Coming back to the United States after spending the summer abroad isn?t always the easiest thing to do.
I am writing in response to Monday's article, "UF band marches on." I can relate to Scarlet Basler's frustrations in being assigned to play a sousaphone after years at the oboe. I joined the Gator Band in 1961 having played trumpet and baritone in high school, only to find all of those positions filled. I was asked to join the crew of the Big Bass Drum, a six-foot drum that sat on a large rolled carriage.
They meander across campus, maps held high in front of their faces, barely knowing where they are going in the next four minutes - let alone the next four years. Yes, UF's newest batch of fresh-faced, doe-eyed freshmen is here, and they are, for the most part, clueless.
Finally, students can register to vote on campus.
I heard through the Greekvine that the Greek community needs a makeover. Apparently some silly television show filled with sex and sex and beer - oh my! - bruised their peach-like reputation. I put together some slogans for them. Here's my top sorority slogan: "To-ga, to-ga, to-gather under the bonds of sisterhood is a wonderful idea." It says, "We're a little formal, but we're here for the party, too." They can thank me later.
Our Student Senate is finally getting back to work. We can?t blame them for taking it easy over the break. It was summer, after all, and nothing is more tempting than a cool pool and an icy drink. We wouldn?t want to be cooped up in the Reitz Union while all our friends played Frisbee on the beach.
Ah, the Alligator columnist. Esteemed in the eyes of your peers. Lauded on the streets. Free beer at all the best bars. All this could be yours.
After spending the summer interning in Washington D.C., I?ve learned that politics are about as useful as hanging chads, and congressional interns are more stuck up than their do-nothing bosses on Capitol Hill.
As we?ve all realized, perhaps too late, summer is ending, and the summer driving season is coming to a complete stop. Considering the price of gas, that?s probably a good thing. But long after our collective finances have recovered from the petrol outlays of summer 2007, we?ll be hearing about gas and more energy issues from a whole host of Democratic and Republican presidential candidates.
New year, new you, new things for the Alligator editorial board to complain about.
Every 15 seconds, a hard drive crashes. This summer, I was fortunate enough to experience it firsthand. Twice.
Recently, U.S. News and World Report ranked UF as the 17th best public university in the country. Last year, UF was ranked No. 13 by the report, and UF President Bernie Machen was spearheading an aggressive campaign to get UF into the Top 10. Machen's obsession with the rankings was almost nauseating. Now Machen says, "The reality is, our change in the academic rankings is insignificant."
As the fall semester begins and visions of football dance in your head, you can give yourself a pat on the back for getting into the No. 17 public university in the country, according to the U.S News and World Report.
Here at the Alligator, we love to yak about how old our newspaper is.
Warning - this column may contain absurd, random song lyrics. You may be under investigation for illegally downloading music on campus. And wait, you may be one of the students or personnel the Recording Industry Association of America plans to serve with a lawsuit. "I don?t want to lose your love tonight," but UF is one of 58 universities nationwide receiving these pre-litigation letters from the RIAA as a part of its "education and deterrence campaign." Mo? illegal downloading, mo? problems.
Solutions by The State News
