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Thursday, June 26, 2025

Opinion

Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Books do not need to be literary

By Caitlin Prichard | Sep. 9, 2009

I picked up "Twilight" because my roommates told me that I'd love it and I wouldn't be able to put it down, not because I was expecting the next great American novel or anything of the sort. While I don't know if "Twilight" has any literary value (in whatever sense of the phrase you mean, that is), I do know that I've never heard anyone claiming that it does. So what if high school students of the future never end up analyzing examples of conflict in the books and underlining metaphors describing Edward's appearance as akin to David? And for that matter, "Harry Potter" isn't scheduled to reach the classroom any time soon, either. It's still highly entertaining when I want to lose myself in a fictional story.

Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Middle East trip reveals need for peace

By Travis Hornsby | Sep. 8, 2009

Instead of working odd jobs, getting an internship or taking classes this summer like a normal college student, I decided to go to the Middle East. I spent the majority of my time in the West Bank, even though the U.S. Department of State advised to stay clear of the Palestinian territories. What I saw has completely changed my views and understanding of American foreign policy in the Middle East.

Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Without patience, nothing gets solved

By Eric Tegethoff | Sep. 8, 2009

This is the first time I've written to the Alligator in my four years at UF. I've thought about it many times, but Columnist Joe Dellosa's article about patience yesterday was the first time I actually felt inspired to. Though I haven't read any of David Foster Wallace's work, I think the message of the article was clear: We are a nation of impatient people. And the Internet isn't the only place where that is evident. We spend a week talking about pressing issues like health care and then forget about it all together when it becomes boring. We can't even listen to a full album of our favorite bands anymore because it takes too much of our precious time.

Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

On-campus restaurants gouge prices

By Eric L. Pheterson | Sep. 8, 2009

I agree with Zach Mayo's stance on the restaurant situation at UF. At a place where I pay to attend, you'd think my food would be somewhat subsidized. Instead, the opposite is true: At every eating establishment on campus, the price is hiked. In South Florida I can get an entire meal from Pollo Tropical for $3.50, here you may as well double it. I think it's wrong of UF to take advantage of its students by charging more simply because we have no other options on campus.

Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Law not intended to protect SG records

By Frank Bracco | Sep. 7, 2009

Over the past couple of days we have heard several Student Government officials praise the new "transparency policy" being created through Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act waivers. This new policy should not be lauded as progress towards creating an open government, but rather as a cheap ploy by higher-ups at the university.

Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

UF should keep cheap food options

By Zach Mayo | Sep. 7, 2009

It is understandable that, in the heat of national debates over health care, CIA interrogations and the way forward from a crimson summer in Afghanistan, we have not talked enough about the recent facelift of the Reitz Union food court.

Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Student Government should use students over outside firms

By Stephanie Powers | Sep. 3, 2009

I am in agreement with Sen. Ben Cavataro concerning the hiring of a consulting firm by Student Government. Why pay $15,500 to outsiders when we have an intelligent and capable student body right here? Student Body Treasurer Maryam Laguna mentioned that non-Gators would have more experience, but why can't SG trust our own students to help in a time of tightening purse strings?

Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Cyclists need to observe road rules

By V. Rubins | Sep. 3, 2009

Dearest Katrina Lane, Newbie cyclists who use the sidewalks instead of the bicycle lanes or streets are a danger to pedestrians and to themselves. You are much safer to observe the rules of the road, stay in your bike lane or street and wear your helmet while cycling around campus. Your darting around pedestrians and assuming you have the right of way on SIDEWALKS is rather presumptuous. This is the adult world, not your high school back home.

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