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ARTS AND CULTURE


UAlbany Students Weigh Returning to Hudson Avenue this Halloween Amid Pine Hills Violence
By Anastasia Dallai | October 26, 2026 As Halloween approaches, UAlbany students are trying to balance their excitement and nerves about celebrating the holiday, while law enforcement advises against gatherings in the area. Lauren McNulty and Mikayla Seth in Pine Hills during Halloween of 2025. Photo Credit: Mikayla Seth As Halloween approaches, UAlbany students are preparing for another weekend of parties in the Pine Hills neighborhood, a commo
3 min read


Discounted Movie Tickets for All
By Colin McMahon | October 26, 2026 Students at UAlbany can access cheaper movie tickets fast just by heading to the Campus Center. Photo Credit: Cinema Treasures Want a movie ticket? Fast, affordable, and quick? If so, head to the Student Association office in Campus Center West B84 where Shannon Beal and Ash Lundburg are offering movie tickets to students for $9.25, a 40-50% discount. For a ScreenX or IMAX film, Regal will charge the difference, typically $8-9, accor
2 min read


Lost your ID, Your Wallet? Don’t Panic!
By Saniyah Gamez | October 19, 2026 A quick step-by-step guide for how to handle losing important belongings. Photo Credit: Pixabay At the end of a recent journalism class, I realized I had lost my sling bag. Almost everything I needed was inside it: my wallet, room keys and IDs. The only thing I had with me was my phone, which provided only a modicum of relief. I retraced my steps, returning to the bathroom in the basement of the Humanities building, where I had my journalis
3 min read


Three Nights, Three Costumes?
By Isabelle Loginovs | October 19, 2026 Caption: Lilly Santora sewing her Raven costume for Halloweekend. Photo Credit: Isabelle Loginovs / The ASP For some UAlbany students, the perfect Halloween costume takes months to plan. For others, it takes a headband, construction paper and a little imagination. Halloweekend gives students the chance to transform their favorite characters, movies, and childhood memories into costumes of their own.
3 min read


Albany Book Festival Brings Book-loving Community to UAlbany
By Emme Weed | October 6, 2026 A panel during the annual Albany Book Festival on Saturday, Sept. 26. Photo credit: Alice Heaton The New York State Writers Institute hosted its ninth annual Albany Book Festival on Saturday, Sept. 26, at the University at Albany. More than 1,000 book lovers of all ages attended the festival. Local families, students, professors and community members all came together to share their love of reading and writing. Saturday’s rainstorm did not det
2 min read


Technology Should Put People First, Author Tells Albany Audience
By Maria Runco | October 6, 2026 Photo Credit: NYS Writers Institute Technology has become so deeply embedded in everyday life that society should begin treating it as critical infrastructure, author Francine Berman told an Albany audience during a discussion about her new book, Better Tech: Putting People First in Cyberspace on Sept. 22. Berman, a computer scientist and public-interest technologist, spoke about technology, artificial intelligence, privacy and public safety
3 min read


REVIEW: Saxbys Cafe
by Loucia Janvier | September 28, 2026 An iced ube matcha latte, ordered from the new student-run cafe in the Massry building. Photo Credit: Loucia Janvier / The ASP A new coffee shop—called Saxbys, located in the Massry Building—has made its way to the University at Albany campus, giving students another option to stop by and get a drink in between classes. Saxbys, a student-run cafe known for its coffees, matchas, smoot
2 min read


So You Want to Become a Radio DJ? Here's How to Get Your Own Show.
By Katherine Mitchell | September 28, 2026 Everything students need to know before they get behind the mic WCDB DJ Ella Pessoni and General Manager Xavier Lake prepare for radio show. Photo Credit: Katherine Mitchell / The ASP For UAlbany students, getting behind the microphone and broadcasting to the Capital District isn’t reserved for just seasoned broadcasters. Before you can make that happen through WCDB Albany, there’s just a few things you’ll have to learn and a few tes
5 min read


Transfer Student Finds her Place at UAlbany
By Isabelle Loginovs | September 21, 2026 Gianna Petrillo adjusts to a new campus, a new city, and a life away from home. Gianna Petrillo takes in Albany while adjusting to a new city away from home after transferring to UAlbany. Photo Credit: Isabelle Loginovs For Gianna Petrillo, transferring to a four-year college was always part of the plan. But leaving Dutchess Community College and beginning her junior year at the University at Albany brought challenges she had not expe
4 min read


OPINION: "2016 Takeover Block Party": What Exactly Was 2016 About?
By William Magrino | September 21, 2026 Photo credit: Gianna Difulio I would say I walked into the Block Party on Labor Day feeling a little confused. Not because of all the representation of student organizations, which I was happy to see, and I loved seeing all these campus groups represented and found a lot of them very easy to talk to. Overall, I could say Block Party was a pleasant experience, for my first time properly attending one. But one thing just kept bothering me
4 min read


A Spring Abroad
By Anastasia Dallai | September 21, 2026 Photo credit: Emily Geelall Emily Geelall is currently a senior studying sociology, here at UAlbany. Her family is from Guyana, but she was born and raised here. During her junior year, Geelall decided to spend the spring 2026 semester studying abroad in Denmark. Geelall has never really been far from her family. When going to Denmark, it was the first time she truly lived somewhere far away where she could not see them whenever she wa
3 min read


‘Someone's Gotta Speak for That’: Craig Brown and his Stand for UAlbany Students
by Sia Patel | September 21, 2026 Photo Credit: Roz Guynup Craig Brown doesn't shy away from a question. Ask him why he ran for the Student Association Senate, and Craig Brown traces it back to his childhood, to an autistic twin brother who is nonverbal, to years of speaking on someone else's behalf before he even understood what advocacy meant. "Everything I do that I love is some form of advocacy," he said. "Some form of representing somebody else." Brown, a sophomore s
3 min read


REVIEW: Project Hail Mary
By Thomas Fink | May 4, 2026 Movie Rating: ★★★★ Photo Credit: Wikipedia; Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios Is it just me or is there a shortage of movies today that are unable to entertain everyone? It seems to me that modern films are struggling with juggling multiple qualities. For example, although I found the romantic drama “Reminders of Him” to be refreshing with its charm and sweetness, its staying power was ruined by its overly predictable plot and simplistic story. It’s
4 min read


REVIEW: The Next Fashion Flick is Now on Sale: ‘I Love Boosters’ Is an Imperfect Beauty
By Maurice Burbridge | May 4, 2026 Naomi Ackie, Keke Palmer, Poppy Liu and Taylour Paige in Boots Riley’s “I Love Boosters.” Photo Credit: Courtesy of NEON It's impossible for fashion — or any art — to connect us, as long as the actual artists, beyond just the front-facing designers, go under-paid, under-seen and under-valued. Though the stylish form and star-studded cast may lead those new to Boots Riley to assume otherwise, “I Love Boos
5 min read


Applications Open for Pat & Sven Peterson Dance Scholarship
By Maurice Burbridge | April 21, 2026 2024 Recipient Ava DuBoff at the Bates Dance Festival Photo Credit: The Dance Alliance Are you a current freshman or sophomore interested in attending a dance program or workshop this summer? You might be eligible for the Pat & Sven Peterson Scholarship. Earlier this month, the Dance Alliance announced that applications opened for the 2026 Pat & Sven Peterson Dance Scholarship. The deadline is Friday,
1 min read


Threads and Tales by Sofia: Coachella, Americans Dancing as the World Burns
By Sofia Lamdichi | April 21, 2026 Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons The dust in the Coachella Valley has always had a way of blurring reality. For two weekends every April, the Empire Polo Club transforms into a neon-soaked oasis where the outside world is invited to disappear. But this year, as the first weekend of Coachella 2026 draws to a close, the "blur" feels less like a dream and more like a collective, feverish hallucination. While headliners like Sabrina Carpenter and
4 min read


The University Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band Performance
By Sofia Lamdichi | March 30, 2026 Photo Credit: Sofia Lamdichi / The ASP It cannot be disputed that experiencing fine art, such as an orchestra performance, inspires you and leaves you feeling a little lighter when you exit the auditorium. The passion and hard work can be felt by every member of the audience, as students, parents, families, professors, and more watched the University at Albany’s orchestra performance on Wednesday, March 11. The people curating the experience
3 min read
A Thousand Sacrifices Behind My Voice
By Aatia Fairuz Mreedu | March 30, 2026 I am holding a piece of paper in my hands. It looks ordinary, thin, light, almost fragile. But the moment I stare at it for too long, my vision blurs. Not because my eyes are weak, but because this paper carries a weight I cannot measure. It is heavier than numbers, heavier than promises, heavier than words like democracy or freedom ever sound on paper. Thousands of people paid for this paper. Some with their eyes. Some with their limbs
4 min read


Journalist Jelani Cobb Reflects on American Democracy and Racism
By Mirai Abe | March 10, 2026 Jelani Cobb, left, and Casey Seiler, right, during an event last Monday (3/2) on the University at Albany Downtown Campus. They discussed Cobb’s new book “Three or More is a Riot,” which analyzes American history and democracy in recent years. Photo Credit: Mirai Abe / The ASP In the 18th century South C
3 min read


Albany Film Festival Returns to Campus on March 28
By Lillian Magurno | March 10, 2026 Student short films, Oscar nominees, celebrated filmmakers, and music biographers headline a full day of screenings and conversations. Photo Credit: the New York State Writers Institute The Albany Film Festival is returning to the University at Albany for its sixth year, bringing a full day of movies and conversations. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday
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New Restaurant, “Chix” Opens On Madison Avenue
By Wilfred Jones Jr. | March 3, 2026 The new restaurant “Chix” recently opened on Madison Avenue, serving a variety of dishes. Photo Credit: Wilfred Jones Jr. / The ASP About The Owner Maher Al Naisani , the owner, is a 37-year-old Arab-American. He immigrated to the U.S. in pursuit of finding better health care for his daughter, who suffered from brain damage. He traveled to various countries, including Turkey, before settling in the state
2 min read


Threads and Tales by Sofia: The Threads that Keep Us Together
By Sofia Lamdichi | February 10, 2026 Image Credits: Wikimedia / Trevor Stone “The most important thing in the world is difference.” -Professor Schoolman Behind the vibrant shop windows of Fifth Avenue and the high-energy design studios of Los Angeles lies a workforce that is often as invisible as it is essential. For the thousands of immigrant workers, many of whom are undocumented who sew, cut, and finish the clothes we wear, the workplace is no longer just a site of labor.
3 min read


Threads and Tales by Sofia: The Impatient Audience
By Sofia Lamdichi | February 2, 2026 Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Martamenchini It has become impossible to ignore that savoring literature and film is littered with an impatient attitude towards the characters by many audiences. How dare we read or watch a character who is imperfect? After all, we use art to escape the imperfect lives we lead. The last thing audiences seem to want is to look into a mirror rather than stare at a screen or at words on a page. Due to audi
2 min read


When Did You Last Understand Your Emotions?
By Sofia Lamdichi | February 2, 2026 Photo Credit: Pixabay Emotions and internal thoughts are created within, and sometimes meant to stay within. Expressing oneself through art allows for others to resonate with the emotions being portrayed, but traditionally it is not customary for an artist to write out exactly how audiences are meant to feel. Some do, but it was never common to see many do this. With the rise of social media, there has also been a rise of people being abl
2 min read


Medusa and Men and Monsters
By Mattie Fitzpatrick | December 8, 2025 Photo Credit: Mattie Fitzpatrick | The ASP Medusa I scream up to the sky, but it has only ever been empty for me. They’ve done it again. There’s a broken child at my feet, blood where bravado once bloomed. His mask has become sticky with sweat against his face, his skin pale, and his breath coming fast. I drop to my knees next to him, cradling his head on my lap. I focused on his face as the sword and mirror hit the sand next to his b
12 min read


REVIEW: Tate McRae’s “SO CLOSE TO WHAT??? (deluxe)”
By Kehinde Adejumo | December 5, 2025 Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons Tate McRae decided to close off the “So Close To What” era by giving fans four new deluxe tracks plus the already released “TIT FOR TAT”. The explosive single debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Released on Nov. 21, “SO CLOSE TO WHAT???” focuses on healing from a breakup and the pressures that come with being in the spotlight. Tate revealed on Instagram that she was writing a lot of poetry while sh
4 min read


Capital Conversations: Isa Willinger, Director of “No Mercy”
By Maurice Burbridge | December 1, 2025 Photo Credit: Doro Götz | © TondowskiFilms, FlairFilm In “No Mercy” Isa Willinger sets herself on a mission to determine if women make harsher films than men, after her muse Kira Muratova–one of many influential but under-appreciated female directors in the history of cinema–asserted such to be the truth. Earlier this month, “No Mercy” had its North American premiere at DOC NYC, and is now available to stream until Nov. 30th. Willing
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Capital Conversations: "Thoughts & Prayers” Director Discusses the Normalization of Gun Violence
By Maurice Burbridge | November 24, 2025 Photo Credit: Zackary Canepari | HBO Zackary Canepari recalled himself and Jessica Dimmock searching something common as their child reached school-age in 2019: “How are these schools preparing for gun violence?” This search led the two, already filmmakers and journalists, to a years-long investigation into the mass shooter preparedness industry, and the toll this industry’s fabricated violent scenarios are taking on students and tea
5 min read


Threads and Tales by Sofia: Quarter Zips > Nike Techs and the Alt-Right Pipeline
By Sofia Lamdichi | November 17, 2025 W.E.B Du Bois Photo Credit: Addison Norton Scurlock | WikiMedia Commons The rise in young Black men putting down the practice of wearing Nike techs. They are classifying those who do wear Nike Techs as aggressive, ghetto, unprofessional, and immature. Men who wear quarter-zip shirts are often perceived as professional, patient, masculine, and approachable. This may be something some of you applaud, but it should be something that is fea
3 min read


The Legacy of a Showgirl: A Glance through Taylor Swift’s Career
By Kiera Garcia | November 10, 2025 Photo Credit: Ronald Woan | Flickr Following the release of her new album, The Life of a Showgirl and announcement of her Disney Plus docuseries about the Eras Tour, Taylor Swift has become a popular subject of discussion. Swift has truly experienced the life of a showgirl throughout her career. Starting as a young girl singing on her Christmas tree farm to a self-made billionaire performing at sold out stadiums, she has created a leg
3 min read


Threads and Tales by Sofia: Even Your Alo & Lulu are Political
By Sofia Lamdichi | November 10, 2025 Photo Credit: Adrian Greenwood | Wikimedia Commons The recent surge in Black women embracing premium athleisure on campuses like the University at Albany is a powerful visual statement that pushes back against a long history of systemic exclusion of them from wellness and fitness spaces. This isn't merely about fashion, it's about claiming space that was historically denied through a variety of socioeconomic, environmental and cultural ba
3 min read


Tame Impala’s “Deadbeat”: When Psychedelia Hits the Club
By Lucienne Burns | November 3, 2025 Photo Credit: Pixabay Tame Impala’s fifth studio album “Deadbeat” debuted Oct. 17, bringing club beats and an occasionally catchy sound. But is this “new” vibe what fans wanted? “Deadbeat” is the first Tame Impala album to come out in five years, following the 2020 release of “The Slow Rush.” Behind Tame Impala is musician Kevin Parker. Parker’s fifth musical project consists of 12 tracks, totaling up to just under 56 minutes.
4 min read


Threads and Tales by Sofia: The Unsaid Rules of Nightlife for Women
By Sofia Lamdichi | October 27, 2025 Photo Credit: Kyle Nishioka | Wikimedia Commons The nightlife scene as a college student is often depicted as a rite of passage, an experience that is not only expected but considered essential to the collegiate experience. For many, it is imagined as an exciting world of parties, clubs and endless opportunities for socializing and fun. Women are frequently told that these experiences are theirs for the taking, that the doors to nightlife
3 min read


“The Perfect Neighbor” Review: “Okay, Karen”
By Maurice Burbridge | October 20, 2025 Photo Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Sometimes you watch a movie, and quickly recognize that for better or worse, it is symbolic of the time in which it is made. Hopefully, decades from now, future viewers will look back on The Perfect Neighbor as an exemplar of a time where gun violence and racism were unbelievably common. But for now, this is the society we live in, highlighted brutally in Geeta Gandbhir’s new documentary — primarily t
3 min read


Why Are Black Men Attracted to Streaming?
By Sofia Lamdichi | October 13, 2025 Photo Credits: Zak John/ TheRealZak on Youtube (Top) and Brandon Edwards/ MayoIsNot on Youtube (Bottom). Streaming has become one of the most well-known forms of media ever since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. People having to keep themselves entertained and find ways to reach out to the outside world is what bred such a high demand for streamers. Recently, it cannot be ignored that some of the biggest names in streaming are Black men.
3 min read


Capital Conversations: Gabriel Azorín's “Last Night I Conquered the City of Thebes”
By Maurice Burbridge | September 29, 2025 Photo Credit: Amador Lorenzo Gabriel Azorín’s debut feature film, “Last Night I Conquered...
5 min read


UA Runway: Individuality and Inspo
By Sophie Michaelis | September 22, 2025 Photo Credit: Amani Evans One’s style is influenced by everything around them, especially the...
3 min read


Threads and Tales by Sofia: Boho Sleaze Trending as Native Mexican Americans Getting Deported
By Sofia Lamdichi | September 22, 2025 Photo Credit: Pixabay Everything about fashion is political. The political climate in the United...
2 min read


Capital Conversations: Moon, Musician and Manager of Alias Coffee
By Maurice Burbridge | September 15, 2025 Photo Credit: Maurice Burbridge | The ASP A few blocks from the MVP Arena, and slightly...
4 min read


Threads and Tales by Sofia: Being a Woman in Media
By Sofia Lamdichi | September 15, 2025 Photo Credit: Pixabay In a world where every like, view and follow feels like victory, why do...
3 min read


Threads and Tales by Sofia: Why is there AI in Vogue?
By Sofia Lamdichi | September 8, 2025 Photo Credit: Pixabay Vogue magazine is meant to be a celebration and portrayal of one of the most...
2 min read


Sabrina Carpenter Solidifies Her Disco Pop Sound with "Man's Best Friend"
By Sophia Arredondo | September 8, 2025 Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons Just one year after the release of Short n’ Sweet, Sabrina...
4 min read


Threads and Tales by Sofia: The Erasure of South Asian Culture in Fashion
By Sofia Lamdichi | September 1, 2025 Photo Credit: Pixaba y South Asian culture exerts a magnetic influence on global fashion. Intricate...
2 min read


What International Students Think About UAlbany and America
By Mirai Abe | May 5, 2025 In the Fall 2024 semester, the University at Albany welcomed over 2,300 international students from 104...
5 min read


Capital Conversations: Luke Arnold, Author of "The Fetch Phillips Archives"
By Maurice Burbridge | May 5, 2025 Photo Credit: Mark Fitzgerald Actor-writer Luke Arnold disclosed the various experiences, opinions,...
8 min read


Capital Conversations: Kyra Gaunt
By Patrick Coote | May 5, 2025 Dr. Kyra Gaunt. Photo Credit: TED "She was very brazen, outspoken. She didn't care what anybody thought...
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New Perspectives: The 2025 MFA Thesis Exhibition at UAlbany
By Sophia Arredondo | April 30, 2025 Pictured from left to right: Kim Tateo, Ally DeRusso and Christian Henry Wechgelaer. Photo Credit:...
4 min read


Keeping Up With Sleep
By Sanmya Rosier | April 28, 2025 Photo Credit: Getty Images We all know that sleeping is important for optimal brain function. With...
2 min read


The MET Gala Is Tailored For You
By Sahmya Rosier | April 28, 2025 Photo Credit: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images On May 5, we all get to delight in the MET Gala, an event...
3 min read


Spirited Away-I: The Ethics of AI-Generated Art
By Maurice Burbridge | April 28th, 2025 Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons In the past month, the most popular social media trend in art...
6 min read
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