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Friday, September 26, 2025

Opinion

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

17,000 reasons why we should have had a graduation ceremony

As a first-generation college student, I dreamt about graduation day and walking out to my family afterwards to bask in the joy of my accomplishments. I never dreamt about going to football games, basketball games or anything of the like. My academics meant more to me than anything else at UF, given they were the main reason why I was there. 


Christina Morales, as a staff writer at The Alligator, and Tyler Pratt on one of their first dates at the UF X Ambassadors concert on Flavet Field in 2017.
 
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

What it's like to date a journalist

Journalists don’t have a lot of free time. If they date you, they must really like you. I consider myself extra special because I was able to get a journalist to fit me in her abundant agenda filled with interviews, writing, meetings and editing all the time. While I do feel special, there was also a lot I learned by dating Christina Morales for more than two years during her Alligator career. 


Lina Ruiz and Dana Cassidy respectively covered city commission and crime beats during the Fall 2019 semester. Lina Ruiz was the digital managing editor during the Spring 2020 semester. 
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Pop the champagne

I remember the first time I entered The Alligator newsroom as a staff writer. I felt small despite the hospitality and limited square footage of the glorified closet. 


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