News - The Spectrum

NEWS

‘White Lives Matter’ signs posted throughout UB’s North Campus

By News Desk | Nov. 3, 2017

“White Lives Matter” signs have been spotted on UB's North Campus and in the Allentown area. The signs, which are satirical, immediately created a buzz on campus. The posters are purportedly endorsing incumbent Sheriff Tim Howard. The posters read, “White Lives Matter. The Aryan Resistance is proud to endorse to endorse candidate Tim Howard to keep Erie county white.”

NEWS

Nine months in office: A look at President Trump's impact

By SARAH CROWLEY | Nov. 2, 2017

College students were not a key base for President Trump in last November’s election; 55 percent voted for Hillary Clinton versus 37 percent for Trump, according to Pew Research Center polls. Many students remain critical of Trump’s decisions and appointments since he took office. We asked UB students and faculty to reflect on the most memorable decisions of Trump’s presidency so far.

NEWS

A guide to the local ballot

By MADDY FOWLER | Nov. 2, 2017

Andrew Weiner believes local elections are the most important part of government in America. “What happens at the state and local level is more important compared with the federal government,” Weiner, a junior political science major, said.

NEWS

Excelsior Scholarship spring application now available

By SARAH CROWLEY | Nov. 2, 2017

Students can now apply for the spring semester’s Excelsior Scholarship. The application is available online until Dec. 4. The scholarship application is for eligible students who missed the fall application deadline; those already receiving the scholarship do not need to apply. The Excelsior Scholarship, in addition to federal and state aid packages, allows students to attend SUNY or CUNY colleges and universities tuition-free.

SUNY Distinguished law professor and constitutional law expert John Gardner sits in his office in 514 O’Brian Hall. Gardner is a strong advocate for a constitutional convention in New York State.

NEWS

Pros and Con-Cons

By SARAH CROWLEY | Nov. 2, 2017

New York voters have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reform their state constitution on Nov. 7 by voting “yes” to a constitutional convention. If more people vote in favor than opposed, voters will have the chance to vote for delegates to the convention in 2018. The delegates will meet in April 2019 to begin reforming the Constitution.

NEWS

US Secretary of Education rescinds 72 guidances for students with disabilities

By MADDY FOWLER | Nov. 2, 2017

Sharon Nolan-Weiss believes Betsy DeVos’ decision to rescind guidance letters for students with disabilities is sending a message the Department of Education is pulling back on its commitment to civil rights. On Oct. 21, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced that the Department of Education had rescinded 72 policy documents for disabled students as of Oct. 2.

College Democrats and College Republicans host weekly meetings during which they participate in activism and political discussions. Students in both groups have a variety of different political views, but interact cordially.

NEWS

UB’s political clubs reflect political climate nationwide in some ways, contrasts in other ways

By MADDY FOWLER | Nov. 2, 2017

The Democrat and Republican parties are fractured and polarized. While UB’s two major political clubs feature a wide range of ideologies among members, these differences bring them together rather than pull them apart.

Dr. Kushal K. Bhardwaj walked out to a crowd of about 25 loyal students after his disciplinary hearing on Oct. 16 and, reading from a legal pad, he told them the charges against him were dismissed and unsubstantiated. The students cheered and he hugged each student. Bhardwaj has been removed amid allegations of demeaning students and misbehavior.

NEWS

UB removes beloved Dr. B

By HANNAH STEIN | Nov. 2, 2017

UB has removed popular African American studies adjunct professor Kushal K. Bhardwaj, known to students as “Dr. B,” from the classroom amid a swirl of rumors about inappropriate conduct toward a student and accusations of misbehavior.

Prominent UB alum and donor John Kapoor has been federally indicted for his alleged involvement in an opioid-pushing scheme.He is accused of prescribing a highly addictive fentanyl spray to patients who didn’t need the medication.

NEWS

Federal indictment of UB alum sheds light on opioid epidemic

By SARAH CROWLEY | Oct. 30, 2017

Federal officers arrested a prominent UB alumnus and big-time donor, John Kapoor, last Thursday for his alleged involvement in an opioid-pushing scheme.

Dr. Kush Bhardwaj discusses the importance of African American Studies during his Ted Talk. Bhardwaj was one of nine speakers the seventh annual Buffalo TEDx Conference.

NEWS

Buffalo hosts seventh annual TEDx conference

By HARUKA KOSUGI | Oct. 30, 2017

Buffalo’s Asbury Hall hosted a sold-out TEDx conference that covered topics ranging from Syria to sexual education. TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a media organization that holds conferences and posts talks online for free distribution, under the slogan “ideas worth spreading.” TEDx Conferences are local, independently organized events that foster a “TED-like” experience, according to the TED website.

Demonstrators staged a protest outside of Slee Hall Thursday afternoon demanding "living stipends." The protest took place outside of the Celebration of Academic Excellence ceremony.

NEWS

Living Stipend Movement stages protest outside Academic Excellence ceremony

By MADDY FOWLER | Oct. 26, 2017

TAs and GAs feel they are living in poverty. Graduate students say they have to work second or third jobs in order to pay for their living expenses—an option international students do not have.

The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is named after John Kapoor. Kapoor was arrested Thursday morning on federal charges of racketeering, conspiracy and fraud.

NEWS

UB alumnus arrested for alleged opioid scheme

By SARAH CROWLEY | Oct. 26, 2017

John Kapoor, UB alumnus and donor, has been arrested by federal agents for his drug company’s involvement in an alleged opioid scheme.

Scott Weber sits in his office in 520 Capen Hall. Weber, vice president of Student Life, sat down with The Spectrum Tuesday morning to discuss student concerns and his vision for the university.

NEWS

UB in the Weber era

By SARAH CROWLEY | Oct. 26, 2017

Scott Weber wants to be known as more than “the man who sends the emails.” He knows his signature, “A. Scott Weber,” sign-off is how most UB students know their Vice President; but Weber has bigger dreams for students than cluttering their inboxes. Weber sat down with The Spectrum Tuesday to discuss his experience as Vice President for Student Life after he was appointed in January by Tripathi once Dennis Black resigned from the position.

Students, faculty and staff discussed cultural appropriation in the Student Union on Tuesday night.

NEWS

UB DifCon Series discusses cultural appropriation

By ANNA SAVCHENKO | Oct. 26, 2017

UB faculty, staff and students came together to discuss and share different perspectives on cultural appropriation in the Student Union Tuesday night. DifCon, or Difficult Conversations, is a discussion series sponsored by the Office of Inclusive Excellence, which aims to bring members of the UB community together to engage in constructive conversations about controversial societal issues.

NEWS

Communication professor appointed as new DMS chair

By DAVID TUNIS-GARCIA | Oct. 26, 2017

Robin Schulze, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, approached Feeley in “late September or early October,” to inform him that Böhlen would no longer be DMS chair and asked him to fill the position, Feeley said. Feeley is a communication professor since 2011 who chaired the communication department for six years until 2015.

NEWS

UB police blotter 10/17-10/23

By News Desk | Oct. 26, 2017

10/17 2:10 p.m. A student reported his black, North Face backpack was stolen from the fourth floor of Lockwood Library after he left it unattended for a few minutes. The bag contained a laptop and several notebooks.

NEWS

News briefs

By News Desk | Oct. 26, 2017

In campus news, UB is hosting a Halloween party in the Downtown Gateway building. Locally, Officer Craig E. Lehner's funeral was on Wednesday with more than 8,000 in attendance. Nationally, the Houston Astros won their first World Series game while in Europe, the EU Parliament tackles sexual harassment.

Several classrooms in Clemens Hall remained closed for cleaning and de-humidifying last week. Clemens Hall will re-open fully Monday, Oct. 23.

NEWS

Clemens Hall fully reopens Monday

By News Desk | Oct. 23, 2017

All classes in Clemens Hall will return to their regularly scheduled classrooms beginning Monday, Oct. 23. A ruptured water valve caused significant flooding on Oct. 17 and led to more than 90 scheduled classes being displaced or canceled over the following week. UB Communications reported on Friday that conditions have improved: UB Facilities and maintenance crews removed all standing water from the building.

O’Brian Hall is home to UB’s School of Law on the North Campus. An alumnus of the School of Law is suing for the UB Faculty Student Housing Corporation to release its records.

NEWS

UB law school alum sues for UB Foundation’s Housing Corp. to release records

By SARAH CROWLEY | Oct. 23, 2017

A UB alumnus is asking a State Supreme Court justice to decide if a student-housing nonprofit linked to the UB Foundation should make its records and meetings public. John N. Lipsitz, an alumnus of the law school, requested records from the Faculty-Student Housing Corp.

NEWS

The hallowed history of Halloween

By MADDY FOWLER | Oct. 23, 2017

When most people think about Halloween, candy, spooky costumes, haunted houses and trick-or-treating come to mind. But few think about the connections between Halloween and religious traditions. Modern-day Halloween originates from various harvest festivals, including Samhain, the beginning of the spiritual new year and the Feast of the Dead for Pagans. Contemporary Halloween festivities vary greatly from the holiday’s Pagan origins, however.