Opinion
Obama’s ‘Ferns’ visit clever, controversial
Mar. 13, 2014Last week, the president went to a fake talk show for what may be the most bizarre head-of-state interview ever.
Opinion: Columns
Opinion
Alligator’s SG elections endorsement editorial was contradictory
Mar. 13, 2014The Student Government elections three weeks ago were the most lopsided election I’ve ever witnessed as an undergraduate student. A single party won all 50 seats while minority opposition had an internal breakdown. But the election’s absurdity was exceeded by that of the Alligator’s endorsement letter of Feb. 18.
Opinion
Corrupt city gains national attention
Mar. 12, 2014Nestled between Gainesville and Jacksonville is what some news outlets have nicknamed the most corrupt city in the nation: Hampton, population 477.
Opinion
The politics of hatred and divisiveness
Mar. 11, 2014The American political system has traditionally exemplified the fundamental principles of democracy. It is a system that Americans take pride in, and among other things, enables them to promote their country as the leader of the free world. However, America’s political system is not perfect, as it does not prevent those we elect from abusing and undermining it. Such abuse is currently playing out with the current Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Opinion
Obama visit to Coral Reef highlights importance of public education
Mar. 11, 2014Before I was a Gator, I was a ‘Cuda.
Opinion
Obama’s plan for Venezuela, Ukraine?
Mar. 11, 2014Civil unrest is in full bloom for some South American and Eastern European countries. Thousands of protesters in Ukraine and Venezuela — many of whom are college-aged students — took to the streets to protest their governments’ wrongdoings.
Opinion
Open letter to UF men: Sexism isn’t OK
Mar. 10, 2014Ed. note: This column uses strong language. Offensive words have been left uncensored to preserve the columnist’s intent.
Opinion
Lulu guy-rating app provides amusement, guilt, perspective
Mar. 10, 2014I first heard about Lulu a little more than a year ago at a work party.
Opinion
It’s none of your business: questions that we’re sick of
Mar. 10, 2014I was eavesdropping in the hair salon the other day because, really, what else am I going to do when I can’t move my head, leave my chair or watch videos on my phone without feeling self-conscious?
Opinion
Where in the world is the mysteriously missing Malaysian jetliner?
Mar. 10, 2014The mystery and tragedy that surrounds the disappearance of a Malaysian jetliner early Saturday is a story that makes you want to look away, but somehow you just can’t help but stare.
Opinion
Oral sex app ignores body intricacies
Mar. 9, 2014How was your Spring Break? Meet anyone fun? Get a tan? Learn how to perform oral sex from your phone?
Opinion
Lake Okeechobee restoration efforts shouldn’t be turned over
Mar. 9, 2014The Florida Legislature is attempting to seize total control of Lake Okeechobee, eliminating the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from the process and giving total water management control to the South Florida Water Management District. This proposal is a bad idea, as it overlooks the history of the management of the lake and related water bodies in regard to the Clean Water Act.
Opinion
Conservatives fail to accept changing US
Mar. 9, 2014Conservatives flocked to Washington, D.C., last week for the Conservative Political Action Conference to rally behind conservative leaders and discuss their core ideological beliefs. Sadly, the week produced the same rhetoric spouted by conservatives — most of whom identify as Republicans — that many young Americans and minorities, more often than not, reject.
Opinion
If a friend is incoherent, call for help: You won’t get in trouble
Feb. 27, 2014She was 19, smart, silly and beautiful.
Opinion
Venezuela column wrong
Feb. 27, 2014Eric Brown’s guest column demonstrated hypocrisy in two ways: Its title and its content emphasized why the viral video explaining today’s situation in Venezuela is one-sided. He then went on to emphasize the few improvements the Venezuelan government has accomplished while completely disregarding the country’s significant increase in murders, scarcity in basic day-to-day needs, tyrant rule over peaceful protests and censorship of the media.
Opinion
Venezuela column doesn’t give whole truth
Feb. 27, 2014Last Tuesday, a column ran in the Alligator titled “Viral video is one-sided” by UF student Eric Brown, in which he discussed Nicolás Maduro, Hugo Chávez and Venezuela. After reading it, I realized some things he said were partially true and some partially false.
Opinion
‘Religious freedom’ bill ignites controversy
Feb. 27, 2014The land home to the Grand Canyon brought a slew of controversy this week when reactionary legislators passed a religious freedom bill. The bill is an amendment that rides on the shoulders of an act that began after Native American Church members were fired for using psychedelic cacti more than a decade ago. It enshrines Arizona citizens’ rights to religious freedom by declaring that anything done or not done because of a “sincerely held” religious belief is well and good, so long as it doesn’t conflict with government interests.
Opinion
Net neutrality is a thing of the past
Feb. 26, 2014Think about the nature of the Internet. It’s anything and everything at your fingertips whenever you want it. One day, we will tell our children we lived in a time when information was truly free.
Opinion
It’s time to stop pretending what Student Government is and isn’t
Feb. 25, 2014The words in this column come difficult for me, as I have many friends and colleagues who are currently enjoying a momentous win with the Swamp Party.
Opinion
Get schooled: education system paradox in the US
Feb. 25, 2014Education has always been a hot-button issue in this country. One side of this polarizing issue demands respect for teachers unions; the other says standardized testing is paramount.
