Opinions

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OPINION

UB Fall Fest genre: Is there any dissent by now?

By Editorial Board | Sep. 1, 2015

The Student Association has chosen to supplement its seemingly rap-concentrated Fall Fests with smaller concerts and Spring Fests featuring other genres. In the past two years, Spring Fest has featured a country and alternative lineup, and SA hosted Electric Tundra, a small EDM concert last spring. Polls have failed to provide any alternative to this new formula, so in lieu of any concerted opinion from the student body, there seems to be no reason to change this trend.

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OPINION

UB’s Communities of Excellence research initiative needs clarification

By Editorial Board | Aug. 4, 2015

While the initiative is well intentioned, the research topics are vague and potentially stretched too thin. UB prides itself on the research it performs, and rightfully so. UB should continue to fund research initiatives that help to solve major problems in the word and continue to be a leader in interdisciplinary campus research.

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OPINION

2014-15 was good to the UB Bulls

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Aug. 3, 2015

In the 2014-15 calendar year, the Bulls had a fair amount of success on the field. Three teams – men’s basketball, women’s soccer and men’s tennis – won their first-ever Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. While none went past the first round in their respective tournaments, the fact that “Buffalo” was flashed on three NCAA Tournament selection days was a win in itself.

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OPINION

Method to my madness: My NCAA Tournament experience helped shape me as a journalist

By Jordan Grossman | July 26, 2015

I never thought one of the best experiences of my life would be traced back to a faulty credit card.

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OPINION

Man vs. bowl

By Daniel McKeon | July 21, 2015

Though it may seem trivial, a crowded or unclean bathroom can prove to be unnerving and inconvenient for a student on the go. Many students have a special bathroom where they prefer to take care of business. For those of you who haven’t found that special place, here’s a guide to the best and worst bathrooms you’ll experience on campus.

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OPINION

The ultimate UB freshman bucket list

By Daniel McKeon | July 14, 2015

Last semester, I wrote a series of columns called the “Buffalo Bucket List,” a list of things to do before graduating from UB. But what about things to do before the end of freshman year?

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OPINION

How to get the most out of your time at UB

By KENNETH KASHIF THOMAS | July 9, 2015

Entering your freshman year can be both daunting and exhilarating. It is important to remember that you are not alone in this transition. There are thousands of others just like you trying to find their way in college.

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OPINION

Letter from the editor: Find your niche at UB

By Tom Dinki | July 2, 2015

The Spectrum is my college ‘thing.’ My niche. What will yours be?

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OPINION

NYCFC, Red Bulls and the Cosmos: The three-way battle for New York City's soccer soul

By Daniel McKeon | June 25, 2015

Over the last three years, I’ve found myself rooting for the Red Bulls, the Cosmos and NYCFC at different times. The simple reason is that all these teams have their own claims to be “New York’s Team.”

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OPINION

New York State must address its 'zombie house' problem

By Editorial Board | June 15, 2015

Empty, abandoned shells stand where prominent homes are supposed to be. New York has fallen victim to the zombie house epidemic that shows no signs of stopping.

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OPINION

How valid are school budget votes when anyone can vote?

By William Krause | May 28, 2015

The polls opened on May 19 as voters decided if their school budgets should pass or fail. According to the New York State Teacher’s Union, a record 99 percent of budgets passed this year, as opposed to 98.2 percent in 2014 and 95.3 percent in 2013. School budgets dictate how property tax money will be spent in a district and also have the potential to raise those taxes. Yet, strangely, you don’t have to be a taxpayer to vote.

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OPINION

The moments that matter

By SARA DINATALE | May 8, 2015

Moments matter – the ones we take to relax, the ones we’ll treasure forever or, as a reporter, the ones we’ll collect and write stories about.

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OPINION

And the friends we won’t forget

By RACHEL KRAMER | May 8, 2015

I’ve taken 6,835 pictures throughout my time at UB – only 2,379 of which are social media appropriate

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OPINION

Success is a journey, not a destination

By MARISSA FIELDING | May 7, 2015

My experience at UB has guided me through numerous doors I never expected to even see. From incredibly intelligent and wise professors, a multitude of immensely unique friends and experiences one would only dream about, my experiences have shaped me.

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OPINION

President Satish Tripathi should establish his presence through promises fulfilled

May 7, 2015

Although UB President Satish Tripathi feels he has a noticeable presence on campus, The Spectrum editorial board doesn’t recall seeing him around much – though his presence was certainly noted by Spectrum staff when Tripathi took the time to sit down and meet Sara DiNatale, the paper’s editor in chief.

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OPINION

Buffalo Bucket List No. 20: Oozefest

By Daniel McKeon | May 7, 2015

The Buffalo Bucket List is a series of articles highlighting my journey to achieve the full college experience in Buffalo, from Buffalo wings to Oozefest.

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OPINION

Justice denied as Basil's guilty verdict is set aside

May 7, 2015

Closure remains a fleeting prospect for the loved ones of William Sager, who died after being pushed down a flight of stairs at Molly’s Pub last May. A jury determined in January that Jeffrey Basil, the manager of the University Heights-area bar, was guilty of second degree murder – seeming to bring to an end a long and painful story for those involved and offering a modicum of justice with the conviction.

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OPINION

My last college move

By EMMA JANICKI | May 7, 2015

When I transferred back home to Buffalo, I figured it was probably time to find “my thing” – you know, get involved, make friends, blah blah. At the beginning of the spring semester of my junior year I got a mass email: The Spectrum was hiring.

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OPINION

Shannon Evans writes good-bye letter to UB

May 6, 2015

It is with a very heavy heart that I say goodbye to the college that I have grown to know and love for the past two years. It was one of the hardest decisions of my life, but I have chosen to transfer to Arizona State to play basketball and reunite with my mentor and father figure, Coach Bobby Hurley.

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OPINION

When it comes to choosing majors, UB students are all business

May 5, 2015

As students prepare to finish their studies at UB, about 15 percent of those graduates will be leaving with a degree in business. The major’s consistent popularity indicates the practical outlook many students are taking.