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.
The following is a list of the best work from this year’s Spectrum staff:
Best breaking news coverage:
The pro-Palestine protest on May 1 — plus the subsequent police response, arrests and backlash — required contributions from the entire staff. Below are just a few examples of that coverage:
‘Approximately 16’ pro-Palestine protesters arrested after attempted encampment
By Sol Hauser, Grant Ashley, Ryan Tantalo, Mylien Lai, Alisha Allison, Darcy Winter
May 1, 2024
A timeline of the attempted pro-Palestine encampment outside Hochstetter Hall
By Darcy Winter and Grant Ashley
May 1, 2024
Faculty Senate passes resolution denouncing police ‘escalation’ at May 1 protest
By Mylien Lai and Sol Hauser
May 16, 2024
Arrested pro-Palestine protesters still facing day in court
By Grant Ashley
May 16, 2024
Best feature story:
On a campus as large as UB’s, there’s bound to be plenty of human-interest stories. This story from October explored a UB grad’s brushes with death as a global photojournalist.
From Buffalo to Baghdad: A decade of conflict through Daniel Britt’s lens
By Dominick Matarese
Oct 19, 2023
Best sports story:
Great stories go beyond the playing surface and explore the character and life experiences of individual athletes. This story from March did just that.
‘My heart makes up for my height’: Rana Elhusseini’s leadership on and off the court
By Evan Hilbert
March 11, 2024
Best arts story:
Art is one of our greatest tools for self-expression, communication and healing. This story explores the local art community’s response to the May 14 Tops shooting.
‘The lives stolen are not in vain’: Buffalo artists respond to the May 14 shooting
By Mylien Lai
March 11, 2024
Best photos:
Several of the arrested protesters were transported off campus on a UB Stampede bus. About 10 demonstrators inside one bus could be heard chanting “free Palestine.”
Pro-Palestinian protesters attempt on-campus encampment, arrested
By Mylien Lai and Sarah Owusu
May 2, 2024
The 2024 total solar eclipse in Western New York
By Sixuan Li and Yuri Meng
April 9, 2024
A Stampede bus departs from a South Campus stop. The majority of the fleet is still powered by fossil fuels.
A Stampede bus departs from a South Campus stop
By Moaz Elazzazi
February 5, 2024
Best digital media:
Journalism is so much more than words in print. This video project told the story of May 1 in pictures, videos and narration, providing a comprehensive account of the events, and this series of vignettes told the stories of those fighting to prevent suicide.
A timeline of UB's pro-Palestine protests and police backlash
By Dominick Matarese
May 7, 2024
The faces of hope: UB’s first on-campus suicide prevention walk
By Alex Olen
April 23, 2024
Now let’s get into each editor's best articles.
Grant Ashley, editor-in-chief:
Dec. 7, 2023
Sol Hauser, senior news editor:
UB quietly abandons 2025 deadline for electrified Stampede and shuttle buses
Feb. 5, 2024
Few rules, little oversight and $242,693: Meet UB’s Council of Advocacy and Leadership
April 16, 2024
Dominick Matarese, senior features editor:
From Buffalo to Baghdad: A decade of conflict through Daniel Britt’s lens
Oct. 19, 2023
Ricardo Castillo, senior sports editor:
‘I’m gonna go pro, I already know that’: What makes Chellia Watson a national superstar
Feb. 26, 2024
Mylien Lai, senior arts editor:
Faculty Senate to vote on resolution condemning police actions at May 1 protest
May 7, 2024
Faculty Senate passes resolution denouncing police ‘escalation’ at May 1 protest
May 16, 2024
Ryan Tantalo, managing editor:
Wrestlers say UB neglected team for months before head coach’s removal
April 16, 2024
Xiola Bagwell, copy editor:
‘These are the Facebook message boards of our times’: A look at UB’s bathroom graffiti
Nov. 15, 2024
Darcy Winter, fact checker:
How the UB community rallied to honor a victim of the Challenger explosion
April 9, 2024
Henry Daley, assistant sports editor:
Why the star power of women’s March Madness is outshining the men’s tournament
April 5, 2024
Evan Hilbert, assistant sports editor:
‘My heart makes up for my height’: Rana Elhusseini’s leadership on and off the court
March 11, 2024
Rodrigo Feijão, assistant sports editor:
‘I felt like this had to be my place’: Paula Lopez on her first year as a Bull
April 15, 2024
Sarah Owusu, assistant news editor:
How one UB professor hopes to transform a neighborhood on Buffalo’s East Side
April 9, 2024
Josh Pawlik, assistant arts editor:
Meet Melissa White: UB professor and Grammy winner
Feb. 12, 2024
Tenzin Wodhean, assistant arts editor:
A history of notorious artists that you didn’t know were alumni of the arena
Nov. 16, 2024
Alisha Allison, assistant news editor:
UB Council Student Representative candidates barred from running on advocacy
April 23, 2024
Jason Tsoi, assistant features editor:
‘I’m very proud of us’: UB student runs life-saving National Marrow Donor Program chapter
Feb. 19, 2024
Rachel Galet, creative director:
April 24, 2024
Ryan Tantalo and Grant Ashley are the managing editor and editor-in-chief, respectively, and can be reached at ryan.tantalo@ubspectrum.com and grant.ashley@ubspectrum.com
Ryan Tantalo is the managing editor of The Spectrum. He previously served as senior sports editor. Outside of the newsroom, Ryan spends his time announcing college hockey games, golfing, skiing and reading.
Grant Ashley is the editor in chief of The Spectrum. He's also reported for NPR, WBFO, WIVB and The Buffalo News. He enjoys taking long bike rides, baking with his parents’ ingredients and recreating Bob Ross paintings in crayon. He can be found on the platform formerly known as Twitter at @Grantrashley.
