Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Consent is not sexy, but it doesn’t need to be — it’s necessary

Mar. 19, 2015

I invited someone over to my place a few weeks ago. I texted them early in the day to meet up later in the night, but by the time we were supposed to meet up, I wasn’t feeling it. I was tired, but I felt bad for backing out — I was the one who asked them to hook up and knew they would be disappointed. So, I kept my commitment and we met up.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The world eagerly waits for Vladimir Putin to spit that fire

Mar. 19, 2015

A specter is haunting Russia — the specter of gangsta rap. Over the course of his 16-year reign, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly affirmed his status as a disciple of hip-hop’s more aggressive permutation. This could be seen most recently from March 5 until this past Monday, when Putin was nowhere to be seen, spurring both media outlets and the world audience to work themselves into a tizzy over where he may have gone and why.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Fearmongering hinders problem-solving

Mar. 19, 2015

We all reach a point when we are so stressed we think our world is spiraling out of control. It’s a terrifying feeling that is something akin to skydiving and not having your parachute open. Fear and anxiety can ruin a day, week, month, year or even a lifetime. More often than not, we pull through and move forward. However, what happens when the anxiety is affecting sizable portions of the world?

OPINION | COLUMNS

What if Vladimir Putin had really died?

Mar. 18, 2015

Russian President Vladimir Putin hadn’t been seen in public between March 5 and March 15, and it made everyone a little worried. In a world constantly connected by social media and more traditional forms of news, world leaders — including our own President Barack Obama — have become more available to their subjects, at least in terms of their appearance in the public and technological sphere. In this reality, the disappearance of a constantly sought-after public figure becomes even more concerning.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Kylie Jenner’s relationship is a bad example for young girls

Mar. 17, 2015

When it comes to relationships, I usually refrain from passing judgment of any kind. My mindset is: Why judge someone if they are genuinely happy? It’s not up to me to decide if a relationship is right or wrong with regard to age, race or gender. I figure, if two people are happy, let them be happy. But my usually solid stance quivered when a relationship between two celebrities was confirmed last week.

OPINION | COLUMNS

PETA: not a voice for vegans

Mar. 17, 2015

As a sophomore in high school, I educated myself on issues of animal cruelty and meat production in the U.S. After thorough research, I made the decision to change my lifestyle. I adopted a vegetarian diet. I maintained it for the last five years, and fully transitioned to a vegan diet about six months ago. I don’t walk around with a soapbox in hand, ready and willing to talk about my views on animal maltreatment or government-regulated factory farming. I often refrain from even using words like “vegetarian” or “vegan” because they elicit baffled and confused responses that I don’t often have the time or energy to deal with. Clearly, I have strong opinions that motivated me to make a lifestyle change, but I don’t often engage others in conversation about animal rights unless I’m asked a direct question.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Oklahoma University's SAE shows we are not removed from segregation

Mar. 16, 2015

This year is already proving to be an important one in regard to race. The narrative this year has been one of simultaneous progression and regression. Around the time of the 50th anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery marches, race is once again a prevalent topic in the news. While a number of media outlets have been celebrating the success of the film based on the Selma-to-Montgomery marches, a more recent news story shows we have not made as much progress as we thought.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Anti-LGBTQ+ bills legalize discrimination

Mar. 16, 2015

As the nation waits for the Supreme Court’s looming decision on marriage equality, some state governments are rushing to enact anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Let's go to Mars, for science and for America

Mar. 16, 2015

During Spring Break, I took an opportunity to visit our nation’s capital to take in all the history and stories it had to offer. From seeing all the monuments that pay great homage to past presidents, taking tours of buildings like the Capitol and the White House that hold such political significance and facing the blast of snow that caused the federal government to shut down, it was a trip I’ll never forget. I’ll also never forget some of the thoughts that crossed my mind as I explored what could be called a political science major’s playground.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Representation in children’s television important, necessary

Mar. 16, 2015

It’s been a week since our return from Spring Break now, and perhaps the collective misery of going to your 8:30 a.m. class has worn down into a more manageable annoyance.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Created Equal has a constitutional right to demonstrate

Mar. 15, 2015

The reaction to the demonstrations of the Ohio-based, anti-abortion group, Created Equal, when it came to campus Tuesday and Wednesday was overwhelmingly negative. The protesters, angry passers-by and columnists in this newspaper expressed their ill will toward the group and its demonstration. Some students claimed the whole demonstration was ineffective. Others thought it was tasteless.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Sexual health is just as important as other issues

Mar. 12, 2015

Welcome back, spring breakers! I hope that by now your hangover has worn off and you’ve started the countdown until summer.

OPINION | COLUMNS

President Obama urges support for Student Aid Bill of Rights

Mar. 12, 2015

In an economy increasingly built on innovation, the most important skill you can sell is your knowledge. That’s why higher education is, more than ever, the surest ticket to the middle class.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Influx of fabricated news leads to misinformed society

Mar. 12, 2015

A poll released this week shows Americans trust Fox News more than any other television news network. The notion that Americans trust Fox more than any other network demonstrates one of two things: Either Americans are very dumb, or the quality of television news across all networks is very poor. Regardless, it demonstrates that the fourth estate needs serious work.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Republican legislators in Arizona not interested in compromise

Mar. 12, 2015

As a political science major, it is my job to understand what motivates political actors to make certain decisions. The natural inclination is to assume that political actors — like, I don’t know, let’s just say the Arizona Legislature — base their decisions on a well-informed, rational basis — or, at the very least, a basic sense of fundamental human decency.

OPINION | COLUMNS

‘Slut’: to reclaim or to make obsolete?

Mar. 10, 2015

“Slut” is a common insult reserved for women who are seen as too sexually permissive, too promiscuous or who dress in a way that might suggest sexuality. In diminishing a woman’s status to that of a “slut,” her worth is minimized to her sexual behavior, and her sexual expression is shamed. Women are famously held to a different sexual standard than men — men are encouraged to engage in frequent casual sex to prove their masculinity, while women who do so are seen as used, tarnished or impure in some way.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Men’s voices are missing pieces for gender equality

Mar. 10, 2015

As most of us know, Sunday was International Women’s Day. Social media was flooded with posts, videos and tweets supporting women, equality and the need for change in order to recognize women in all parts of society.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Drake’s album cover ignores rap’s origin

Mar. 10, 2015

When Beyoncé ended 2013 with a bang by releasing an unannounced album, Drake must have been taking notes. Last month, the Grammy award-winning rapper released his own unannounced album: “If Youre Reading This Its Too Late.” Drake’s album was not nearly as successful as the queen’s, but it held its own with almost 500,000 copies sold in its first week. Drake’s lyrical talents earned him some praise from 50 Cent, and I was even tempted to tap the thumbs-up button more than once on my own Pandora. While his lyrics impressed, his album cover disappointed.

OPINION | COLUMNS

UCLA interrogation reveals anti-Semitism

Mar. 9, 2015

On February 10, a University of California, Los Angeles, student stood before her student council in the hope of being accepted to its judicial board. Rachel Beyda, a second-year economics major, had been unanimously approved by a review committee before she presented herself to the board. With an impressive academic record, leadership experience and several legal internships, Beyda’s confirmation seemed like a no-brainer.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Email scandal raises questions about Hillary’s feminist motives

Mar. 9, 2015

On Sunday, International Women’s Day reminded the nation of the battle for gender equality. The revolutionary cries of feminist advocates were heard and understood by many. The population was exposed to the post-modern plight for freedom, which is remarkably similar to quests for liberty undertaken by our forefathers in past movements. And, in the same way proponents of past quests rallied behind strong leaders, so too did feminists rally behind iconic figures. Among the outspoken advocates was Hillary Clinton, whom many believe to be a great symbol for feminism.