opinion - The Independent Florida Alligator

Opinion

Column attack on McCain misguided

By Kerry Hart | Apr. 9, 2008

Week after week, Joshua Frederickson writes impassioned columns bashing any thought that is on this side of far-left. I enjoy political discourse, but only when it is informed. I do not have room here to detail his numerous errors and misguided assertions, so I will focus on his attack against McCain over waterboarding. He claims that McCain's anti-torture "convictions" disappeared when he voted against the Senate's ban.

Opinion

Commission should hold off on major votes

By the Editorial Board | Apr. 9, 2008

On Tuesday night, Gainesville City Commissioner Jeanna Mastrodicasa, chairwoman of the Public Safety Committee and UF's assistant vice president of student affairs, held a forum on campus to discuss proposed changes before the commission that may change the face of Gainesville's nightlife.

Opinion

GPS system will improve RTS service

By Ryan Day | Apr. 9, 2008

In Wednesday's Alligator, Greg Perry asked if there was any true value gained from installing GPS on RTS buses. Mr. Perry appears to assume that the only benefit from GPS is providing knowledge about wait times to students and the community. Knowledge of wait times for students is merely an ancillary public benefit that comes with the system.

Opinion

Veterans highlight need to end Iraq war

By Michael Kesler | Apr. 9, 2008

Tuesday evening, in a packed room, several Iraq War veterans spoke of their experiences while on the ground in Iraq. Their aim was to simply inform the American people of the realities of the war. The content was not something that you will see on the evening news because it was reality.

Opinion

GPS on buses waste of student money

By Greg Perry | Apr. 8, 2008

I must have missed the desperately needed outcry to scold Student Government's blatant waste of spending, so here goes my version. The University of Florida is spending $204,000 to start up, then $110,000 per year to tell you how long you have to wait for a bus. If that's not enough, throw in a few high-definition LCD screens. Can we not wait for a bus like the rest of the world? Is there any true value gained in this system?

Opinion

Adoption not harmless for birth mothers

By Ann Wilmer | Apr. 8, 2008

As an adoptee, active in adoption-law reform efforts since shortly after I graduated from UF, I am disappointed that UF would extend an invitation to Diablo Cody to speak at my alma mater.

Opinion

Media falsely name McCain 'maverick'

By JOSHUA FREDERICKSON | Apr. 8, 2008

Members of the mainstream media in this country have been engaged in a nauseating love affair with Sen. John McCain ever since his failed presidential campaign in 2000. During that campaign, the Arizona senator swept the press off of their collective feet with his brash "straight talk," his disarming charm and his self-deprecating sense of humor. Many so-called "journalists" labeled him a "maverick" because he occasionally refused to toe the line of his intellectually and morally bankrupt party. However, this, in and of itself, does not a maverick make. Simply repeating something over and over again does not mean that it's true.

Opinion

New CLAS dean faces challenges ahead

By the Editorial Board | Apr. 8, 2008

We welcome you to your new home, Paul D'Anieri. When others dropped out of the dean search after an administration shake-up and pressing budget problems, you decided to remain in the running to be at the helm of the biggest college on the UF campus. Congratulations on your selection. We're glad that you're here.

Opinion

Leak deserves credit for championship

By Dana Preble | Apr. 8, 2008

A little detail bugged me in Mondays Grad Tab 2008 article. It says …the Gators football team, led by quarterback Tim Tebow, snagged a championship of its own on Jan. 8, 2007. Im not trying to take anything away from Tim Tebow he is a tremendous athlete, a great person and he was a major contributor to our championship. He is now our leader and I look forward to the 2008 season.

Opinion

Army must be integrated to stop bias against homosexuals

By WILLIAM QUINN | Apr. 8, 2008

Imagine that a resident assistant walking through a dorm at night hears a noise that sounds suspicious, so he or she knocks on the door. He eventually gains access to the room and realizes that he has interrupted a sex act between two male students. He reports the incident to the administration. The president oversees an investigation into the sexual identity of the two students. The investigation infuriates other homosexual students, so several of them walk into the president's office and claim to be homosexuals. After learning that all the students are in fact homosexuals, the university expels all of them.

Sports

Ways to shrink basketball team's roster by one

Apr. 7, 2008

With news from spring football and March Madness constantly swirling, UF's season-ending loss in the NIT was probably a mere blip on your radar.

Opinion

Abortion bill still offers women a choice

By Joel Lombardi | Apr. 7, 2008

I am writing in response to Friday's editorial giving the Florida House of Representatives a "dart" for passing a bill requiring that an ultrasound be taken and the option of viewing that ultrasound be given to a woman before an abortion.

Opinion

Notes not needed to do well in course

By Erin Dickerson | Apr. 7, 2008

I truly don't understand what the uproar from the student body is all about in regard to the lawsuit against Einstein's Notes.

Opinion

Homeless need help from community

By GERALD LILES | Apr. 7, 2008

"You know how proud you were when your wife had that baby girl?" Frank asked.

Opinion

Dean's student admission embarassing

By BRANDON SACK | Apr. 7, 2008

If it is indeed true, the story of the College of Medicine's dean allegedly admitting a student based not on his academic merit but on his connections is dangerous and offensive to College of Medicine students and faculty.

Opinion

Cell phone ban should apply to all drivers

By the Editorial Board | Apr. 7, 2008

A bill that passed through the Senate Transportation Committee last week would prohibit drivers under the age of 18 in Florida from using a cell phone while driving.

Opinion

Ends do not justify means in new bill

By Andre Samuels | Apr. 7, 2008

The scariest part of Dominic Palvisak's Monday letter on the abortion bill came at the end when he disclosed he was a second-year law student. I can understand how the emotion surrounding the abortion issue can lead many to support laws requiring women to seek ultrasounds before obtaining abortions, but this person is studying to be a lawyer.

Opinion

Dean's unusual action political despite denial

By the Editorial Board | Apr. 6, 2008

It used to be that the controversial college admissions policies that got the most attention had to do with skin or scores.

Opinion

UF worthy of more student money

By VINCENT MASSARO | Apr. 6, 2008

Dearest UF,

Opinion

Economic stimulus package won't work

By Paul Heath | Apr. 6, 2008

It looks like the Fed's money presses have some long nights ahead as taxpayers could begin receiving their government stimulus package checks as early as June, according to an Associated Press report. But President Bush and his economic team have made it very clear that everyone's piggy banks should be left on their shelves.