opinion - The Independent Florida Alligator

Opinion

Gym not a hostile environment

By DAVID MCDONALD | Sep. 17, 2007

I regretfully read Colleen Shea's Friday column, and I feel she made a mountain out of a molehill. The column started out griping about UF's health promotion initiatives, but Shea spent most of her time exaggerating the gym's atmosphere. Is it bad for UF to promote healthful lifestyles? Is it a problem the GatorWell tents hand out free condoms? And for as many parties as I see on and around campus, can it hurt to educate students about drinking responsibly?

Opinion

There are lessons to be learned from Tasered student

By KYLE COX | Sep. 17, 2007

I hope nobody feels sorry for the young man who got Tased. I expect that on campus this week, angry protestors will blame the University Police Department for being too aggressive, or blame Accent for inviting Sen. John Kerry to speak or blame Tennessee for riling us all up.

Opinion

Games should have enough ice cups for all

By Christopher McBryde | Sep. 17, 2007

As anyone who attended Saturday's Gators football game can attest, it was very hot and very humid. After fighting my way to my seat through my 90,000 closest friends, I was in need of water. So I went to get some free ice. I was refused. Why? "We don't have any cups," said the girl at the stand. Naturally, I assumed she meant, "We don't have the right cups," since behind her, concession workers were busy filling souvenir cups with ice for ,3.50 sodas.

Opinion

Shocked

Sep. 17, 2007

Using Taser on student was out of line

Opinion

Cafe a positive on-campus addition

By SKEET SURRENCY | Sep. 17, 2007

It's not that I particularly enjoy rebutting the Alligator editorial board, but once again I find myself in the unfortunate position of having to defend a project I am involved in from its straw-man arguments and misinformed opinions.

Opinion

Student Senate will not censor Accent

By ROBERT AGRUSA | Sep. 17, 2007

On Sept. 11, a number of students came before the Student Senate to voice their concerns about Dr. Jack Kevorkian coming to speak at UF. This is a highly controversial speaker, and I truly appreciate that students felt strongly enough to come before the Senate to speak to their representatives.

Opinion

Kevorkian did not help by killing

By Mark LaBelle | Sep. 17, 2007

In response to Sam Cain's Monday letter about Dr. Jack Kevorkian, I think Kevorkian did nothing to help suffering people. He killed a lot of suffering people, that's true. But he didn't help them. A doctor is successful in helping the patient if the doctor can treat or cure the patient's condition. If the patient dies, then the doctor was unsuccessful. And if the doctor kills the patient, the doctor is not only unhelpful, but also a killer.

Opinion

Gyms not so scary

By MEGAN HERON | Sep. 17, 2007

I'm writing in response to Colleen Shea's Friday column about fitness. I can't believe someone is actually complaining about fit people working out at the gym. Um, hello? How do you think they got those amazing bodies? And no, not everyone at the gym looks like bodybuilders, but at least they're trying to stay fit. If you're so insecure that you can't work out with other people, stay home.

Sports

Kiss nothing new in sports

Sep. 17, 2007

Sports aficionados praise football for its rough and tumble nature. Players are supposed to act like savage beasts foaming at the mouth.

Opinion

Sports writer made UF proud on ESPN

By CAMILO PAYAN | Sep. 16, 2007

I just wanted to congratulate Mike McCall on a completely enjoyable 10 minutes of ripping into the University of Tennessee on ESPN on Thursday. He started off a little weak, saying Rocky Top was one of the great traditions in college football, but recouped with a dig about being surprised that 100,000 people from Tennessee are able to memorize anything at all, and it all went uphill from there.

Opinion

Homeless solution makes things worse

By VINCENT MASSARO | Sep. 16, 2007

As I was recycling my stack of week-old Alligators that I had been using as a biodegradable pillow, I realized the local homeless population has come upon even harder times than usual.

Sports

Offensive glory restored in Gainesville

Sep. 16, 2007

Move over, Steve Spurrier.

Opinion

A Senseless Death

By EDITORIAL BOARD | Sep. 16, 2007

Only a few hours after a UF student died, presumably in an alcohol-related car accident, UF President Bernie Machen used the news to fuel the fire against underage drinking.

Opinion

Progress?

Sep. 16, 2007

Party's platform is more of the same

Opinion

Bright Futures' requirements too low

By Tolulope Bukola | Sep. 16, 2007

I am writing in response to Daniel Burroughs's guest column in Thursday's Alligator, "Florida must keep Bright Futures Scholarship Program." The assertion that Florida must maintain the Bright Futures program unchanged is, at best, misguided. The state cannot sustain the financial burden of maintaining Bright Futures' low standards indefinitely. Bright Futures pays 75 percent tuition for a mediocre 3.0 weighted high school grade point average and an SAT score of 970 - 51 points below the national average.

Opinion

Kevorkian helped suffering people

By SAM CAIN | Sep. 16, 2007

In response to William Sanchez's letter concerning Jack Kevorkian, I have just one question: Why waste your time caring about this situation? I would really like to know how his opinion would change after being confronted with a lifetime of pain and suffering without end. Would he decide to keep on truckin', or would he throw in the towel and end his own life? Would he call up Kevorkian and employ his expertise in the matter? If I ever reached a point in my life where the only thing that greeted me with every new day was the grim reality of more pain and agony, then heck, put me out of my misery!

Opinion

Darts & Laurels

By EDITORIAL BOARD | Sep. 13, 2007

It's been a busy week for the Department of Darts & Laurels. So much has been going on around campus. We've been so busy gathering quotes for "Overheard in Gainesville" and avoiding the Turlington preacher, we've barely had time to cross West University Avenue for a bite to eat or a pitcher to drink. Somehow we managed. But we also managed to bring you a special all UF, all the time edition for this week's…

Opinion

What band would you like to see at Gator Growl?

Sep. 13, 2007

Responses cannot be longer than 20 words. Responses may be edited for length, grammar, style, libel and clarity.

Opinion

Kevorkian proposed human experiments

By WILLIAM SANCHEZ | Sep. 13, 2007

Although I agree there is nothing wrong with controversial speakers, I believe that ,50,000 is a steep price to pay someone convicted of murder and stripped of his medical license. The truth is Mr. Kevorkian is a very sick individual whose ultimate goal is to experiment on the living.

Sports

UF-UT rivalry chock full of nailbiters, controversies

Sep. 13, 2007

If there was ever a year where a Gators blowout of Tennessee was possible, this could be it. But if there?s one thing we all know about rivalry games (particularly this one), it?s that they are incredibly unpredictable.