Opinion | Letters To The Editor - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New Medicare policy overlooks importance of dietitians

By Chrissy Carroll | Dec. 4, 2011

Medicare announced late Tuesday that it would now allow coverage for obesity screening and counseling - services that were previously not covered. Sounds great, right? The problem with this is that the plan only allows reimbursement to physicians and nurses in a primary care setting - dietitians are not included.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Alligator is a forum for influence

By Nicole Martingano | Dec. 1, 2011

First, it is hard for me to be upset because you have always surprised me and printed my opinions - all of which have focused on the misuse of alcohol by college students at UF. You can be the "cool big brother," and I'll be the "I'm-telling-on-you-big sister." I want to emphasize how extremely thankful I am because the Alligator truly is a stage where I could potentially positively influence even just one student who reads my opinion to think twice before drinking irresponsibly. I understand that you were trying to write fairly, but please, please keep in mind that underage drinkers are the only people who can be underage drunk drivers, and they make up a large portion of alcohol-related fatalities in this state every year.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Anti-discrimination should be focus for LGBT community

By Justin Soto | Nov. 30, 2011

In the past decade alone, the landscape of the gay and lesbian fight for equality has changed dramatically.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Minority group needs more attention

By Arianna Scalone | Nov. 30, 2011

When you think of a minority, what comes to mind?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Drinking age, drunk driving should not be taken lightly

By Nicole Martingano | Nov. 27, 2011

What's the drinking age for ignorance?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The truth about the Florida Animal Rescue Act

By Bill LeFeuvre | Nov. 20, 2011

There is some misinformation circulating about the Florida Animal Rescue Act. Despite claims, Senate Bill 818/House Bill 597 does not force the transfer of "unwanted strays" to nonprofit animal rescue organizations.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gadhafi column misguided

By Geoff Puryear | Nov. 13, 2011

I would like to thank the Alligator as well as the authors of "Obama is No Better Than Che Guevara" for providing one of the best "fake news" articles this side of the Onion. Their send-up of the intellectual inconsistency and naïveté of the extreme left was nothing short of sidesplitting. I mean, how could anyone read an article defending mass-murdering tyrant Muammar Gadhafi as a leftist hero and not indulge in a hearty chuckle?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Bus Drivers' Union offers condolences to injured biker

By Mary Frances Folz Donahue. President of ATU 1579 | Nov. 9, 2011

On behalf of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1579, I would like to express our condolences to Mr. Abdellatief and his family for the trauma and injuries he has suffered and express our wishes for his full recovery.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dining halls urged to honor Meatless Mondays

By Jared Misner | Nov. 8, 2011

I imagine Gator Dining officials are all very excited about UF's place in the final round in this year's ranking of the most vegan-friendly colleges in the nation. If only those University of California Santa Cruz hippies would go away and let us win. Even if we lose, second place is pretty darn good, so congratulations.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Florida Blue Key president apologizes for Gator Growl seating

By Craig Thompson | Nov. 8, 2011

On behalf of Florida Blue Key, allow me to share my heartfelt appreciation to our extended Gator family for continuing to turn out and support Gator Growl. We hope you enjoyed Friday's show that so many students worked tirelessly during the last year to produce. Gator Growl is an incredible and unique UF tradition.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Politicians altering Occupy dialogue

By Andrew Smith | Nov. 3, 2011

I was enraged by the article titled "Occupy Gainesville, Occupy UF pair up for demonstration."

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Abortion affects more than one body

By Rachel Crow | Nov. 3, 2011

In Rosemary Daniels' guest column, she stated her opinion that a woman's right to have an abortion is unalienable.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Educational inequity a major issue

By Vicky Riquelme | Nov. 3, 2011

Travis Hornsby's column Monday highlights perhaps the most pressing issue facing America today - the gross disparities in academic achievement between students of low and high socioeconomic backgrounds at all levels of education.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Drinking age should not be lowered

By Courtney Pavlok | Nov. 2, 2011

I recently read the column, "Drinking age should be lowered" that described UF's proposal to treat underage students who have alcohol-related illnesses without stigmatizing them.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gator Growl will be a great experience

By Anthony Reynolds | Nov. 1, 2011

Greetings, Gators!

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Tax-neutral plan can still fund Medicare and Social Security at current level

By Mignon A. Craig | Oct. 30, 2011

The following is a tax-neutral and nonpartisan way to continue funding Medicare and Social Security at the current level. I have suggested this to all members of the Congressional "Super Committee," our senators and two local congressmen.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Cultural appropriation is inappropriate

By Laura Guzman | Oct. 30, 2011

Usually I laugh at the ignorance of your columnists, but the Alligator Editorial Board's dismissal of the STARS campaign is a new low.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reitz renovation would provide much-needed space

By Kycia Hosley | Oct. 19, 2011

As a member of smaller student organization on campus, the Ambassadors of Civility and Ethics, the need for meeting space is always present. Rooms on campus are booked quickly and often my organization is forced to plan programs and events at makeshift locations.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

College education should still be respected

By Eric Brown | Oct. 19, 2011

This a response to Nicholas Butler's column "Staying in school makes students unproductive."

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Oregon takes steps in right direction

By Zachary Zalneraitis | Oct. 18, 2011

Oregon's Court of Appeals recently overturned a long-standing rule that banned firearms on university campuses. This ruling is yet another data point on the trend toward restoring the rights of licensed, of-age individuals to defend themselves while pursuing their education.