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Friday, August 07, 2026

Opinion: Columns

Florida Alligator
Opinion

The cereal industry Trix kids

By Stephan Chamberlin | July 9, 2018

Walking down the breakfast aisle of the grocery store, a rainbow of boxes scrolls past. Mascots like Tony the Tiger and Lucky the Leprechaun jump out from each rectangle. The obvious conclusion is that a lot of these cereals are aimed at kids. Turn those boxes over, and you’ll find most of them are high in sugar, and, for some, extremely high. Improving public health isn’t a simple topic, but one common sense move is obvious: We should stop marketing sugary cereals to children.

Florida Alligator
Opinion

How to quit sucking: the problem with plastic straws

By Layla Soboh | July 9, 2018

Americans have recently discovered the harm of plastic straws to the environment and the animals that inhabit it. Overnight, it seems that many young people have begun urging each other to stop using the thin drinking tubes. When I first heard about this movement, I didn’t understand why straws were any worse than other plastic pollution. I figured all plastic was bad. Why are we singling out straws? This week I set out to find the reason so many environmentalists were warning us about these seemingly innocent tools.

Florida Alligator
Opinion

If you can't be a vegan, be a vegan ally

By Layla Soboh | July 4, 2018

I have recently come across a community of people who have a unique view about diets and veganism. These people believe that consuming a more plant-based diet is beneficial to the environment and our bodies, but they are open to making exceptions in times of inconvenience.

Florida Alligator
Opinion

On getting perspective

By Stephan Chamberlin | July 4, 2018

Being in the midst of some argument or worry, it can be hard to get a wise outsider’s perspective. This is why we often find ourselves monologuing, replying to day-old discussions while standing in the shower or driving. Time and distance give us a birds-eye view of our troubles; it can be hard, but we ought to give ourselves time to reflect on the bigger picture. Better perspective tends to lead us in the right direction.

Florida Alligator
Opinion

How to tell your kids you met your significant other online

By Layla Soboh | July 2, 2018

The second decade of this millennium has brought the hyper-digitization of almost every aspect of our lives: transportation, food, driving and photo sharing. Dating is no different. More people are meeting via the internet than ever before. Generation Z will be the generation of online relationships.

Florida Alligator
Opinion

A follow-up about ‘freedom’

By Stephan Chamberlin | July 2, 2018

A reader’s comment got me thinking about what it means to have individual freedom. It made me consider why I feel comfortable harshly criticizing the country I love so much. Here’s my reply, point-by-point. The main thrust of it is we can’t afford to think we’re on top of the world. We are a great country, but we got here through constant improvement, not arrogant complacency.

Florida Alligator
Opinion

Stop 'Twitter-canceling' people and let them learn from mistakes

By Layla Soboh | June 18, 2018

“You’re canceled” is an internet death sentence. Twitter users have been given a powerful tool, and they are using it irresponsibly. The concept of going viral on the internet gives every user hope that one day, if they tweet often and clever enough, they too can win the retweet lottery. If the Twitter community and their infinite wisdom decide that your tweet makes the cut, your tweet can have an audience as wide as former President Barack Obama’s. Even if it’s only for 280 characters, you get to be slightly famous, and your tweet is seen by everyone who doesn’t live under a rock. I believe public opinion is dangerously susceptible to influence people from just a handful of viral tweets. A thread shaming a public figure can end their career.

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