Opinions - The Spectrum

OPINION

Despite controversial rhetoric, Milo Yiannopoulos has right to speak at UB

By Editorial Board | Apr. 3, 2016

Free speech is a basic American principle that we have to respect. Whether or not we agree with Yiannopoulos’ ideas isn’t as important as whether or not he’s allowed to speak them. And sometimes, regardless of how different it may be from our own, it’s important to hear out others’ ideology because it’s how we learn about the other side of the political spectrum.

OPINION

Letter to the editor: Student Association allocating money to bring Milo Yiannopoulos to UB is breach of students' safe space

Apr. 3, 2016

We need to unify, we need to speak out when our equity is being taken away, and elected positions need to represent their student body instead of their own political views. The Student Association allocating $750 dollars to have a sexist, racist, transphobic, and homophobic speaker come to UB is in breach of your safe space. Speak out, become educated, and take a stance. Regardless of what your political views are I encourage you to do this as a member of the UB Community and as a student who funded this speaker through your mandatory student fee. Look into leadership positions on campus, become involved, and encourage your friends to speak up. Stop letting people “climb the ladder” for a resume builder or a power trip. If you feel strongly in opposition of Yiannopoulos, help organize rallies against him. We have a seat waiting for you at the table, come sit down and lean in.

OPINION

MLB awards and World Series predictions: Mets get redemption for last year's World Series loss

By Jordan Grossman | Apr. 3, 2016

There's something about the allure of the youth movement. Some of the best players in the league aren’t even 25 yet. There’s still so much potential in these young rosters that may or may not break out this year. So this season will be interesting. Who will prevail: the veterans who have been in these situations before or the young players who are primed to take over the game?

OPINION

MLB awards and World Series predictions: Trout claims second MVP, Cubs win first championship since 1908

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Apr. 3, 2016

The World Series is just as open as ever. Half of the league, including the defending champion Kansas City Royals, could make the World Series this year. While the MVP awards seems destined for a handful of players, the Cy Young awards are always pretty random. Let’s talk about the predictions for MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of The Year and World Series.

OPINION

If UB wants to become New York’s college team, it must start recruiting from New York – like Syracuse

By Jordan Grossman | Apr. 2, 2016

But UB Athletics must understand Syracuse will always be New York’s college team. People know about Syracuse athletics, despite the fact it’s located in a city with a population of less than 150,000. Most people around the country have no clue about UB Athletics, despite the fact it plays in a city with a population of more than 250,000.

President Satish Tripathi gives his annual State of the University address in October of 2015. Tripathi released a letter to the university community on Friday in regards to recent anti-Semitic incidents on campus - graffiti of anti-Semitic slurs on a bathroom stall and a cyberattack of UB printers to produce anti-Semitic flyers.

OPINION

UB President Satish Tripathi’s statement on anti-Semitic incidents on campus

Apr. 2, 2016

However, recent events – nationally as well as on our campus – are a sobering reminder that much work remains to be done. I am chagrined to note that these include a recent and deplorable act of anti-Semitic graffiti in one of our academic buildings. After a very thorough investigation by our UB Police Department, who responded immediately to remove the graffiti and increase campus patrols, we believe this to be an isolated incident. Regardless, this incident has been a source of pain and deep concern across our university community.

OPINION

National League predictions: Mets repeat as East champs, Giants continues even year magic

By Jordan Grossman | Mar. 31, 2016

The NL is stacked with young talent, elite pitching and future All-Stars on nearly every team. These young studs are spread all across the league – making for even matchups and thrilling storylines throughout the year. But which teams will be playing through October?

OPINION

National League Predictions: Cubs, Mets look to get back to NLCS, but Dodgers loom

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 31, 2016

Despite a league full of potential playoff teams, here are the five teams that I believe will make it to October, with a chance to represent the National League in the World Series.

OPINION

How lack of cooperation for a Supreme Court nomination is hurting the justice system

By Editorial Board | Mar. 31, 2016

The confusion lies here – if the Senate is not actively looking to balance the Supreme Court, how is this doing their jobs? One job of the government is to enforce and apply justice, which is difficult to do with a split court. It is the Senate’s job to confirm Obama’s nominee and their avoidance of the topic means that they aren’t doing their jobs or abiding to their constitutional duty.

OPINION

Why I’m leaving Buffalo

By JOHN JACOBS | Mar. 30, 2016

I decided to live in Buffalo partially because of peer pressure as well as the safe feeling of the decision. I don’t particularly like Buffalo’s weather – it was 65 degrees on Sunday and 40 degrees on Monday, and in a week it’s supposed to be 30 and possibly snowing; no thanks. I also went through some pretty bad depression at this school that I still struggle with some days.

OPINION

American League predictions: Royals return to defend crown, Astros appear to be best team in league

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 30, 2016

The Major League Baseball season will start on April 3 with the New York Mets facing the Kansas City Royals. To kick off the baseball season, I wanted to provide some predictions on who will make the playoffs, who will win the major awards and who will ultimately walk away with a World Series championship. Let’s start with the American League playoff teams.

OPINION

American League predictions: Yankees take the East, defending champs Royals take the Central

By Jordan Grossman | Mar. 30, 2016

If you predicted Josh Donaldson to take home MVP honors or no-name Dallas Keuchel to win the Cy Young, you are probably lying. Last season was one of the most unpredictable years in the MLB’s American League in quite some time. Players that weren’t even on the radar before the season now enter as some of the hottest storylines to follow for the 2016 season. There will always be fresh talent ready to amaze the baseball crowds. It’s just a matter of whom. Here are my predictions for the 2016 AL playoff teams.

OPINION

How Sweethome became my home

By TORI ROSEMAN | Mar. 28, 2016

Since fall of 2013, I’ve called Building 7 in the University Village at Sweethome my home. I have struggled with the room – initially, it put distance between my peers and me. It quickly became a scene in which my other friends were interested in participating in and they moved in with me.

OPINION

Dan Emmons for UB Student Association treasurer

By Editorial Board | Mar. 28, 2016

It’s the position that deals most directly with SA’s budget and finances of student funds, and SA is really all about dispersing student funds, collected through the mandatory student activity fee, back to students in the best way possible. Therefore a treasurer must be someone who is smart, experienced, professional and responsible, and that person is Dan Emmons of the Progress Party.

OPINION

Spectrum endorses neither UB Student Association president, vice president ticket – and here’s why

By Editorial Board | Mar. 28, 2016

So instead we have come to the decision to allow you to know what he like – and do not like – about this year’s presidential and vice presidential candidates in the hopes of informing you as best we can before you head to the polls. We feel it is better to lay out our issues with each party than to mask our uncertainty with a hollow endorsement.

OPINION

It would be best for Donyell Marshall and the UB Bulls if he stays put

By Jordan Grossman | Mar. 25, 2016

And it should be the only rumor he wants to hear as well. I don’t understand why Marshall, even with his rich résumé in the NBA, would leave Mid-Major Buffalo just yet. I’ll say that again. Marshall, a 15-year veteran who has played with some of the NBA’s greatest, should stay at a program that reached just its second-ever postseason appearance. You bet it.

OPINION

Money Talk: The implications of the war on cash

By KENNETH KASHIF THOMAS | Mar. 23, 2016

The global transition to cashless money transactions has been mostly one of convenience, but has also been pushed heavily as a reason to keep criminal activities down. Yet the idea that most cash transaction is done by criminals is detrimental to the real majority, the low-income demographic.

OPINION

Diverse Spring Fest lineup the right choice for UB Student Association

By Editorial Board | Mar. 22, 2016

This year’s Spring Fest will feature headliner The Chainsmokers, as well as Mac Miller, Icona Pop and Coleman Hell – a combination of electronic music and dance (EDM), hip-hip-hop and indie music and a clear effort to please as many students as possible. And for that effort we applaud the Student Association. Every undergraduate student helps shells out $104.75 a semester to help fund the concert, so although we’re sure there are some disappointed students out there, incorporating as many acts as possible is the right move.

OPINION

Letter to the editor: Career Services looking for feedback on CareerFest app

Mar. 22, 2016

Dear UB students We know you feel a lot of pressure. Pressure to do well in your studies, pressure to be involved on campus, pressure to engage in cultural experiences different than your own, pressure to volunteer, pressure to have multiple internship experiences, pressure to network and of course pressure to find a job.

OPINION

UB women’s basketball is ahead of schedule

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 19, 2016

My first reaction was shock that Buffalo, fresh off a successful conference tournament run, could look barley competitive. Then I stopped and remembered just how far this team had come from the start of the regular season – how we started to see some of its strengths and how players you didn’t know about five months ago stepped up in moments you could’ve never imagined. I remembered this team is ahead of schedule.