Opinions - The Spectrum

OPINION

UB Bulls should be beware of the unknown

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Sep. 25, 2015

The Bulls (2-1) looked good against Florida Atlantic. You could even say they looked great. Despite the offensive inconsistencies, the Bulls put together a solid defensive performance – one that got nearly every player into the mix. The Bulls won’t continue to play like that for the rest of the season, but it was good to see the defensive line hold the Owl run game and watch some touted, questionable and unheralded playmakers make plays.

President Satish Tripathi spoke to The Spectrum in May. He sent a letter to The Spectrum Thursday night in response to the "White Only" and "Black Only" signs posted on campus last week.

OPINION

Letter to the editor: UB President Satish Tripathi sends The Spectrum statement regarding controversial art project and student complaints

Sep. 24, 2015

September 24, 2015 Dear Students, Starting last week, our campus community has been deeply affected by the controversial student art project that has sparked considerable response and dialogue across our university. From my personal conversations with many of you, I know that our students continue to feel deeply hurt, saddened, confused, and angered by the events of the past week.

OPINION

Letter to the editor: UB Black Student Union sends letter to The Spectrum

Sep. 24, 2015

Greetings President Satish K. Tripathi and University at Buffalo Administration, Attention: Charles F.

OPINION

Shadi Petosky incident is a pointless destruction of liberty

By Editorial Board | Sep. 24, 2015

The TSA held Petosky because the full-body scanner flagged what officers called “an anomaly” in her groin area. Even after explaining her situation, Petosky was detained in a private screening room while officers argued about what to do with her, subjected her to multiple pat-downs and searched her luggage.

OPINION

If you see something, say something: Ahmed’s situation shouldn’t undermine reporting suspicious activity

By William Krause | Sep. 24, 2015

Usually, these reports turn out to be unfounded, as was the case for 14 year-old Texas youth Ahmed Mohamed. Ahmed has recently received national attention after bringing his homemade clock, which his teachers believed to be a bomb, to school. But was reporting the suspicious clock wrong?

OPINION

Enough debt is enough

By Editorial Board | Sep. 23, 2015

There is no real escape from student debt. Forty eight percent of UB students have taken out loans to get through school. Gone are the days when college could be paid for by working a part-time job during the semester. Costs have skyrocketed beyond affordability.

OPINION

Creating more turnovers could propel UB football to a very successful season

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Sep. 22, 2015

For the Buffalo football team, I was interested in one area of regression: the turnover margin. The Bulls had just two interceptions all of last season – which seemed unfathomable to me. There are teams in both pro and college that pass the ball more than 50 percent of the time. There were six quarterbacks in college football who threw more than 500 passes last season and 41 threw more than 400 times.

OPINION

Salty or sweet?: Hot takes on Drake and Future project don’t matter – it’s not that deep

By BRIAN WINDSCHITL | Sep. 22, 2015

Drake and Future’s most recent project has been out for two days – since its drop, the mixtape has been examined and analyzed from every aspect imaginable. Some common criticisms that have arisen so far: “I thought it was going to be better,” or “It’s not as good as Drake and Future’s old stuff,” and “It didn’t live up to its hype. It’s not that deep.

OPINION

Being away from home makes celebrating Yom Kippur more difficult

By TORI ROSEMAN | Sep. 22, 2015

Celebrating the holidays away from home is inherently difficult. Family, who would normally be celebrating by your side, does not surround you. There’s no home cooked meal. You can’t follow traditions you’ve grown up following, because you’re apart from everyone else.

OPINION

Too little, too late?: Sustainability efforts at UB seem lackluster

By Editorial Board | Sep. 20, 2015

On the surface, UB Sustainability seems like a good thing. UB's effort comes across as noble. There's a lingering uncertainty that it's both not enough and a slightly calculated move. Furthermore, these efforts are entirely contingent on the students and faculty. We have to be the change – no outside body can force us to make the changes necessary.

OPINION

Growing gains for UB Bulls’ defense

By Jordan Grossman | Sep. 19, 2015

The Bulls’ defense scored three touchdowns and recorded a safety in arguably the best defensive performances I’ve ever seen. Yes, I’ve seen Khalil Mack and that triumphant defense in 2013 play as well.

OPINION

Letter to the editor: Support for UB art student Ashley Powell

Sep. 19, 2015

Dear Spectrum Editor, I would like to say that as an art project and a statement of our times it is most appropriate.

OPINION

Teaching: not for the faint of heart

By Editorial Board | Sep. 18, 2015

Our country seems to have forgotten this. Teachers have been subjected to intense and often unrealistic scrutiny and recent educational reform has proven unwieldy at best and damaging at worst. Worst of all, we pay teachers a pittance compared to most jobs in the United States.

UPD received a call from a student stating there was a 'White Only' sign found outside a bathroom in Clemens Hall Wednesday. Ashley Powell, a graduate art student, admitted to hanging the signs for a class art project.

OPINION

Letter to the editor: UB student sends statement to The Spectrum about 'White Only' and 'Black Only' signs

Sep. 17, 2015

This letter was submitted to The Spectrum from Ashley Powell, the graduate fine arts students who admitted to hanging 'White Only' and 'Black Only' signs on campus Wednesday.

OPINION

‘White Only’ and ‘Black Only’ signs cause offense and outrage rather than discussion

By Editorial Board | Sep. 17, 2015

A graduate art student posted at least four signs near bathrooms and water fountains in Clemens Hall Wednesday with broad letters stating “White Only” or “Black Only.” University Police took the signs down, but the impact was still felt around campus.

OPINION

China brought to heel

By Editorial Board | Sep. 15, 2015

The imbalance of trade with Asian countries has been bemoaned in popular culture for years.

OPINION

Buffalo 'Boys' Club

By Editorial Board | Sep. 15, 2015

Study after study has come out recently proving that diversity is key to properly acknowledging and working a group’s issues.

OPINION

College athletes can't have it both ways

By Jordan Grossman | Sep. 15, 2015

It’s a pre-conceived notion that whenever a student-athlete steps onto a college campus, he or she should be treated like a professional athlete.

OPINION

Guarding the skies: New laws seek to protect Ralph Wilson Stadium from drones

By Editorial Board | Sep. 13, 2015

Drones are a new technology with far-reaching implications. Those implications are still being processed at every level of government, but there are some clear-cut problems: Namely, drones going where flying objects should not be.

OPINION

UB Bulls doom themselves with own hand against Penn State

By Tom Dinki | Sep. 12, 2015

The Buffalo football team lost by 13 points to Penn State, which seems to define college football culture. But Saturday's loss for Buffalo was more impressive than the Nittany Lions' victory.