Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Gimme sugar: Sugar baby site no worse than OkCupid

Jan. 21, 2014

Call it a millennial thing: Online dating is now, more or less, an acceptable way to meet someone. For college students, it makes sense. Among going to classes, working part-time jobs, balancing extracurriculars and browsing the slim pickings of the Gainesville-nightlife scene, it’s hard to find a mate. Online dating provides an intuitive solution, complete with matrices that calculate who your best matches are based on personality. Plus there’s the added convenience of being able to browse dating options in the comfort of your own home — preferably in a pair of sweatpants.

OPINION | COLUMNS

College students: It’s time to start studying for good credit

Jan. 21, 2014

It’s no secret that college graduates are facing an uphill battle these days, unless you have an in-demand major such as accounting, engineering or computer science — in which case, you’re set.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Too little civil rights progress

Jan. 21, 2014

This week, we celebrated the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr., the most well-known and important leader of the American civil rights movement. King sought to use the power of nonviolent protest and his unparalleled oratorical skills to promote social and political equality for all Americans, regardless of race, color or economic status.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Entrepreneurs in Gainesville prove that idealism earns jobs

Jan. 21, 2014

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and Gainesville’s own Grooveshark co-founder Josh Greenberg addressed an auditorium full of UF millennials last week. The talk touched on the Internet, entrepreneurship and failure.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Selfies: It’s OK to be vain

Jan. 20, 2014

As with any new trend, the Internet has had strong opinions about the subject of selfies. Many people argue that they are conceited, the evidence of our self-centered generation. The word “selfies” even sounds like “selfish.” But these judgments are practically archaic.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Science and religion can coexist

Jan. 20, 2014

Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinions, but not his or her own facts. Nearly 33 percent of the American population — and yes, we are talking 2014 here — does not believe in evolution.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Celebrate life by not fearing death

Jan. 20, 2014

Although Woody Allen’s quip, “I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to achieve immortality through not dying,” is famous, the best line about death comes from British entertainer Bob Monkhouse: “I want to die like my father, peacefully in his sleep, not screaming and terrified, like his passengers.”

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Land of the free? Remembering MLK’s death

Jan. 20, 2014

The state of Florida granted UF students and staff a day off from work and classes to honor the memory of Martin Luther King Jr., a pioneer of civil rights for black Americans. You already know this, of course. Every elementary-school curriculum includes the study of King and his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

More study space in Marston coming soon

By Christina Bonarrigo | Jan. 16, 2014

President Bernie Machen recently unveiled a plan to create more student study space on the first floor of Marston Science Library.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Inaccurate reporting in Tuesday’s Alligator

By Helie Dharia | Jan. 16, 2014

In Tuesday’s article on the availability of The New York Times on campus, the Alligator made some serious errors in reporting.

OPINION | COLUMNS

With recent legislation, women’s rights in danger

Jan. 16, 2014

We are told the right to have an abortion was given to us by female-friendly politicians and a liberal Supreme Court, but that’s just not true.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Breaking up is hard to do — but it doesn’t have to be that way

Jan. 16, 2014

It’s 7 a.m. on a Sunday, and you feel like your heart is going to burst.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Taylor Swift resurrects concert business

Jan. 16, 2014

If you broke my life down into a series of fun facts, one of the first five would have something to do with loving the music and the persona of Taylor Swift. I think she’s really great.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels 1/17/14

Jan. 16, 2014

This week, our thoughts and best wishes are with the members of the Roswell, N.M., and Tampa communities after two tragic shootings that resulted in deaths and injuries. Remember the golden rule of defending public safety as a citizen: If you see something, say something.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Victim-blaming ignores race, poverty ties

Jan. 15, 2014

A black, single mother works two jobs to make ends meet.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Post responsibly: Offensive social media use still rampant

Jan. 15, 2014

It’s 2014, and social media has such a pervasive influence on modern life that the Modern Language Association created guidelines for citing tweets within academic papers. Home-improvement franchise Lowe’s uses Vine to produce six-second home-repair tutorials. And any individual — from unknown PR executives to UF football recruits — can be raked over the coals for posting offensive jokes online.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

UF should condemn Ringling Bros. Circus

By Jennifer O’Connor | Jan. 14, 2014

It’s no surprise that the words bully and bullhook are so similar.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Thanks to UF student lobbyists

By Philip Kellerman | Jan. 14, 2014

Kudos to the approximately 30 UF students who lobbied legislators in Tallahassee on Thursday to support in-state tuition for foreign-born students who meet Florida residency requirements and graduated Florida high schools.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Gov. Rick Scott’s Christie-headlined fundraisers yet another questionable antic

Jan. 14, 2014

The political news of the last few days has been dominated by details of a scandal involving senior members of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s Republican administration. Recently uncovered emails revealed a plot among senior members of the governor’s staff to cause major traffic jams in Fort Lee.

OPINION | COLUMNS

What voters need in 2014: skepticism

Jan. 14, 2014

It’s far too easy to be cynical nowadays — especially when it comes to your opinions about politics and the government.