Opinion

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

What it's like to date a journalist

Apr. 19, 2020

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. 

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Pop the champagne

Apr. 19, 2020

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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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Journalists are made by people

Apr. 19, 2020

There used to be an old man who tucked in his aqua button-up shirt into his khaki pants every day. He looped a leather belt, shined his shoes and slicked back the little white hair he had left. 

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Save the drinking for when your loved ones are dead

Mar. 17, 2020

If I truly knew how to make young people care about the lives of others, I suppose I’d be writing a bestselling book instead of a column.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Don’t lose sight of the upcoming election

Mar. 9, 2020

As a student, it can be easy to forget about elections because of everything else going on in your life. With classes, part-time jobs and other extracurricular activities, it’s intimidating to even think about fitting an election into an already chaotic schedule. Luckily, voting is convenient and effortless, thanks to a variety of voting options. 

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to The Editor: Citizenship is degraded by partisanship

Feb. 19, 2020

Although I was born in India, growing up in the U.S. has instilled in me how important it is to be civically engaged. I saw the constantly changing political climate in America, and I watched as the leaders of our country made decisions for the future of our nation. And yet, for 12 years, I was unable to participate in selecting our leaders because I was not a U.S. citizen.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Cheryl '77 – Love and Reflection

Feb. 14, 2020

This week, I have eagerly anticipated the Cheryl ’77 podcast episodes by UF’s Alisson Clark and Emily Cardinali. Alisson and Emily are on a mission to discover the author and intended recipient of a love note inscribed in the concrete sidewalk just off University Avenue in the courtyard by Matherly Hall  on UF’s campus.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

President Fuchs on Florida Arbor Day

Jan. 16, 2020

This week, I planted a live oak on the lawn of the Reitz Union near the Field and Fork Pantry.  The planting ceremony was with Louise Fresco, the president of Wageningen University, in celebration of the collaboration between our universities and in honor of Wageningen’s centennial anniversary. Wageningen, based in the Netherlands, is the world’s No. 1-ranked university focusing on agriculture.

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor: Be heard through elections

Jan. 16, 2020

Returning from winter break, I am sure that many other students can sympathize with my struggle to avoid arguments over politics at family gatherings. My experiences have led me to this: Imagine if only people who voted were allowed to start arguments over the holiday dinner table?

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Trump’s Soleimani killing puts Americans at risk

Jan. 16, 2020

On Friday, it was revealed Gen. Qassem Soleimani was killed in a drone strike ordered by President Trump. Because of this, the U.S. is lurching toward a dangerous situation in Iran.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Student Government apparently doesn’t have a camera

Jan. 15, 2020

I really hope someone in SG got a nice camera for Christmas, because it sure seems like they need one.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Goodbye Column: I can finally catch my breath

By Amanda Rosa | Dec. 3, 2019

I have dreaded this exact moment: My acrylic nails tapping against my phone at 3:41 a.m. as I type into the notes app.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Goodbye Column: Your health should always come before a story

Dec. 3, 2019

Wow, I’m finally leaving the godforsaken basement office that is The Alligator. Despite my cries to never come back at the end of every semester, it is a year and a half later and I’ve finally reached the point where I truly can’t come back. As a Leo sun and Virgo rising, I’m deeply unemotional, so I don’t know how to be sentimental. Instead, I'm just going to spew a bunch of words and stop when I feel like I’ve run out of things to say as a true fire sign with a Gemini moon. 

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Pets are great if you know how to take care of them

Dec. 1, 2019

Getting a pet in college is a great idea. Any dog, cat, fish or chicken would make a great companion. We all need some animal affection in college, especially as finals approach. Kitten snuggles or puppy kisses might be exactly what you need at this time of year. Plus, they provide great emotional support. I recommend that every responsible college student have a pet, but think carefully before you add a tail-wagging pal to your family. If you do decide to get a furry, feathered or scaly companion, be conscious of where you are getting them from, and be certain that you are prepared to commit to this creature for the rest of its life.  

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to The Editor: It’s Time For Ranked-Choice Voting

Dec. 1, 2019

Representative democracy is founded upon the idea that citizens can confidently waive their direct voice in governmental affairs to elected legislators who will serve their best interests. This assumption is strong, and it often does not hold very well in practice.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

On not living up to expectations

Dec. 1, 2019

This is something that’s been on my mind a lot lately. Standing at the end of the semester now, there are great obstacles to face over the next few weeks, but there are even more behind us. You may have overcome some of those obstacles successfully and failed to overcome others. And, while I’m confident we’ll all face our upcoming challenges to the best of our ability, it’s possible we might not live up to the expectations we’ve set for ourselves. But falling short of them is not just okay, it’s normal. 

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Imposter Syndrome

Dec. 1, 2019

Underneath your success, imposter syndrome loves to roam. It transforms your achievements into bundles of doubts. It belittles all those hours of hard work into luck that you don’t deserve. 

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Black Friday deals are outdated and come with a cost

Dec. 1, 2019

Last week saw the repetition of what is now a tradition in the U.S.’ consumer culture: Black Friday. We all know what Black Friday looks like: mobs of people in a store rushing for extraordinary deals, people camping outside to get first dibs on a cheap TV or appliance and poor employees enduring all the madness. However, while this chaotic scene may have once had some appeal, time, the evolution of the Internet and our growing awareness of environmental and consumer issues is making Black Friday an irrelevant celebration. It’s time to acknowledge that.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Trump’s infamous money moves

Nov. 24, 2019

In the first week of November, our president was ordered by a state judge to pay $2 million in damages to nonprofit groups. This came after he admitted to the misuse of funds raised by the Donald J. Trump Foundation to promote his run for the presidency, pay off business debts and purchase a self-portrait for one of his hotels. The award of damages marks the end of a legal battle that’s been taking place since 2016 when New York’s attorney general accused the Trump family of using the foundation for business and campaign purposes. The cash in question was raised at a fundraiser intended for veterans in Iowa, which Trump later acknowledged as a campaign event.

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor: Inaccurate Reporting by Alligator Plays Down Rising Anti-Semitism on Campus

Nov. 21, 2019

Editor's Note: This letter includes details of a statement made by IDF reserve member Yoni Michanie in which he said that protesters referred to him as a Nazi while he was speaking at UF. Recent reporting by The Alligator includes first-hand testimony from students, a UF professor and videos of the protest that do not corroborate Michanie's claim of paper signs referring to him as such. The author of this letter did not attend the event.