Opinions - The Spectrum

OPINION

UB development gentrifies Fruit Belt further, should support ethical development

By Editorial Board | Apr. 29, 2018

The Fruit Belt neighborhood is being rapidly gentrified, and the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biological Sciences’ new downtown location is playing a big role in the process with minimal effort to deter it. Gentrification raises the land value and economic status of a neighborhood, increasing its desirability for middle and upper class residents, but almost always leading to the displacement of long-time low-income residents. The displacement of these communities is a nationwide problem.

OPINION

Letter to the Editor: UB Giving Day

Apr. 29, 2018

Regarding UB Giving Day: Through either serendipity or a strange current of capitalist synergy, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Robin Schulze’s office sent the announcement “Coming Next Week: UB Giving Day,” soliciting donations from every underpaid graduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences within days of The Chronicle of Higher Education publishing “Want to be a ‘Volunteer Adjunct’? Southern Illinois U.

OPINION

'My Beautiful Dark Twitter fantasy'

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET | Apr. 26, 2018

On April 15, Kanye came out of hiding and resurfaced on Twitter. He just ranted as per usual. He tweeted about his favorite t-shirt designs, consciousness, creativity and trends, finding ways to somehow make each tweet less transparent and more inspirational than the last. But even with inspiration coming from his fingertips, Kanye still managed to rile some fans up.

The Spectrum stands with the hashtag #SaveStudentNewsrooms movement. We stand in solidarity with more than 100 college publications across the country that are advocating for editorial freedom for student newspapers because we believe in the importance of student journalism.

OPINION

College newspapers are a vital part of campus communities

By Editorial Board | Apr. 25, 2018

Student newsrooms are in danger. Southern Methodist University’s student newspaper, The Daily Campus, will dissolve in May. The University of Central Florida’s student publication, The Central Florida Future, shut down in 2016 after 48 years in circulation. Herriman High School students launched their own independent publication after administrators deleted an article on a teacher’s firing.

OPINION

UB is sustainable in some ways, needs improvement in others

By Editorial Board | Apr. 22, 2018

UB prides itself on having Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified buildings, and several sustainability-related awards, including the 2016 Green Power Award from the EPA.

OPINION

The coup against cars

By DAN MCKEON | Apr. 22, 2018

On Friday, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in a press conference and on Twitter that Central Park would permanently be car-free starting in June, with the exception of the lowered roads that go through the park at 97th, 86th, 79th and 65th streets. As an anti-car citizen of Buffalo, I can’t help but dream of a car-free Delaware Park, which is currently cut in half by the hideous and hazardous Scajaquada Expressway.

OPINION

The best of the fests

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET | Apr. 16, 2018

I was a little upset when I found out Spring Fest fell on May 5, the same day another concert I was planning on going to. I was even more upset, and slightly concerned, when I decided to sell my tickets to my show to attend this year’s fest without even knowing the lineup. In years past, SA has been hit or miss when it comes to booking talent at UB’s festivals and I really didn’t want to sacrifice my seats for the breathtaking Jorja Smith -– emphasis on breathtaking –– and wind up seeing some hot rapper I’ll forget in a few months.

OPINION

We should be welcoming Syrian refugees, not dropping bombs

By Editorial Board | Apr. 16, 2018

On Friday night, the U.S. bombed Syria in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack on civilians in a Damascus suburb.

OPINION

I got two peppers, one for me and one for me

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET | Apr. 12, 2018

I never thought I’d be writing this. For too long – maybe like three weeks – I’ve been holding this secret in.

OPINION

Give writing for sports a try

By THOMAS ZAFONTE | Apr. 9, 2018

A month ago, my colleagues from The Spectrum and I were given the opportunity to cover the Mid-American Conference Tournament.

OPINION

Congress should enact stricter privacy guidelines in light of Facebook breach

By Editorial Board | Apr. 9, 2018

The recent Facebook privacy breach serves as a chilling reminder that federal Internet privacy guidelines are long overdue. On March 19, The New York Times reported that Cambridge Analytica, a political data-mining and consulting firm, collected over 50 million Facebook users' private information without their knowledge.

OPINION

'Queer Eye' inspired me to buy a cork board

By HARUKA KOSUGI | Apr. 5, 2018

Netflix’s hit show “Queer Eye,” the reboot of the early 2000’s Emmy-winning reality television series “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” had me crying real tears after an eight episode binge-fest. The program stars the “Fab Five” — not the legendary 1991 University of Michigan men’s basketball recruiting class — but a collective of trendy homosexual men who help unstylish men become their best selves.

OPINION

Letter to the editor: Educational Opportunity Program cuts not the way to reduce overall budget

Apr. 5, 2018

An article published recently in The Spectrum that warns of a reduction to the students admitted to the Educational Opportunity Program by approximately half has left me concerned and frustrated.

OPINION

Makin’ my way (from) downtown

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Apr. 5, 2018

Summers in UB’s Ellicott Complex are terrible. Remember freshman year, feeling like you’re sleeping in the devil’s attic after move-in? Now imagine the devil expanded his duplex to a 56-story skyscraper. This was my reality last year and escaping the dorms was my only way out.

OPINION

I didn't feel anything at a concentration camp. Am I a bad Jew?

By MAX KALNITZ | Mar. 29, 2018

I’ve never been a “good Jew.” I went to Hebrew School and had a Bar Mitzvah, but only to please my parents.

OPINION

The Spectrum endorses R.E.A.L. party for SA e-board

By Editorial Board | Mar. 29, 2018

SA e-board candidates are running unopposed for the first time since 2015, but that does not give students an excuse to be apathetic. The Spectrum endorses R.E.A.L.

OPINION

DeVos' stance on student loan regulation will hurt grads

By Editorial Board | Mar. 15, 2018

Betsy DeVos thinks states should not impose regulations on student debt collection agencies, many of which have been accused of unfair consumer practices. In a memo released by the Department of Education on Friday, DeVos said she believes state regulations on debt collection companies are inappropriate and “undermine” federal authority.

OPINION

The streaming disservice

By HARUKA KOSUGI | Mar. 15, 2018

I remember taking a sick day from school as a kid and learning about Spanish culture, the American justice system and Punnett squares.

OPINION

Changes to academic integrity policy long overdue

By Editorial Board | Mar. 12, 2018

A faculty committee is recommending changes to UB’s academic integrity policy following a two-year long study that found students and staff think the current academic integrity policy is inconsistent and overly harsh. The current policy is outlined at length on UB’s website, but the wording is confusing, and specific rules and regulations are not emphasized clearly enough.

OPINION

The Bulls at-large

By THOMAS ZAFONTE | Mar. 12, 2018

Historically, if you lose in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, your season is done. Every trip Buffalo has taken to the NCAA Tournament has been from winning the conference championship.