Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Machen's endorsement irresponsible, bad for UF

By the Editorial Board | Jan. 22, 2008

While it may not have been as glamorous or as influential as Oprah Winfrey's endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama - and certainly didn't receive as much media attention - UF President Bernie Machen's unusual public announcement that he would endorse Sen. John McCain for president this week did raise more than a few questions across campus.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Bush's time is finally running out

By the Editorial Board | Jan. 21, 2008

Sunday marked an important landmark in the long reign of George W. Bush - he officially has one year left.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Fertility science blurs idea of family

By GERALD LILES | Jan. 21, 2008

Having a rough day? Well, look on the bright side: At least you didn't find out that your new wife or husband is your twin, thus making your romance about as incestuous as is incestuously possible. Say that three times fast. I know that's ridiculous, but it also happens to be horrifyingly based on fact.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Panhandling is a viable backup plan

By Jonathan Spiewak | Jan. 21, 2008

I couldn't believe what I read in the Friday issue of the Alligator. A panhandler making $40 to $50 a day? That's amazing!

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Leave education to Florida's teachers

By Robert Sandbach | Jan. 21, 2008

In response to Friday's letter by Marshall Printy, the author seems to feel that the intent of the educational system is to "teach students to find the correct answer" on a standardized test. Reality and the world around us do not consist of a single set of questions that every person must answer. Some sixth and eighth graders who performed poorly in their last standardized test are now, by state law, only taught reading, math and science each day.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Kentucky rivalry still important to fans

By Cody Steeves | Jan. 21, 2008

I am writing to say I was disappointed with Bryan Jones' column about how the UF-University of Kentucky men's basketball rivalry was now "just another SEC game."

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

College is for students, not housewives

By KAITLYN HASTINGS | Jan. 21, 2008

I'm writing in regard to Carly Hallam's Friday column. Her ambition to become a mom and loving wife is picturesque and endearing. But I have to ask, is UF merely a holding station until she finds a suitable husband destined for suburbia?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Iranian aggression is cause of tensions

By Conor Mancone | Jan. 17, 2008

In his attempt to liken current relationships with Iran to the Vietnam War in his Wednesday column, Joshua Frederickson has completely misunderstood the facts. To say that it is America that is gunning for a fight is simply wrong - Iran is the primary provocateur here. Perhaps Joshua has forgotten that in March 2007, a number of Iranian gunboats kidnapped 15 British sailors performing a United Nations mandate in Iraqi waters?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Don't let media choose your candidate

By Jamie Klapholz | Jan. 17, 2008

I am appalled at the lack of outrage that I have seen about the recent exclusion of Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich from a nationally televised debate.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Bush education policies good for state

By Marshall Printy | Jan. 17, 2008

The editorial in Thursday's paper that criticized Jeb Bush's policies to improve public education relied on some severely unconventional wisdom. It asserted, "anyone can teach a fourth-grader how to mechanically bubble in the right answers." Well, that might be true if all the right answers were listed in front of the student, but to imply that anyone can achieve what many teachers are failing to do - teach students to find the correct answer in the first place - underestimates the obstacles our teachers face in the classroom.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels

By the Editorial Board | Jan. 17, 2008

Now that the semester is in full swing, getting to class proved to be a bit harder than usual this week.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Coming of age brings new priorities

By CARLY HALLAM | Jan. 17, 2008

Do you ever reach a point in life you when you just know things have changed? Like one day, all of a sudden, you realize you're an adult? It's not like you start misplacing your keys or using phrases like "cool beans." It's this creepy onset of maturity that just smacks you in the soul. Age has overcome me. But I should be ready by now. I've been given almost 21 years to prepare.

OPINION | COLUMNS

DVDs should be shared in any format

Jan. 16, 2008

Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Kevorkian free speech zones were unconstitutional

By SKEET SURRENCY | Jan. 16, 2008

It was very distressing to see UF's response to the threat of free speech at the Dr. Kevorkian event was to corral protesters into "free speech zones."

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Bush's education reforms fall short again

By the Editorial Board | Jan. 16, 2008

Former Gov. Jeb Bush has officially joined the ranks with other long forgotten politicians in the never-ending quest to stay relevant.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

SG tries to stall online voting amendment

By the Editorial Board | Jan. 15, 2008

Each Student Government election cycle, it comes up in heated debates.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Bush and Iran: Déjà vu all over again

By JOSHUA FREDERICKSON | Jan. 15, 2008

As we venture into 2008, the déjà vu is becoming a bit ridiculous. Or perhaps what is really ridiculous is the reality that many citizens seem blissfully oblivious or inexplicably unconcerned about how the events of recent memory have paralleled almost perfectly with some from the past.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Text message notice raises concerns

By Erin Forst | Jan. 15, 2008

The announcement of the new emergency text message system stated that "because cell phone numbers provided will be used only in the event of an emergency, they will be kept private and are exempt from Florida's public records laws."

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.