Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Don't fear concealed carry bills

Nov. 29, 2015

In keeping with Florida’s tradition as a gun-friendly state, the Legislature is now preparing a bill that would allow concealed weapons on college campuses. Legislation like House Bill 4001 has been batted around every so often in the Florida House and Senate. For some reason or another, it always fails to become law. Now, signs indicate it might pass the chambers and actually make it to Gov. Rick Scott’s desk.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The pressing need for safe spaces

Nov. 29, 2015

Last week, a White Student Union page was created on Facebook under UF's name. Most of the posts allege UF doesn’t have enough safe spaces for European American students whose culture is not celebrated enough. While it’s not patently clear if the page is a hoax or if it was actually created by UF students who believe such fiction, it is very apparent the page has become a hub for racist messaging and posts that stoke fear about whites as the minority.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: Trolling has no place in Thanksgiving break

Nov. 23, 2015

Late Sunday evening, the Facebook feeds of many UF students became inundated with cries of outrage and disbelief over the purported existence of an exciting, new student organization: the University of Florida White Students Union! With a profile picture proudly showing off Century Tower and a cover photo showing the Founding Fathers signing the Declaration of Independence, the page for this totally real and not at all fictitious group claims on its "About" page that it represents "a place to celebrate the very beautiful European culture," and wants to "encourage you to preserve your heritage by sharing it and discussing its future."

OPINION | COLUMNS

Is it enough to support the Safe Campus Act?

Nov. 23, 2015

The sexual violence on college campuses is not an issue that can be swept under the rug. Universities have served as the focal point for media coverage, awareness campaigns and congressional legislation in the discussion about sexual assault, regardless of whether they help or hinder the issue at hand. We’ve all experienced some offshoot of this, whether it was through last year’s Walk Safe program, the Interfraternity Council’s "It’s On Us" campaign or UF’s Sexual Assault Awareness month.

OPINION | COLUMNS

'Albasheer Show': 'Daily Show' of Iraq

Nov. 23, 2015

In light of the Charlie Hebdo shootings this past January, and the recent attacks in Paris, many have reacted by painting Islam and the Middle East as being fundamentally at odds with Western values such as free speech.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Refugees and religion: Conservative Christian teachings influence fear

Nov. 23, 2015

America is not and will never be a Christian nation.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: The Great American Stupid — Donald Trump makes us sick

Nov. 22, 2015

For the duration of this semester, we in editorial have intentionally sidestepped any discussion of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. We’d say it’s the journalistic equivalent of ignoring the elephant in the room, but it’s been more akin to trying to cover your eyes and ears while the girl from "The Exorcist" vomits all over you and your surroundings, punctuating her invasive illness with proud recitals of racist rhetoric, stomach-churning stupidity and blatant pandering.

OPINION | COLUMNS

A refresher on the 2016 presidential candidates

Nov. 22, 2015

Politics is a rough-and-tumble business. More than that, it’s also confusing. But rest assured, dear reader, this columnist is the one-stop shop for all of your political questions and quandaries. So without delay, let’s clarify some political points your Politico friend keeps on talking about:

OPINION | COLUMNS

Let’s all try a little harder in school

Nov. 22, 2015

I remember the first time I went to UF in the winter of my senior year in high school. The red brick looked almost authentically collegiate Gothic. I remember the feeling of life beginning, one I tried to recapture during Preview weekend while driving in the snow-white blur of rain on I-75. I laughed at the billboards erected by the autochthons of my new home, who apparently still feared they might be aborted, performatively reading Schopenhauer in the stadium.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels 11/20/2015

Nov. 19, 2015

On any given Friday, this would be the space where we make a witty aside or use a semi-obscure pop-cultural reference to introduce that week’s edition of Darts & Laurels. Well, we hate to disappoint, but we have nothing of the sort this week. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Just letters, words and sentences to fill up space until we get to the main attraction…which is Darts & Laurels. Yup.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Spit or swallow: Genitals don’t taste like candy

Nov. 19, 2015

I lived primarily off two things when I had a meal plan: Gator Dining chocolate chip cookies and unlimited pineapple.

OPINION | COLUMNS

In light of an awful week, bad beer makes it even worse

Nov. 19, 2015

I thought I might write something about Friday’s horrific scenes from Paris. I thought I’d write about how we could use this to take events in the Middle East seriously from a humanitarian perspective without falling into the obvious trap the Islamic State group has set for us, whereby we abandon the very multiculturalism and tolerance that has made the West a place of relative peace and security. It’s these very attitudes the huddled masses who flee ISIS’ apocalyptic cruelty yearn for. And, while writing, I could hope in vain that far-right, Eurosceptic freaks won’t ride a wave of nationalist reaction and ethnic resentment into office, dismantling the diplomatic structures that have maintained relative peace in Europe for 70 short years (not counting a genocide against Muslims in Bosnia). I would also really like it if, when vicious goons like Marine Le Pen and Nigel Farage lead their gangs into parliament halls, they wouldn’t plunge the world into a second Dark Age, complete with our very own crusades.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Drug companies and the high cost of profit

Nov. 18, 2015

Earlier this year, Martin Shkreli, the CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, increased the cost of a life-saving HIV drug by about 5,000 percent. The price raised from $13.50 per pill to $750 per pill.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: It would be really great if Chick-fil-A wasn’t a center of controversy

Nov. 18, 2015

One would be very hard-pressed to find a UF student or Gainesville resident who doesn’t love Chick-fil-A. The juicy, delicious chicken always complemented by a duo of dill pickle chips, the diverse and flavorful sauces, the consistently crunchy and impeccably salted fries, the sweetness and perfect consistency of the strawberry milkshakes… there’s just so much to love. In a perfect world, we could spend this entire editorial extolling Chick-fil-A’s bountiful virtues.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Why Nice Guys Aren’t That Nice

Nov. 18, 2015

A frequent refrain among heartbroken and sexually frustrated young men: "She doesn’t like me because I’m a nice guy." No, not really.

UF President Kent Fuchs delivers his State of the University address in the Reitz Union Auditorium on Sept. 24, 2015. He plans to increase diversity and research opportunities at UF.

OPINION | COLUMNS

From President Fuchs: Two degrees of separation and staying safe

Nov. 18, 2015

I love the phrase "Every Gator Matters." It expresses the value of every member of the Gator family and our care for one another.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: Respect, rather than rage, characterized the Sharpton-Kelly conversation

Nov. 17, 2015

In 2004, "South Park" aired the episode "Douche and Turd." The episode concerned an election to adopt a new mascot for South Park Elementary, with the two sole choices being the titular Giant Douche and Turd Sandwich. The show, which aired a week before the nation had to choose between George W. Bush and John Kerry for the presidency, not only satirized the often-mediocre choices we face come election season but also the sheer frenzy Americans are prone to work themselves into when they take a stance on public figures.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Nonlethal weapons are a more effective option

Nov. 17, 2015

About two weeks ago, America was hit with the horrifying story of Jeremy Mardis. Mardis was a 6-year-old boy who was shot to death by two police officers while riding in the car with his father in Marksville, Louisiana. Mardis’ father, Chris Few, had no outstanding warrants for his arrest, nor was there a gun found in Few’s vehicle. This information begs the question: Why were shots fired by police in the first place?

OPINION | COLUMNS

Million Student March, rethinking taxation reform and student debt

Nov. 17, 2015

Last week, students under the banner of the Million Student March demonstrated on college campuses across the country. There was even a demonstration at UF, although only about a dozen marchers actually showed up. Regardless, the collective demands of the protestors were clear: tuition-free public college, $15 minimum wage and the cancellation of all student debt.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Don't forget your childhood dreams

Nov. 17, 2015

When I was deciding my career as a little girl, full of blind naiveté and enthusiasm for a world that seemed so clearly ready to catapult me to stardom, there were a lot of options on the list. My aspirations ranged from ballerina to doctor to orange-truck driver over the years, but there was one job that kept coming up in the mix, no matter how many years passed: I wanted to be a writer.