Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Summer of DeSantis: The bills that made it past the state legislative session

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 31

Gov. Ron DeSantis has continued to grow in prominence as the 2024 United States Presidential Election slowly approaches. DeSantis, who announced he would run for president May 24, has used the state’s 2023 legislation session to mold Florida politics and boost his national campaign.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Ron DeSantis: redefining Conservatism in America

By Harrison Feld | July 31

In my view, Gov. Ron DeSantis is the right man for the job. Through his leadership, he stood up to medical tyranny, put woke corporations in check and defended the rights of parents and students in the schools. DeSantis has the youth, energy and executive experience to move our country forward.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

We’re just around the corner: Meet The Alligator

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 3

Beyond joining an expansive alumni network, working at The Alligator is a great opportunity to meet other passionate student journalists and make lifelong friendships.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Finding hope as history repeats itself

By Ruka Scarlett | June 12

How I wish I had better news. It’s Pride Month after all — one of many occasions throughout the year when we celebrate diversity in a world that doesn’t always embrace such a thing. I’m happier with myself than ever, living my truth has been a blessing, allowing me to thrive. Unfortunately, being happy with oneself, is a different thing from being happy with one’s situation, even further removed, being happy with the state of things.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Committing to due diligence reporting for Pride

By Jiselle Lee , Kristine Villarroel and Jackson Reyes | June 12

Last week, The Alligator published a paper with an emphasis on LGBTQ stories. We featured nonbinary drag queens, covered state trans legislation, local Pride info sessions and more. We’re proud to publish these stories our staff worked hard on. We’re honored to cover the stories about our local communities.

OPINION | COLUMNS

We want a seat at the table

By Jackson Reyes | May 22

At first glance, most people I’ve met don’t realize I’m an Asian American, which led to my desire to embrace my Filipino identity. It pushed me to learn more about that side of my heritage. It was something I was proud to represent in my accomplishments, such as graduating high school and attending UF.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Representation matters

By Joe Newman | May 22

Representation matters. Having two top editors of Asian descent for the first time in The Alligator’s 117-year history matters. Their voices, their perspectives and life experiences matter – not only for their newsroom but for the UF community.

OPINION | COLUMNS

It’s about time

By Jiselle Lee | May 22

Despite the enormous efforts the community has made to establish its presence, The Alligator has lacked consistent coverage of AAPI people in the Gainesville community. Admittedly, this is the result of an inconsistent amount of AAPI reporters on our staff from semester to semester.

OPINION | COLUMNS

My life is really a slice-of-life movie

By Kyle Bumpers | Apr. 24

April 24, 2022, I got an email asking me to interview for The Alligator. A year later, I’m publishing my goodbye column in this semester’s final paper. My driver’s license might read the same name, but the kid who got that email isn’t the same as the one typing this column.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The Alligator kept me sane

By Aurora Martínez | Apr. 24

I’m leaving this place knowing I’ll miss it with every fiber of my being. And in all honesty, I’ll probably forget which stories we worked on, but I won’t forget how much I grew with you.

OPINION | COLUMNS

If walls could talk

By Alan Halaly | Apr. 24

Those walls, though some now covered in mold, know The Alligator’s newsroom isn’t for the weak. It’s a pressure cooker of immensely talented, high-strung 20-somethings trying to launch a career in a field where you’re told to do cartwheels for pennies.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Dear diary, saying goodbye sucks

By Veronica Nocera | Apr. 24

Two years ago, I thought I would stick with The Alligator right up until graduation, but sometimes finish lines come sooner than expected. I never wanted to be a name on the masthead, but sometimes cards just fall a certain way.

OPINION | COLUMNS

I am so tired

By Christian Casale | Apr. 24

I could say I put in all this work to serve the UF and Gainesville communities, which would be noble. I could say I did it all for the clips and for a career after graduation, which would be cynical, but understandable in this dying industry. But neither is exactly true. I did it because the people around me were doing it.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Look Mom, I’m in a newspaper

By Jack Lemnus | Apr. 24

As a senior who always felt late to the game, I spent the last year hustling to catch up. It seemed like everyone started writing for The Alligator in their first year, interned at a newspaper in their second and had a job lined up by their last. But despite the setbacks, I’ve grown more this semester at The Alligator than any other.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Where We Stand

Apr. 17

In a place like north central Florida, our connection to the environment is everything. It surrounds everyday life no matter who you are — a UF student here to get your degree and leave or a longtime Alachua County resident.

Gabriella Aulisio (center) poses with her flag football team, The Steelers, at the YMCA Sports Complex fields on Archer Road in 2008.

OPINION | COLUMNS

As the climate changes, so does Gainesville

By Gabriella Aulisio | Apr. 17

Places I grew up with — places that defined me and built me to be the nature-loving, outdoor going, multi-sport playing girl I am — are no longer there.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Before it’s too late

By Colleen Anderson | Apr. 17

Before my generation, young people weren’t given a platform to share their lived experiences. With the rise of digital media, however, this dated norm is being erased.

OPINION | COLUMNS

A note from Gainesville’s mayor

By Harvey Ward | Apr. 17

When it comes to climate change here in Gainesville, it often seems like we’re whistling past the graveyard.

OPINION | COLUMNS

GAU deserves a voice, too

By Rachel Hartnett | Apr. 10

At this moment, GAU is fighting for the first amendment rights of students and workers and for UF’s core values.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Is Florida where higher education goes to die?

By Oliver Grundmann | Apr. 10

In recent years, the Florida legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis have made the state exceptional through a political agenda that is detrimental to the people of Florida — bills that have already been enacted.