valentine’s Day cards to President Satish Tripathi and Provost A. Scott Weber.

All undergrads are eligible to run for SA e-board. Petitions will open on Monday.

NEWS

Petitions for Student Association e-board candidates to open Monday

By GRANT ASHLEY | Feb. 10, 2022

UB’s Student Association will open petitions for e-board positions on Monday, SA President Nick Singh announced at an SA Senate meeting this week.