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OPINION

Letter to the editor: Shared governance will assist UB in leading the way in higher education

Shared governance is the name commonly given to the collaborative processes by which the students, faculty, staff, and administration express and exercise their governance authority and responsibilities in support of the institution’s mission. It is a distribution of authority based upon the law and its mandates. In essence, it boils down to effective, constructive, and timely engagement by the administration and trustees with the students, faculty and staff.


OPINION

A lack of interest and information leads to uninformed decision making

In the age of information, our generation is incredibly misinformed and underinformed. The debate Monday night between presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump is just one example of this – the highly publicized event was essentially a chance to Tweet the most notable and quotable phrases. Students were more concerned with drinking games and memes rather than the policy platforms the candidates discussed.


OPINION

Money Talk: Ciminelli projects at UB

Ciminelli is the CEO of LPCiminelli, which is the largest general construction firm in Western New York. Ciminelli is facing charges of conspiracy and bribery for winning public contracts, which raises questions about his trend of winning bids for UB construction projects.


OPINION

Money Talk: Opportunity cost

In life, we’re faced with situations that force us to make some kind of decision, one way or another. So how do you go about making the best decision for yourself when you find yourself at an impasse? Thanks to the economic concept of opportunity cost, it’s easier to make such a decision while also giving yourself a long-term outlook. Opportunity cost forces you to evaluate what you should take into account, what you shouldn’t and how that will take you into the future.


The Spectrum
OPINION

Letter to the editor

On the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 6, my office in Clemens Hall was found defaced with the phrases “Fuck Peter Clavin,” “Pussy,” “Bitch,” “Fagboy,” and “your class sux” scrawled on my door and a small cartoon of the late poet Amiri Baraka ripped off and tore into pieces.


The Spectrum
OPINION

Letter to the editor

How does UB create the kind of community that will promote not just diversity and inclusion, but also wellbeing and justice? What are the best ways to move forward from the homophobic vandalism that appeared on a Teaching Assistant’s door?


OPINION

Racist incident at Kansas State brings about diversity question at UB

Last week, a Kansas State University student posted a Snapchat of herself and a friend in a dark facial mask with the caption, “Feels good to finally be a n****.” The university expelled the students, which resulted in a massive outcry from the Kansas State Black Student Union. The organization petitioned to have the university implement an anti-racism policy, a multicultural student center, need-based scholarships for multicultural students and a “required cultural competency course.” This brought discussions about racism and diversity to open forums in which the school’s diversity was in question.


OPINION

Fantasy football deep league starters for week one

Another season of football started last Thursday night and along with it comes something else everyone loves: fantasy football. Whether you won your league last year or you were dead last, there are a few things to keep in mind so your team can make the playoffs.


OPINION

Although First Amendment rights come first, trigger warnings serve a purpose on campus

Colleges, donors and students across the country are in an uproar about trigger warnings, campus safe spaces and freedom of speech. The latest discussion began with a letter from University of Chicago Dean of Students John Ellison telling incoming freshmen that the university’s “commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called 'trigger warnings,' we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual 'safe spaces' where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own.”


OPINION

Money Talk: credit cards, the tamable beast

When it comes to credit cards, they can seem like a mysterious force that can too easily take control of your financial life. While this is definitely true, it’s not as easy to fall into the trap if you know how to shop for credit cards and use them properly.


The Spectrum
OPINION

What happened to UB Vice President Dennis Black?

People don’t usually disappear, especially not prominent people on a campus of 30,000 students. But that is just what happened to Dennis Black, UB’s vice president of Student Affairs, who was practically the face of UB for students and who was one of UB’s only administrators who clearly loved the spotlight and interacting with students.


OPINION

Insert cliché quote here

Originally, I didn’t want to write this piece – for multiple reasons. The main reason being that I’m not really leaving UB. Also, because saying goodbye seems silly to me considering that the work that we do as staff writers, editors, copy editors and managing editors will always be part of the legacy that is The Spectrum.


OPINION

Do it for the story

Limiting yourself will get you nowhere. Hiding behind a mask because you’re uncertain of the result is no way to live life, especially in college, where the entire four-year stretch is nothing but a learning experience. Take risks. Tell stories. Make your experiences here at UB worthwhile to remember them years down the road.


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