Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Self-image and the scale: the henchmen of eating disorders

May 18, 2011

As I was placing my weekly necessities on the conveyor belt at Sweetbay one morning, I glanced at the magazines begging for my attention in front of me. Of course, I noticed the emaciated, indeterminate women on the covers and was forced to wonder, "Are these people even real?" Actually, with today's photo manipulation, they often are not.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Hipsters: A (de-)evolution like no other

By Shea Ford | May 16, 2011

They're really obscure. You've probably never heard of them.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Lost in the sauce: A hazy stumble down memory lane

By BILL O'CONNOR< | May 16, 2011

Editor's Note: Across the world, millions struggle with addiction to alcohol and drugs. These are the stories, as best as he can remember them, of one of those compulsive personalities.

OPINION | COLUMNS

If he can write for us, why can't you?

By C.J. Pruner | May 11, 2011

About two years ago, I decided to do what millions of college-aged kids have done since the days when Jesus and the Dirty Dozen toured as a traveling family band: print out a resume, put on the greatest pseudo-smile Monopoly money can buy and apply for a job.

OPINION | COLUMNS

This is no time to dance in streets

By BILL O'CONNOR< | May 9, 2011

"Hey man, aren't you from New York? A plane just hit the World Trade Center."

OPINION | COLUMNS

Students tempted by pills during finals

By Laura Ellermeyer | Apr. 18, 2011

Here’s the situation: Your exam is on Saturday and, let’s be honest, you never actually watched those Statistics lectures. You did most of the quizzes, attended various labs and it’s all coming down to a careful calculation that says you must score at least an 85 on the final for a B in the class. What’s the game plan? Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a pill that gave you a super brain blast allowing for hours of cramming without any of the pain? Forget getting a B, this pill would let you score high enough on the final to reach a nearly-impossible A. Well, that pill exists. In fact, many of those pills exist, and they go by various names such as Adderall, Vyvanse and Ritalin. The day is finally here, folks. Tomorrow marks the end of the 2010-2011 school year at UF, and the light at the end of the tunnel is so bright it’s almost blinding. Freshmen like me end our first year of college while seniors bid their college years adieu. For all of us, however, one pesky word separates us from our summers, and it starts with an F and ends with INALS. Library West is braced for stuffing to max capacity, and Starbucks has stocked its strongest espressos. No. 2 pencils at the ready UF; it’s finals time. How will you navigate these treacherous waters?

OPINION | COLUMNS

What a difference a year can bring

By Zack Smith | Apr. 17, 2011

What a difference a year can bring.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Abortion stance key to conservatism

By Bob Minchin | Apr. 14, 2011

“I am fiscally conservative but socially liberal.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Obama charts middle ground on deficit

By Chad Mohammed | Apr. 13, 2011

On the heels of an 11th-hour deal late Friday night that averted a government shutdown, the real debate has only now begun. Debate over the debt ceiling will be heating up; if we stay on the current course, the U.S. will reach the maximum borrowing limit of $14.31 trillion by mid-May. Additionally, the fiscal budget for 2011-2012 will be taking place. The reality of the situation is that the only remedy would be major cuts, coupled with tax increases. However, many on the right say we only have a spending problem and not a revenue problem, and many on the left refuse to cut spending in favor of only raising taxes.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Stepping out of comfort zone rewarding

By Wesley Campbell | Apr. 12, 2011

Let me just say it: Wakeboarding is hard. In a series of events that were largely out of my control due to misinformation being fed to me by a friend, I ended up at Wakefest ’11. Wakefest is an event organized and run by the Gator Wakeboard Club, and it took place this past Sunday on Lake Wauburg.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Distance shouldn’t limit relationships

By Laura Ellermeyer | Apr. 11, 2011

As the horrific years of high school finally come to a long-anticipated close, many lovebirds find themselves debating the future of their coveted young romances. Sweethearts around the country gaze longingly into each others’ eyes and mourn the impending split caused by age, different schools or any variety of other reasons. Many couples, fearing their young love is not strong enough glue to hold them together over distance, find themselves pining out car windows in a cinematic way as they drive off to college toward untold adventures. However, for folks such as myself, the distance is not enough of a deterrent to constitute a break up, and freshmen find themselves thrust into a whirlwind of constant texting, hour-long Skype sessions and (hopefully) frequent weekend visits.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Government crisis averted for now

By Zack Smith | Apr. 10, 2011

It was 11:59 p.m., and only one minute remained until the U.S. federal government was set to shut down.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Obama and his never-ending campaign

By Bob Minchin | Apr. 7, 2011

It’s official. On Monday, President Obama released a Web video that formally kicked off his re-election campaign for 2012. Four years ago, Obama launched the campaign that took the nation by storm — a campaign that used words and branding to stir up a kind of hysteria that launched an unknown Illinois senator into rock star status and, ultimately, the White House.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Local elections important for students

By Chad Mohammed | Apr. 6, 2011

“All politics are local.” This time-tested adage never has been truer. On Tuesday, the runoff elections for Districts 2 and 3 will take place. Running in District 2, which encompasses the northwest section of the city, is incumbent Lauren Poe. Running in District 3 is Susan Bottcher. District 3 spans the southwestern sector of the city from the western half of campus all the way to I-75.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Princess movies hurting young girls

By Wesley Campbell | Apr. 5, 2011

Disney movies teach awful lessons to children. They have ruined entire generations of Americans’ concepts of love, happiness and the pursuit thereof.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Baseball waning as national pastime

By Laura Ellermeyer | Apr. 4, 2011

Many beautiful things accompany the emergence of spring. Flowers explode, birds rejoice and a long-awaited end of the school year looms closer. But for any red-blooded American, these trivialities are just minor blips on the radar as the arrival of spring means only one thing: baseball.

OPINION | COLUMNS

American exceptionalism exceptional

By Zack Smith | Apr. 3, 2011

Over the past few weeks, the concept of “American exceptionalism” has dominated the airwaves.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Democrats’ driving tax is ridiculous

By Bob Minchin | Mar. 31, 2011

Just when it seems like the Democrats have exhausted their playbook — just when it looks as if the left has attempted every trick in the liberal agenda — it turns out that they have.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Scott for cronies, not average Floridian

By Chad Mohammed | Mar. 30, 2011

I seem to be in fair company with writing this article, as a recent poll showed that Gov. Rick Scott has an approval rating of just 32 percent. On an assortment of issues from education funding to reductions in state workers’ salaries, the governor simply is in the wrong.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Market can’t keep up with law grads

By Wesley Campbell | Mar. 29, 2011

There’s no way around it, because no matter where you turn or how much you try to ignore it, the U.S. is seeing some tough economic times. Yet, despite the fact that job growth in many sectors is slow, law schools seem to be doing nothing less than ignoring this fact and hammering away at the idea that going to law school is a great idea.