Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 19, 2009

Last week was unusually slow for the Department of Darts and Laurels. In light of this, we made a (desperate?) plea for Gators to go out and make some real news. While we doubt that the overwhelming response was due entirely to the public pity party we held for ourselves last week, we think it helped. So now, inundated with news, we would like to present you with a be-careful-what-you-wish-for edition of:

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Grad students shouldn’t have to foot bill

By Tim Johnson | Nov. 19, 2009

On Wednesday, the UF Graduate Student Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing additional student fees for the renovation of the Reitz Union. This measure was taken to contest the recent resolution passed by UF Student Government proposing such fee increases.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Undergrads shouldn’t complain about fee

By Matthew Powers | Nov. 19, 2009

Are undergrads seriously up in arms over a $20 flat fee plus $3 per credit hour for the new Reitz Union? I’m an out-of-state student receiving $0 in government aid. In case you’re unaware, out-of-state tuition is now approaching $800 per credit. My Reitz student fee of $65 would buy me a little more than one hour of class at UF.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reitz repairs irresponsible, unnecessary

By Rachael Day | Nov. 19, 2009

Sitting in the Reitz Union yesterday, I was approached by a student senator who encouraged me to sign a petition in favor of a “small fee” that would favor a new student union. He assured me that the fee would “only be a couple of dollars” and that I would be leaving a legacy for future Florida students.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Cuban embargo should remain in place

By Dayme Sanchez | Nov. 19, 2009

It seems that there are many people out there ill-informed about the Cuban embargo. The first false assumption people make is that the U.S. initiated the embargo because Cuba became a communist country. The truth is that the U.S. enacted the embargo because when the Castro regime took power in 1959, it expropriated all of the properties of the U.S., including that of American citizens and corporations. Castro enriched his regime with the millions of dollars he stole from the U.S. and has never paid the money back.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Fee-for-All: SG should get student input on new Reitz fee

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 18, 2009

Tuesday’s Student Government vote on the proposed Reitz Union expansion has stirred up almost as much interest (and as many impassioned letters and Web site comments) as SG’s pending decision on a resolution denouncing the Goldstone report, the controversial UN report alleging Israeli war crimes.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Pray for less fortunate at Thanksgiving

Nov. 18, 2009

While driving Oprah to her highest ratings in two years, Sarah Palin asked that we cast aside our petty sociopolitical differences and as a united country pray for the everliving soul of Levi Johnston.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Preachers shouldn’t mask messages

By Rebecca Theobald | Nov. 18, 2009

This morning, while I strolled through Turlington Plaza, I was delighted to see that people were handing out copies of “The Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin. This seemed a vast improvement over coupons and fliers. Then I opened the book and found the “special introduction” urging me to accept an intelligent designer and “receive the gift of eternal life.”

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reitz Union needs renovations

By Severin Walstad | Nov. 18, 2009

The Alligator never seems to disappoint. Wednesday’s article “Senate approves Reitz Union student expansion fee” left out some important facts in the case for the Reitz Union renovation and expansion. For instance, a petition was signed by about 1,500 students in less than 24 hours in support of the renovation and the student fee to pay for it. That would seem to outweigh the 70 or so graduate students who attended Tuesday night’s Senate meeting.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Renovations will improve quality of UF

By Zack Faza | Nov. 18, 2009

In response to the expansion and renovation of the Reitz Union, I would like to express support, despite the objections raised concerning extra fees. Another beautiful and utilitarian building on the UF campus further fortifies the quality and progress that distinguishes Florida from other higher learning institutions.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Current students won’t see benefits of Reitz Union expansion, renovation

By Zoe Ziliak | Nov. 18, 2009

The Student Senate should not have approved the resolution favoring the implementation of a new fee to pay for the proposed expansion of the Reitz Union.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Senators disregarded students’ wishes

By Karla Rowe | Nov. 18, 2009

I’d like to express my utter disgust at the student senators who completely disregarded their student constituents last night. More than 70 students attended the Senate meeting in opposition of a resolution that would support UF administration charging all students a fee for the expansion and renovation of the Reitz Union. Majority party senators approved this bill while simultaneously rejecting a proposed amendment that would bring it to a Student Body referendum. It is understood that the repairs are necessary. The expansion, however, is debatable pork.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

US efforts against terrorism are war

By John Colby | Nov. 18, 2009

This is in response to Wednesday’s letter to the editor “’War on terror’ not a war.” I must disagree with Patrick Poage’s position that calling our “global effort to eliminate terrorists” a war allows al-Qaida and others to justify their actions against our country and our soldiers.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Accent should spend less on better talent

By Leighton Williams | Nov. 17, 2009

This letter is not so much a response to Jeremy Piven’s last minute cancellation, but rather to the Accent Speakers Bureau’s choice in speakers. The fact that $85,000 was going to be spent on a second-rate actor is pathetic.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Students show selfishness by scalping

By Whitney Shadowens | Nov. 17, 2009

I am disappointed in Gators fans. With the SEC Championship tickets selling out in less than an hour last night, it was disappointing to students who missed out. However, what is most disappointing is learning that the reason tickets sold out so quickly is because many people logged in to purchase tickets only to sell them for a few hundred bucks. What is wrong with you? I mean, you cannot even get the tickets from the box office without a driver’s license and UF ID.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Illegal billboards should be removed

By Arnall Downs | Nov. 17, 2009

Illegal billboards should be removed

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Grad students can’t afford new fee

By Matthew Smith | Nov. 17, 2009

As a graduate student, the dream of being financially solvent seems a distant one. Most grad students live below the poverty line. Yet, once again, UF is attempting to raise student fees — this time to pay for the renovation and expansion of Reitz Union. And these fees will affect graduate students differently; we actually have to pay for our fees (unlike undergrads who receive Bright Futures and/or prepaid).

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

‘War on terror’ not a war

By Patrick Poage | Nov. 17, 2009

This is in response to Tuesday’s guest column, “Trials give terrorists better treatment than they deserve.” While most of Warren Rhea’s opinion was intelligently argued, the final paragraph certainly gave me pause. Speaking about the Bush administration’s war on terror, he wrote, “It’s a war, let’s start treating it like one.” I disagree with this.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Congress should end travel restrictions to Cuba

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 17, 2009

This week, Congress is taking up the issue of the Cuba travel ban, part of an embargo started against the communist country in 1960. For nearly 50 years, it has been effectively illegal for Americans to travel to Cuba.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Privacy should be given greater value

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 17, 2009

Several weeks ago, I showed up to my friend Katie’s house to watch TV.