Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels: bombings, same-sex marriage and pub subs

Jan. 8, 2015

Good morning, Gators, and happy Friday. If you’re reading this, congratulations! You’ve survived Thursday’s unnaturally frigid weather and lived to fight another day. Presumably, you made it through syllabus week as well. For that, give yourself a pat on the back and take a gander at this last-day-of-the-first-week-of-school edition of...

OPINION | COLUMNS

Florida needs to take control of its future

Jan. 7, 2015

At the turn of the New Year, Florida’s population surpassed that of New York state, making this the third-most populous state in the country. In recent years, migrants have been flocking to the Sunshine State from the North as part of the expansion of the Sun Belt.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Attack on French magazine an attack on free speech

Jan. 7, 2015

It’s safe to guess that by now you’ve heard the news of the mass shooting yesterday in France. To say the attack was horrific, reprehensible, abhorrent and brutal is true, but those words still fail to capture how this feels for us — not to mention what it means to the people of France. In any case, it feels like a rehearsal in the litany of words we use when trying to describe events like this that leave us utterly dejected.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Making sense of the universe with new planets

Jan. 6, 2015

One of the few universal human experiences is the awe and bewilderment you feel when looking deeply into the night sky.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Call to UF: Cut ties with anti-Palestine community

Jan. 6, 2015

During our lifetimes, members of our generation have witnessed events that will define the 21st century. Some of these moments feel very close to home — the 9/11 attacks, for example. Others seem far away and disconnected from us.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The hidden truth about thin privilege and how you can help

Jan. 6, 2015

I bet I can predict at least one of your New Year’s resolutions: working out more, eating healthier, losing weight? If I was right, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. This time of year brings a tsunami of reflection that inspires change. This specific tsunami, however, is fueled by a toxic epidemic that has taken hold of our society: thin privilege. On the flip side of discrimination rests a collection of benefits known as privilege.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

New year, new opportunities at the Alligator

Jan. 5, 2015

Man, does it feel good to leave 2014 behind.

OPINION | COLUMNS

In defense of Uber despite past flaws

Jan. 5, 2015

The new year has just begun and Uber is already facing a fresh wave of criticism and complaints.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

An end-of-semester thank you to our readers

Dec. 9, 2014

Well, this is it.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Students come first: Protect Pell Grants

Dec. 9, 2014

As student loan debt continues to spiral out of control, a new proposal may make the situation even worse for struggling college students.

OPINION | COLUMNS

As 2014 closes, remember Lennon’s lyrics of ‘Imagine’

Dec. 9, 2014

Monday marked the 34th anniversary of John Lennon’s murder. Each year, it’s a somber day on the calendar and a reminder that even the biggest among us can be ripped away. I found myself listening to a Lennon-protest song — “Happy Xmas” — and I considered the year that was 2014. By all measures, 2014 was a lousy experience for the world, and if you were to conduct a poll, 2014 might top a list of worst years in recent memory.

OPINION | COLUMNS

One editor’s last walk down the Avenue: Take a breath, take a break, move on

Dec. 9, 2014

One thing my parents always taught me was to stop, take a step back and look over my work.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Religion’s influence should be remembered

Dec. 8, 2014

It’s quite an interesting spectacle: My dad’s large 6-foot-4 frame rummaging around our garage, mumbling about measurements and fumbling for mischievous screws rolling across the dryer, which has become a makeshift work table.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Scott’s Ebola fanfare masks real health care issues

Dec. 8, 2014

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OPINION | COLUMNS

Don’t let finals get you down: Winter Break is coming soon

Dec. 8, 2014

Starbucks has a line of customers out the door, Study Edge is clogged with students and everyone is talking about their grades — it must be finals week.

OPINION | COLUMNS

It’s time to say goodbye, leave home

Dec. 8, 2014

In the four years I've worked at this paper, I've never used the word "I" in a published sentence. So when I decided to write my goodbye column, it was hard to get started.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The power of international solidarity

Dec. 7, 2014

It’s been more than two months since students went missing in the Guerrero state town of Iguala, Mexico. The young men had confrontations with the police while protesting unfair employment practices for teachers who discriminated against rural applicants and favored urban ones. The police killed three students and three bystanders in their altercation with the protesters. The allegation is that the police then captured 43 of the young men and handed them over to Los Guerreros Unidos, a drug gang, for execution.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Getting the facts straight is important

Dec. 7, 2014

During the last few weeks, America has been in an uproar over the cases of Michael Brown, Tamir Rice and now Eric Garner. Many columnists, myself included, commented on these developments as they happened, sometimes with too much haste and without considering their impact. I think it’s important to take a moment to point out when the truth was bent and sometimes completely ignored.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Harkin’s student loan plan

Dec. 7, 2014

Democrats are generally known for favoring education spending by the federal government, whereas Republicans tend to oppose such expenditures. Many prominent Republicans, including Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and former Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas), have expressed support for eliminating the U.S. Department of Education altogether.

OPINION | COLUMNS

10 percent of youth should be 90 percent of environmental movement’s focus

Dec. 7, 2014

Climate Change. Global Warming. Sustainability. Environmentalism. These divisive partisan issues form the foundation of a constant debate between conservative and liberal forces. Congressmen and congresswomen on both sides of the aisle carefully select language that resonates with key demographics. While the millennial generation hasn’t been a huge factor in politics in the past, many of these voters make up a large portion of the up-and-coming "rising electorate," the given name to a voting demographic that is comprised of millennials (voters age 18-30), unmarried women and certain minorities (Latin Americans and blacks). The U.S. census shows this group will encompass nearly half of the voting population in the coming elections. As political capital and influence shifts toward the rising electorate, there are important questions about its implications for key environmental issues.