OPINION
UB 2020 Bill Could Work...For Now
Mar. 6, 2011If you pay any attention to what goes on at UB, you've probably heard quite a bit about UB 2020, the university's vision for the future.
Opinions
OPINION
When Lies Become Truth
By Clinton Hodnett | Mar. 6, 2011"I think of myself as a really big lie." For those readers who aren't the biggest fans of Lady Gaga (I'm looking at you, Jameson), I'm sure this admission is one you've been waiting a long time to hear. On Friday night, however, when Mother Monster confessed her secret to a crowd of 18,000, the disappointment of some fans was more than apparent.
OPINION
Burqa Ban Violates Religious Freedom
Mar. 6, 2011In France, there has been a great deal of controversy over the so-called "burqa ban," which bans the wearing of Islamic face coverings such as burqas and niqabs. The law was purportedly put in place because in many areas, women and children are forced to wear burqas against their wills and in many cases are beaten if they choose not to.
OPINION
Right Decision Made In Westboro Case
Mar. 3, 2011The Westboro Baptist Church is one of the most controversial organizations in America. Its inflammatory rhetoric against homosexuals, along with its protests of military funerals, has made it very unpopular with the majority of Americans. As its protests have continued to court controversy through the years, there was frequent debate over whether or not it should be allowed to preach its beliefs in the manner it does. That debate reached a boiling point three years ago, when Albert Snyder, the father of a deceased veteran whose funeral was protested by the group, decided to file a lawsuit against it.
OPINION
UB: the University of Bureaucracy
By Luke Hammill | Mar. 3, 2011The other day, I downloaded UB's 2011 Directory, a complete listing of every department at the university.
OPINION
Marriott Center Has Thin Walls
By CAREY BEYER | Mar. 3, 2011Brandon Davies seems to have contracted the worst sexually transmitted disease ever: expulsion. Early yesterday morning, the news broke that Brigham Young University would be excusing Davies from the basketball team for a vaguely worded "violation of the school's conduct policy." The rumor mill started swirling.
OPINION
U.S. Should Not Use Force Against Libya
Mar. 3, 2011In the past week, the situation in Libya has gotten worse. Libya's longtime ruler Muammar el-Qaddafi has refused to step down and continues to kill his own people. This has led to a lot of debate about whether or not military force should be used.
OPINION
Regulation Needed in Radiation Industry
Mar. 1, 2011Last weekend, a rather shocking story came out of the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. It was revealed that at the facility, many prematurely born infants had been over-radiated while being treated at the facility.
OPINION
Does This Look Like The Face Of A Guy Who Would Write A Column About Barstool?
By Andrew Wiktor | Mar. 1, 2011If you're one of the six people who haven't heard of barstoolsports.com, stop everything you're doing and get to a computer. Seriously.
OPINION
Allowing State Flexibility on Health Care is Reasonable
Mar. 1, 2011During President Barack Obama's first term, few issues have provided more frustration for him than health care.
OPINION
The American Dream University
By JESSE ORSHAN | Feb. 28, 2011The United States used to be the powerhouse of the world. However, for the first time, American students are being forced to compete with the up-and-coming educated classes of other countries. There is a flaw in the current educational system in the United States.
OPINION
From Apathy to Activism
By AMANDA WOODS | Feb. 28, 2011This will be the 10th column I've written for The Spectrum, and I've yet to take a stand. That might be an exaggeration, as all columns are expected to make a point of some kind, but there is an obvious trend in the columns I've written.
OPINION
Letter to the Editor
Feb. 28, 2011I hate to say it and it probably sounds like blasphemy, but when you look at it objectively it is time to fire Reggie Witherspoon.
OPINION
Victim Blaming Appalling in Canadian Rape Case
Feb. 28, 2011Earlier this week, a judge in Canada made a controversial ruling in a rape case. After 40-year-old Kenneth Rhodes was found guilty of raping a 26-year-old woman, Judge Robert Dewar gave him a two-year conditional sentence that he will serve at his home. This would already be considered a very lenient sentence for a rape case, but Dewar's ruling was made even more problematic by the remarks he made at the sentencing. When giving the sentence, Dewar stated that "sex was in the air" when the victim was raped and that she "wanted to party." In the aftermath of this, many have stated their outrage at Dewar for his statements, calling it a particularly egregious example of victim blaming. The Spectrum firmly agrees with this sentiment.
OPINION
DADT Repeal Should Be a Gradual Process
Feb. 28, 2011Last week, President Obama stated that he believed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which he had previously defended, was unconstitutional. This was an important move for Obama because it finally showed him moving to the left on the issue of gay rights.
OPINION
Ahmadinejad Hypocritical in Supporting Revolts
Feb. 25, 2011As countries such as Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia have revolted against their oppressive leaders, many people have come out in support of them. The latest person to come out in support of these revolts is a rather unlikely one, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ahmadinejad's support for the protestors was surprising, due to his rather poor track record of dealing with unrest in his own country.
OPINION
2012 or 2020?
By Luke Hammill | Feb. 25, 20112012 keeps getting closer and closer. Even though all of that stuff about the Mayans and the end of the world is probably garbage, I couldn't blame you for believing in it, what with all of the crazy things that have been happening in the world lately. Who could argue with you?
OPINION
Breathing Tube Case Not a Fault of Canadian Health Care System
Feb. 25, 2011Six years ago, America was captivated by the case of Terri Schiavo, a woman being kept on life support by a feeding tube.
OPINION
Wisconsin Protestors Have Reasonable Demands
Feb. 23, 2011Last week, Scott Walker, the newly elected Republican Governor of Wisconsin, introduced a budget bill that contained an increase on the costs of benefits to public employees and restricted their collective bargaining rights. The bill was met with disdain, to say the least. For the past week, protests have been occurring in Wisconsin's capital, Madison, where the governor has faced some rather harsh criticisms. Protestors take issue not only with the increased amount of money that state workers would have to pay toward their pensions and health insurance plans, but also with the bargaining rights they would lose under Walker's proposal. Under the plan, unions would no longer have the right to agree or disagree with a proposal before it takes effect.
OPINION
You. Us. We. Soon.
By Andrew Wiktor | Feb. 23, 2011Carmelo Anthony is finally a Knick. Instead of worrying about where the next free-agent saga will come from (although I'd bet on Utah's Deron Williams milking the spotlight), let's consider what this trade means for the future of New York basketball. The Knicks gave up three starters whose average age is under 24, including one player, Raymond Felton, who will more than likely become an NBA All-Star at some point in his career. Furthermore, Isiah Thomas James Dolan and company shipped away a 2014 first-round draft pick, along with Timofey Mozgov, a 24-year-old center who has started 14 games this season, and who put up promising numbers (23 points and 13 rebounds) on Jan.
