Opinions - The Spectrum

OPINION

Paint me like one of your French boys

By ISABELLA FORTUNATO | Feb. 9, 2020

Most people would consider the infamous line, “paint me like one of your French girls,” between Jack and Rose in the 1997 film “Titanic” one of the most romantic scenes ever portrayed between two young people on the big screen. It’s practically common knowledge that, in this scene, Rose poses completely nude, while she is respectfully drawn by her love interest. The dynamic between these two characters carries sweetness and innocence that resonates strongly with most fans, despite the overt sexual overtones coming from Rose.

OPINION

Out with the fur, in with the scales

By JUSTIN WOODMANCY | Feb. 9, 2020

Fish are superior to cats and dogs in every way. I know you might disagree –– let me tell you why you’re wrong.

OPINION

You can lead a television executive to water, but you can’t make him drink

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Feb. 5, 2020

The reign of Fox’s Friday night animation line-up is over. For years, programs full of shallow writing and cop-out comedy have remained at the forefront of the adult animation community. Seth Macfarlane has been able to build an empire full of fart jokes, visual gags and lazy cultural references.

OPINION

‘Parasite’ latches onto fans hearts ahead of Oscars

By ISABELLA FORTUNATO | Feb. 5, 2020

Film is universal. Every person, despite personal background, has the equal opportunity to gain inspiration from the films that they expose themselves to. Beneath the cover of a dim-lit theatre, we are all the same, hoping to undergo something at least a little bit magical.

OPINION

A letter from SA President Yousouf Amolegbe

Feb. 3, 2020

My fellow students, We’ve been failed by our own. Today I am writing to you all in great disappointment as I’ve been unjustly suspended indefinitely as the President of the University at Buffalo Student Association Inc. I would like to take this opportunity to explain and inform you of this unjust action.

OPINION

Kobe Bryant: The true impact of a legend

By Alexander Poland | Jan. 29, 2020

Growing up in Albany, it would be hard to see why I’m a Lakers fan.

OPINION

Letting the cat out of the bag on veterinary scams

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Jan. 29, 2020

On Aug. 25, I began to lose over half of my savings. But it wasn’t the result of a gambling problem or a bad investment, it was to the person who I thought was saving my cat’s life. My veterinarian.

OPINION

Letter to the editor

Dec. 30, 2019

Letter to the Editor: India, A tryst with Fascism Imagine a single country that speaks hundreds of languages, has hundreds of different cultures and tribes, tens of different religions, thousands of cuisines, thousands of traditions, millions of tightly-knit friends and families and where every state and sometimes every city in that state feels like a whole different country. This dream is India. India is in many respects a colorful world in itself. It is contradiction and consistency. It is chaos and order.

OPINION

Letter to the editor

Dec. 20, 2019

Indian Universities Under Siege Much like most of the world at this moment, India is in a fight against religious intolerance and against, as many in the country are now terming it without reservations, fascism. In the past few days, the matters have come down to the streets, with police forces entering university premises and bleeding out protestors. And this is not only in the capital city of New Delhi, but across the country from its north-most to its east-most to its south-most.

OPINION

Women have been ‘surfing the crimson tide’ long enough

By ISABELLA FORTUNATO | Nov. 23, 2019

Once a month, I find the best way to spend the minute break between my classes is frantically searching through my bag for a tampon that isn’t there. As I rush into class 15 minutes late, the cherry on top is that explaining the reason behind my delinquency is completely out of the question.

OPINION

My best friend, ‘Ana’

By REILLY MULLEN | Nov. 23, 2019

Thirteen-year-old girls are supposed to fawn over Justin Beiber. Instead, in eighth grade, I was counting the calories in a stick of gum.

OPINION

Letter from the editor: Here's what we do. Here's how you can, too.

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET | Nov. 17, 2019

This semester at The Spectrum has been an absolute dream.

OPINION

The UB Curriculum is a waste of time

By ALEX WHETHAM | Nov. 17, 2019

I used to be a proponent of the UB Curriculum. As a former pre-med student, the chance to take a few English and Music courses while also pursuing psychiatry seemed ideal and a step above what I assumed regular general education programs would be like. But I misunderstood.

OPINION

Letter to the Editor

Nov. 13, 2019

For the Sake of Diversity and Inclusion, It’s Time to Bury Millard Fillmore in UB’s Past As the semester comes to a close and winter recess begins, UB will, again, move forward with an annual ritual that diminishes its efforts to promote diversity and inclusion on campus. On January 7, UB will again organize the celebration of Millard Fillmore’s birthday at Buffalo’s Forest Lawn Cemetery.

OPINION

Why I don’t watch porn

By ISABELLA FORTUNATO | Nov. 13, 2019

I have never watched porn. Some people may believe this to be a bold-faced lie, but it’s not. Throughout my entire life I’ve made an active choice to avoid graphic pornographic material, and have never, even tried searching for any kind of the content.

OPINION

Edward Cullen walked so Robert Pattinson could run

By LAURYN KING | Nov. 10, 2019

“Do I dazzle you?” “Frequently.” Although Edward Cullen is inarguably Robert Pattinson’s most notable role, it couldn’t be further from his best.

OPINION

Set up to fail

By CHLOE FERNEY | Nov. 10, 2019

I remember leaving my professor’s office on the verge of tears sophomore year. There was a line of students in the hallway waiting to find out their fate. I knew why they were there. It was the same reason I was. The professor thought we cheated.

OPINION

Letter to the editor

Nov. 6, 2019

As a alum of The Spectrum, as a woman who works with sexual assault survivors, and as a survivor myself, I was deeply disappointed with parts of Amal Elhelw's article "Hypocritical feminism." While her main point seems to be that feminism needs more action, and less labels, the author seriously loses her way when she begins to talk about feminism with respect to sexual assault survivors.

OPINION

Would you ruin your family to bang Paul Rudd?

By SAMANTHA VARGAS | Nov. 6, 2019

Incest used to be a social norm across every continent, especially in royal families. But now it is one of the most widespread social taboos and is forbidden in most modern cultures. While many filmmakers choose to frame consensual incest as a serious plot device, some directors choose not to explain its presence. That’s unacceptable.

OPINION

Letter to the editor

Nov. 6, 2019

On Monday, November 4th, the UB Spectrum ran its annual Political Issue. In it, they featured a poll of issues important to UB students, a community made up of over 31,000 people. We were saddened to see that only 100 students participated in the poll; this sample is merely 0.3% of the total population whom the survey supposedly represents, meaning the margin of error is more than triple what most published pollsters allow for (+/-3%).