The official student newspaper of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire since 1923.

The Spectator
The official student newspaper of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire since 1923.

The Spectator
The official student newspaper of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire since 1923.

The Spectator
All content by Sydney Purpora
UW-Eau Claire football suffered a difficult loss to the UW-Oshkosh Titans this past weekend with a final score of 42-7.

[Photo] Blugolds dominated by No. 3 Titans

Story by Seth Abrahamson, Staff Writer
November 7, 2017

Eau Claire’s 2017 Farmers Market

Story by Sydney Purpora, Editor in Chief
October 19, 2017
The Blugolds take on Stevens Point at Goerke Field, but come up short offensively.

[Photo] UW-Eau Claire football fumbles

Story by Jessie Meyen, Staff Writer
October 17, 2017
The UW-Eau Claire football team storms the field for the 2017 Homecoming game.

[Photo] UW-Eau Claire Homecoming 2017

Story by Kar Wei Cheng, Staff Photographer
October 4, 2017
The UW-Eau Claire football team suffered a loss in their homecoming game at Carson Park this weekend, falling to the UW-River Falls Falcons 30-7.

[Photo] UW-Eau Claire football fails to achieve a homecoming victory

Story by Jack Fischer, Freelancer
October 3, 2017
President of UW-Eau Claire’s Black Male Empowerment group, Collis McCloud, led their weekly meeting Wednesday night and discussed topics of community involvement and future goals.

UW-Eau Claire’s Black Male Empowerment group provides awareness of diversity

Story by Sydney Purpora, Editor in Chief
September 7, 2017

E.C. Beats

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
May 10, 2017
Local folk rock band, Idle Empress, has been creating music as a group since 2015. The group usually performs at house shows and small venues.

E.C. Beats

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
May 3, 2017
The gospel hip-hop group, CollECtive Choir, performed at the 2017 Eau Claire Jazz Festival Friday, April 21. The group performed in the middle of the road at the 300 block of S. Barstow.

E.C. Beats

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
April 26, 2017
Revival Records along with The Local Store honored a traditional form of music consumption by selling music and keeping record stores in business.

Revival Records and The Local Store celebrate Record Store Day

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
April 25, 2017

Film Favorites

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
April 12, 2017
Local rock band FMDown was created in 2010 in response to the “bad” music being played on the radio.

E.C. Beats

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
April 11, 2017
The two franchises have both achieved varied levels of success throughout their histories.

Milwaukee Brewers vs. The Minnesota Twins

Story by Anne Sandell and Sydney Purpora
April 10, 2017

Film favorites

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
March 29, 2017
Sniffle Party, an electro-pop duo based in Eau Claire, is comprised of a couple who met through working together at VolumeOne. Since the start of their relationship, the two decided to produce music together and have created their own distinct stage presence.

E.C. Beats

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
March 28, 2017
Celebrity gossip magazines are following famous people too far by invading their privacy and painting their images in a false light for the public.

The effects of following the famous and invading their privacy

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
March 14, 2017
Sloslylove, a local electronic recording artist named Feng Vue, delivers a different kind of sound to Eau Claire.

E.C. Beats

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
March 7, 2017
The replacement professor for an English class taught at an all-male boarding school, John Keating (Robin Williams) teaches his students to live life to the fullest through poetry.

‘Dead Poets Society’ in review

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
March 6, 2017
The Eau Claire-based band My Memory Remains is a female-fronted hard rock/alternative metal band that will be returning to Rockfest 2017 for their second year in a row.

E.C. Beats

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
February 28, 2017
Alexander Miller (far right) and three other cadets in the ROTC program got a chance to participate in a simulated military mission as part of their Military Science and Leadership 202 class.

UW-Eau Claire student shares his story and the repercussions of his condition

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
February 22, 2017
Throughout her 16 years performing as a drag queen, Ophelia Junque (Justin Brunner), has participated in roughly 250 shows across the nation. The 2017 Fire Ball will be her sixth year as a performer with the university, as one of a select few who have been a part of the show since its kickoff.

UW-Eau Claire employee shares her journey with the Fire Ball

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
February 21, 2017
The photograph above was taken at the 2016 Fire Ball. This year, with the theme ‘Pulse,’ the show will be lined with memories of the shooting at the nightclub in Orlando remembering the passing of the victims and celebrating their lives.

2017 Fire Ball: ‘Pulse’

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
February 20, 2017
The three lead vocalists, Bex Morton (left), Hannah Morton (middle) and Mookie Morton (right) along with their electric guitarist, Evan Middlesworth (far left), performed a set compiled of their originals from their first EP and singles.

E.C. Beats

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
February 14, 2017
Local musician Caitlin McGarvey along with bassist, Alex Vang, and drummer, Ben Peterson, performed their first set on stage together opening for Bri Murphy Saturday night at Volume One. McGarvey said she hopes to release her EP in March 2017, featuring instrumental backup from both Vang and Peterson.

E.C. Beats

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
February 7, 2017
With all the love Gosling has for her university, she can’t help but miss her high school teachers and the relationships fostered through school.

[Photo] A not-so-fine line exists between teachers and professors

Story by Elizabeth Gosling, Copy Editor
February 1, 2017
Local singer-songwriter, Jerrika Mighelle, released her first solo last Friday at The Plus. Her work over the years has amounted to a collection of songs that reflect her life journey.

E.C. Beats

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
January 31, 2017
Former President Barack Obama, signed the Affordable Care Act in March of 2010. The recent action taken by the current President, Donald Trump, Friday Jan. 20 freezes many implications of the act.

Affordable Care Act: How college students are impacted

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
January 25, 2017
State superintendent candidate John Humphries plans to change Wisconsin’s educational process of creating report cards for schools if elected in the Feb. 21 race.

Wisconsin state superintendent candidate proposes an overdue change to the report card system

Story by Sydney Purpora, Currents Editor
January 25, 2017
UW-Eau Claire student Allison Trainor created a poster series of the planets for the Foster Gallery Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Exhibition.

Foster Gallery hosts Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Exhibition

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
December 13, 2016
The map, courtesy of the Center for Immigration Studies, illustrates the cities, counties and states currently labeled as sanctuaries for illegal immigrants in the United States. (SUBMITTED)

UW-Madison Chancellor: Campus cannot be utilized as a immigration sanctuary

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
December 7, 2016
UW-Eau Claire women’s basketball is taking some time off to prepare for the upcoming competition.

UW-Eau Claire women’s basketball team reflects on their season thus far

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
December 5, 2016
Members of the Inter-Tribal Student Council answered anonymous questions from the audience at the biannual Indian Student Panel Tuesday. (Sydney Purpora)

Inter-Tribal Student Council hosts biannual Indian Student Panel

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
November 30, 2016
The CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, published a post addressing the issue of misinformation after numerous complaints following the presidential election were filed against the social media site.

Facebook looks to improve the quality of posted information

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
November 21, 2016
The 2016 Choral Showcase contained a plethora of choirs performing songs that portrayed their unique styles. The Singing Statesmen conducted by Elizabeth Joosten performed all the pieces they had been working on since the start of the semester.

UW-Eau Claire hosts 2016 Choral Showcase

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
November 15, 2016
The UW-Eau Claire group won first at the 2016 Travelers IT Case. (submitted)

UW-Eau Claire takes first at the IT Case Competition

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
November 8, 2016
UW-Stout student, Hussain Alnahdi, died Monday Oct. 31 after he was assaulted.

Racial hate crimes: a growing concern

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
November 8, 2016
Thousands of Trump supporters turned out Tuesday for the rally held in the W. L. Zorn Arena. Many had been camping out since mid-morning for the opportunity to hear nominee Donald Trump speak before the Nov. 8 election.

[Photo] As election goes down to the wire, Trump fires up local supporters at Zorn Arena

Story by Gabriel Lagarde, News Editor
November 2, 2016
Wisconsin U.S. Senate candidates Russ Feingold and Ron Johnson increased their campaigning within recent weeks in response to a tightening race.

Wisconsin US Senate candidates make their final push before elections

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
November 1, 2016
The map above taken from the Dakota Access Pipeline website shows the length of the proposed pipeline stretching from North Dakota down into Illinois.

North Dakota Access Pipeline: the ongoing controversy

Story by Sydney Purpora, copy editor
October 25, 2016
Planting 100 trees in honor of the university’s centennial

Planting 100 trees in honor of the university’s centennial

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
October 25, 2016
Great Debate

Great Debate

Story by Deanna Kolell and Sydney Purpora
October 25, 2016
Environmental geography student Scott Nesbit and senior geography student Kira Kuehl digging into the ground to collect soil samples for local archeologists. (Submitted)

Environmental geography student excels inside and outside of the classroom

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
October 19, 2016
The UW-Eau Claire Foster Gallery exhibition “Tributaries” contained a compilation of artwork from over 30 years of alumni. Tiffany Bailey graduated in 2006 with a BFA in ceramics; her work shown above is one part of her three piece series: “Silos,” “Reinvention of place” and “A scene framed for viewing.”

Foster Gallery hosts alumni art exhibition

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
October 11, 2016
Cathy Reitz sings with the Troppo Big Band Jazz Orchestra as a part of the College of Business's 50-year anniversary in Schneider Hall.

College of Business toasts 50 years on campus

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
October 5, 2016
The Local Store hosted the Night Market Friday Sept. 30 from 6-9 p.m. With food trucks, local vendors and acoustic music the Night Market brings in support for all that Eau Claire has to offer.

Volume One hosts their second annual Night Market

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
October 3, 2016
UW-Eau Claire Men’s Golf team places fourth at Twin Cities Class this past weekend. Currently ranked 28th in the nation, the team went up against 16 other teams from the area.

UW-Eau Claire Men’s Golf team places fourth at Twin Cities Classic

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
September 28, 2016
Will Lyberg has been performing for about five years and is ready to show the campus his talents.

Local acoustic artist makes his own beat at The Cabin

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
September 27, 2016
Eau Claire’s Hope Gospel Mission facility is not letting the setback impact their current progress. Continuing to help those in need, they are offering programs and services to homeless people in the area.

Altoona coldly rejects facility for the homeless

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
September 20, 2016
Trios for Two is a unique musical duo with their own music written specifically for them. Consisting of piano, percussion and viola, this pairing is bringing a new twist to the music world.

Trios for Two: two musicians, three professions

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
September 13, 2016
UW-Eau Claire’s Blugold Central combines five departments of student services into one location. Students are able to access the services in person or online as needed. Links for online: Blugold Central = http://www.uwec.edu/connect/blugold-central/

Blugold Central: merging student services

Story by Sydney Purpora, Copy Editor
September 8, 2016
The funds for the Red Letter Grant come from a section of products in the store called “Red Letter Goods.” Fifteen percent of the price of each of the items from this section.

Eau Claire’s newest home goods and accessories store is expanding

Story by Sydney Purpora, Staff Writer
May 11, 2016
Gary Schwartzhoff conducts the UW-Eau Claire Singing Statesmen choir at their 50th anniversary concert in Gantner Concert Hall Friday May 6.

The Singing Statesmen host their 50th anniversary concerts

Story by Sydney Purpora, Staff Writer
May 11, 2016
Sophomore Jake McCulloch spent time with his mother when she visited for Delta Sigma Phi’s family weekend.

Students get in the spirit of Mother’s Day

Story by Sydney Purpora, Staff Writer
May 4, 2016
Fifth Element member, Will Johnston, shares his love of a cappella music at the group’s opening night of their first self-written musical Fifth Element: The Musical

UW-Eau Claire a cappella group member shares his story

Story by Sydney Purpora, Staff Writer
May 4, 2016
The audience listens closely as Joan Christopherson Schmidt reads the poem she selected in honor of Frost. Schmidt was one of 13 readers to recite a poem.

UW-Eau Claire celebrates Robert Frost and American Poetry

Story by Sydney Purpora, Staff Writer
April 27, 2016
Campus organization launches online coffee business

Campus organization launches online coffee business

Story by Sydney Purpora, Staff Writer
April 21, 2016
UW-Eau Claire Equestrian Team is helping students learn a new sport

UW-Eau Claire Equestrian Team is helping students learn a new sport

Story by Sydney Purpora, Staff Writer
April 14, 2016
Brandon Chase, contestant on "The Voice", came to Eau Claire to showcase his country-pop music

Country-pop artist Brandon Chase jams out at The Lookout

Story by Sydney Purpora, Staff Writer
April 6, 2016
Spring break memories

Spring break memories

Story by Sydney Purpora, Staff Writer
March 30, 2016
Style endures

Style endures

Story by Sydney Purpora, Staff Writer
March 30, 2016
Wisconsin Public Radio’s Michael Feldman will broadcast his live radio show “Whad’Ya Know?” at Eau Claire’s State Theatre in May.

Michael Feldman’s “Whad’Ya Know?” live radio show is coming to Eau Claire

Story by Sydney Purpora, Staff Writer
March 16, 2016
Lynn Bieritz, general manager of Mid-West Family Broadcasting, said she expects the donation of a radio station valued at $1 million to UW-Eau Claire will have plenty of benefits for students, area residents and the radio industry. Bieritz was on campus Tuesday, March 8 when the university announced it is now the owner of 99.9 WDRK FM.

[Photo] UW-Eau Claire receives radio station worth $1 million

Story by Alyssa Anderson, Staff Writer
March 10, 2016
Blugold Dining staff member, Susie Deacon, still finds joy in her job after 44 years.

After 44 years, Blugold Dining staff member shows no sign of quitting

Story by Sydney Purpora, Staff Writer
March 10, 2016
Load More Stories
Menu
Activate Search
Home
Sydney Purpora