Opinion | Editorials - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

EDITORIAL: Addressing fabrication in recent article

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Dec. 17

A staff writer for The Independent Florida Alligator committed an act of apparent journalistic fabrication in a recent story about UF eating disorder support resources. A recording the reporter provided of their conversation with the pediatrician — used during our pre-publication fact-check — is now assumed to be fabricated.

Join our Spring 2026 staff by applying today!

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Want to be a part of The Alligator? Join our Fall 2025 staff!

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 28

The Alligator is hiring reporters, editors, photographers, videographers, data journalists and more for the Fall 2025 semester. Join our team!

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Our interwoven legacy/Nuestro legado entretejido

By Alligator Editorial Board | July 29, 2024

Like an intricately woven quilt, the key to any community is honoring and highlighting the shared experiences that bind us together despite our differences in background. The Alligator always seeks to create equitable, accessible coverage of the UF and Gainesville communities, stitching together well-loved and worn traditions with the issues facing us today.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Roots of Resilience: A celebration of UF, Gainesville’s Black community

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Feb. 12, 2024

In 2022, Black journalists composed only 6% of American journalists. Sixty-three percent of Black Americans believed news about Black people are more negative than other racial or ethnic groups. Only 9% believed coverage of Black people told “the full story.”

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Addressing the advertisement: Independent journalism still faces legal issues

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Sep. 7, 2023

The Alligator would like to formally address its denial of an abortion pill through mail advertisement from MayDay Health that circulated social media over the last 24 hours.

Kristine Villarroel was the Summer 2023 Engagement Managing Editor of The Independent Florida Alligator.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Inside a dusty office off 13th Street

By Kristine Villarroel | Aug. 7, 2023

I could’ve told you what it meant to work at The Alligator at any point in the past three years, but I don’t think I would’ve gotten it right.

Jiselle Lee was the Summer 2023 Editor-in-Chief of The Independent Florida Alligator.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

This is what happens when you join The Alligator

By Jiselle Lee | Aug. 7, 2023

If you choose to join The Alligator, I hope you also get to experience the love and friendship it can offer.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Summer of DeSantis: The bills that made it past the state legislative session

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 31, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis has continued to grow in prominence as the 2024 United States Presidential Election slowly approaches. DeSantis, who announced he would run for president May 24, has used the state’s 2023 legislation session to mold Florida politics and boost his national campaign.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

We’re just around the corner: Meet The Alligator

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 3, 2023

Beyond joining an expansive alumni network, working at The Alligator is a great opportunity to meet other passionate student journalists and make lifelong friendships.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Committing to due diligence reporting for Pride

By Jiselle Lee , Kristine Villarroel and Jackson Reyes | June 12, 2023

Last week, The Alligator published a paper with an emphasis on LGBTQ stories. We featured nonbinary drag queens, covered state trans legislation, local Pride info sessions and more. We’re proud to publish these stories our staff worked hard on. We’re honored to cover the stories about our local communities.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Representation matters

By Joe Newman | May 22, 2023

Representation matters. Having two top editors of Asian descent for the first time in The Alligator’s 117-year history matters. Their voices, their perspectives and life experiences matter – not only for their newsroom but for the UF community.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Paging Dr. Sasse…

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Apr. 10, 2023

Ever since Ben Sasse, a former Republican U.S. senator from Nebraska, took office, there’s been a president-sized hole left in much of the UF community.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Celebrate remarkable women with The Alligator

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Mar. 20, 2023

This month, we take pride in celebrating the numerous women who shaped UF and Gainesville, beginning with their journeys in 1947, when UF became a co-ed university by order of the Florida Legislature.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

New York Times wages unfair culture war on transgender community

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Feb. 20, 2023

As journalists about to enter the professional workforce, we’re hopeful that the brave decision to stand up to powerful, well-established newsroom editors will effect change within the NYT.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

DeSantis meddles in university politics — again

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 23, 2023

Two DeSantis administration memos have placed concerns front and center as member schools of the state university system seek a path forward.

Attendees of the wreath laying ceremony walk through the 5-acre Rosewood property after the ceremony concludes Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Newspapers failed Rosewood 100 years ago. Here’s how it’s different today

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 9, 2023

This month marks 100 years since the event that destroyed a thriving predominantly Black community in the Jim Crow South. As an injustice to Black Floridians statewide, its importance strikes relevance today more than ever.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Dear Ben Sasse,

By the Editorial Board | Nov. 7, 2022

We’re requesting an interview with you, Mr. Sasse. You can name the place and time, and we’ll be there ready to ask the questions — even the difficult ones. We have no allegiance to campus leadership and will continue to cover your presidency and hold you accountable.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Sasse, state university system’s silence speak volumes

By the Editorial Board | Oct. 17, 2022

However, despite the three semesters of reporting from our hard-working staff, the announcement of Sen. Ben Sasse as the sole presidential finalist came as a shock to The Alligator.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Have you been impacted by the overturn of Roe v. Wade?

By the Editorial Board | Oct. 3, 2022

As The Alligator gets ready to launch a forthcoming project on the local impact of Roe v. Wade’s reversal, we’re asking for your help. Students and Gainesville residents, we want to hear from you.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

How does The Alligator handle election coverage?

By the Editorial Board | Aug. 29, 2022

It’s a student-run newsroom that cycles through a new staff every semester. It’s a breeding ground for developing new skills — a place to mess up before you mess up as a full-time journalist.