Opinion: Columns
Opinion
Obama’s ‘year of action’ is too late
Feb. 4, 2014“Lame duck” is too misleading a description of the remaining years of President Barack Obama’s time in office. Labeling a term “lame duck” implies that nothing will get done in Washington, and everyone knows it. The truth is, nothing will indeed happen, but the chief executive will try everything in his power to convince you otherwise.
Opinion
GatorWell responds to ‘GatorAid’
Feb. 4, 2014Last week in the Alligator’s GatorAid advice column, Leslie Cole responded to an anonymous student’s question, “I’m a girl, but I’m not 21. What are good old-fashioned ways to have fun without drinking?”
Opinion
Scott’s shady donations crony capitalism
Feb. 4, 2014As Gov. Rick Scott gears up for his 2014 re-election campaign, his primary focus has shifted away from dealing with the many critical issues our state faces. Instead, he has decided to devote the bulk of his energy toward fundraising for his re-election bid in advance of the November election.
Opinion
What’s worse: weed or alcohol?
Feb. 3, 2014The U.S. federal government is not known for always making the best choices. In some states, it’s legal to marry your first cousin but not a member of the same sex. However, one of America’s biggest flubs is the propagation of alcohol and the criminalization of marijuana.
Opinion
Labels can liberate rather than limit
Feb. 3, 2014It’s OK to like labels on things other than clothes — or really, on anything but your clothes — because those things can be itchy and uncooperative. Some people say labels are limiting, but I argue they are liberating. As humans, it is easier for us to categorize things. Labeling helps us process the world around us, as well as ourselves.
Opinion
The drifter who changed our history
Feb. 3, 2014With the national spotlight often on Floridians like Casey Anthony and Terry Jones, there’s not much we can be proud of. The Sunshine State isn’t exactly known for its positive contributions. However, there is one exception, and we recently marked its 50th anniversary.
Opinion
Cold snap doesn’t disprove climate change, so start helping out
Feb. 2, 2014The recent cold snap that froze much of North Florida and paralyzed our neighbors in Georgia and Alabama doesn’t disprove climate change. Period.
Opinion
Task force not the solution to rape issue
Feb. 2, 2014President Barack Obama recently announced that a task force was formed to address sexual assault on college campuses.
Opinion
Celebrate the real star of the Super Bowl: pizza
Jan. 30, 2014The weekend is finally here, and I’m more excited about it than usual because this Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday! Who cares if the half-time performer is Bruno Mars? Who cares if it’s going to be freezing at the MetLife Stadium? Who actually cares if the Seahawks or the Broncos win? Not me, because I don’t even like football. But I love Super Bowl Sunday, because I love food — namely, pizza.
Opinion
SOTU addresses students’ needs
Jan. 30, 2014During Tuesday’s State of the Union address, I was proud to hear our president talk about the issues that matter to Americans, especially those that impact us as students. From the skyrocketing cost of college to the importance of raising the minimum wage, the vision the president laid out last night is distinctly American: infused with the optimism and pragmatism that has always kept our nation moving forward.
Opinion
Netflix: Why net neutrality matters
Jan. 30, 2014They say that when we landed on the moon, the scientists who got us there used computers with less processing power than what’s in an iPhone. This implies that everyone who has a computer today has an opportunity to do something awesome. It also implies they’re probably wasting that opportunity, consuming massive quantities of porn or binge watching series on Netflix — or a weird combination of the two.
Opinion
UF gun policies promote campus security
Jan. 29, 2014If you haven’t heard about it yet, UF is being sued by a gun-rights group for not allowing on-campus residents to keep guns in their dorm rooms.
Opinion
America must end gun-control taboo
Jan. 28, 2014Last week in Virginia, a group of gun-control activists planned to hold a rally at the Virginia State Capitol. The protesters were turned away by Capitol Police, who informed them that the sticks on the American flags that they carried were forbidden inside the building because they could be considered weapons.
Opinion
Football and the concussion paradox
Jan. 28, 2014Right now, the big buzzword for the NFL is “concussion.” It’s hard not to hear about it. Ever since the book and documentary “League of Denial” entered into the sports media arena, concerns for player safety and head-related injuries intensified. The word is in the back of every fan’s, coach’s and player’s mind. I challenge you to find a game where the word “concussion” has not been brought up by the play-by-play or color commentator.
Opinion
Gov. Scott threw Florida under the rail
Jan. 27, 2014Driving across Florida is expensive. With gas prices rising, commuting is getting costlier each semester, and unless you’re game for the God-awful shuttle buses, you’re out of luck.
Opinion
Double standards are really just sexism
Jan. 27, 2014Unfortunately, it’s become quite acceptable to use the term “double standards.” Double standards, of course, refer to the things socially acceptable for a certain type of person to do while the same things remain completely socially unacceptable for another type of person. Overwhelmingly, the term is used for all things related to gender. The phrase is used by an astounding number of people, partially joking and partially serious. But let’s get something straight here: Double standards are just a way of holding prejudices without actually saying out loud, “I’m sexist.”
Opinion
HuffPost, stop telling women how to dress
Jan. 27, 2014If women dressed for the stereotypical generalization of men’s desires, we would just wear tight jeans and low-cut tank tops. Or, to paraphrase fashion designer Betsey Johnson, we would just go around naked.
Opinion
President Obama’s NSA reforms don’t go far enough
Jan. 26, 2014After months of criticism regarding the National Security Agency’s data collection program, last week, President Barack Obama announced changes to the program. No longer will the NSA be allowed to collect phone records of average citizens as it currently does in its never-ending quest to seek out the bad guys who threaten the United States.
Opinion
Temps decrease, masturbation increases
Jan. 26, 2014Temperatures have dropped and so have our pants, apparently. With the cold weather, one method of staying warm has increased: masturbation.
