Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Friendship means listening, even when you’d rather not

Mar. 31, 2014

Even for a morning person like me, 7:30 a.m. isn’t the best time to hear a pal from high school rant about his family troubles. But I decided to continue the phone conversation and be a “good friend.” This was no light sacrifice. Instead of enjoying the previous night’s episode of “The Daily Show,” I was listening to depressing personal problems. But sometimes you feel as though a friendship is worth sacrificing a morning ritual, and this was one such rare occasion.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Flavet fail: Moving Gator Growl won’t solve everything

Mar. 30, 2014

Florida Blue Key announced Sunday it’s breaking with the 82-year tradition of holding Gator Growl in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. This October, the pep rally/concert/comedy show will take place on Flavet Field.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Sex on campus is doable, pun intended

Mar. 30, 2014

The semester is starting to wind down, and finals week is looming. The library is getting more crowded, and students are spending more time on campus to compensate for how little they’ve paid attention all semester.

OPINION | COLUMNS

College athletes shouldn’t get paid

Mar. 30, 2014

Last week, the National Labor Relations Board ruled in favor of a group of Northwestern University football players who are attempting to unionize. It was a major victory for student athletes in their fight against the money juggernaut that is the NCAA. The ruling sets up a potential big fight between student athletes and the NCAA regarding the debate on whether college athletes deserve payment for their services that could wind up in the Supreme Court.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels 3/28/14

Mar. 27, 2014

Spring has sprung, the birds are singing, the sun is shining and everyone is getting busy tanning their winter-white bodies on the Plaza of the Americas and the North Lawn. Just kidding, it’s gray and depressing once again.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Goodbye, EndZone; hello, tidy tighty whiteys

Mar. 27, 2014

Around the corner from my apartment, there’s an orange-and-blue building with mirrored windows I often use for taking selfies. By now you’re probably thinking, “Wow, an orange-and-blue building in Gainesville? You’ve really narrowed it down.” Or maybe you’re saying to yourself, “This girl must be so bold, just taking selfies in windows when there could easily be people with eyes on the other side. I wish I had her gall.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Laverne Cox talks self-determination, hope — but I missed it

Mar. 27, 2014

Sometimes it’s all too easy to forget the amazing opportunities our campus and the surrounding areas of Gainesville have to offer.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Florida’s Hollywood tax credit program needs work

Mar. 26, 2014

Florida has been a popular destination for film producers for decades. From “Girl Happy,” a 1965 film starring Elvis Presley shot in Fort Lauderdale, to “Miami Vice” and then “Burn Notice,” our East Coast beaches are attractive options.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Taxpayers shouldn’t fund religious ed

Mar. 26, 2014

Like many other Gators, I was born and raised here in the Sunshine State. I’ve never lived anywhere else, so I am a product of the Florida school system.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Standing Our Ground: Media needs access

Mar. 25, 2014

As we’ve seen — especially since the infamous George Zimmerman court ruling — court cases concerning the Stand Your Ground law tend to draw a considerable amount of media attention. One Florida lawmaker is determined to change that.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Make the most out of the UF experience

Mar. 25, 2014

Like it or not, as many of us are realizing, the school year is coming to an end. Though some students are still recovering from Spring Break, most are preparing for the home stretch — the last month of cramming for exams and quizzes and catching up on unwatched lectures. Some of our fellow students will be doing this for the last time.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Adelson’s donations demonstrate system of ‘legalized bribery’

Mar. 25, 2014

During the 2012 presidential campaign, which was marked by an explosion of political donations from wealthy and corporate interests, casino magnate Sheldon Adelson was one of the biggest players.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Westboro member Fred Phelps mourned

Mar. 25, 2014

TOPEKA — Fred Phelps, founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, passed away at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday. Confused members are already outside the church picketing his funeral.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Joint effort: Medical marijuana could work in Florida

Mar. 24, 2014

A proposed Florida constitutional amendment would allow for medical marijuana prescriptions for “certain medical conditions.” Supporters of the measure are proposing stringent regulations on potential distributors to dispel naysayers’ fears.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Hollywood needs to fix its race problem

Mar. 24, 2014

One would think with the recent press coverage that a lot of progress is being made in Hollywood: Ellen DeGeneres served pizza at the Academy Awards, and Jennifer Lawrence got a pixie cut. It all looks pretty good from where I sit.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Undergrads in law library OK, welcome

Mar. 24, 2014

I was disappointed to read the column in the Alligator on Monday telling undergraduates to stay out of the university’s law library. I believe the author’s opinion is only one of a minority of the law school community. As a current UF law student, I want to offer a different perspective that I believe many of my fellow students at UF law embrace.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Bikes vs. cars

By Bruce Frendahl | Mar. 24, 2014

According the Florida Bicycle Law Enforcement Guide, bikes are vehicles, and bikers are drivers. “A cyclist has all the rights to the roadway applicable to any driver, except as to the special regulations regarding bicycles.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Let’s get it on: A brief history of pornography

Mar. 24, 2014

Sit down, dim the lights and put on some soft upbeat music. We’re going to talk about porn.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Battalion against sexism needs soldiers

Mar. 24, 2014

I wasn’t sure how to reply to a question that sat in my inbox.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Scott’s position on tuition equity hypocritical

Mar. 23, 2014

Those championing tuition equity in Florida made large strides Thursday: The Florida House passed a bill extending in-state tuition rates to undocumented students.