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Orlando Weekly •

Home-grown hip-hop duo Niko Is and Thanks Joey on stage in Orlando together for the first time in years

Joseph Hamoui, better known as hip-hop producer Thanks Joey, tells Orlando Weekly that he still recalls the day Nikolai Paiva — Brazilian rap artist Niko Is — showed him his first rhyme. 

“I think it was called ‘All My Hoes,’ something like that, and I’ve always been really critical, it’s like part of my nature,” Hamoui says. “So I was like, ‘It’s all right, it’s cool, but keep practicing,’ and then we would just hang out and start.”

Searching for his own unique flow early on, Paiva tells OW h...
The Charge •

New 'Art of AI' course sparks controversy about the technology's place in the arts

For Dr. Rudy McDaniel, director of UCF’s School of Visual Arts and Design, witnessing today’s rapid evolution of artificial intelligence reminds him of watching the internet come onto the scene as he grew up in the early '90s.“It changed everything,” McDaniel said. “I think we're going through a similar evolution right now with technology, and some of the concerns are very similar to what we saw with concerns about the internet.”
When UCF introduced the art of AI, a new course within the...
The Charge •

'I want a redo': How a dropout joined the Order of Pegasus in pursuit of her master's degree

After dropping out of UCF almost 23 years ago, a master's student in studio art and design, never thought she’d return, let alone be inducted into the Order of Pegasus.Looking at past Order of Pegasus recipients, Stacie Becker wondered how she would fit amongst them as a former college dropout and tattoo artist. 
“What am I doing with this group of people?,” Becker said, recalling her memories of Founder's Day. “Honestly, during the ceremony, listening to everyone's accomplishments, I wa...
Watermark Out News •

Come Out with Pride to hold 5th Pride Prom at Orlando Science Center - Watermark Out News

ORLANDO | Come Out with Pride will hold the organization’s 5th annual Pride Prom April 17 at the Orlando Science Center, a 21+ celebration of queer joy presented by Pineapple Healthcare.



Tatiana Quiroga, executive director of Come Out with Pride, says that Pride Prom was created when board member Maia Monet shared she had never experienced prom as her authentic self, and the board all realized they hadn’t either.



“So at that time, we were like, you know what? Let’s throw ourselves a pr...
The Charge •

UCF Celebrates the Arts brings accessibility, science to the Dr. Phillips Center

UCF Celebrates the Arts, a vibrant and immersive cultural festival, takes over the Dr. Phillips Center through April 12, showcasing the exemplary work of UCF students and faculty.Offering many free events in a centralized location, this annual festival offers an accessible way for not only UCF students but also the greater Orlando area to experience art across various media.
Highlights of this two-week-long festival include orchestral, jazz, dance and choral performances, art and archite...
Watermark Out News •

PHOTOS: Thousands protest in downtown Orlando for 'No Kings' as rallies rage nationwide - Watermark Out News

ORLANDO | Thousands gathered in front of City Hall in downtown Orlando March 28 in the Florida heat to participate in the third round of nationwide “No Kings” protests.

In addition to the demonstration outside of City Hall, more were reported across Central Florida and Tampa Bay. Hundreds took place statewide.

Protestors say that they were rallying against President Donald Trump’s policies, heightened tensions regarding immigration enforcement around the country and the threat of a possible ICE detention center in Central Florida.
The Charge •

GALLERY: Art gallery opens Master's of Fine Arts Exhibition 'The Rooms We Build'

The UCF Art Gallery opened its 2026 Master of Fine Arts exhibition with an opening reception on Thursday evening. Artwork in multiple mediums, from soft sculpture and welded figures to traditional paintings are on display for visitors in the exhibit titled “The Rooms We Build.”This exhibition showcases the thesis work of six MFA studio art and design students: Alberto Alonso, Stacie Becker, Alissa Burch, Nelson Garcia, Kenyari Gil Rosario and Angelina Palmisano. Garcia said that the name came fr...
The Charge •

Art gallery opens new exhibition, featuring intimate work of master's students

The UCF Art Gallery launched its 2026 Master of Fine Arts exhibition, “The Rooms We Build,” with an opening reception on Thursday evening, exploring the immersive, deeply personal worlds of six individual student artists. The exhibition showcases the thesis work of MFA studio art and design students: Alberto Alonso, Stacie Becker, Alissa Burch, Nelson Garcia, Kenyari Gil Rosario and Angelina Palmisano. 
Burch said that the gallery’s title came from the cohort collectively realizing that...

Professor earns national award for highlighting 'dark side' of fandoms

When Dr. Mel Stanfill received an email announcing that they had won the 2025 Diamond Anniversary Book Award from the National Communication Association, their first reaction wasn’t celebration, but disbelief.

“I honestly thought that they had sent me the email by accident, and I kept expecting them to be like, just kidding, all the way until I was at the award ceremony,” Stanfill said.

Stanfill, an associate professor of English and Texts and Technology at UCF, won the award for their recently published book “Fandom Is Ugly: Networked Harassment in Participatory Culture.” This annual award recognizes the most outstanding scholarly book published in the previous calendar year, according to the NCA.
Watermark Out News •

PHOTOS: TransMasc Orlando launches auto workshop series ‘without judgment’ - Watermark Out News

ORLANDO | TransMasc Orlando hosted Dolls Teach the Kens Feb. 21, its first auto workshop where transfemmes educate transmascs about what goes on “under the hood.”



Nino Franklin, creator of TransMasc Orlando, which hosts events to uplift and bring together transmasculine individuals, said that the idea came from having trouble with their coolant, and being helped by their transfemme friends.



“I had a problem with my car and I couldn’t understand it, and I didn’t have a male figure in my...
Watermark Out News •

TransMasc Orlando offers hands-on car maintenance lessons 'without judgment' - Watermark Out News

ORLANDO | TransMasc Orlando is hosting an auto-mechanic workshop, Dolls Teach the Kens, providing a space where transfemmes can educate transmascs all about what goes on “under the hood.”



Nino Franklin, creator of TransMasc Orlando, an organization that hosts events to uplift and bring together transmasculine individuals, says that the idea came from having trouble with their coolant and being helped by their transfemme friends.



“I had a problem with my car and I couldn’t understand it...
The Charge •

GALLERY: Performative masc contest brings UCF’s queer community together

Leila Hamzic, freshman biomedical sciences major, hosted UCF's first "Performative Masc Contest" on a grassy area in front of the Foxtail on UCF's Main Campus Tuesday, inspired by the recent performative male competition, which drew in a large crowd of viewers and competitors.A large crowd of contestants and onlookers gathered around 1:30 p.m., many dressed in baggy denim, sporting carabiners and holding various props for their appearance in the center of the circle, such as guitars and toolboxe...
The Charge •

Performative masc contest brings UCF’s queer community together

The UCF lesbian community gathered outside the Foxtail on campus wearing their baggiest denim and biggest carabiners to compete in a "Performative Masc Contest" Tuesday afternoon for the illustrious title of “Most Performative Masc.” A large crowd of contestants and onlookers gathered around 1:30 p.m., sporting carabiners as required by the event's flier, and holding various props for their appearance in the center of the circle, such as guitars and toolboxes.
Auxmary Valdez, a sophomore...
The Charge •

Trump's openness to ban Pride flags following Charlie Kirk shooting concerns UCF's queer community

A false report linking Charlie Kirk's suspected shooter to the transgender community and comments from President Donald Trump regarding a Pride flag ban have sparked concern in UCF’s queer community. During a Sept. 15 exchange in the Oval Office with Brian Glenn, chief white house correspondent for the Real America's Voice network, Trump stated that he “would have no problem” ordering a ban on trans flags, after Glenn showed a photo of a Progress Pride Flag on his phone and claimed that there ar...