Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Students should rally to permanently reinstate newspaper

By Jonathan Ossip | Aug. 29, 2009

In Friday's edition of the Alligator, Student Body Treasurer Maryam Laguna wrote that after a temporary gap in delivery, The New York Times would be restored to newspaper boxes on campus starting Monday. However, what she neglected to mention is that despite the temporary return of the Times, the paper's readership program still has been cut from the next proposed Student Government budget.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Dems do little to combat craziness

Aug. 29, 2009

Passing health care reform is the Democratic Party's ultimate panacea, but failing to do so, and failing publicly, would be President Obama's "waterloo," as Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., opined earlier this summer.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Internet invites people to gossip more

Aug. 25, 2009

Sometimes, I think about how much the next generation will change because of the Internet, and I feel old in anticipation.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Schools need foreign language focus

By Allison Griner | Aug. 24, 2009

Having taken French classes since high school, I am always impressed with someone who has actually learned to be fluent in a foreign language.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Nation's addiction to bickering, celebrity news steals air time

Aug. 24, 2009

Health care reform, Michael Jackson and Lady GaGa's penis. What do all of these things have in common? Together they comprise 99.9% of the news cycle, and I never want to hear about any of them ever again. Under any circumstances. Period.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Student Body president outlines goals for coming semester

By Jordan Johnson | Aug. 23, 2009

To all you students who are new to UF, welcome to the next four years of your life. Returning Gators, try to cut the freshmen some slack and welcome back as well.

OPINION | COLUMNS

At 22, transition to UF just as difficult as freshman year

By Ashley Cruel | Aug. 23, 2009

This past summer, while everyone was in a chilled-out, lazy summer mood, I was the girl armed with her class schedule, 50 fliers, a campus map and the bus schedule. I was the one spinning around wildly with a deer-in-headlights look on my face, trying to figure out where my next class was.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Senior status doesn't mean you'll know it all

By Hillary Lehman | Aug. 15, 2009

December of my junior year, I was sitting in my friend Jen's apartment drinking Sangria. I was also about to fail my organic chemistry class, which I was taking for the third time after dropping it twice.

OPINION | COLUMNS

For new students, some tips to help you from feeling dumb

By KRISTIN BJORNSEN | Aug. 15, 2009

Alas, you've made it. Your 'rents are gone, you're already sick of Broward Dining and you may or may not have thrown up in your pillow case last night. (R.I.P. Fall 2006; I haven't eaten pad thai since.)

OPINION | COLUMNS

SG offers opportunities for involvement on campus

By Jordan Johnson | Aug. 15, 2009

Although I doubt that I am the first person at UF that you have heard this from, I would like to welcome you to the University of Florida!

OPINION | COLUMNS

Freshman, don't forget to have fun

By ERIC CHIANESE | Aug. 15, 2009

This following is an open letter to all new freshmen at UF.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Got an opinion? The Alligator wants it

By ALLIE CONTI | Aug. 15, 2009

Writing columns for the Alligator was never my first choice-I wanted to be a reporter. I've since realized I have zero aptitude for that profession, but that's what I wanted to do. After trying and failing and trying and failing, I decided to submit something to letters@alligator.org. To my surprise, it was published as a guest column. When I got the e-mail asking for my classification and major, I turned to my roommate and said, "I am going to be opinions editor of the Alligator by the end of the summer." And it happened.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Freshmen: Remember the importance of academics

Aug. 15, 2009

Greetings, oh young and naïve freshman!

OPINION | COLUMNS

Grads should look forward

By BEN CAMENKER | Aug. 4, 2009

It has been my secret dream for three years now to hijack my commencement speech. I had the perfect plan. There was just one problem; there will be no big-name speaker. When I learned this, it hurt. Because, Gators, there are issues we must discuss.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Nudity should be embraced, not taboo

By DARREN D'ALTORIO | Aug. 4, 2009

Sunday nights, trash nights, before I roll the garbage out to the curb, I strip off all my clothes and leave them in a little pile on the bench by the front door. Naked, I approach the street with the garbage can, which smashes the grass under its weight. It's one of the busiest streets in Akron, Ohio, during the day. But come 2 a.m., traffic is sparse. After the can is in position on the curb, I don't hurry back to my pile of clothes. Instead, I pace the dew-soaked grass, and I let the night air touch all the parts of my body it normally can't.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Contractor tied to deaths

Aug. 3, 2009

KBR, the former Halliburton subsidiary that/s now the Army/s largest contractor, is a threat to the safety of our servicemen and servicewomen.

OPINION | COLUMNS

U.S. culture defies environmentalism

Aug. 3, 2009

Glee for green has been a long time coming in this country. What started out as an almost underground burlap sack movement has sprung into a multibillion-dollar enterprise and an entire culture, even generation, of planet-conscientious actions.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Better to tax services than the rich

By JOHNATHAN LOTT | July 29, 2009

Brian Miller/s column in Thursday/s Alligator showed his complete ignorance of basic economics and federal revenue code.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Plan will diminish health care

By BEN CAMENKER | July 29, 2009

Universal health care.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Columnist reflects on political gaffes

July 27, 2009

I miss President George W. Bush, "Dubya" as I affectionately called him. I don't miss his policies or politics, but the material he and his administration gave me as a commentator.