Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Conservative arguments made in Griffin’s column not true

By Frederic Spieler | June 9, 2010

Bryan Griffin’s article “Individual action key to conservation” seems to strongly evoke his Republican role model, Bobby Jindal, the governor of Louisiana, and his limp response to President Obama’s State of the Union address. In his piece, he manages to convey such base ideas as “Liberals bad” and “Regulation bad.” OK, so you can’t blame him for paraphrasing the GOP manifesto. But beyond the standard partisan hackery, Mr. Griffin offers several gems that are simply too precious to ignore.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Roadtrips can be fun, enlightening

By Bryan Griffin | June 9, 2010

We have all seen it on our Facebook news feeds – friends and family posting pictures of their worldly travels. For many students, classes and obligations have dwindled, and those lucky enough to find funding have taken the opportunity to explore exotic destinations.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Alligator overlooks mental health fee

By Zoe Ziliak | June 7, 2010

I wanted to comment on the new fees and on the Alligator’s commentary on them. First, let’s look at the mental health program fee the Alligator failed to comment on: “But until evaluations of UF’s mental health care finish, the money is given to SG.” What?! The Alligator accepts this?! “We want to use this money for mental health later, but for now, let’s go ahead and collect the money and throw it at SG. It’ll be fun!”

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gulf oil spill is a call to action

By Aaron T. Dossey | June 7, 2010

Attention Congress,

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Fee increases strain students

By Don Kershaw | June 7, 2010

I have one question to the administration, Student Government and anyone in favor of the 25 percent hike in fees: Are you crazy? I mean are you that out of touch with reality that you would endorse such an irresponsible hike in one sitting? These tough economic times call for every American, Floridian and UF student to cut back, tighten their belts and use common sense when it comes tuition increases. I know this is a new concept for many in the upper echelon of the university, but it’s called fiscal responsibility. We should be cutting back and limiting non-educational services, not expanding them at the costly expense of Joe and Jane Student. People could argue that progress comes at a cost. I push back by saying that there is nothing wrong with delayed, systematic progress. University officials need to stop, think and then spend instead of this reckless attitude that seems to get worse with every passing school year.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Students’ census responses important for future planning Fellow Gators

By Marcus L. Dixon | June 7, 2010

I know you all have heard so much about how important it is to fill out the 2010 Census, but this is the final stretch.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Cheating in class is easy, unacceptable

By KATHRYN STOLARZ | June 7, 2010

By now you’re probably in “lazy-days-of-summer” mode. Staying up late doing nothing productive. Sleeping in. Wanting to lay out by the pool. Thinking and moving in slow-motion.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Florida Atlantic University firestorm

By The Alligator Editorial Board | June 7, 2010

Florida Atlantic University’s first step to toning down its student newspaper, University Press, was to fire long-time adviser and former editor-in-chief of the Alligator Michael Koretzky on May 18.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Bar blues: Underagers are to blame for drinking violations

By The Alligator Editorial Board | June 7, 2010

Whenever we go to Midtown we have to wade through a seemingly endless amount of 18- to 20-year-olds. They edge in front of us at the bar only to stare blankly at the bartender before ordering a “roman coke” or whatever it is that grown-ups drink. They look so innocent trying to tape together a discarded wristband they found behind a Dumpster, and it’s hilarious every time we see a 19-year-old girl drunkenly crying behind Balls.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Individual action key to conservation

By Bryan Griffin | June 2, 2010

For too long, environmental conservation has been a cause championed by liberals. Even though most members from both sides of the political spectrum, myself included, recognize the importance of environmental preservation and want to work to protect our planet, only liberals seem to lay claim to the issue.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Rip-off: Health care fee unfair to undergraduates

By Alligator Editorial Board | June 2, 2010

Another $4.64 in fees is going to be tacked onto the cost of a credit hour at UF, and it’s a hard pill to swallow since part of it ensures that graduate students get access to free health care at the cost of undergraduates.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Group asks residents to protest Israeli assault on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.

By Joe Cenker | June 2, 2010

The Gainesville branch of the International Socialist Organization is calling on Gainesville residents, religious groups and student organizations to come out this Monday to publicly denounce the illegal Israeli assault on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters Monday.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Bus customer does not deserve refund for his missed flight

By Karl Bruno | May 31, 2010

This headline, "Bus customer demands refund for missed flight," makes it sound like the bus didn't get him there on time, in which case he would be right to demand a refund.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

UF Supreme Court nominees lacked basic knowledge about FERPA.

By Alan Martin | May 31, 2010

David Nigliazzo was not the only controversial nominee.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Up in smoke: Countdown to the campus smoking ban

By Alligator Editorial Board | May 31, 2010

Students only have one more month to smoke on campus before it is officially banned. Let the countdown begin.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Donating hair to oil spill effort wasn’t done in vain

By Christopher Day | May 31, 2010

I cut off 8 inches or so and donated all my hair to the group in the plaza Thursday.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Officers’ claims of self-defense do not justify student shooting

By Andrew Lapetina | May 31, 2010

Bill Cervone's statement clearly indicates that he believes police officers can, in the name of self-defense, shoot any person in their presence armed with a possibly deadly weapon - such as a cane, which is hardly different from a table leg - and wielding it in a dangerous manner.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Inhospitable: Crist vetoes $9.7 million for Shands funding

By Alligator Editorial Board | May 31, 2010

Things just got a little more difficult for the under-insured and uninsured.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Facebook should not share user info

By Joshua Lee | May 31, 2010

Like most college students, I am quite tied to my Facebook account and have put much of my life on the ever-growing social network. When I first heard about Facebook four years ago, I promised myself I would never sign my deal with the devil and get an account. Four years later and here I am, one of those people who logs on at least twice a day to update myself on things that the website says I care about.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Fat Tuscan restaurant owners can’t complain about zoning restrictions

By Robert Hueckstaedt | May 31, 2010

If the zoning code hasn't changed, then the owners of the Fat Tuscan have no argument.