Sports
Jumpball: College fans overly obnoxious
Sep. 9, 2009Nail me to the cross because I'm about to say something not exactly flattering to the vast majority of the Alligator readership.
Opinion
Opinion
"Twilight" inspires new readers
By Dana Connell | Sep. 9, 2009In regards to the "Twilight" article, I agree that the series has no literary value. But then again, I have heard no one in my daily travels claiming that it is of literary merit. To attack something that isn't even claimed to be "literary" seems like too much wasted effort to me. I read the books when I was a freshman here, and I thought they were very entertaining. That was the goal, right? They had the same effect on me that "Harry Potter" did, to be perfectly honest, mainly because I didn't think "Harry Potter" was high-quality writing either. And although "Wuthering Heights" may be great writing, when was the last time anyone lost themselves in that book?
Sports
Jumpball: College fans just dedicated to team
Sep. 9, 2009As usual, Kyle Maistri chooses to focus on the negatives and neglects the overwhelming positives about you, the college football fan. He fails to understand your unwavering passion and misconstrues your enthusiastic nature for something that it's not. Forgive him. He doesn't know any better. Unlike you and me, he doesn't embrace the joy of spending Saturday with 90,000 good friends.
Opinion
Books do not need to be literary
By Caitlin Prichard | Sep. 9, 2009I 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.
Opinion
Middle East trip reveals need for peace
By Travis Hornsby | Sep. 8, 2009Instead 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.
Opinion
Obama's speech did not indoctrinate children
By The Alligator Editorial Board | Sep. 8, 2009Schools should have shown President Barack Obama's speech on Tuesday instead of succumbing to parents who wanted it boycotted.
Opinion
"Twilight" does not have literary value
Sep. 8, 2009"Twilight" has made the world a worse place.
Opinion
Without patience, nothing gets solved
By Eric Tegethoff | Sep. 8, 2009This 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.
Opinion
Students ejected from game for no reason
By Geoffrey Lioon | Sep. 8, 2009I noticed the article in Tuesday's issue stated that 51 people were ejected from the football game Saturday. I was one of the nine people ejected from the stadium for being in the wrong section.
Opinion
On-campus restaurants gouge prices
By Eric L. Pheterson | Sep. 8, 2009I 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.
Opinion
Law not intended to protect SG records
By Frank Bracco | Sep. 7, 2009Over 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.
Opinion
Feckless Faith
By The Alligator Editorial Board | Sep. 7, 2009Pastor Randy Meadows of Louisville's City of Refuge Church so believes in the power of God to transform individuals that he's willing to use the welfare of children as collateral.
Opinion
UF should keep cheap food options
By Zach Mayo | Sep. 7, 2009It 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.
Sports
First look backs up preseason hype
Sep. 7, 2009Ten minutes after the clock ran out on Florida's 62-3 win over Charleston Southern, the CSU players gathered at midfield.
Opinion
Late author reminds us to be patient
Sep. 7, 2009Sept. 12 will be the first anniversary of the death of David Foster Wallace.
Opinion
Release of photo in citizens' best interest
By The Alligator Editorial Board | Sep. 7, 2009A few days ago, the Associated Press decided to publish a photo despite Secretary of Defense Robert Gates' strongest urging to reconsider.
Opinion
Student Government should use students over outside firms
By Stephanie Powers | Sep. 3, 2009I 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?
Opinion
Darts and Laurels
By The Alligator Editorial Board | Sep. 3, 2009With the second week under your belts, you're probably feeling a little fatigued.
Sports
Florida's dominant talent demands a tougher schedule
Sep. 3, 2009The supposed best team in college football, what many call one of the best teams ever, is about to begin one of the easiest schedules in the country.
Sports
Picks Column: Charleston Southern
Sep. 3, 2009The alligatorSports Brand Picks Column is a long-standing tradition at our newspaper, the beginnings can be traced back through generations of student sportswriters.
