Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

SG should give Gators for a Sustainable Campus funding

By Ben Cavataro | Apr. 1, 2009

Almost everyone recognizes the importance of sustainability. Americans are beginning to prioritize environmental protection, create a renewable power economy and conserve energy. President Barack Obama's stimulus package, bills in the state legislature, and UF's sustainability programs have all made sustainability a priority to prevent energy waste and avert climate change.

OPINION | COLUMNS

'Colbert bump' deserves NASA love

By NAUDIA JAWAD | Mar. 31, 2009

In one of the biggest acts of intergalactic narcissism to date, Stephen Colbert - host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" - hijacked a NASA contest to get his name among the stars.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Unusual group prefers inanimate objects over human lovers

By ALLIE CONTI | Mar. 31, 2009

Did you know that someone, after breaking up with her bow, (not "beau;" you'll see where this is going) actually got married to the Eiffel Tower?

OPINION | COLUMNS

Studying abroad sheds light on problems of other cultures

By Travis Hornsby | Mar. 31, 2009

This past summer, I thoroughly enjoyed my study abroad experience to Merida, Mexico, the capital of the state of Yucatan.

OPINION | COLUMNS

'ShamWow' guy should help at G20

Mar. 30, 2009

The people who have to clean up our worldwide financial mess are meeting in London this week to talk. The G20 summit brings together bankers and leaders from across the globe, and this year they need to piece together what is left of the world economy. Most expect President Obama to do a lot of listening and apologizing.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Pros of legal weed need consideration

Mar. 29, 2009

Stoners everywhere have been getting mixed signals lately thanks to the Obama administration's stance on legalizing marijuana. Last week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Mexico for her first diplomatic tour of the country that has been rocked by more than 7,300 deaths in the Mexican government's war on drugs. Clinton alluded to a change in U.S. drug policy after conceding that America's voracious appetite for drugs only fuels the problem.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Future for ‘Generation Y’ appears bleak thanks to apathy

By ERIC CHIANESE | Mar. 29, 2009

Today's installment of the Eric Chianese Chronicles will bring to the forefront something that's been on my mind quite a bit lately--and I warn you in advance, this isn't for the faint of heart.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Morning–after kit cures walk of shame

By ASHLEY ROSS | Mar. 26, 2009

It's 9:17 a.m. He's still asleep, of course. You're wearing his clothes, but there's no way you're going to wear them home. And your only other option is a little red dress and leopard stilettos. But with a 10:40 a.m. class and a desperately needed shower, you swallow your pride and brave the streets.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Madoff’s prison time won’t be enough

By ADAM WYNN | Mar. 26, 2009

Everyone loves a villain. Well, we like to hear about them, anyway.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Religion program at UF strong, does not deserve to be cut

By The Society of Academic Religous Studies | Mar. 25, 2009

The budget cut proposal presented by CLAS last week targeted the Department of Religion as one of the programs set for a substantial cut, threatening its future as a viable program. Founded in 1946, the Department of Religion at UF is an undeniably strong program dedicated and essential to the ideals of a liberal arts education.

OPINION | COLUMNS

UF needs to fix scholarship practices

By JOHNATHAN LOTT | Mar. 25, 2009

People have spent the past few days filling this paper with complaints about the budget cuts. Admittedly, the cuts are controversial and probably imperfect, but you have to make sacrifices when there's no money available. For those of us who are already here, there's not much to do other than accept it.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Octomom just another attention whore

By NAUDIA JAWAD | Mar. 24, 2009

She's a spectacle, and just like rubberneckers passing a five-car pileup, Americans can't seem to look away.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Future of CLAS needs to include strong religion program

By Eleanor Finnegan | Mar. 24, 2009

Last Wednesday College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Paul D'Anieri revealed possible CLAS budget cuts which, if implemented, would reduce funding for the Department of Religion at UF by 65 percent. This would leave the department with a mere four faculty members and would likely end the graduate program.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Cutting UF geology major bad for society

By JOSEPH MEERT | Mar. 23, 2009

This column is written in rebuttal to the dean's assertion that Geology is a drain on the resources of UF because of the low number of Ph.D.'s and undergraduates.

OPINION | COLUMNS

"Terrible tyrant" packs powerful punch

Mar. 23, 2009

This week Parade Magazine, that renowned paragon of investigative journalism, published a list of the top 10 "terrible tyrants" next to a full-page color ad for those mysterious Amish fireplaces.

OPINION | COLUMNS

U.S. needs to focus on solving problems

Mar. 22, 2009

Ever since the end of the Cold War, political and historical experts alike have predicted a decline in American hegemonic status. Some of the nuttier experts, such as Russian scholar Igor Panarin, have even predicted a complete collapse of our union into four different republics. Longhorn fans will be pleased to know that Panarin predicts the Republic of Texas will be the biggest of the four new countries, incorporating even Florida.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Locals should vote to protect citizen rights

By ERIC CHIANESE | Mar. 22, 2009

I received a bit of a gift in one of my classes last week, and I've been thanking the gods of absurdity ever since. On Monday, I had the pleasure of watching a debate on the proposed Charter Amendment 1. It was a slaughter and roused my latent political conscience.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Pro–Amendment 1 group doesn’t deserve benefit of doubt

Mar. 19, 2009

I'll be up-front: I think Charter Amendment 1 is abhorrent, and I hope it's defeated. But I don't think that anybody who feels differently is automatically a bigot.

OPINION | COLUMNS

America must shed two–party politics

By ADAM WYNN | Mar. 19, 2009

I have a strong stomach. Only a handful of things consistently turn my stomach contents into a downtown sidewalk display: catching a ride post- or mid-drinkathon, all songs Nickelback and when, like, people, like, say "like" all the time. Other than those three things, I rarely get to taste my stomach acid.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Economic, global challenges create opportunity for change

By Josh Tetrick | Mar. 18, 2009

We are drowning. Not just in credit card bills and tuition payments, we are drowning in false choices.