Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Movie theaters aren’t Netflix. That’s a good thing.

Apr. 17, 2018

I love the movie theater. I love buying my ticket and popcorn and finding a suitable seat, usually in the back-center rows. I love the movie previews. I love packed theaters. I love walking out of a good movie and seeing everyone chatting about it with their friends and family because we all have just shared an experience that has, in some sense, brought us together.

OPINION | COLUMNS

We learn just as much outside of the classroom

Apr. 15, 2018

Back in high school, I remember going through the lists of organizations and extracurricular activities I could join, perusing different club banners and posters after school. I wondered what it would take to get me into college, what clubs I would most enjoy and what activities I would actually be good at. Nothing felt quite as serious then; though I knew it was important for me to get involved, I didn’t fully understand why.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Artificial intelligence may do more harm than good for our quality of life

Apr. 15, 2018

From the steam engine and automobile to electricity and the computer, dramatic paradigm shifts in society have coincided with monumental leaps in technology. Many predict the next leap will be artificial intelligence.

OPINION | COLUMNS

We should all be advocating for the LGBTQ+ community and their rights

Apr. 15, 2018

At UF, the month of April is more than just the last month of the Spring semester. April is Pride Awareness Month (PAM). Throughout the month, about 20 events address issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community and celebrate its culture. The events are not limited to members of the community — anyone can come to celebrate or learn more.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Differences between races exist. So what?

Apr. 12, 2018

What makes someone smart? The answer to this defines what we value in society.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Creating a culture of care: what you can do for the Disability Resource Center

By Zachariah Chou | Apr. 12, 2018

Last week, I wrote about how I had set up meetings with the Disability Resource Center and Counseling & Wellness Center to better understand their mission and needs. On Tuesday, I met with the head of the DRC, Gerardo Altamirano, for a brief talk about disability, inclusion and the needs of the center.

OPINION | COLUMNS

PlayStation Vue will probably replace cable and take over television

Apr. 12, 2018

Three years ago, Sony introduced the PlayStation Vue, an innovative new take on television and entertainment consumption. Breaking free from outdated technology like cable lines and messy cords, PlayStation Vue is a television service that requires only an internet connection to enjoy. Through the use of internet streaming, Vue takes the on-demand elements of Netflix and Hulu and introduces live TV into the mix.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Whether you choose to be a bra-burning feminist or not, remember to be happy

Apr. 10, 2018

Amid the chaotic portrayal of parenting while newly divorced on ABC’s new sitcom, “Splitting Up Together,” appears Mae. She’s the middle-school-aged daughter of well-meaning parents played by Jenna Fischer and Oliver Hudson. When we first meet Mae, we learn she has forgone buying lunch in favor of buying a mug labeled “Male Tears.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Earbuds stop us from embracing the here and now

Apr. 10, 2018

We listen to a lot in a day.

OPINION | COLUMNS

As the semester hits peak amount of work, start thinking strategically

Apr. 8, 2018

Ah, yes. The March and April wave of work has crashed upon our shores once again. We’re entering that part of the semester when suddenly we have so many assignments due, some of them must be in classes we’re not even taking. But never fear.

OPINION | COLUMNS

When a water shortage comes, toilet-to-tap water will be a solution

Apr. 8, 2018

Some may think toilets have a “magic flush.” One does their business, flushes the toilet and the wastewater just disappears. That’s how much people would like to think about it because most wouldn’t want to know more about what happens to “poop water” once it’s flushed.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Safety outweighs privacy with mental well-being

Apr. 8, 2018

In March, the survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, returned from Spring Break to a new set of security measures. Perhaps the most notable of these new measures is a requirement to use a see-through backpack.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Gainesville is not as welcoming as it claims to be

Apr. 5, 2018

Two years ago, Gainesville declared itself a welcoming city. However, a recent incident with the Gainesville Police has shown it may not be all that welcoming.

OPINION | COLUMNS

So you want to get more funding for the DRC and the CWC?

By Zachariah Chou | Apr. 5, 2018

I was quite disappointed to see the feature Friday article from last week detail the blight of insufficient funding for the Disability Resource Center on campus. The article made reference to the decision by the local fee committee not to increase funding for the DRC back in October, which brought back a lot of bad memories, as it was that very same meeting in which the committee turned down an opportunity to increase funding to the Counseling & Wellness Center.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Why did digital downloading die?

Apr. 5, 2018

A recently released Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) report revealed physical music sales surpassed digital downloads in 2017 for the first time since 2011. The difference is only 2 percent, but it is still significant. It is an indicator of the two factors that killed digital downloading: the rise of vinyl and the dominance of streaming.

OPINION | COLUMNS

A much needed ode to brick-and-mortar shopping

Apr. 3, 2018

In the age of Amazon and a seemingly endless amount of one-touch shopping apps, it’s not exactly shocking that many storefronts are saying goodbye and shopping malls are struggling to stay relevant.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Studies show women of all ages support the #MeToo movement

Apr. 3, 2018

Attention women of all ages: We’re not so different after all — even when it comes to our views of the #MeToo movement.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Delete Facebook — it may make you feel better

Apr. 1, 2018

Over the past few weeks, #deleteFacebook has been rampant across the web. Cambridge Analytica, a political data-mining and consulting firm, got a hold of the personal information of 50 million Facebook users. It may have later used the information to craft ads and messages for President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. Now, according to a survey from Raymond James investment firm, 84 percent of users are somewhat or very concerned about how their data might be used by Facebook. However, nearly half of these people said this would not affect how much they use Facebook.

OPINION | COLUMNS

We're not ready for driverless technology

Apr. 1, 2018

For the past century, cars have had a continuing impact in shaping American lives. Ever since people started to come up with ways to take people from one place to another, cars have coincided with progress and development.

OPINION | COLUMNS

College students, proclaim your independence in your health care

Apr. 1, 2018

College is the time to spread our wings, gain independence and discover who we are. However, sometimes the unexpected occurs and changes plans. More often than not, we are not prepared for that and we find ourselves in trouble. This happens because we spend too much time planning one day at a time and don’t stop to think about the “what-ifs.”