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Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Opinion

Topher Adams was the Fall 2023 assistant sports editor at The Independent Florida Alligator.
Opinion

A second chance

A year later, I’m writing this goodbye column after serious deliberation and consternation on whether this was actually the end. There was a real thought to come back for one last ride with an organization that means so much to my life.


Emma Behrmann was the Fall 2023 Digital Managing Editor at The Independent Florida Alligator.
Opinion

Exactly where I’m meant to be

This newsroom made me feel like I was exactly where I needed to be, and I can confidently say I am. I’m saying goodbye to a lot right now — to everything I’ve known for the last three and a half years — and I’m grateful and a little sad. 


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Opinion

Running the rat race

These days it feels like I’m hardly doing enough. School, work, extracurriculars, internships, even juggling friends, family and romantic interests — no matter how much I add to my plate, I can’t shake the feeling of needing to do more. 


Opinions generic
Opinion

My body, my power

Physical strength was a gendered concept in a traditional household, even a societal one. I never thought I could pursue bodybuilding or weightlifting because muscles, I was taught, belong to men.


Opinions generic
Opinion

Campus speech matters: The First Amendment and student organizations

Florida’s Chancellor of the State University System, Ray Rodrigues, issued a memorandum directing state university system presidents to “deactivate” the registration of National Students for Justice in Palestine. UF President Ben Sasse complied. These actions raise an important First Amendment issue worthy of further exploration. 


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Opinion

The value of engaging with UF research

Research isn't just pipetting and test tubes. Thanks to IFAS, UF conducts research in all 67 counties of Florida. In political science or journalism, people research electoral trends and political opinions.


Sports

Gators vs. Bulldogs: Hypothetically, who would win?

Two historic programs in college football will meet once again along the Saint Johns River at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Oct. 28. The Florida Gators and the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs have been playing this cross-state football rivalry game for more than 100 years. However, what if it wasn’t the Gators against the Bulldogs? What if it was a gator against a bulldog?


Redshirt junior quarterback Graham Mertz sits in the pocket in the Gators' 41-39 win against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
Sports

COLUMN: Graham Mertz finally shows what he’s made of

The Florida Gators (5-2, 3-1 SEC) escaped the South Carolina Gamecocks (2-4, 1-3 SEC) 41-39 in a high-flying conference clash. Mertz led two touchdown drives in the final nine minutes, and he threw the game-winning touchdown pass to senior receiver Ricky Pearsall with 47 seconds left in the game.


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