Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Hero or killer, Kevorkian visit brings up important issue

By BILL COLBY | Jan. 14, 2008

On Monday morning, June 4, 1990, Dr. Jack Kevorkian waited alone in his rusted Volkswagen van, parked at a remote campsite an hour outside Detroit. In the back, he'd rigged a makeshift bed next to a contraption that looked like a junior high shop project gone bad - three bottles dangling from hooks screwed into a piece of wood. Around 10 a.m., Kevorkian's two sisters arrived at the campsite with a 54-year-old woman from Portland, Ore., named Janet Adkins. Adkins, in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, had flown to Detroit the day before for her "appointment."

OPINION | COLUMNS

Harmless college fun will cost you later

By GERALD LILES | Jan. 14, 2008

If you still have not received your copy of the latest issue of "Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research" in the mail, allow me to give you an exciting sneak peek at what academics are doing to stem the advancing tide of beer in the United States. Get ready.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Kevorkian policy kills spontaneous questions

By the Editorial Board | Jan. 14, 2008

Since it was postponed last October, Dr. Jack Kevorkian's highly anticipated visit to the UF campus tonight is naturally expected to be controversial.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Kevorkian's message opposite of university mission

By Anders Bergmann | Jan. 14, 2008

I was appalled when I woke up on Monday and read the letters by Ondi Crino and Martha Duffy.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Underage drinking not a part of college experience

By Alex Bernstein | Jan. 14, 2008

In response to Kevin Micocci's Monday column, it's satisfying to know that someone is willing to speak out for the girls that are being unjustly arrested for drinking underage. Sadly, the police department here in Gainesville is running amok, disbursing officers all over the town to reprimand these innocent and undeserving girls.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Kevorkian has right to speak

By Martha Duffy | Jan. 13, 2008

Dr. Kevorkian is coming and apparently many anti-Kevorkians have been furiously typing to try to get our president to stop him from speaking.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

UF should cancel speech now

By John Ritchie | Jan. 13, 2008

If pro-assisted suicide and euthanasia advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian's appearance is not canceled, the moral integrity of higher education in America will receive a serious blow. With the forced starvation of Terri Schiavo still fresh in our nation's memory, I am appalled that a convicted felon like Dr. Kevorkian is being given the microphone at the University of Florida. The immoral behavior he promotes is unfit for civilized society. Obviously, freedom of speech has limits. Would Accent also be willing to sponsor Hitler, Stalin or Mao? I sure hope not.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Protesters challenged to listen

By Ondi Crino | Jan. 13, 2008

In response to Friday's article, I would like to bring attention to Katherine Schinn's misrepresentations of Dr. Kevorkian's patients.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Summer notice needed soon

By Elise Carlson | Jan. 13, 2008

Whatever UF decides about summer school, it had better make up its mind soon.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Athletics fund themselves

By Nicholas Williams | Jan. 13, 2008

I disagree with Mr. Simmons' argument that UF's student-athletes deserve special treatment because of the money they generate.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Underage drinking not Gainesville's real alcohol problem

By KEVIN MICOCCI | Jan. 13, 2008

You can always tell when a semester really kicks into gear. Yes, it's that time again - the biannual underage drinking crackdown.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Drug companies offer funny ads, cash

By VINCENT MASSARO | Jan. 13, 2008

A study from a Canadian university earlier this month estimated the U.S. pharmaceutical industry spends almost twice as much on promotions as it does on research and development, contrary to the industry's claim.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Cutting summer classes should be last resort

By the Editorial Board | Jan. 13, 2008

The declining housing market and less-than-booming economy continue to make an impact on Florida's budget.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels

By the Editorial Board | Jan. 10, 2008

The holidays are officially over, and it's that time of year again. You're heading back to class with aspirations of burning off all the cookies you ate over break and attempting to actually stick to your New Year's resolutions this time - or at least until drop/add ends.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Police should switch focus to DUIs

By Ian Fisher | Jan. 10, 2008

Congratulations, Gainesville Police Department.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Student-athletes earn special treament

By Matthew Simmons | Jan. 10, 2008

In response to Rebecca Ganzak's Thursday column, giving student-athletes special treatment - especially the big moneymakers of football and men's basketball - is the least the university can do, seeing that these teams pour millions of dollars into UF each year.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Voters should look past campaign hype

By Kevin Savage | Jan. 10, 2008

Joseph Trimboli's letter in favor of Hillary Clinton published Thursday is nothing more than a quote of Clinton's talking points.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Column about Pakistan 'ludicrous'

By Imran Ahson | Jan. 10, 2008

As a grad student, I've read and loved nearly seven years of factual Alligator print, but Ms. Pandey's article was yellow journalism at it's finest.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Alligator welcomes budding journalists

Jan. 10, 2008

So you've resigned yourself to this? Reporting? Really?

OPINION | COLUMNS

'Student-athlete' often an oxymoron

Jan. 9, 2008

While high-school seniors all over the country are struggling to achieve nothing less than a 4.0 to get into their top-choice university, the star quarterback of their graduating class is receiving a full ride to wherever his heart desires. Admissions officers don't even glance at his grade point average.