Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

SG president does not appear to care about graduate students

By ANURADHA PANDEY | Jan. 28, 2010

On Wednesday, I went to Student Body President Jordan Johnson’s town hall forum concerning the new fee for the Reitz Union expansion and repairs. The forum made clear that Johnson is all about appearances and does not care about substance. Despite the repeated explanations I and others gave him that graduate students are already financially stretched thin and do not use the Reitz Union enough to justify paying the fee, he continued to evade the issue and use George W. Bush-like circular logic. Such an approach was not only insulting, but it betrayed the fact that, at the end of the day, Student Government is for and by the undergraduate population, and among them, the Greeks.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reader criticizes Tebow, Dove Center

By Dave Gallo | Jan. 28, 2010

This letter is in response to a number of articles, editorials and letters to the editors over the last month or so. Although I intend to address issues from the Dove World Outreach Center to the upcoming Tim Tebow Super Bowl advertisement, my message is somewhat cohesive: Stop apologizing for bigotry.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Person who wrote 'Cuban' on brick felt victimized by person who perverted meaning

By DEBORAH SWERDLOW | Jan. 28, 2010

I’m upset that Ana Laura Martinez was offended by the Writing on the Wall Project, but I’m even more upset that Martinez completely missed the point of the activity. The presence of the word “Cuban” on one of those bricks does not mean that the word itself is inherently offensive and derogatory. Instead, it means that the person who wrote “Cuban” on his/her brick felt offended when they heard someone say that word. This distinction is hardly about semantics. The difference is that the person who wrote “Cuban” on his or her brick felt victimized by the speaker, who perverted the meaning of a perfectly reasonable ethnic description.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

SG should find another way to raise fees for Reitz renovation

By MATT MINGUS | Jan. 28, 2010

If there’s any thinking going on behind the closed doors of the Unite Party, it’s clearly not very creative. Rather than offer fresh and innovative ideas about how to raise funds for a renovation of the Reitz Union, Student Body President Jordan Johnson’s Wednesday column in the Alligator recycled the same, tired rallying cry for a raise in student fees. He justified his position by using other Florida institutions as examples of “successful” fee-hiking campaigns. Instead of focusing his energy and Student Government position to encourage the Board of Trustees and the administration to search for financial solutions that would not further burden his constituency, Johnson has embraced the idea that the only way the Reitz can be renovated, his proclaimed “Heart of the Gator Nation,” is by adopting the usual go-to strategy of exploiting the labor of graduate employees. Johnson might claim to be grasping at “history,” but he is really reaching for the wallets of already underpaid and overworked graduate assistants who have rent to pay, classes to teach and families to feed. SG needs to stop showcasing its lack of originality and begin to serve as an example to other Florida universities in how it approaches these renovations, rather than justify a new fee simply because they can’t think of anything better.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Protesters of the Writing on the Wall project missed the point

By ANDRE NOBLE | Jan. 28, 2010

What happens when a world becomes so PC (politically correct) that even symbols created to break down barriers come under fire? Well, we have 65 members of the PC police saying they’re offended that their nationality is represented on the Writing on the Wall. Besides the wall having the word Cuban, it also features “Jap,” “Nigger” and other racial epithets. What annoys me about these people is that they totally ignore the fact that the wall represents offensive phrases and words used against someone.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Politicians support parties, not voters

By PAUL MURTY | Jan. 28, 2010

As long as I can remember, we have had terrible political divisions in our country. The only time Democrats and Republicans seem able to work together are in times of crisis, like after the attacks of Sept. 11 or Pearl Harbor. The politics of our country, specifically of Congress, are inherently wrong and against what Americans want.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Darts and Laurels

By Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 28, 2010

The Editorial Board has never been so happy to say TGIF. And we are in dire need of the weekend to rest and recuperate because it’s almost that time again, kids. It’s the most dreaded time of the semester. Yep, you guessed it — Student Government elections.

OPINION | COLUMNS

U.S. should pay attention to educational instability in Afghanistan

By Joshua Lee | Jan. 27, 2010

Too often during times of chaos and conflict, children are marginalized victims and face extreme suffering and life-threatening problems.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Baby boomers caught with pants down

Jan. 27, 2010

There are many avenues President Obama could have traversed with his first State of the Union speech, and I suppose that he can be forgiven for wanting to stick with whatever it is his teleprompter told him to say Wednesday night. I probably would have paid attention if he were wearing a T-shirt with three wolves on it.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Hair Don’t

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 27, 2010

Someone really needs to tell a couple of schools the dos and don’ts of the education process.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Deleting economics class a mistake

By Travis Hornsby | Jan. 27, 2010

The administration of the Warrington College of Business Administration recently announced its plans to do away with managerial economics, a long-required course for many majors in the business college. The deans have decided to replace this course with international business, on the claim that a new global economy demands business students learn how to compete worldwide. However, the real reasons motivating their decision show little regard for the business college students and the value of their degrees.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

The Plastics: America should ease up on plastic surgery

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 27, 2010

In light of “The Hills” star Heidi Pratt’s recent transformation from cute to creepy, The Editorial Board has one message: Slowly step away from the scalpel.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Sarcasm lost on readers

By James Britton | Jan. 26, 2010

This is regarding Kyle Maistri’s article in Tuesday’s paper about playing pick-up basketball at Southwest Rec. No one should go play pick-up if they are looking to impress the guys around them. Everyone goes to play for the exercise and for the love of the game. This article epitomizes the type of player everyone at Southwest Rec hates to play with. Don’t ever switch on defense, harass anyone who calls a foul on you and then call everything. You play to win, not to look good.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Unite Party already has executive ticket chosen

By Joshua Niederriter | Jan. 26, 2010

Alligator, I’ve got a wager for you. I find it hilarious the Unite Party says it will be “conducting interviews” to determine its executive candidates. It’s common knowledge they have already chosen Marcus Dixon to run for vice president and Virlany Taboada to run for treasurer. Because I feel bad for the students who will come out to interview when Unite has made up its mind, I’m willing to put my reputation on the line. If I’m wrong then feel free to Dart me, Joshua Niederriter, when they announce their candidates. But if I’m right send a Dart at the party for misleading the Student Body. I hope you take me up on this offer because either way you win.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Religion must evolve with audience

By Ryan Spencer | Jan. 26, 2010

The whirlwind that is “Avatar” made it over to the Vatican earlier this month in a private screening before its release in Italy. They were not enthused with the movie, and I am not surprised with their reaction.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Town hall forum to discuss Reitz Union plans

By Jordan Johnson | Jan. 26, 2010

As we begin discussions on how to effectively address the issues that face the Reitz Union, Student Government and the Alligator have teamed up to host a town hall forum. The purpose of this town hall forum will be to provide students an opportunity to learn about the significant issues facing our Union and engage each other in a constructive conversation.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Reitz Now: Students should attend town hall forum, vote

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 26, 2010

Remember when Student Government first announced it wanted to charge students a fee to expand and improve the Reitz Union?

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Petty PETA

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 26, 2010

There’s no shortage of vegetarians at the Alligator. Several of our staff members forgo turkey in favor of Tofurkey, and one of us hasn’t had dairy in years. But a recent blog from PETA has the Editorial Board raising its eyebrows.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Presidential Preview

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 25, 2010

Wednesday night President Obama will be broadcast into American living rooms to tell us about the shape our country is in. But you don’t have to wait until tomorrow to hear his talking points. We are here to cut the crap and get to the truth. The State of the Union is perilous.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Conan offered comforting consistency

Jan. 25, 2010

Conan O’Brien’s final episode as the host of “The Tonight Show” aired last Friday, and damn it, I’m feeling a little sad over it.