From all of us at Chartwells Dining, we wish everyone at Buffalo State a happy, safe, and joyful holiday season!

Twenty University Police officers participated in the fifth annual Goatees for Charity event this year, raising $1,000 for the Western New York Police Helpline. UPD temporarily suspended the department’s grooming standards to allow officers to participate in the charitable event. Participants contributed $50 each to grow a goatee for eight weeks. The WNY Police Helpline provides 24/7 confidential assistance, information, and referrals by trained police peers to working and retired police officers, corrections officers, dispatchers, and their families. The helpline assists with any issues that may affect work and family life. UPD Lieutenant Michael Myers is a trained police peer, assisting fellow law enforcement officers on the helpline.

A big thank-you goes out to everyone who so kindly and generously supported the 21st annual Student Art Sale this week. Through this event, students participated in a "real world" experience, tested their works in the marketplace, and earned some money at the same time.

Thanks again and happy holidays to all!

The Barnes & Noble at Buffalo State Bookstore is featuring 25 percent off its entire stock of sweats, cold weather gear, and outerwear through Friday, December 15. Be sure to stop by the bookstore today!

The Buffalo State men's basketball team, led by team manager Marco Sola, will host a toy and clothing drive to benefit those who have been devastated by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Fans are encouraged to bring toys and winter clothing to the Bengals' home games at the Sports Arena on Friday, December 8, at 7:30 p.m. against Oswego and Saturday, December 9, at 3:00 p.m. against Cortland. The team will deliver the items to Catholic Charities of Western New York for distribution to those who have been relocated to the Buffalo area from Puerto Rico. For more information, please contact men's basketball coach Fajri Ansari 878-6519.

Season's greetings, faculty and staff members. The Buffalo State Fitness Center is excited to offer you a great holiday gift idea: a year of fun working out at the Fitness Center. We are rolling back the rates for one day only—$120 for a full year if you are a new member and you sign up online at the NYS Employee Health Benefits Fair tomorrow, December 7, between 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. in Butler Library 210. Enrollment will be conducted online. Please bring your credit card. Payroll deduction is not available for this offer. We do hope you will join us.

Happy holidays!

Join us at the Community Academic Center for Peace, Love, and Grant Street on Thursday, December 7, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Meet some of our Buffalo State and community students, sample food from around the world, and see if you can answer U.S. citizenship test questions. Afterward, drop by our Grant Street neighbors for holiday shopping and activities. We are located at 214 Grant Street, just South of Lafayette Avenue. Free parking is available on Lafayette and in the public parking lot at 186 Grant Street. We hope to see you there!

Come and celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception with the Newman Center on Friday, December 8, at 12:05 p.m. in Butler Library 208 or at 7:00 p.m. in the Newman Center Chapel.

The Newman Center is located at 1219 Elmwood Avenue, across from the Burchfield Penney Art Center. For more information, please contact us at 882-1080 or newmancenter@buffalostate.edu.

Join us for a late-night breakfast featuring DJ Hassan on Monday, December 11, from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. in the Bengal Kitchen. A great-stress breaker for finals week!

Please join Chartwells and USG for the Recipes from Home cook-off on Wednesday, December 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union lobby. Three organizations will compete to have their recipes placed in the Bengal Kitchen spring menu cycle. We hope to see you there to cheer on our contestants!