Opinion

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

The problem with the body positivity movement

Apr. 7, 2019

Core ideas of the body positivity movement date back to the late 1800s when the Victorian dress reform movement emerged. This movement aimed to put an end to the fad of corsets and tightlacing, to which women succumbed, conforming to the societal standard of a tiny waistline. The movement emphasized acceptance of all body types, regardless of waist measurements.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Cancel culture can be good, but people can change

Apr. 7, 2019

Lately, there’s been some discussion of something called “cancel culture.” Figures from John Oliver to Tucker Carlson have addressed the topic, with sometimes wildly differing perspectives. Now, I’m diving into the fray.

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OPINION  |  DARTS LAURELS

Darts and Laurels: April 5, 2019

Apr. 4, 2019

The end of the semester is in sight, and the promise of summer is only growing sweeter. The air is warmer, and the days are longer. You decide to take advantage and make your way to Paynes Prairie to watch the sunset. You’ve been in the library all day struggling to get ahead before final exams and projects consume your life.

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor: The judicial dictatorship of SG

Apr. 4, 2019

There is an important petition by Global Vote that has been filed for the reconsideration of a UF Student Government Supreme Court ruling. If successful, it would restore online voting to the Student Body constitution, along with other popular reforms. However, the Global Vote petition for reconsideration is not only a fight for online voting and other amendments, but it is also a fight for democracy in SG.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Putting a price on what makes people happy fosters exclusion

Apr. 4, 2019

The best part about joining clubs or groups is the different personalities you come in contact with. A visual arts student and a business student can be on the same soccer team. An engineering student and a philosophy student can both be members of a knitting group. Everyone is surrounded by people whose individual lives and interests can be nuanced beyond what we see on the surface level. There is an incredible amount of freedom in having friend groups or gatherings where everyone has different interests, but the one underlying character I have difficulty dealing with is the “hustler” of any group.

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor: A statement from the UF Health Shands CEO

Apr. 3, 2019

Dear Alligator Editors:

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

A follow up on Dance Marathon

Apr. 2, 2019

We, the editorial board, wanted to address the last editorial published Monday entitled, “What does it mean to do it ‘For The Kids’?” Since its publication, we’ve received a number of questions regarding some of the topics we addressed. In addition, we received answers to some of our own questions posed in the editorial. We did not reach out to UF Health Shands Hospital specifically for Monday’s editorial; however, we received an email Tuesday from Shands spokesperson Rossana Passaniti after we reached out to her earlier that day. In the email, she provided a statement from the CEO of Shands, Ed Jimenez, who responded to the board’s editorial, which will be published in full on our website. He addressed some of our previous questions, namely where the money from Dance Marathon goes and how the Miracle Children are helped. These Miracle Children are patients at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. DMUF’s Miracle Children have profiles provided on DMUF’s website. These are the answers Jimenez provided:

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor: To the Dance Marathon skeptic

Apr. 2, 2019

In my five years at UF, I’ve met many people who have raised similar questions to yours regarding the sincerity and efficiency of Dance Marathon’s fundraising efforts. They’re good questions. I’m sure they’re coming from a place of genuine concern. In fact, I’ve asked the same questions myself.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Here’s the tea on Flat Tummy Tea

Apr. 2, 2019

Flat Tummy Tea ads: They pop up almost everywhere on social media. It is possible that you have seen one on your Instagram, or maybe you follow an influencer who endorses the product every chance they get. But is this get-skinny-quick product actually useful? YouTubers have made videos documenting themselves trying the product, and online reviews offer more insight. However, from these reviews, it seems the only thing this product guarantees is that you’ll be running to the bathroom. So why do influential social media users continue to promote such a product, especially one targeted to young girls, a demographic more likely to dislike their own bodies?

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Our divisions are only growing deeper as history progresses

Apr. 2, 2019

It would be tempting to think the most pressing political and cultural question of our day is the question of political affiliation: Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal. We certainly spend a lot of time wondering if someone, especially someone famous, is one or the other, or which party is better, which view is the correct one. We tuck people we meet or see on TV nicely into those groups so we know what to think about them. “He’s a liberal,” we often say to describe a person, or “She leans conservative.” These are meaningful terms to us, capable of telling you all you need to know about another person. We believe strongly in them.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Spend your money on coffee at your discretion

Apr. 2, 2019

I used to be against the habit of regularly spending money on coffee. My parents were against it too. They would forward articles to my sisters and I about saving $5 a day. They would shake their heads in disappointment whenever they spotted us with a Starbucks cup in our hands. Comments like, “Is that coffee really worth it?” and “You could’ve donated that money to charity!” were not uncommon. I understood their logic, so I only bought it when I really wanted to treat myself. My dad is a full-blown caffeine addict with an ensured headache if he doesn’t drink at least three cups a day. I knew it wasn’t smart to get into the habit anyway.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

What does it mean to do it “For The Kids”?

Mar. 31, 2019

“For The Kids.” It has a nice ring to it.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

So you got rejected. Now what do you do?

Mar. 31, 2019

Everyone has been in this position: You recently applied for a promotion, a job, a program or an internship. You put your all into the application and you think it’s in the bag. Sadly, a few weeks later, you get an email notifying you that you were not selected for this opportunity. You’ve been rejected. You start to think about what went wrong. Why didn’t this company or school see what you have to offer? You begin to wonder what you could have done differently. Rejection is never fun. It’s a gut-wrenching feeling that leaves you insecure, sad and alone. It’s that time of the year when people are applying for new opportunities. While some will get wonderful news, others will get rejected. How do you deal with this?

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Sweetberries: The sweetest spot in Gainesville

Mar. 31, 2019

For my next trick, I am going to guess your favorite place in the world. Close your eyes and think of this place and of where you’d rather be than where you are. Imagine the environment. The sounds. The smells. The sights. Have you thought of it? Great. Now, open your eyes, and I will guess what you were thinking of.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

How to (responsibly) prank your friends

Mar. 31, 2019

Happy April Fools’ Day, Gators! The time for humor, jokes and, of course, pranks both large and small is upon us. While I enjoy the merriment of the holiday as much as anyone else, this column is not a joke. In fact, it is a serious column on a somewhat serious issue: how to prank responsibly.

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Darts and Laurels: March 29, 2019

Mar. 28, 2019

You sit anxiously in front of your laptop watching the tiny numbers at the edge of your screen. You are waiting for the hour mark to hit 8 a.m. Sheets of papers are strewn out in front of you with highlighted phrases slashed across each page. You do your best to organize your thoughts because it’s almost go time. It’s almost time to pick your classes. A virtual tug of war awaits. You know you are going to have to fight for the classes you want.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

When the system fails, we need to lean each other

Mar. 28, 2019

UF does its best with providing the services students need across a variety of issues. The Career Connections Center gives students a head start in preparing to enter the workforce. GatorWell helps spread awareness of student health to make sure students know what resources they may have. But the service that is vital for students in a world of growing anxiety, the UF Counseling and Wellness Center, isn’t keeping up with its monumental task: the maintenance of the mental health of UF’s students.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Student Government: Lies, street lights and blue lights

Mar. 28, 2019

So there I was, reconsidering my life decisions at a 7 a.m. Senate Judiciary Committee meeting when the topic of blue lights came up. There was a resolution, specifically a “Resolution Recommending Installation of Emergency Blue Light Phones Along and Adjacent to Fraternity Drive.” Apparently, there are not many blue lights around Fraternity Row, which is slightly concerning because we all know what can happen around there.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

How I have come to terms with both church and state

By Chasity Maynard | Mar. 28, 2019

I find myself fidgeting with this gold cross necklace my grandmother gave me when I’m thinking or nervous. It’s relaxing. Usually, religion provides me with a comforting sense of safety and guidance. Oftentimes, I find my progressive political views clashing with the church’s stances on controversial topics. I’ve struggled with my identity as a Catholic and a progressive. I’ve recently started to understand that these two aspects of my personality don’t need to confuse me. I can be a devout Christian and a progressive. Let me explain how I have reconciled my beliefs.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Graduation is upon us and so is the senior funk

Mar. 28, 2019

It’s my final semester of college, and it may be yours, too. You’ve most likely been reflecting on your time here in Gainesville, and you may have been left with some bittersweet feelings. The last four years of your life are behind you. They’ve become the past without you even realizing it. If you’re like me, it makes sense that you’re feeling uneasy about the future. It doesn’t matter if you’re graduating with a job, starting graduate school or if you have no idea what your next step is, graduation can still be scary. At some point, you may find yourself experiencing something I like to call the “senior funk.”