Opinions - The Spectrum

OPINION

Sexual assaults on college campuses continue to make headlines and universities need to make a difference

By admin admin | Sep. 18, 2014

It?s an all-too familiar story by now: When senior art student Emma Sulkowicz reported to authorities at Columbia University she?d been raped in her dorm by a male student, her case was dismissed and her rapist remained on campus. But Sulkowicz?s story joins the legions of cases gaining national attention as she, after finding out that two other students also reported being raped by her attacker, has refused to stay silent.

OPINION

Anything but peace at the Peace Bridge

By admin admin | Sep. 18, 2014

Art by Amber Sliter The Peace Bridge used to live up to its name. Now, those long-lost days of tranquility and friendship must seem a distant memory to authorities on both sides of the Niagara. With all the political turmoil and violent disputes plaguing the globe, and with needs statewide for reform to New York?s prisons and educational systems, this dispute with Canadian officials must be resolved before ?Canadian diplomatic crisis? is added to the United States? ever-growing list of concerns. More than $150 million is currently devoted to multiple improvement projects at the bridge and the nearby plaza, as a series of infrastructure developments aimed at reducing traffic congestion by increasing queuing space, adding more truck lanes and widening approach ramps broke ground last month. Despite this seemingly positive development, Canadian hackles are raised over the deceptive behavior by Governor Andrew Cuomo and program manager Maria Lehman, who attempted to avoid publicizing details of construction projects until after the deadline for legal objections. This sneaky political maneuvering will only exacerbate the ongoing legal dispute between the two contingents of the Peace Bridge Authority. The litany of complaints expressed by both sides and documented in legal papers accumulated over two years of disagreement range from claims of sexual harassment, improper hiring and firing and defamation. Clearly, tensions are high between the two countries? authorities.

OPINION

D?j? vu?

By Tom Dinki | Sep. 18, 2014

Spectrum File Photo A 26-23 five-overtime victory against Stony Brook Sept. 14, 2013. A 38-28 win over Duquesne on Aug.

OPINION

Should you pay to play?

By BRIAN WINDSCHITL | Sep. 16, 2014

The year is 2014 and everything we listen to has been cut, re-cut, looped, flipped and remixed, however, nothing has been more re-mastered than the way we listen to music. Sites that allow for unlimited streaming like Spotify and Pandora have changed the way that we interact with music on a daily basis. In 2000, a chart-topping album would have millions of copies sold ? in the first week.

OPINION

My love affair with League of Legends

By JORDAN OSCAR | Sep. 16, 2014

Spectrum File Photo For the past year and a half, I?ve been cheating on my console. I?ve left its hard plastic body sitting cold on my shelf while my laptop?s internal parts turn into a fiery hurricane to run League of Legends on all low settings. I still remember my first few hours of League of Legends.

OPINION

The epidemic of student debt: Even attending a public university renowned for its value can't guarantee immunity

By Editorial Board | Sep. 16, 2014

In an era plagued by a terrifying roughly $1.1 trillion in nationwide student loan debt, college graduates can’t afford to pay their rent, buy a home or start a small business. Just moving out of their parents’ home is a feat comparable to a doctoral degree or a promotion to CEO for millennial graduates.

OPINION

Proposed methadone clinic threatens the revitalization of Buffalo's West Side

By Editorial Board | Sep. 16, 2014

In a move that threatens community safety and ignores the objections of the public and county officials, the State is allowing the establishment of a methadone clinic in a residential neighborhood. The clinic, which would distribute methadone to recovering heroin addicts, will be located at 254 Virginia St.

OPINION

"Slowly, a city blossoms"

Sep. 14, 2014

The facelift of downtown Buffalo continues this year, as the Erie County Harbor Development Corporation revealed its plans for Buffalo?s Outer Harbor.

OPINION

Message to the NFL: Leave the violence on the field

Sep. 14, 2014

Art by Amber Sliter Football is a game of violence. Players? bodies becomes weapons as they tackle their opponent, grabbing at their limbs, their hair, their facemasks (when they can get away with it), driving into players with their helmets, flinging their bodies into space and hoping they collide with enough force to knock the ball out. And fans love it. But NFL players have helmets, shoulder pads, back plates ? layers of protective gear surrounding them as they?re slammed to the ground and into each other.

OPINION

My fight with nature

By AMANDA LOW | Sep. 14, 2014

I immediately burst into tears once the stinger hit my finger. I was helping my roommate sort out the apartment?s recycling on a chilly afternoon with my sweatshirt hood up.

OPINION

"Don't Ask Anne: Geese, Friends and Food"

By ANNE FORTMAN | Sep. 14, 2014

Editor’s note: This article is a satire piece and should be taken as such.

OPINION

The Bulls need to start winning for Buffalo

By OWEN O'BRIEN | Sep. 13, 2014

I learned something Friday night. No, not that Baylor is very fast. I knew that. Anybody who?s watched Baylor for five minutes over the past two seasons knew that.

OPINION

Councilman 'blew' this student's mind

By TALIA SCHWARTZ, Special to the Spectrum | Sep. 12, 2014

In my three years at the University at Buffalo, I have had the opportunity to live, work and learn on both of the university?s primary campuses as well as in the surrounding communities.

OPINION

The language of lying

By BRIAN WINDSCHITL | Sep. 11, 2014

We all know ?those? people. A new album is released and a day later, suddenly ?those? people are experts on the album: ?This song exhibits a breathless vocal range I think it was the strongest on the album, to be honest.? Hmm, well, being honest, chances are that this newfound expert on Andrew Bird?s two-tone production and listless vocal range hasn?t even listened to the album yet.

OPINION

"One student's opinion on Apple's unveiling of the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch "

By JORDAN OSCAR | Sep. 11, 2014

Spectrum File Photo On Tuesday, Apple fanboys, fangirls, techies and casual electronic consumers all over the world rejoiced when the tech company unveiled two larger phones ? the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus ? and the highly rumored and anticipated Apple Watch. Wearable tech is all the rage these days.

OPINION

Letter to the editor

Sep. 11, 2014

Dear editor, I appreciate the Sept. 8

OPINION

Letter to the editor

Sep. 11, 2014

Dear Editor,

OPINION

Pegula supports the Buffalo Bills - fans need to do the same

Sep. 11, 2014

When the Bills stunned the Chicago Bears last Sunday, clinching an overtime victory and beating the team on its home turf, a question lingered: What would ?home? soon mean for the Bills? Now, thanks to Terry Pegula, Buffalo?s local billionaire, the city has its answer.

OPINION

The U.S. needs to fully commit to the fight against Ebola

Sep. 11, 2014

On Dec. 6 of last year, a toddler in southeastern Guinea died from Ebola and since then, 2,296 people in West Africa have joined him in the death toll. The outbreak, which is the most severe epidemic of the disease since its discovery in 1976, has infected at least 4,293 people as of Sept.

OPINION

Friday night lights

By Tom Dinki | Sep. 11, 2014

Spectrum File Photo At the football team?s weekly press conference Tuesday, junior quarterback Joe Licata was asked how Buffalo answers to outside perceptions about its chances in Friday?s game against Baylor.