campus news
The arrival of spring is something to savor and celebrate at UB. Photo: Douglas Levere
By SALLY JARZAB
Published February 3, 2025
Ah, the spring semester — though the current moment feels decidedly wintery, it will soon live up to its name. And the warmup is well worth waiting for.
“This is one of the best places anywhere in the spring and summer,” says Nick Henshue, teaching associate professor in the Department of Environment and Sustainability, College of Arts and Sciences.
Nicholas Henshue prepares to take students through the Letchworth Teaching Forest to search for salamanders in April 2023. Photo: Douglas Levere
The nature-loving Henshue frequently enlists his students in vernal pursuits such as salamander spotting and bird-watching.
“Just as the winter weather fades and the ice melts, there are so many migratory species coming through our way — common loons on Lake LaSalle and snowy owls in Letchworth Teaching Forest,” he says. “I definitely recommend getting out there and taking your binoculars for a walk.”
It’s not just the natural world that comes back to life this time of year — it’s the whole UB campus. To help readers make the most of these vibrant months both indoors and out, UBNow has compiled a list of suggestions for turning the green season True Blue.
Get moving. At your first possible chance, grab a kayak for a paddle around Lake LaSalle or any other of the area’s many waterways. Enjoy a stroll around Baird Point or Kanazawa Island, meander by the wildflower meadow on the South Campus, or plan a date for the pickleball courts. Borrow some wheels through UB Bikeshare and explore the trails that surround campus.
Spring into action. Who’s ready to lend a hand? UB’s alternative break program offers students the chance to engage in direct service that addresses community needs locally, nationally and internationally. There’s also the Out of the Darkness Campus Walk & Roll in support of suicide prevention on April 12 and various cleanups throughout the semester on campus and beyond. The Fruit Belt Clean-a-Thon, sponsored in part by UB’s Center for Urban Studies, turns 25 this year.
Dancers feel the energy at last year’s Spring into Art, the annual showcase that spotlights the visual and performing arts created in the Center for the Arts. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
Show up for the showcases. This is the time of year when the UB community is ready to show off all they’ve been working on. From Engineers Week Feb. 16-22, to the Three Minute Thesis competition on March 7, to the Spring Into Art creator showcase on April 29, to the Celebration of Student Academic Excellence on April 30, the opportunities to applaud ourselves and each other are ample. Particularly fitting for this time of renewal is the Black Student Union’s annual Black Explosion fashion show, themed Black Butterfly, happening Feb. 22.
No amount of mud can cover up that True Blue spirit. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
Take part in the traditions. As homecoming is fall’s quintessential event, this semester’s highlight has got to be commencement, when several thousand graduates receive diplomas among the pomp and circumstance of 18 degree conferral ceremonies. Then again, nothing says spring quite like the muddy mayhem of Oozefest, a campus tradition since 1984. Of course, there’s also International Fiesta and Spring Fest, two time-honored Student Association events. And alumni all over the world celebrate Founders Day (aka UB’s birthday) each year in May.
Branch out. Spring is the perfect time to think about what’s next. Staff can learn how to elevate their image and impact with Organizational Development and Effectiveness’ Workplace Savvy workshop. Anyone can benefit from the collective wisdom of UB alumni through this selection of lifelong learning webinars. Students can check out everything going on at the Career Design Center, including several upcoming career fairs.
Keep it going. When the semester winds down, some events are just starting up. June in Buffalo, a prestigious festival dedicated to contemporary music composers, takes place June 1-7, with public concerts by faculty composers, resident ensembles and internationally acclaimed performers. The UB campus serves as home base for the 30th annual Ride for Roswell on June 28. And don’t overlook UBThisSummer, which runs May 27 to Aug. 15. Classwork during the summer? Even consummate outdoorsman Nick Henshue says it’s worth considering.
“Summer session is a really great opportunity for students to do classes they might not otherwise have time for,” he says. “It’s also a great time for an internship.” Henshue notes that the students he works with often secure seasonal internships in parks, camps, aquariums and museums, or with environmental or conservation agencies.
“I really want students to see summertime as the precious resource it is,” he says. “Whatever you do, make the most of every moment, because these moments don’t last.”