Opinion | Editorials - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

The Alligator stands with The Battalion - and all student print journalism

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Feb. 14, 2022

On Thursday, Feb. 10, The Battalion, Texas A&M’s student newspaper, was told by university administration to shut down their print edition. The 129-year-old student publication has been printing their paper since 1893. Texas A&M President M. Katherine Banks has demanded it ceases. If it doesn’t move exclusively online, The Battalion will be stripped of its resources, including their office space and faculty advisor. Texas A&M administration is censoring student journalism. That is unacceptable.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

UF’s COVID-19 policies have left us in the dark

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Feb. 14, 2022

We’ve been reporting on COVID-19 since the pandemic hit in March 2020. Our reporting uncovered UF’s failures to respond to concerns of students, faculty and the greater community. We uncovered problems with UF’s covid dorms, UF testing and careless protective measures. The Alligator has remained committed to providing updated information on changing UF policies and COVID numbers on campus. However, we took down our COVID-19 dashboard Jan. 27. We lacked the data from UF, and in the interest of transparency, we feel that we owe our readers an explanation.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Sister Cindy doesn’t deserve your attention — ironic or not

By Sara Lindsay | Feb. 7, 2022

Common themes for Cindy’s speeches include slut shaming, homophobic comments and racist remarks. She became famous by sharing her problematic beliefs on TikTok, and her hateful speeches have grown into a full-blown national tour.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

We chose UF — would we choose it again?

By Sara Lindsay | Jan. 24, 2022

Right now, our community cares about COVID-19. Students and faculty are sick, scared of getting sick or sick of the situation in general. And there’s no end in sight. Despite widespread symptoms of pandemic burnout, UF continues to implement a laissez-faire leadership style when it comes to the virus. UF leaders expect masks but won’t mandate them, online class alternatives are rarely offered and simple social distancing protocols in classrooms seem to be a thing of the past.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

UF, UAA has failed its students, alumni, faculty and staff (again)

By the Editorial Board | Nov. 29, 2021

UF reached top 5 status in September. But as the semester progressed, our staff uncovered news beyond the university’s nagging pursuit of rank. Our reporters were busy covering the gaps in university’s decisions that made national headlines.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Let us introduce ourselves

By The Alligator Editorial Board | June 28, 2021

Whether you’re fresh out of high school and you’re on your way right now to your very first college class or you’ve been working hard these last few years to transfer to UF, if you don’t know us yet — hi, we’re The Alligator. We’re here to give you the news.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

#SaveStudentNewsrooms: We can’t do this without you

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Apr. 25, 2021

When you support The Alligator –– or any student newsroom –– you’re not just sponsoring the paper. You’re sponsoring the next generation of journalists.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

We Don’t Care Who You Vote For, Just Vote

Feb. 22, 2021

We want to see SG elections that are representative of the student population. The first step to reaching that goal is extremely simple: the mobilization of students to vote in SG elections.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

UF is opening conversations about University Avenue safety. We’ll be listening.

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 19, 2021

After five UF students were hit by a car, the university released a statement about the crash closing with a promise: “The safety of our campus is paramount, and we want you to know conversations are underway regarding pedestrian and vehicular safety, on and around our campus.” But will conversations be enough?

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Don’t throw away your vote by voting for a third party

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 18, 2020

A third party candidate will not win, and if you think or vote as if they will, then you’re either dreaming or don’t care about the people who won’t live to see the next election.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

The right to party? Gov. DeSantis is on the wrong side of history

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Sep. 27, 2020

We wish that DeSantis would reevaluate why he prioritizes the right to party over the right to public assembly or the right to vote. Fighting for the right of college students to party is a very strange hill to die on.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Snitches go to heaven, partiers go to hell

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Aug. 31, 2020

Sing like a canary in a COVID-19 coal mine.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Opinions are back! Here’s why

By Zachariah Chou | Aug. 27, 2020

The Alligator's opinions section is back

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Introducing El Caimán

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 17, 2020

Today marks the beginning of an exciting chapter in The Alligator’s history.

Alligator staff from the Spring 2020 semester pose for a photo during a Zoom meeting. The incoming Summer 2020 staff reports remotely and communicates using the video conferencing service.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

We’ve kept our promise. But we need your help.

Apr. 25, 2020

There’s a statement on the top left corner of The Alligator’s newspaper: We inform. You decide.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Why removing likes from Instagram isn’t such a bad thing

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 17, 2019

We can’t argue against social media’s influence — in fact, we already made an argument stating how important it really is.

A member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department stands outside of Saugus High School with his weapon drawn after reports of a shooting on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

OPINION | EDITORIALS

The U.S. needs help, and not with just guns

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 14, 2019

Usually, the editorial board likes to take it easy on Fridays and publish a series of “Darts and Laurels” in order to lighten the mood for the weekend and provide our opinions on different things happening in the news.

In this Friday, April 29, 2016, photo, people stand near the entrance gate to Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. Northwestern University's student newspaper is under fire. Their first critics came from within the campus as student activists questioned journalists’ coverage of protests. Within days, editors decided to write a statement apologizing but their editorial prompted a second round of criticism from journalists around the country starting Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune via AP)

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Northwestern's apology wasn't great, but Twitter's reaction was even worse

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 12, 2019

As upcoming journalists, many of us are aware of the difficulties involved in the craft. Our work is expected to inform the public in an objective way, but when respecting the feelings of the public comes into play, things can get confusing.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Stress should be used in moderation

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 5, 2019

Stress is hard to handle when you first experience it. As college students, we are constantly thrown into situations that test our mental and physical capabilities. But it turns out we might actually enjoy it.

$A group of indigenous peoples lead a march of protestors against fracking and shale gas through Point State Park before a ceremony to bless the three rivers, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, in Pittsburgh. The group is protesting before President Donald Trump is to speak at at the Shale Insight Conference Wednesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)$

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Why are we still celebrating stealing from Native Americans?

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 3, 2019

Halloween may be over, but we’re still concerned about bad holiday practices, especially here in the U.S.