opinion - The Independent Florida Alligator

Opinion

Bar blues: Underagers are to blame for drinking violations

By The Alligator Editorial Board | June 7, 2010

Whenever we go to Midtown we have to wade through a seemingly endless amount of 18- to 20-year-olds. They edge in front of us at the bar only to stare blankly at the bartender before ordering a “roman coke” or whatever it is that grown-ups drink. They look so innocent trying to tape together a discarded wristband they found behind a Dumpster, and it’s hilarious every time we see a 19-year-old girl drunkenly crying behind Balls.

Opinion

Individual action key to conservation

By Bryan Griffin | June 2, 2010

For too long, environmental conservation has been a cause championed by liberals. Even though most members from both sides of the political spectrum, myself included, recognize the importance of environmental preservation and want to work to protect our planet, only liberals seem to lay claim to the issue.

Opinion

Rip-off: Health care fee unfair to undergraduates

By Alligator Editorial Board | June 2, 2010

Another $4.64 in fees is going to be tacked onto the cost of a credit hour at UF, and it’s a hard pill to swallow since part of it ensures that graduate students get access to free health care at the cost of undergraduates.

Opinion

Group asks residents to protest Israeli assault on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.

By Joe Cenker | June 2, 2010

The Gainesville branch of the International Socialist Organization is calling on Gainesville residents, religious groups and student organizations to come out this Monday to publicly denounce the illegal Israeli assault on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters Monday.

Sports

National title goes unnoticed

By TOM GREEN | May 31, 2010

Go ahead and add another national championship to Florida’s collection.

Opinion

Bus customer does not deserve refund for his missed flight

By Karl Bruno | May 31, 2010

This headline, "Bus customer demands refund for missed flight," makes it sound like the bus didn't get him there on time, in which case he would be right to demand a refund.

Opinion

UF Supreme Court nominees lacked basic knowledge about FERPA.

By Alan Martin | May 31, 2010

David Nigliazzo was not the only controversial nominee.

Opinion

Up in smoke: Countdown to the campus smoking ban

By Alligator Editorial Board | May 31, 2010

Students only have one more month to smoke on campus before it is officially banned. Let the countdown begin.

Opinion

Donating hair to oil spill effort wasn’t done in vain

By Christopher Day | May 31, 2010

I cut off 8 inches or so and donated all my hair to the group in the plaza Thursday.

Opinion

Officers’ claims of self-defense do not justify student shooting

By Andrew Lapetina | May 31, 2010

Bill Cervone's statement clearly indicates that he believes police officers can, in the name of self-defense, shoot any person in their presence armed with a possibly deadly weapon - such as a cane, which is hardly different from a table leg - and wielding it in a dangerous manner.

Opinion

Inhospitable: Crist vetoes $9.7 million for Shands funding

By Alligator Editorial Board | May 31, 2010

Things just got a little more difficult for the under-insured and uninsured.

Opinion

Facebook should not share user info

By Joshua Lee | May 31, 2010

Like most college students, I am quite tied to my Facebook account and have put much of my life on the ever-growing social network. When I first heard about Facebook four years ago, I promised myself I would never sign my deal with the devil and get an account. Four years later and here I am, one of those people who logs on at least twice a day to update myself on things that the website says I care about.

Opinion

Fat Tuscan restaurant owners can’t complain about zoning restrictions

By Robert Hueckstaedt | May 31, 2010

If the zoning code hasn't changed, then the owners of the Fat Tuscan have no argument.

Opinion

Soccer deserves a spot in the limelight alongside football

By Marc Evenst Jn Jacques | May 31, 2010

It is love at first sight. It is a Thursday afternoon, and you are exhausted, waiting on the bus and eager to get home.

Opinion

Forget Nothing: Remember the purpose of Memorial Day

By Alligator Editorial Board | May 26, 2010

The weather is going to be great, but you may want to think twice before cracking open a beer and having a pool party this weekend.

Opinion

The Savvy Modern Online Politico

By Bryan Griffin | May 26, 2010

I love a good Internet political meme. Most political junkies have their inner circles of friends on an email list-serve that they use to distribute particularly funny or applicable memes. It can be a very enjoyable hobby.

Opinion

Student Health Care Center offers services for sexual health

By Laura Mize | May 26, 2010

After seeing the column ‘Sexual health care on the cheap’ in the May 13th edition of the Alligator, we’d like to remind readers that the UF Student Health Care Center also offers a full range of sexual health care services available to students.

Opinion

Columnist gets hands on BP’s leaked memo

May 26, 2010

As a corporation, British Petroleum is deeply saddened by the recent leaks in our interwebs tube that have pumped out an ever-increasing number of highly sensitive and damaging internal documents into the vital Gulf of Public Opinion. We have prepared the following memo as a “top kill procedure” on the destructive flow of information by piping loads of crap into real leaks of BP’s corporate philosophy:

Opinion

Life Prerequisites

By Alligator Editorial Board | May 26, 2010

Starting next school year, incoming high school freshmen in Florida will have to pass both Algebra 1 and Geometry in order to earn their diplomas.

Opinion

Resident disagrees with State Attorney’s decision regarding student shooting.

By Andrew Lapetina | May 26, 2010

Gainesville residents who walk with canes are advised not to lift them above their waist in the presence of law officers. Doing so may result in you being legally shot, or so argues Bill Cervone in his statement regarding Kofi Adu-Brempong.