editorials

OPINION

Applications increase can only mean good things for UB

By Editorial Board | Jan. 31, 2016

This can only be positive for UB – more students and students of a wider range are being drawn to the university. It’s a comment on the university’s success as a whole and how it works to cater the needs of its students. The increase in opportunities that have been presented to students, including the amount of clubs and majors available, can also be accountable for the increase in applications.

OPINION

Albany incident shows there’s still work to be done on campuses

By Editorial Board | Jan. 31, 2016

Three black female students at SUNY Albany say they were assaulted and harassed on a city bus Friday night by about 10 to 12 white men and women. The students allege their attackers used racial slurs during the attack, which occurred after an argument. The Albany Police Department said it is looking into the incident as a possible hate crime and SUNY Albany President Robert Jones released a statement to the campus that he was “deeply concerned, saddened and angry about this incident and would return to the campus to address the issue.

OPINION

#OscarsSoWhite – again

By Editorial Board | Jan. 27, 2016

While there’s debate over whether any black actors deserved nominations, the outrage seems to be geared towards the Idris Elba snub. It appears there weren’t a slew of actors that were ignored for their award-winning performances, but rather there were less to choose from for the nomination. This could be a statement about Hollywood itself, and how fewer opportunities are presented to black actors therefore providing fewer opportunities to win awards.

President Satish Tripathi speaks with BSU President Micah Oliver after his State of the University Address.

OPINION

UB students want more from President Satish Tripathi – and they should

By Editorial Board | Oct. 11, 2015

The Black Student Union’s (BSU) protest during and after President Satish Tripathi’s annual address Friday was yet another example of the disconnect and divide between Tripathi and the student body.

OPINION

Despite its use against the Sabres, coach’s challenge a suitable addition to the NHL rules

By Editorial Board | Oct. 11, 2015

Despite the Sabres’ goal being disallowed in their home opener, the addition of the coach’s challenge is a good one.

OPINION

Crime report shows progress, but more information would be beneficial

By Editorial Board | Sep. 30, 2015

Transparency is key for any police department. University Police have done their part under the Clery Act to annually release crime reports, but we would like to see more. While the report UPD released on Friday shows promising signs – like burglaries decreasing by 50 percent and robberies going down to just four total in 2014 – additional information on how many crimes were solved and a breakdown of what campus the crimes occurred on would be beneficial to get a real idea of crime on campus and the work being done by UPD.

OPINION

Students have spoken about 'White Only' and 'Black Only' signs – now UB needs to listen

By Editorial Board | Sep. 27, 2015

The creation of these discussions and the strong reactions from both BSU and SA provided some reassurance that student leadership took this event seriously. Now UB needs to do their part.

OPINION

Racism: the bold new Republican strategy

By Editorial Board | Sep. 27, 2015

Racial and religious discrimination, the last bulwark of the disenfranchised and angry, appears on the presidential scene with ugly and disgusting results.

OPINION

Enough debt is enough

By Editorial Board | Sep. 23, 2015

There is no real escape from student debt. Forty eight percent of UB students have taken out loans to get through school. Gone are the days when college could be paid for by working a part-time job during the semester. Costs have skyrocketed beyond affordability.

OPINION

Too little, too late?: Sustainability efforts at UB seem lackluster

By Editorial Board | Sep. 20, 2015

On the surface, UB Sustainability seems like a good thing. UB's effort comes across as noble. There's a lingering uncertainty that it's both not enough and a slightly calculated move. Furthermore, these efforts are entirely contingent on the students and faculty. We have to be the change – no outside body can force us to make the changes necessary.

OPINION

Teaching: not for the faint of heart

By Editorial Board | Sep. 18, 2015

Our country seems to have forgotten this. Teachers have been subjected to intense and often unrealistic scrutiny and recent educational reform has proven unwieldy at best and damaging at worst. Worst of all, we pay teachers a pittance compared to most jobs in the United States.

OPINION

‘White Only’ and ‘Black Only’ signs cause offense and outrage rather than discussion

By Editorial Board | Sep. 17, 2015

A graduate art student posted at least four signs near bathrooms and water fountains in Clemens Hall Wednesday with broad letters stating “White Only” or “Black Only.” University Police took the signs down, but the impact was still felt around campus.

OPINION

China brought to heel

By Editorial Board | Sep. 15, 2015

The imbalance of trade with Asian countries has been bemoaned in popular culture for years.

OPINION

Buffalo 'Boys' Club

By Editorial Board | Sep. 15, 2015

Study after study has come out recently proving that diversity is key to properly acknowledging and working a group’s issues.

OPINION

Guarding the skies: New laws seek to protect Ralph Wilson Stadium from drones

By Editorial Board | Sep. 13, 2015

Drones are a new technology with far-reaching implications. Those implications are still being processed at every level of government, but there are some clear-cut problems: Namely, drones going where flying objects should not be.

OPINION

Wednesday's power outage on UB's South Campus highlights the need for renovation

By Editorial Board | Sep. 10, 2015

South Campus lost power on Wednesday morning and it wasn’t restored until roughly 3 a.m. Thursday morning. In the meantime, the university twiddled its thumbs for a bit, notified students sitting in darkened classrooms that it would probably be a good idea to go away for a while, threw some bottled water and glow sticks to students living on campus – nothing livens up a power outage like a rave – belatedly canceled evening classes and let everyone know that the problem had been fixed for them in time for classes on Thursday.

OPINION

Religion gone amok: Kim Davis discriminates, gets presidential candidate support

By Editorial Board | Sep. 10, 2015

Kim Davis, the Rowan County, Kentucky clerk who has refused to issue any marriage licenses after the Supreme Court verdict legalizing gay marriage was passed, was ordered by a federal court to issue licenses and was eventual jailed for contempt upon further refusal to issue licenses.

OPINION

UB students need to take responsibility for Heights, but there are other issues to deal with

By Editorial Board | Sep. 8, 2015

Amid the furor concerning University Heights and the student population, responsibility has to be shouldered. We have to be willing to make the changes necessary to ensure that debauchery and disturbances do not become the norm.

OPINION

Bernie Sanders might not need mainstream media coverage to win

By Editorial Board | Sep. 8, 2015

Bernie Sanders may not need the mainstream media to upset the Democratic Party and herald something new, but apathy will be his worst enemy.

OPINION

The EU's huddled masses

By Editorial Board | Sep. 1, 2015

Europe is facing possibly the worst migratory crisis in its history, with a supranational government reeling from economic damage and divided opinion on how to deal with the problem. As Americans, we should be taking a keen interest in the situation.