Opinion | Editorials

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Kids shouldn't be exposed to violence to keep them safe

Mar. 24, 2019

Most of us grew up with lockdowns. They usually consisted of a teacher flicking off the lights, maybe even blacking out a window with dark paper and pointing the entire class to a corner of the classroom, where we’d sit in agonizing silence until an administrator came to give the “all clear.” The Columbine shooting was when people first really began to talk about school shootings. However, only in recent years were school shootings constantly in the news and talked about in legislation.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

The truth behind Florida man

Mar. 19, 2019

There’s a special recipe involved in the making of the infamous Florida man stories. They usually involve an alligator, body of water, drugs or nudity and, if we’re really lucky, Taco Bell. The headlines for these stories are eye-catching, to say the least: “Naked Florida man baking cookies on George Foreman grill responsible for fire,” or “Florida man makes beer run with gator in hand.” (All real headlines.)

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Blurred lines are creating an unchecked government

Mar. 17, 2019

The system of checks and balances is as fundamental to the U.S. as the Constitution itself. However, in recent decades, the lines between the government’s branches have blurred. On Friday, President Donald Trump issued the first veto of his presidency, an act many presidents before him have used. This act is within his constitutional power, but what sets it apart from any other presidential veto is his manipulation of executive power.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Marie Kondo can teach us more than just how to fold

Mar. 12, 2019

If you’re anything like us, your cleaning habits have improved considerably over the past few weeks – and we have Marie Kondo to thank. Kondo is a Japanese best-selling author who recently came out with a show on Netflix called “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo” on Jan. 1. It’s quite possibly the most relaxing show since the days of Bob Ross. In each episode, Kondo shows people fundamental skills that allow them to clean up their lives both physically and mentally.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Is the Internet becoming immune to its trolls?

Mar. 10, 2019

Everyone’s a critic. This phrase has never been truer than it is today. The internet is a breeding ground for comments, critiques and unsolicited opinions. On every social media platform or website, comment sections fall at the end of the page.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

An $148,000 gift bag is a sign of how we view celebrities

Feb. 24, 2019

What would you do if someone handed you about $150,000? You could buy yourself a house, maybe even a Tesla, and still have some money to spare. You could choose to pay off all of your student loans. These scenarios are things people spend decades saving money for, but at the Oscars, all 25 nominees for acting and directing will receive a gift “bag” valued at nearly that amount of money, around $148,000.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Alligator endorsement: Between a human meme or past of bad posts

Feb. 17, 2019

Editor’s Note: The Alligator’s editorial board met with representatives from the Impact and Inspire parties on Friday night and Sunday afternoon. We discussed their party platforms and each candidate’s goals if they were to be elected. Our endorsement resulted from these meetings.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Face it. It’ll happen again.

Feb. 12, 2019

Despite our best efforts, life after the Parkland shooting hasn’t changed for the majority of us.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

The 2020 election is breaking records already

Feb. 10, 2019

American women received the right to vote in 1920, and exactly 100 years later, the 2020 election is breaking records for women. Sen. Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota became the sixth Democratic woman to put in her bid for the Democratic presidential nominee when she announced her candidacy on Sunday. She follows Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren, along with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and author Marianne Williamson. Collectively, they’re making this upcoming presidential race the first in history to have that many women running at one time for the Democratic presidential nomination.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Our oceans are going to change color in the future, and here’s why

Feb. 5, 2019

By the end of the 21st century, our grandkids and great-grandkids will be looking at a different colored ocean than what we are used to seeing.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Groundhog Day is the only non-problematic holiday of the year

Feb. 3, 2019

One of the weirdest days of the year passed Saturday when America stopped and waited upon the actions of a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil to play the role of meteorologist. And somehow nobody has questioned this tradition in the nearly 150 years that Groundhog Day has existed. In fact, in Pennsylvania, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club celebrated Groundhog Day from Sunday, Jan. 27 to yesterday, nearly the same number of nights dedicated to Hanukkah — an entire religious holiday.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Career Showcase isn’t your only ticket to success

Jan. 29, 2019

Time to break out the blazers because Career Showcase is approaching. Next Tuesday students will be running back and forth between classes and the O’Connell Center, hoping to make that one life-changing connection. It’s the perfect opportunity to talk to your dream company, and it can feel like your one chance at a big break. But then the nerves start to set in and the doubts in the back of your mind creep in.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

The media is romanticizing the murderer

Jan. 27, 2019

For the past few weeks our Twitter timelines have blown up with tweets about “You,” a recently released thriller series on Netflix. The show, which aired on Lifetime last fall, tells the story of Joe Goldberg and his infatuation with Guinevere Beck, a woman he develops an unhealthy relationship with, eventually leading him to stalking and murdering.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Controversies of the women’s march

Jan. 22, 2019

After the original organizers of the march had a falling out in 2017, the Women’s March has seen a wave of controversy over how it should be led. In 2017, during and after the first Women’s March, a struggle about the argument of privilege began in regards to women’s rights.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Florida and how 2019 is righting wrongs

Jan. 13, 2019

Every state and its government have issues that need to be addressed, and Florida is no exception. Florida has made a number of mistakes over its entire 173 years of existence as a part of the U.S., many of them concerning racism.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

The relevancy of award shows today

Jan. 8, 2019

Sunday night, the red carpet rolled out, marking the beginning of the award show season for Hollywood. Celebrities dressed to the nines, some hope to take home a Golden Globe and others there to bask in the opulence of the night.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Creating a New Home At UF

Jan. 7, 2019

For about three weeks a year in December, UF becomes vacant, a school without its students. It loses its heart: the students, professors and staff who create an entire world that revolves around the university. When these people return, UF once again becomes the thriving well-oiled machine it was meant to be.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

The nation mourns a president’s vision

Dec. 2, 2018

After George H.W. Bush passed, look at his legacy

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Be thankful: No one can do it on their own

Nov. 18, 2018

This Thanksgiving, see how you can lend a helping hand

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Let the recount proceed smoothly. Don’t yell ‘fraud.’ Follow the law.

Nov. 13, 2018

There's no evidence the recount is a sham