Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels

By the Editorial Board | Nov. 15, 2007

Thank God - it's finally starting to feel like a season other than summer. It's time to put the sundresses and shorts in the back of the closet and break out the sweaters and scarves. It's time to put on a pot of chili and sip some hot cocoa. It's time to trade in the Corona Light for a dark, wintry ale. It's time to stop going to class and stay under the covers instead. But most of all, it's time to read this week's frost-covered edition of…

OPINION | COLUMNS

Get your mind off of holiday weight gain

By COLLEEN SHEA | Nov. 15, 2007

Why is everyone on a diet all of a sudden?

OPINION | COLUMNS

Andrew Meyer challenges you - to vote

By ANDREW MEYER | Nov. 14, 2007

I challenge you.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Proposed stadium a waste of state funds

Nov. 14, 2007

The other day, Gov. Charlie Crist rubbed his magic funding bottle and a little legislative genie popped out and granted him one wish. Unfortunately, Charlie exchanged his other two wishes for visits to a tanning salon.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Happy Trails

By the Editorial Board | Nov. 14, 2007

Two officers from the Florida State University Police Department will trek by bicycle from Tallahassee to Gainesville on Monday as part of the "Road to Responsibility Challenge" to discourage drunken driving and alcohol abuse for next week's traditionally rowdy Gators-Seminole clash, which also just happens to fall on Thanksgiving weekend.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Biodiesel conversion good for Gainesville

By the Editorial Board | Nov. 14, 2007

We've all heard of the french-fry automobiles that drive across the country, powered only by grease and oil from fast-food restaurants.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gonzales' actions do not warrant speech at UF

By Laurel Hammond | Nov. 14, 2007

In my fourth year as a UF student, I am insulted and ashamed my Activity & Service Fee is helping pay for Alberto Gonzales' legal bills as he faces impending criminal prosecution.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Use fewer - or no - grocery bags

By Joe Uong | Nov. 13, 2007

I am writing in response to Tuesday's guest column, "Cloth bags a more environmental, more practical choice." I am an employee at a local Publix. When customers buy fewer than three items, I ask if they need a bag.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Donation Nation

By the Editorial Board | Nov. 13, 2007

Kudos to the student volunteers who care enough about their community to try to make a difference in it. Specifically, we're talking about the nearly 1,000 student volunteers who showed up to Gainesville's "Homeless Night Out and Service Fair" last week.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Discount day won't provide much relief

By the Editorial Board | Nov. 13, 2007

So this is the part when we're supposed to congratulate the Gator Party on accomplishing another one of its platform goals for getting the UF Bookstore to hold a student discount day. Gator says this will alleviate some of the financial burdens of the holiday season.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Study abroad gives more than just credit

Nov. 13, 2007

The Gator Nation is anything but, thanks to a study showing UF is a top-20 university for studying around the world.

OPINION | COLUMNS

No reason for most giant cars in Fla.

By KYLE COX | Nov. 12, 2007

It may come as a surprise to you, but America doesn't do tiny. Miniature book sales are at all-time lows. I sold all my stock in thimbles years ago. Mini-Me hasn't had a good role since Austin Powers.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Cloth bags a more environmental, more practical choice

By RANEVE WEST-SINGH | Nov. 12, 2007

As I waited in line for the bagger to pack my groceries, I noticed he was placing just two items in each bag. With only 10 items, I walked out of the store with five bags. I knew something was wrong.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Facebook Marketplace offers up the goods

By the Editorial Board | Nov. 12, 2007

We realized the crazy things people will do and sell for money this weekend after perusing UF's Facebook Marketplace listings.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Too much air conditioning wastes energy

By ROBERT HILSON | Nov. 12, 2007

I'll admit it, being bombarded with Ford hybrid commercials, Al Gore cameos and plugs for compact fluorescent lightbulbs while watching NBC this week really got me in a "green" state of mind.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Accent speech a waste of student money

By Paul Beard | Nov. 12, 2007

As an alumnus of UF and the Alligator, I was disappointed to learn ,40,000 of student money would be going to pay former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to speak at UF. What on Earth could he have to share with students? What valuable insights will he offer, given how little he remembers of his own tenure?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gonzales not a controversial speaker

By William Foster | Nov. 12, 2007

Why are we paying ,40,000 to hear Alberto Gonzales speak? Accent claims it is bringing another "controversial speaker" like Janet Reno. Reno was controversial because of policy in the Elian Gonzalez and Waco raids. Alberto Gonzales is controversial because of his alleged illegal actions.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Phones prevent us from communicating

By Rory Rohan | Nov. 12, 2007

A very noticeable trend in campus life is the overwhelming presence of students attached to their cell phones or encapsulated by the earbuds of their iPods. Not only does this trend essentially shut us off from the world that is within our gaze, but it nearly destroys any attempts one student may have at communicating with another.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Graduate students authored bill of rights

By Ranaldo Allen | Nov. 8, 2007

I was disappointed to read the Alligator editorial board's antagonistic rant against what graduate students have been fighting for more than a year to achieve, the Graduate Student Bill of Rights.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Bill of rights good for graduate students

By Bret Seferian | Nov. 8, 2007

The Alligator's editorial about the Graduate Student Council's proposed Graduate Student Bill of Rights pointed out that many rights expressed are already in place. However, I don't believe the aim of the bill of rights is to create new rights.