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Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Opinion

Florida Alligator
Opinion

UF should be concerned with state’s education issues, not its rank

Yesterday, I was invited to a group on Facebook called “Make UF Florida’s Flagship School.” I appreciate the support for UF, but as a Floridian this horrifies me. We are all Gators at UF, and we all want to be seen as the best in Florida. While I refuse to take a stance on whether we are better than that other school, this is the wrong approach.


Florida Alligator
Opinion

Zombie Nation

Just when you thought it was safe to cross the Turlington minefield, another socially aimless specimen is trying to rise from the graveyard of “who gives a crap?”


Florida Alligator
Opinion

Reader offers simple solution for ladies night

I’m pretty sure there’s a simple solution to the controversy in this town over “ladies night” at the bars. Placate all sides by doing away with free drinks for women and replace the specials with free drinks for anyone who shows up in a dress and heels.


Florida Alligator
Opinion

Religion debate won’t make progress

On Tuesday, Gainesville will get a glimpse of the increasingly popular God-concentrated argumentative cavalcade appearing in many of the auditoriums across the country and the world, the local showcase the Accent speaker’s bureau has dubbed The Great Religion Debate. These loosely related, independently organized events have made celebrities out of their dialectical pugilists, among them Richard Dawkins, William Lane Craig and Shmuley Boteach, although I must admit it seems the notoriety gained from these debates is severely biased toward the atheistic side of the podium. Is it infamy more than fame, the relative lameness of their theist counterparts or simply their writing of more entertaining books? I’m sure we’ll find out.


Florida Alligator
Opinion

Westboro Baptist Church should not be called Christians

As a Christian missionary I am ashamed the Westboro Baptist Church continues to pose as Christians. Real Christians base their faith on the Bible — the teachings of Jesus. He says, “All men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” The most famous scripture, John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ... that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”


Florida Alligator
Opinion

City bars should redeem Band of Horses concert

The cancelation of the Band of Horses concert turned the potentially greatest exam week many of us would have seen in years into the worst. Heaven forbid we stop cramming and let the Adderall wear off long enough to relax and enjoy some music. True, the Slightly Stoopid concert got a little more “stoopid” than we all expected, but I doubt that fans would have gotten rowdy enough during “The Funeral” to crowd surf and smoke out the Reitz Union Ballroom. Personally, I am embarrassed that our school feels the need to ground us for exam week because we aren’t responsible enough to attend a concert during a study break. Don’t lecture us on stress management, UF; you’ve lost your credibility.


Florida Alligator
Opinion

Catholic Church targeted by media

There’s been yet another scandal in the Catholic Church. It seems that every few years, there’s something else that comes out about a number of priests involved in pedophilic relations and a subsequent Church cover-up. Of course, the national media eats this up and has something to talk about for another week.


Florida Alligator
Opinion

People should stop moaning about ‘ladies night’ specials ending

I am sick of reading the discussion about ladies night. Do you want to know the opinion of average Joe or Lane? Who cares? If women are concerned about being taken advantage of, then do not drink to the point at which you cannot control yourself. That is Safety 101. Guys who complain about free drinks for women? Really? Are you really going to try to hook up with a girl who is going to a club or bar just to get hammered? Doesn’t seem to be where you need to look for women anyway, so why does it matter?


Florida Alligator
Opinion

Monday release of iPad talk of town

In 2007, lines stretched for blocks so people could buy the Jesus phone. Now on Saturday, while Jesus waits for colorful streamers and the Easter bunny, Apple will release iPad, its tablet computer.


Florida Alligator
Opinion

Darts and Laurels

As thousands travel home to see their families, jam chocolate eggs and marshmallow chickadees down their gullets at a pre-diet-Oprah-like pace and put on their best “Christ-y” faces, we present a special sugar-coated, Jesus-juiced Good Friday edition of Darts & Laurels.


Florida Alligator
Opinion

Protestors should move on

Amidst all the discussion about health care reform, infamous Bush-bashing organization Answer (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) held its annual war protest recently in Washington, D.C., to mark the seventh anniversary of the United States’ congress-approved invasion of Iraq.


Florida Alligator
Opinion

Letter about columnist was off base

In response to Ryan Weiss’ letter to the editor yesterday, I would say that a student-run newspaper is the perfect place for a column like CJ Pruner’s.  I thought his column was great, and it gave me a good laugh before class. I don’t think anyone expects you to take these columns too seriously — have you ever read Tommy Maple’s columns? 


Florida Alligator
Opinion

Ladies night is discriminatory

Recently, the city of Gainesville’s Office of Equal Opportunity has brought to light many local establishments that are in violation of the city’s discrimination ordinance. These businesses frequently sponsor promotional activities designed to specifically attract females, giving preference to one gender over the other.



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