Opinions - The Spectrum

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.

OPINION

Wednesday's power outage on UB's South Campus highlights the need for renovation

By Editorial Board | Sep. 10, 2015

South Campus lost power on Wednesday morning and it wasn’t restored until roughly 3 a.m. Thursday morning. In the meantime, the university twiddled its thumbs for a bit, notified students sitting in darkened classrooms that it would probably be a good idea to go away for a while, threw some bottled water and glow sticks to students living on campus – nothing livens up a power outage like a rave – belatedly canceled evening classes and let everyone know that the problem had been fixed for them in time for classes on Thursday.

OPINION

Religion gone amok: Kim Davis discriminates, gets presidential candidate support

By Editorial Board | Sep. 10, 2015

Kim Davis, the Rowan County, Kentucky clerk who has refused to issue any marriage licenses after the Supreme Court verdict legalizing gay marriage was passed, was ordered by a federal court to issue licenses and was eventual jailed for contempt upon further refusal to issue licenses.

OPINION

A new day of infamy: The events of Sept. 11 tragedy should be remembered year round

By ALYSSA MCCLURE | Sep. 10, 2015

A plaque hangs in my hallway at home, dedicated to the victims and rescue personnel who lost their lives on Sept. 11. It features the iconic photo of firefighters George Johnson, Dan McWilliams and Billy Eisengrein raising the American flag over the rubble at Ground Zero. Every time I walk by it, I am reminded of the importance of how the American people responded that day and of how proud I am to include my dad in the group of heroes willing to risk their lives for others.

OPINION

Why Donald Trump is good (and bad) for politics

By William Krause | Sep. 10, 2015

Trump’s campaign has been anything but typical. He is constantly in the news for politically incorrect quotes or impossible-sounding policy plans. His proposal to force the Mexican government to build a wall on the United States-Mexico border has become one of the staples of his campaign. But his atypical campaign may be just what the country needs.

OPINION

The Leipold era will truly begin on Saturday

By Jordan Grossman | Sep. 10, 2015

It’s easy to predict an upset loss against Penn State on Saturday. Buffalo’s offense was clicking on all cylinders. The defense stepped up in a big way. That questionable offensive line proved many skeptics wrong.

OPINION

UB students need to take responsibility for Heights, but there are other issues to deal with

By Editorial Board | Sep. 8, 2015

Amid the furor concerning University Heights and the student population, responsibility has to be shouldered. We have to be willing to make the changes necessary to ensure that debauchery and disturbances do not become the norm.

OPINION

Bernie Sanders might not need mainstream media coverage to win

By Editorial Board | Sep. 8, 2015

Bernie Sanders may not need the mainstream media to upset the Democratic Party and herald something new, but apathy will be his worst enemy.