Opinion: Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

Opinion

Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s remarks can not be condoned

Jan. 15, 2019

“When they go low, we go high.” These words, spoken at the 2016 Democratic National Convention by Michelle Obama, were a reminder to her fellow Democrats to act with a manner of class and poise, especially at times when their Republican counterparts fail to do so. It is barely three years later and the party that once vowed to “go high” has stooped to the level of cursing in Congress.

Opinion

Do not let your major define you or your future

Jan. 15, 2019

Journalism is for the kids who were reprimanded for talking too much in class. It’s also for the quiet students who only talked when called upon by the teacher — or so I thought.

Opinion

Talk to strangers and learn something new

Jan. 15, 2019

To us UF students, there is nothing quite like the dread of seeing someone with a clipboard walking toward us. We hate being approached by strangers. There is a certain pain that comes from hearing those fateful words: “Have you registered to vote in Alachua County?” or “Hi, sorry to bother you!” It’s like being in the bathroom and having your stall door flung open. Even being handed a flier in Turlington Plaza is aggravating. To most of us, avoiding Turlington altogether may be the best solution.

Opinion

So about that online voting thing...

Jan. 15, 2019

Sometimes when I write these columns, I wish I could type away praising Student Government competence with rainbows, unicorns and classical music in the background.

Opinion

Young Hollywood is setting the standard for how to respond to controversy

Jan. 15, 2019

Hollywood is no stranger to controversy. Celebrities are normal people who are subject to more scrutiny than most of us ever will be, so it’s not surprising they get called out for their behavior pretty frequently. With the rise of the #MeToo movement, along with other social justice and activist movements throughout Hollywood, celebrities are being held to a higher standard when it comes to both their personal and professional lives. Some respond to said controversy with poise, while others… don’t.

Opinion

Wake up and get that bread, you’ll thank yourself later

Jan. 14, 2019

Good morning, Gators! If that greeting is even remotely accurate to you, give yourself a pat on the back and keep up that persistence. For the rest of you who, like myself, struggle with getting out of bed and maintaining a routine, I’m here to offer you some words of advice. Become someone who can be productive before a 9:35 a.m. class. You’ll become a part of a class so elite that even AirPod users won’t be able to compare to your power.

Opinion

Millions of Americans need to change their food habits

Jan. 14, 2019

An estimated 160 million Americans are either overweight or obese, according to a study published in 2014 by The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. This number accounts for roughly two-thirds of all adults and close to 30 percent of all children in the U.S. To make matters worse, the incidence of obese and overweight Americans has been on a massive upswing in recent years. The nation’s obesity rate is expected to soon approach 40 percent.

Opinion

It’s not too late to put yourself back on track this Spring semester

Jan. 14, 2019

The Spring semester's first week has now passed. By now you’ve all attended your first lectures of the semester or completed your first assignments. If so, hopefully you did well and managed to find a routine that works best for you. If you did, congratulations! But if you didn’t and you’re struggling to get back in the groove of things after break, here are some tips to put you back on track.

Opinion

It’s OK to be angry over the government shutdown

By Chasity Maynard | Jan. 10, 2019

The current political atmosphere deserves a prime-time spot on TLC. The government’s drama is reaching a high point this week. Capitol Hill’s heated debate over the border wall reached a peak at the end of 2018 when President Trump dug his heels in and demanded his border wall, to which Democrats expressed their disapproval. Twenty-one days later and the U.S. is entering into the longest government shutdown in its history.

Opinion

The best way to spend syllabus week doesn't include another night in Midtown

Jan. 10, 2019

There’s nothing better than a week to get back into the swing of things. School might have technically started Monday. But let’s be honest, it doesn’t really start until next week.

Opinion

Checkmate, conservatives? A curious glance into the SG lawsuit

Jan. 10, 2019

It’s always tea time in Student Government land. One of the fascinating developments over Winter Break was the news of Young Americans for Freedom suing Student Government over claims of free speech violations. (Long story short, YAF wanted money to bring speakers in; SG said no.)

Sports

No, Kyler Murray is not a first round pick

By River Wells | Jan. 10, 2019

We’ve seen this one before.

Opinion

Guys, it’s time for some real talk

Jan. 10, 2019

I hope I’m not the only one who feels a slight tug in their chest when they hang out with their guy friends. Guys, we can talk sports, exercise, video games or anything pop culture related, but there always seems to be a lull in the conversation after the normal talking points are exhausted. Sometimes, I find that I catch a friend’s words caught in his throat. I can tell there is something bothering him, but the words to explain whatever it is never make it to the surface.

Sports

The Cleveland Browns will win the AFC North (and maybe more) in 2019

By Tyler Nettuno | Jan. 10, 2019

I’ll give you a minute to stop laughing at the headline.

Sports

Clemson and Alabama have collectively ruined college football

By Mark Stine | Jan. 8, 2019

The original premise of this article was going to be “Why Nick Saban ruined college football,” because, full disclosure, I expected Alabama to win Monday night.

Opinion

Let’s give animation the love it deserves

Jan. 8, 2019

When I was younger, animated movies were all the rage. I’m sure many people my age can relate. Disney’s animated classics played on repeat in my household, and I would beg my parents to take me to the movies every time a new animated flick hit the big screen. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that animated films are often placed on the back burner. Advertising for these films is less apparent; their box office numbers often dwindle and my interest in seeing them has waned.

Opinion

My family got a puppy for Christmas, and I hate it

Jan. 8, 2019

The barking starts at 7 a.m.

Opinion

Some New Year’s resolutions for UF

Jan. 7, 2019

We are now officially in 2019. With the coming of the new year, many people make New Year’s resolutions for things they want to improve on. However, it doesn’t just have to be individuals who make New Year’s resolutions. For my first column of both the new year and the new semester, I’d like to offer some New Year’s resolutions for UF:

Opinion

UF Needs To Spend More On Mental Health

Jan. 7, 2019

Mental health, I believe, is not given the attention it deserves. This can result in a lack of happiness and contentment and at worst, tragic and preventable suicides for those struggling with their own mental health. College exacerbates stress and mental health issues, warranting an abundance of mental health resources. However, this is often not the case.

Opinion

Old Friendships and What They Mean For Home

Jan. 7, 2019

It’s a new year, and some of us returning Gators are returning with some serious baggage from the holiday season. When we leave behind our plebeian friends for the golden fields of Gainesville and our top 8 public university, a new life begins. Most students experience a departure from the old as they struggle through college to discover the new, and this departure often sentences old friendships to death by distance.