Opinions - The Spectrum

OPINION

UB’s decision to dissolve Sub-Board I and its services is out of touch with student needs

By Editorial Board | May 9, 2019

Roughly two years ago, then-UB Vice President Dennis Black plead guilty to grand larceny and stealing $320,000 in state funds. And just Monday, UB administrators decided that the same nonprofit which he used as his personal piggy bank should be the fiscal agent of student governments and hold millions of student dollars. How about no.

OPINION

Arranged friendship?

By AYESHA KAZI | May 9, 2019

On Aug. 26, 2015, my dad introduced me to my future best friend, Anika Tabassum. Yes, an arranged friendship.

OPINION

Letter to the editor

May 9, 2019

Sub-Board needed to go. Its services should not. During undergrad, I worked for Sub-Board I, Inc. for four years. That place is a bureaucratic and organizational nightmare, a mismanaged entity from a bygone era.

OPINION

See you later, alligator

By TANVEEN VOHRA | May 9, 2019

It was 7 p.m. in The Spectrum office last night. It was a typical Tuesday, with Jacklyn showing me how to click my heels in the air. I was making a complete fool of myself as Savanna took videos to document my progress, or lack thereof, and Tom and Brent sporadically cheered me on from their respective corners of the office.

OPINION

Letter to the editor

May 5, 2019

I will never forget hearing the words “Profit is not a dirty word” early in my pharmacy education at the University at Buffalo. Now, many years later, it appears quite the opposite.

OPINION

Students should know more about on-campus renovations

By CIAN GONZALEZ | May 5, 2019

UB’s development partner, Brailsford & Dunlavey, came to the Student Union Wednesday to ask passing students what they would like to see in a future SU. This allowed not only Student Association members and faculty to give their input. We need more of this.

OPINION

The attention-seeking foul ball

By ANDREW FITZGERALD | May 5, 2019

I made a snide remark about how I was lucky to get the parking spot I did. Since this was my first game, I thought it was a good, safe spot to park. I didn’t really think anything of it. About five minutes after I had made that remark, karma hit me.

OPINION

Student Association should ensure better communication before next budget vote

By Editorial Board | May 2, 2019

The Student Association executive board and senators were disappointed with the tone of Friday’s senate meeting. So were we.

OPINION

Detained in Boston Logan International

By KIERAN POWER | May 2, 2019

“Consider this your one favor from the United States; next time you will be removed.” OK, it’s not quite as dramatic as it sounds.

OPINION

May Day: fair pay

By WILLIS MCCUMBER | Apr. 29, 2019

“Labor” is often associated with blue-collar industrial workers toiling away in factories, not instructors and students on university campuses. But the work that faculty, staff and students perform every day is essential labor, without which UB could not function.

OPINION

An open letter to Western New York dweller John Krasinski

By BRENTON BLANCHET | Apr. 29, 2019

Dear Mr. Krasinksi, We get it. You’re on your national tour looking for a place to film your highly anticipated “A Quiet Place” sequel. You’ll stop in Buffalo for about a week, shake a few restaurant owner’s hands, kiss a couple babies on the forehead and be on your way, never to be seen again.

OPINION

Undrafted

By NATHANIEL MENDELSON | Apr. 29, 2019

“And with the 254th pick, the Arizona Cardinals select Caleb Wilson, a tight end from UCLA.” That was it. After three days and 254 picks, not one player from the University at Buffalo was drafted into the NFL.

OPINION

The advice column you didn't ask for, but you'll wish you did

By DAN MCKEON and SARAH CROWLEY | Apr. 25, 2019

Hello, teens! It’s us, Dan and Sarah. In our advanced age (We both graduated in 2018), we’ve decided to bestow some of our sweet, sweet post-grad wisdom in order to make sure you enjoyed your time here before you shake President Tripathi’s hand. And don’t worry, you’ll find out who Tripathi is eventually, we all did.

OPINION

The Spectrum encourages UB to help #SaveStudentNewsrooms

By Editorial Board | Apr. 25, 2019

The first Spectrum came out in December, 1950. In it, our staff wrote that a campus newspaper must present “all the hues and facets” of important issues at UB. We don’t use the term “hues and facets” anymore, but we still have the same mission: to deliver news and information to the UB community.

OPINION

UB needs to do more to honor, respond to Sebastian Serafin-Bazan’s death

By Editorial Board | Apr. 25, 2019

Last week, we lost one of our own. Freshman Sebastian Serafin-Bazan died on April 17, six days after alleged hazing at the Sigma Pi fraternity in the University Heights. His roommates described him as a dedicated student. They no longer see his Post-It note reminding him of his goal to get a 4.0.

OPINION

A whistle to remember

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET | Apr. 18, 2019

My hands were red and my legs were shaking. My phone was about to die, the subway was about to close and I had no ride home. As I screamed at the people behind me to stop pushing me toward the ground and held my hands forward, I heard the words, “‘Dreamlover,’ my favorite.” And then I see her, the queen of the Billboard charts, glowing in the Buffalo night. Mariah Carey was standing right in front of me.

OPINION

Lead to misdeed

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Apr. 17, 2019

When I was four years old, I told my teacher I wanted to be a Tin Man actor. Now I’m 23 and, well, an editorial role at The Spectrum is pretty dang close.

OPINION

Letter to the editor

Apr. 14, 2019

On Wednesday, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be visiting our university as part of UB’s Distinguished Speaker Series. I will not be attending Secretary Rice’s speech as an audience member. Instead, I will be protesting her presence on campus as a “Distinguished Speaker” along with fellow members of UB’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America.

OPINION

Is racism an effect of racial dating preference?

By ALEXANDRA MOYEN | Apr. 14, 2019

Racism can be loud and in your face, but it can also be quiet and not so obvious. If someone were to ask me what my racial dating preference was, I would say black.

OPINION

UB’s decision to postpone Greek events is commendable but overly general

By Editorial Board | Apr. 14, 2019

UB President Satish Tripathi was quick to act Friday and suspended fraternity events for the immediate future. This was hours after 18-year-old Sebastian Serafin-Bazan was rushed to Buffalo General Medical Center Friday morning following possible hazing at Sigma Pi.