Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor: Inaccurate Reporting by Alligator Plays Down Rising Anti-Semitism on Campus

Nov. 21, 2019

Editor's Note: This letter includes details of a statement made by IDF reserve member Yoni Michanie in which he said that protesters referred to him as a Nazi while he was speaking at UF. Recent reporting by The Alligator includes first-hand testimony from students, a UF professor and videos of the protest that do not corroborate Michanie's claim of paper signs referring to him as such. The author of this letter did not attend the event.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor: Students for Justice in Palestine stands for Gaza

Nov. 21, 2019

On Tuesday, UF’s Students for Justice in Palestine organized a vigil and walkout during an event featuring former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sergeant Yoni Michanie. The event commemorated yet another year of SJP organizers putting together a vigil to mourn those in Gaza. Year after year, Israel attacks unprotected Gaza with state of the art bombs and missiles. Following the 2014 conflict between Israel and Palestine, the United Nations came out with a report in 2018 stating that Gaza could become uninhabitable by 2020 if the conditions remained as they were.

Nintendo Download: Forge a Path to Greatness in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The best Pokémon games so far

By Myles Gibbs | Nov. 17, 2019

On Friday, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield hit the big time on Nintendo Switch after eight months of hype. In light of this notable step for the franchise – seeing a main-series game on a console for the first time – I thought it’d be prudent to look back on some of the best games in the series so far.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Talking about mental health disparities in undocumented communities

By Matthew Diaz | Nov. 17, 2019

Mental illnesses are colorblind, but the barriers to treatment aren’t. Previously, I wrote about some of the ways that immigrant communities were disproportionately affected by mental illnesses, which made me interested in our undocumented population in the United States. Roughly 10 million strong, they live in perpetual fear and anxiety, often without any sustainable way of getting professional help. Most conversations thus far have been focused on how to eliminate overt barriers to healthcare, but for this community’s sake, more needs to be said about eliminating the underlying psychosocial barriers.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to The Editor: The unspoken injustice of the modern age

Nov. 17, 2019

This piece is dedicated to Netflix’s original film “Tall Girl” and those involved in its production. Before I watched this movie, I didn’t realize I have been a part of an oppressed minority my entire life. Being a relatively tall female, I finally feel as though I am being properly represented.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Why removing likes from Instagram isn’t such a bad thing

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 17, 2019

We can’t argue against social media’s influence — in fact, we already made an argument stating how important it really is.

A member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department stands outside of Saugus High School with his weapon drawn after reports of a shooting on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

OPINION | EDITORIALS

The U.S. needs help, and not with just guns

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 14, 2019

Usually, the editorial board likes to take it easy on Fridays and publish a series of “Darts and Laurels” in order to lighten the mood for the weekend and provide our opinions on different things happening in the news.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Your ideal body shape should be your own

By Hannah Whitaker | Nov. 14, 2019

As a society, we must stop making certain body shapes and sizes trendy. This isn’t a revolutionary or unpopular opinion, but it is something I constantly see and am affected by daily. I am imploring us, as human beings, to stop accepting unhealthy body ideals. Young women are constantly bombarded with images of thin bodies with perky breasts on social media and ad campaigns. These body types are by no means average — or even healthy — yet, women grow up desiring to look like supermodels. We must put an end to the fetishization of certain body types. We shouldn’t only praise one breast size, as this is something no one has control over. Thigh gaps aren’t an indicator of health, and plenty of healthy people don’t have thigh gaps. We should begin to promote healthy bodies, not idealistic bodies. Regardless of body shape, you should celebrate your body.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend ceremony at the New York City Veterans Day Parade at Madison Square Park in New York, Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

OPINION | COLUMNS

The truth behind feminism today

By Carly Sloane Gettleman | Nov. 14, 2019

The fight for gender equality is ingrained in the United States’ history. Beginning in the mid-1800s with the battle for women’s suffrage, feminism has been in the spotlight of politics. Unfortunately, in today’s society, feminists’ efforts have become extreme.

In this Friday, April 29, 2016, photo, people stand near the entrance gate to Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. Northwestern University's student newspaper is under fire. Their first critics came from within the campus as student activists questioned journalists’ coverage of protests. Within days, editors decided to write a statement apologizing but their editorial prompted a second round of criticism from journalists around the country starting Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune via AP)

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Northwestern's apology wasn't great, but Twitter's reaction was even worse

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 12, 2019

As upcoming journalists, many of us are aware of the difficulties involved in the craft. Our work is expected to inform the public in an objective way, but when respecting the feelings of the public comes into play, things can get confusing.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The stigma of going braless

By Lauren Rousseau | Nov. 12, 2019

What comes in pairs, is beloved by babies, but hated by the media? Nipples! In the age of the #MeToo movement and feminism, women are taking ownership over their bodies, including their nipples.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Student Government budget crisis update: The good and the manure news.

By Zachariah Chou | Nov. 12, 2019

Since budget hearings have started and the money has begun flowing, let’s examine how things have been looking so far.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor: The stories our father told

Nov. 12, 2019

When you grow up in a house of journalists, you are born into a world of stories. Many of them are filled with villains, heroes and impossible twists of fate. In his 40-year career in journalism that started at The Alligator, our father Barry Klein accumulated too many stories to count. He is retiring this week, and to demonstrate his commitment to critical journalistic values, we figured it’s time to tell a couple of his.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Talking about mental health disparities in minority communities

By Matthew Diaz | Nov. 7, 2019

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), ethnic and racial minorities often bear a disproportionately high burden of disability resulting from mental disorders. Yet, by 2044, models show more than half of all Americans will belong to a minority group. Taken altogether, this seems to indicate troubled waters on our horizons, and it should speak to the importance of cultural sensitivity in mental health training.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Stress should be used in moderation

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 5, 2019

Stress is hard to handle when you first experience it. As college students, we are constantly thrown into situations that test our mental and physical capabilities. But it turns out we might actually enjoy it.

$A group of indigenous peoples lead a march of protestors against fracking and shale gas through Point State Park before a ceremony to bless the three rivers, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, in Pittsburgh. The group is protesting before President Donald Trump is to speak at at the Shale Insight Conference Wednesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)$

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Why are we still celebrating stealing from Native Americans?

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 3, 2019

Halloween may be over, but we’re still concerned about bad holiday practices, especially here in the U.S.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The power in profanity and the benefits of using it

By Lauren Rousseau | Nov. 3, 2019

A curse slips off your tongue as you trip up the stairs. Obscenity rips through your throat at the touch of a hot surface. A “dirty word” slithers over gaping lips when the clock strikes 12:01 a.m. and you remember that discussion post was due at 11:59 p.m.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Just Laurels: Halloween

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 31, 2019

Halloween is finally over.

Sarah Paulson attends the 100 Episodes of "American Horror Story" Celebration at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

OPINION | COLUMNS

Halloween lives on in American Horror Story

By Hannah Whitaker | Oct. 31, 2019

Halloween has unfortunately passed, but its spirit has yet to move on to the afterlife.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Avoid the temptation of all-nighters

By Jason Zappulla | Oct. 31, 2019

It’s exam season at UF. Students are crowding the libraries and voraciously consuming books and study guides to prepare for the big day. Some of these students pull all-nighters to study, forgoing sleep and staying up all night to prepare. I’m here to tell you that not only are all-nighters a poor method of studying, but that there are much better options available.