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Friday, October 17, 2025

Opinion | Columns

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Why did digital downloading die?

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

Delete Facebook — it may make you feel better

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

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

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.”


OPINION  |  COLUMNS

SG executive branch applications close Wednesday: Here's what you can apply for

The executive branch is the bee’s knees when it comes to running Student Government programming and getting things done. Now that there is a new SG administration coming in soon, applications are open for agency heads, cabinet directorships and executive secretaries. Judicial branch positions are open as well (the judicial branch officials are picked by the executive branch).


OPINION  |  COLUMNS

‘The Office’ doesn’t get love and relationships right

This past weekend, I watched a lot of episodes of “The Office.” Episodes of this show are like potato chips — just one is never enough. And, pretty soon a third of the bag is gone. That’s how this weekend went for me: I blinked, and I’d watched five episodes in a row.


OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Make sure you know what can actually be recycled

From as early as elementary school, we were correctly taught to minimize our negative impact on the environment. We were also told recycling is a fundamental way to do so. Somewhere along the line, however, in the hopes of teaching as many people as possible to recycle, its original purpose was lost.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

To better children's education, pay attention to how much they eat

I took for granted that, throughout my childhood and teenage years, I could stroll into the kitchen, open up the refrigerator and find something to eat within seconds. I’ve never understood the true meaning of the word “starving.” I’ve never worried about having access to breakfast, lunch or dinner. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for all kids in this country. And this is something we need to address at the local, state and national levels.


OPINION  |  COLUMNS

A study finds black men in American still face pervasive systemic racism

Last week, the New York Times published a story about a study that had harrowing implications for black boys and cements the idea of white privilege and racism creating unfair disparities in our society. It seems, even if he is raised in a wealthy family, a black boy is trapped in poverty. Now it’s time to get beyond simple descriptions of inequality and think of how we got here and what’s next.


OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Music leaks are now the norm, but justifying them can get messy

One week after his in-depth interview touched on the issues of monetary and corporate influence on the music industry, Julian Casablancas’ new album leaked online. Casablancas’ band, The Voidz, is set to release their second album March 30. The album met the fate nearly all anticipated releases face these days: leaks.


OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Our love of Stephen Hawking isn't scientific

On March 14, Stephen Hawking passed away. He received a lot of attention on social media, complete with lots of praise for what he accomplished. Hawking was a theoretical physicist who studied black holes and time. He was famous for applying Einstein’s theory of relativity and quantum mechanics to the beginnings of time, which he predicted was a singularity that exploded (in other words: the Big Bang). He was also famous for his work on the nature of black holes.


OPINION  |  COLUMNS

When teachers speak, we need to listen

Lots of news can get lost in the shuffle these days, but I hope this piece won’t. Beginning late last month and stretching past the first week of March, teachers across West Virginia went on strike to demand better salaries, benefits and a stop to charter-school expansion, among other demands.


OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Are alligators more dangerous than you think?

In 1947, Dr. Ross Allen, founder of The Reptile Institute at Silver Springs, donated an alligator nicknamed “Albert” to the University of Florida. Before kickoff of every home football game, Albert was strapped to a leash and would lead the team onto the field. He was then kept on the sidelines for the rest of the game. A chain-link pen was even built near Century Tower to keep the gator.


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