Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

UF needs grade redistribution system

By JONATHAN LOTT | Apr. 1, 2009

While I am happy to see that our country is moving in a more progressive direction, I am sad that I cannot say the same about the University of Florida. Our good president Barack "The Messiah" Obama is steering the nation toward a much fairer, redistributive taxation and social program system which will take from the greedy rich bastards to provide for those who have fallen on harder times. Every single rich person in America, after all, "earned" his or her fortune by denying opportunities to the poor.

OPINION | COLUMNS

SG should give Gators for a Sustainable Campus funding

By Ben Cavataro | Apr. 1, 2009

Almost everyone recognizes the importance of sustainability. Americans are beginning to prioritize environmental protection, create a renewable power economy and conserve energy. President Barack Obama's stimulus package, bills in the state legislature, and UF's sustainability programs have all made sustainability a priority to prevent energy waste and avert climate change.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Costs of drug testing outweigh benefits

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Apr. 1, 2009

Declaring America's current economic woe a time for "tough love," one West Virginia legislator wants to mandate drug testing for individuals receiving government assistance.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Legalizing pot would harm society

By Gary Colon | Mar. 31, 2009

Yea, let's go ahead and legalize it.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Studying abroad sheds light on problems of other cultures

By Travis Hornsby | Mar. 31, 2009

This past summer, I thoroughly enjoyed my study abroad experience to Merida, Mexico, the capital of the state of Yucatan.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New cigarette tax will do more harm than good

By CHRISTOPHER MYERS | Mar. 31, 2009

Today marks the first day of the new cigarette tax, and as I prepare myself for the inevitable trips to Georgia to buy cartons, I wonder how the government ever managed to pass such a discriminatory tax. Ignoring the obvious problems with covertly making an activity illegal through taxation (Stamp Act, anyone?), I'm going to focus on the tangible consequences of this tax.

OPINION | COLUMNS

'Colbert bump' deserves NASA love

By NAUDIA JAWAD | Mar. 31, 2009

In one of the biggest acts of intergalactic narcissism to date, Stephen Colbert - host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" - hijacked a NASA contest to get his name among the stars.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Unusual group prefers inanimate objects over human lovers

By ALLIE CONTI | Mar. 31, 2009

Did you know that someone, after breaking up with her bow, (not "beau;" you'll see where this is going) actually got married to the Eiffel Tower?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Cutting Geology program not answer to budget woes

By John Kelley | Mar. 31, 2009

I am a fourth-year senior in the Department of Geological Sciences, a department that despite its prolific publication record and contributions to scholarship is now facing the ax. If the state revenues are as dire as predicted, the college will require that we cut all the lab managers, nontenured faculty and an office worker (we only have three). In simple terms, this means that for every $9 cut from the budget, one dollar comes directly from geology.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Alligator staffers fall victim to monster rats

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Mar. 31, 2009

Typical college students deal with health issues ranging from the oh-so common Sunday morning hangover to herpes of the mouth, courtesy of excessive beer pong playing with sketchy roommates.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Palin 2012!

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Mar. 31, 2009

With President Barack Obama's chances for re-election slipping like Leo from Kate's arms in "Titanic," the Editorial Board decided to examine potential candidates for the 2012 presidential election.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Concealed carry laws justified

By Jordan Pratt | Mar. 30, 2009

As a concealed-weapons permit holder and admitted UF law student, I couldn't help but shake my head at Monday's Alligator editorial "Guns have no place on college campuses," in which the question was posed, "Who is to say that if passed, these bills won't lead to coeds pulling guns on their significant other over a minor disagreement or professors feeling unsafe in their own classrooms?"

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Financial Flub

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Mar. 30, 2009

America's economic downturn has ushered in tumultuous financial times across college campuses, leaving some schools to employ questionable tactics during the admissions process.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Guns editorial irrational, alarmist

By Sterling Davenport | Mar. 30, 2009

The editorial printed in Monday's Alligator about concealed carry on campus was irrational and unduly alarmist.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Obama must hold auto giants accountable

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Mar. 30, 2009

Over the past two days, automotive giants Chrysler and GM have been held increasingly accountable by the Obama Administration for their lack of action.

OPINION | COLUMNS

'ShamWow' guy should help at G20

Mar. 30, 2009

The people who have to clean up our worldwide financial mess are meeting in London this week to talk. The G20 summit brings together bankers and leaders from across the globe, and this year they need to piece together what is left of the world economy. Most expect President Obama to do a lot of listening and apologizing.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Guns on campus editorial lacks fact

By Kyle Sandell | Mar. 30, 2009

Leave it to the Alligator Editorial Board to argue gun rights on purely emotional rather than logical or factual grounds.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Documentary Institute needs to survive

By Jonathan Bougher | Mar. 29, 2009

By eliminating the Documentary Institute, it is now clear that Dean John Wright is utilizing the current budget crisis to reshape the College of Journalism and Communications to his own vision and heed the advice to "never waste a good crisis." He claims that the DI is "not as central to the college's mission." I would invite everyone to read the college's mission statement on its Web site. It states, foremost, that the college should produce "exemplary professional practitioners" for "various journalism and communication fields." From another perspective, the DI could fit directly into the college's mission, which is open to wide interpretation. Unfortunately, the DI does not fit into the more personal mission of Dean Wright.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Guns have no place on college campuses

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Mar. 29, 2009

For Texas gun owners licensed to carry concealed weapons, proposed state legislation may soon allow for firearms to be found in an unlikely place - college campuses.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Hopeful Rower

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Mar. 29, 2009

For one former collegiate rower, raising awareness about cancer meant taking his talents to the ocean - all 2,950 miles of it.