Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Alligator balances fraternity coverage

By Albert Berdellans | Nov. 12, 2009

I am writing this letter to commend the Alligator on the way in which it reported the story “Fraternities charged with providing alcohol to minors.” Contrary to the way in which stories involving the Greek system are typically reported, this article displays the relevant conflicting viewpoints inherent in any news story. Hopefully the level of journalistic quality present in this story will continue to be present in all of the Alligator’s future news articles, particularly stories regarding events that are crucial to the daily lives of hundreds of young men. I applaud the effort to contact each of the relevant organizations.

OPINION | COLUMNS

New policies could cut Web freedoms

Nov. 11, 2009

First they came for the digital pirates, and I did not speak out — because I was not a digital pirate.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Take It Easy Police: partygoers should think before acting

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 11, 2009

“They think Gainesville is their personal toilet... coming from behind shows what kind of garbage they are.” These are the words that Gainesville Police spokesman Keith Kameg used to describe five individuals arrested for attacking police at a Fest after party on Nov. 1. He went on to describe these individuals as a “fringe element” who only visited Gainesville looking for a place to stay.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Public must take interest in polluted site

By CHRIS MOODY | Nov. 11, 2009

The Cabot-Koppers Superfund site is at the corner of Northwest Sixth Street and Northwest 23rd Avenue. For those of you who don’t know about this, let me enlighten you. This property has been used since 1916 for wood treatment. Chemicals from this site have been found seeping into the groundwater and surface water, including arsenic, copper and nine other chemicals found to cause cancers and other health problems. According to EPA testing in 2006, harmful chemicals have already started reaching the upper portion of the aquifer (not good, considering nearly 100 percent of the drinking water in Florida comes from the Floridan aquifer). As bad as all this sounds, it might surprise you that nearly 19 years after a cleanup approach was signed, no action has been taken besides a few trenches being dug.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Proposed public option destined to fail

By Clay Hughes | Nov. 11, 2009

This letter is in response to statements made by the UF College Republicans’ chairman, Bryan Griffin, and the Florida College Democrats’ president, Ben Cavataro, in Tuesday’s article “Locals react to House vote.”

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Florida teens should get life in prison

By Kathryn Beaty Ivey | Nov. 11, 2009

This letter is in response to Tuesday’s editorial, “Cruel Courts.” The teens in South Florida who threw rubbing alcohol on a young boy should not only be tried as adults, they should be put in prison for life without parole. These teens knew exactly what would happen when they threw the match: extensive physical and psychological damage and, most likely, death.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Teens knew what they were doing

By Abigail O’Connell | Nov. 11, 2009

I’m writing in regards to Tuesday’s editorial, “Cruel Courts.” While I agree that the judicial system should rethink how it tries teens for certain crimes, I was shocked that you defended the three teens charged as adults for lighting another on fire.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Republicans aren’t actually conservative

By Frederic Spieler | Nov. 11, 2009

In response to Tuesday’s letter to the editor “Republicans aren’t too conservative,” Ms. Kilic really drops the ball. She says Mr. Christ “attempts to pigeonhole” Republicans by claiming that they are all “‘Bible-thumping,’ overzealous patriots.” She further claims that Republicans are hurting for straying from party principles. Well, what are those principles? What goals does the Republican party have? Banning abortion? Keeping gays out of the military? Making sure that Obama fails, no matter what he is doing?

OPINION | COLUMNS

‘Support the troops’ not just a phrase

Nov. 9, 2009

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. Support the troops.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Cruel Courts: Florida judicial system should rethink how it tries teens

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 9, 2009

Three South Florida teenagers who stand accused of setting another teen on fire will be charged as adults, according to the Associated Press. Denver Jarvis and Matthew Bent, both 15, and Jesus Mendez, 16, were charged with one count each of attempted second-degree murder on Monday.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

WUFT-FM should rethink change in format

By Frank Bracco | Nov. 9, 2009

In a report compiled in June, consultants advising John Wright, the dean of UF's College of Journalism and Communications, suggested a format change to WUFT-FM would only lose $52,000 in membership dollars the first year ($26,000 per semester). Sadly, this semester's drive fell short. It represented a loss of more than $49,000 compared to fall 2008. That is a nearly a 40 percent reduction in pledge dollars; the number of pledges fell by 40 percent as well. The fall pledge drive brought in 29 percent less than the much weaker spring 2009 pledge drive.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Republicans aren’t too conservative

By Jenna Kilic | Nov. 9, 2009

Matthew Christ needs to learn a thing or two about the political ideology of Americans before he writes another column. In his latest one, "Republicans should move away from fringe," he seems to be under the impression that this country leans moderate to left, and therefore the Republicans lost the presidential election. With every column of his I read, I find myself questioning his understanding of what a conservative is. He seems to think that we are all "Bible-thumping," overzealous patriots, and I for one resent his attempts to pigeonhole us.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Guest column captures patriotic spirit

By Jote Thompson | Nov. 8, 2009

Bravo to Daniel Rood for his thought-provoking column in Wednesday's Alligator, "Remember the 5th of November." Dan has certainly captured the pulse of the patriotic movement in our nation at this time. I gasp when I think of what could happen in the near future if our constitutional rights are not restored soon. The Bush/Obama/Federal Reserve takeover of our country has been swift and decisive. I believe the revolution to come will be decisive, as well.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Goldstone Report includes firsthand evidence of war crimes

By Christine Schoellhorn | Nov. 8, 2009

Because good journalism always tells two sides of the story, and Friday's guest column by Yoav Mor was less than half of one side, allow me to clear up a few inaccuracies printed in the Alligator. This time, let's err on the side of fact rather than rhetoric.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Library doesn’t need stricter rules

By Nicola Hill | Nov. 8, 2009

I wonder how Don Kershaw expects the libraries to regulate incoming users. Should everyone enter single-file while some hapless student worker swipes IDs and holds up the line writing down identifying information of those without a coveted Gator 1 Card?

OPINION | COLUMNS

Republicans should move away from fringe

Nov. 8, 2009

Conservatives are like a group of elephants being led in circles by circus masters. Slowly, they sway back and forth, huffing and puffing, only to gain little ground after completing a circle.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Waging War: Farmworkers' wages often forgotten

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 8, 2009

The closest that the average UF student comes to seeing the working conditions on an American farm is the occasional visit to FarmVille. (Well, for some unfortunate souls, this has become an all-too-frequent visit.)

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Blue-doggy style: Democrats shouldn’t bend on key issues

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 8, 2009

On Saturday night, the House of Representatives passed sweeping health care legislation in what President Barack Obama called "an historic moment for our nation and for American families."

OPINION | COLUMNS

Goldstone report doesn’t tell full story

By Yoav Mor | Nov. 5, 2009

There has been recent commotion by supporters of the United Nations' Goldstone report spreading half-truths and misinformation by claiming that the report deals with "human rights."

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 5, 2009

Things have been extra crazy around campus recently. UF staff members and the public just won't let up with their barrage of absurd actions, baffling the Editorial Board. While we would never wish this feeling of helpless bewilderment on anyone, we do hope that the Student Body shares in at least some of our confusion. And it is on that note that we are proud to present you with a we-need-confirmation-that-it's-not-just-the-sleep-deprivation-that's-confusing-us edition of...