Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

As the votes from the Iowa Republican caucus began to roll in a week ago, most of the nation's viewers were riveted by the small, fluctuating margin between Rick Santorum and the eventual winner, Mitt Romney.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Technology undermines retained knowledge

By Dyllan Furness | Jan. 9, 2012

Years ago I thought I was smart because I could name most of the state capitals, I knew the difference between a peach and a nectarine, and I could discern a Pink Floyd sample from that of Led Zeppelin.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Students should protest required clickers

By Chip Skambis | Jan. 8, 2012

Note: This column will use a response card ("clicker") to solicit reader responses to critical-thinking questions. Those without one will not receive full points for reading this column.

OPINION | COLUMNS

What Iowa says about young conservatives

By Travis Hornsby | Jan. 8, 2012

I hope you all enjoyed the break as much as I did. While we were away, it looks like the horse race for the Republican presidential nomination got even more unusual with the out-of-nowhere surge of Rick Santorum and the evaporation of the previously prominent Newt Gingrich.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Life after college still full of uncertainty

By CAITLIN E. O’CONNER | Dec. 6, 2011

Life is in flux.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Spend time with friends, family this season

By Sami Main | Dec. 5, 2011

If you've been following my columns throughout the semester, you probably know how much of a sap I am. I will be the first person to cry at a commercial involving soldiers and/or animals.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Personal responsibility is the solution

By Travis Hornsby | Dec. 4, 2011

I am tired of a lack of personal responsibility in America. It is never my fault. It's always the person standing next to me. There are thousands of people around the world angry at the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans, saying everyone's troubles will be solved if we just tax them more and spread the wealth around. The 99 percent does more to keep itself stuck in that category than the 1 percent ever could. Instead of focusing attention on how much better (you think) our lives would be if only we could hit Billy Donovan and Will Muschamp with 90-percent tax rates, we should focus instead on what we can do with personal finance and consumer decisions that empower us, the 99 percent.

OPINION | COLUMNS

US needs to question education philosophy

By Akansha Mishra | Dec. 1, 2011

Finland, one of the world's most industrialized countries, has another honor to add to the list: excellent education reform.

OPINION | COLUMNS

For society's sake, embrace your inner skeptic

By Justin Hayes | Nov. 29, 2011

While I have tried religion in the past, something has always led me away from faith and toward reason. I found the burden of proof is not on the atheists to prove that God does not exist; it is on the theists to prove the existence of a deity. I just have not been presented with any convincing evidence.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Regis' retirement marks end of an era

By Sami Main | Nov. 28, 2011

It's the end of an era, folks.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Expansion talk must end before it begins

By Travis Hornsby | Nov. 27, 2011

The most dangerous part of the increased cost of attendance at UF is coming from fees that are carelessly foisted on the Student Body and even more carelessly spent on our behalf. There is talk that our fees should go to a renovated and expanded Reitz Union. This talk must end before it begins again.

OPINION | COLUMNS

We should appreciate those holiday meals

By Sami Main | Nov. 21, 2011

I spend an awful large amount of time looking at food blogs. Like, a whole lot of time. If you looked at my Google Reader feed, it's pretty much mostly food blogs at this point.

OPINION | COLUMNS

City ordinances too strict for development

By Travis Hornsby | Nov. 20, 2011

We are often implored to look local after graduation to find employment. Gainesville has an entrepreneurial culture and is trying to become a center for start-ups, especially in the tech industry. Unfortunately, the policies of the local government will be sure to stunt Gainesville's growth for the foreseeable future. Gainesville is obsessed with collecting large tax revenues, regulating everything and taking profits from brick-and-mortar businesses to give to imaginary ones.

OPINION | COLUMNS

CHOICES is a program worth funding

By Suzette Cook | Nov. 16, 2011

CHOICES saved my life.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Free market health care not a bad thing

By David Masten | Nov. 15, 2011

Why is health care so dang expensive? It concerns me to see that the default solution to any problem is more government regulation. Congress seems to love passing more laws, but it never thinks that maybe its mountains of legislation are the source of the problem.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Tight deadlines always pay off in the end

By Sami Main | Nov. 14, 2011

Don't even talk to me about deadlines. At this point, I'm a deadline professional. Without them, I'd be lost. I've relied on major deadlines for most of my education.