Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

How to get more culture in a primarily white university

By Zora Viel | Aug. 25, 2019

UF isn’t exactly known for its diversity, but one would expect a bit more from the nation’s eighth best public university. With recognition across the country and students from all over the world, it would make sense that a school of this quality would represent the whole country. Unfortunately, the Gator Nation is not as culturally diverse as one would hope.

An indigenous woman shows her hands painted in red, representing blood, during a protest in defense of the Amazon while wildfires burn in that region, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug, 25, 2019. Experts from the country's satellite monitoring agency say most of the fires are set by farmers or ranchers clearing existing farmland, but the same monitoring agency has reported a sharp increase in deforestation this year as well. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

OPINION | COLUMNS

Bolsonaro’s selfishness is destroying the Amazon, but can international cooperation save it?

By Jason Zappulla | Aug. 25, 2019

By now, you’ve likely seen it all over the news and your social media feeds, but I’ll give you a quick reminder anyway: the Amazon rainforest is on fire.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Combating youth vaping at the cost of adult freedoms

By Cameron White | Aug. 22, 2019

Legislators love to hate tobacco.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Social media negatively influences back-to-school shopping

By Zora Viel | Aug. 20, 2019

I can’t deny that I love a good deal. When most people see a sale they immediately perk up, and probably spend a little more than they should. This, unfortunately, is especially true in retail shopping and many people don’t realize how affected they are by the advertising they see-especially online.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Tips for adjusting to Fall semester

By Jason Zappulla | Aug. 12, 2019

The new Fall semester is upon us.

Photo by Alejandro Escamilla on Unsplash.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Write it and weep

By Amanda Martinez | Aug. 12, 2019

Your note taking method might be affecting your performance in class.

OPINION | COLUMNS

I found my people at The Alligator, find yours

By Mark Stine | Aug. 12, 2019

Here I am. Like so many alumni before me, I write my farewell to The Alligator. I’ve read so many goodbyes from fantastic student journalists over my three years here, and to write my own is surreal.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Gainesville doesn’t need more luxury apartments

By Cassidy Hopson | Aug. 7, 2019

Most students live in one of the two extremes: luxury or subpar housing.

Photo by Feliphe Schiarolli on Unsplash.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Property taxes fund schools, but increase educational inequality

By Jason Zappulla | Aug. 5, 2019

There’s a better way to fund our schools with this issue extending far beyond Alachua County

OPINION | COLUMNS

The circus that is college life

By Amanda Martinez | Aug. 5, 2019

What do juggling, tightropes and acrobatics have in common? They all take place on college campuses.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Beware, some unpaid internships may be illegal

By Cassidy Hopson | July 31, 2019

Unpaid internships. Many of us have done one. If you haven't, you’re one of the lucky ones.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Florida: The home of hot girl summer

By Amanda Martinez | July 30, 2019

In more ways than one.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Disney makes money off remakes, but creativity is tossed aside

By Jason Zappulla | July 30, 2019

Disney’s live-action remakes are spiraling out of control. We should have seen this coming.

OPINION | COLUMNS

A citizenship question on the 2020 census will only hurt Florida

By Cassidy Hopson | July 25, 2019

It doesn’t seem like a citizenship question on the census would be controversial, but adding this question would defy the purpose of the census as stated by the U.S. Constitution.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Florida mental health classes are a good idea but can go further

By Jason Zappulla | July 23, 2019

Students at public universities should also have to take mental health classes.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Bullying still exists in college

By Amanda Martinez | July 23, 2019

The truth might surprise you.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The Textbook Problem

By Amanda Martinez | July 17, 2019

Knowledge may be priceless, but textbooks certainly aren’t.

OPINION | COLUMNS

We need the right statues to represent Florida’s values

By Jason Zappulla | July 15, 2019

You may think choosing statues is irrelevant. But when Florida decides which two statues it’s going to send to represent us in our nation’s capital, they aren’t just statues.

OPINION | COLUMNS

UF’s dark history of animal testing

By Cassidy Hopson | July 11, 2019

Over 100 million animals are burned, crippled, poisoned and abused in U.S. labs every year in the name of “science.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Betsy Ross flag should be a symbol of our values not hate

By Jason Zappulla | July 9, 2019

Nike, Colin Kaepernick, the American flag and slavery combined together to create a lightning rod of controversy last week.