Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

UVA frat’s exoneration does not invalidate sexual assault epidemic

Mar. 23, 2015

Sexual assault on college campuses has become one of the defining issues of the mid-2010s. Discussion of the problem is widespread, and at this point it has become impossible to ignore. The president launched an initiative to combat it. Sen. Marco Rubio is sponsoring legislation against it. As a community, we were forced to deal with it during last year’s spree of yet-unsolved attacks against women.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Public-humiliation trends a setback for modern society

Mar. 23, 2015

The sixth annual TEDxUF conference was held Saturday, and it was a chance to see the awe of TED Talks come to life right here on our own campus. Unfortunately, I did not manage to land a ticket. But, inspired by the availability of an event on campus so similar to the innovative presentations I used to watch every week, I went searching for some good TED Talks to watch.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Ted Cruz’s candidacy announcement signals start of 2016 presidential race

Mar. 22, 2015

Fun fact: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, fiery lawmaker and the person who bears the closest living resemblance to the guy from “American Dad,” was born in Canada.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Democrats voting no on Trafficking Act is a shameful, political charade

Mar. 22, 2015

There comes a time in American history when a bill is introduced into Congress that has real bipartisan support and has such common-sense appeal that it would be idiotic for anyone to block it. To want to play politics with a bill of this nature would be asinine and would prove one’s ineptitude. Yet, this “well, duh, we are going to vote yes on it” bill is being obstructed by Senate Democrats, and no end is in sight for them to realize the senselessness of their stance against something that, I’m sure, 99.99 percent of the population supports.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Trans bathroom bill comes from hatred, contempt

Mar. 22, 2015

Tonight on campus, LGBT Affairs is hosting a vigil for the thousands of trans women who lose their lives to violent hatred annually.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Consent is not sexy, but it doesn’t need to be — it’s necessary

Mar. 19, 2015

I invited someone over to my place a few weeks ago. I texted them early in the day to meet up later in the night, but by the time we were supposed to meet up, I wasn’t feeling it. I was tired, but I felt bad for backing out — I was the one who asked them to hook up and knew they would be disappointed. So, I kept my commitment and we met up.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The world eagerly waits for Vladimir Putin to spit that fire

Mar. 19, 2015

A specter is haunting Russia — the specter of gangsta rap. Over the course of his 16-year reign, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly affirmed his status as a disciple of hip-hop’s more aggressive permutation. This could be seen most recently from March 5 until this past Monday, when Putin was nowhere to be seen, spurring both media outlets and the world audience to work themselves into a tizzy over where he may have gone and why.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Guns, Netanyahu and Kendrick in this week's Darts & laurels

Mar. 19, 2015

This week, we were ankle deep in pollen, blinded by unkind sunlight while we trudged our way to class through sweat and swamp-ass. Luckily, we’ll be getting some time off to compensate for having to endure the god-awful months ahead. In the meantime, here’s a slow-descent-into-finals-and-sweat edition of …

OPINION | COLUMNS

Fearmongering hinders problem-solving

Mar. 19, 2015

We all reach a point when we are so stressed we think our world is spiraling out of control. It’s a terrifying feeling that is something akin to skydiving and not having your parachute open. Fear and anxiety can ruin a day, week, month, year or even a lifetime. More often than not, we pull through and move forward. However, what happens when the anxiety is affecting sizable portions of the world?

OPINION | COLUMNS

What if Vladimir Putin had really died?

Mar. 18, 2015

Russian President Vladimir Putin hadn’t been seen in public between March 5 and March 15, and it made everyone a little worried. In a world constantly connected by social media and more traditional forms of news, world leaders — including our own President Barack Obama — have become more available to their subjects, at least in terms of their appearance in the public and technological sphere. In this reality, the disappearance of a constantly sought-after public figure becomes even more concerning.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Kylie Jenner’s relationship is a bad example for young girls

Mar. 17, 2015

When it comes to relationships, I usually refrain from passing judgment of any kind. My mindset is: Why judge someone if they are genuinely happy? It’s not up to me to decide if a relationship is right or wrong with regard to age, race or gender. I figure, if two people are happy, let them be happy. But my usually solid stance quivered when a relationship between two celebrities was confirmed last week.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Created Equal failed to change minds

Mar. 17, 2015

Created Equal may “believe what they believe,” but their display was simply inaccurate, inflammatory rhetoric. Their only goal was publicity and they achieved it. One could evoke similar revulsion among viewers by photographing any surgically removed human organ and displaying it, billboard-sized, on a truck. It is immaterial that such beneficial surgeries remove cancerous organs to prolong human life. I doubt their display changed any “thinking” minds. More likely, last week’s stunt merely hardened previously held positions, both pro- and anti-abortion rights, among our campus community and effectively stifled any reasonable debate on campus regarding abortion and the anti-abortion rights movement.

OPINION | COLUMNS

PETA: not a voice for vegans

Mar. 17, 2015

As a sophomore in high school, I educated myself on issues of animal cruelty and meat production in the U.S. After thorough research, I made the decision to change my lifestyle. I adopted a vegetarian diet. I maintained it for the last five years, and fully transitioned to a vegan diet about six months ago. I don’t walk around with a soapbox in hand, ready and willing to talk about my views on animal maltreatment or government-regulated factory farming. I often refrain from even using words like “vegetarian” or “vegan” because they elicit baffled and confused responses that I don’t often have the time or energy to deal with. Clearly, I have strong opinions that motivated me to make a lifestyle change, but I don’t often engage others in conversation about animal rights unless I’m asked a direct question.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Left and right finally agree on Ferguson

Mar. 16, 2015

Since the Department of Justice released its report on the internal practices of the Ferguson Police Department, the national shouting match that erupted repeatedly last year resurfaced — but in a different way.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Oklahoma University's SAE shows we are not removed from segregation

Mar. 16, 2015

This year is already proving to be an important one in regard to race. The narrative this year has been one of simultaneous progression and regression. Around the time of the 50th anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery marches, race is once again a prevalent topic in the news. While a number of media outlets have been celebrating the success of the film based on the Selma-to-Montgomery marches, a more recent news story shows we have not made as much progress as we thought.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Anti-LGBTQ+ bills legalize discrimination

Mar. 16, 2015

As the nation waits for the Supreme Court’s looming decision on marriage equality, some state governments are rushing to enact anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Let's go to Mars, for science and for America

Mar. 16, 2015

During Spring Break, I took an opportunity to visit our nation’s capital to take in all the history and stories it had to offer. From seeing all the monuments that pay great homage to past presidents, taking tours of buildings like the Capitol and the White House that hold such political significance and facing the blast of snow that caused the federal government to shut down, it was a trip I’ll never forget. I’ll also never forget some of the thoughts that crossed my mind as I explored what could be called a political science major’s playground.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Representation in children’s television important, necessary

Mar. 16, 2015

It’s been a week since our return from Spring Break now, and perhaps the collective misery of going to your 8:30 a.m. class has worn down into a more manageable annoyance.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Iran letter hullabaloo sign of partisan issues

Mar. 15, 2015

Every presidency generates its own controversies. Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration started a civil war. The Reagan administration illegally sold weapons to Iran and used the proceeds to fund a right-wing Guatemalan militia with a fondness for committing war crimes. Bill Clinton holds the unique distinction of having been the first president caught getting blown in the Oval Office.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Created Equal has a constitutional right to demonstrate

Mar. 15, 2015

The reaction to the demonstrations of the Ohio-based, anti-abortion group, Created Equal, when it came to campus Tuesday and Wednesday was overwhelmingly negative. The protesters, angry passers-by and columnists in this newspaper expressed their ill will toward the group and its demonstration. Some students claimed the whole demonstration was ineffective. Others thought it was tasteless.