Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

To better children's education, pay attention to how much they eat

Mar. 25, 2018

I took for granted that, throughout my childhood and teenage years, I could stroll into the kitchen, open up the refrigerator and find something to eat within seconds. I’ve never understood the true meaning of the word “starving.” I’ve never worried about having access to breakfast, lunch or dinner. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for all kids in this country. And this is something we need to address at the local, state and national levels.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor from Lucero Ruballos

Mar. 25, 2018

Dear UF President Kent Fuchs,

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels: March 23, 2018

Mar. 22, 2018

Despite promising yourself you wouldn’t procrastinate on your homework this week, you find yourself deep in the aisles of Target with your roommate.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Wait, so what is Student Government Senate?

By Zachariah Chou | Mar. 22, 2018

I ask myself the question posed in the headline all the time. I suppose it’d probably be good for me to have it out there somewhere on the internet for the poor souls who miss out on our Student Government Preview tabling.

OPINION | COLUMNS

A study finds black men in American still face pervasive systemic racism

Mar. 22, 2018

Last week, the New York Times published a story about a study that had harrowing implications for black boys and cements the idea of white privilege and racism creating unfair disparities in our society. It seems, even if he is raised in a wealthy family, a black boy is trapped in poverty. Now it’s time to get beyond simple descriptions of inequality and think of how we got here and what’s next.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Music leaks are now the norm, but justifying them can get messy

Mar. 22, 2018

One week after his in-depth interview touched on the issues of monetary and corporate influence on the music industry, Julian Casablancas’ new album leaked online. Casablancas’ band, The Voidz, is set to release their second album March 30. The album met the fate nearly all anticipated releases face these days: leaks.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor from Chris Chiozza's grandmother

Mar. 21, 2018

I wish to thank the University of Florida professors, staff, coaches and their staff members, students, alumni and fans for their support, friendship and for the excellent education my grandson, Chris (Cheez) Chiozza has received. He has grown into an exceptional young man due to all of you who have supported him. I especially want to thank Coach White and his staff for their dedication to his advancement in the sport he loves. My husband and I met so many wonderful fans over the last four years, many of whom became dear friends. In August of 2014, we looked forward to the day Chris would be an alumnus of U of F. Now that that hope is to be fulfilled in May 2018 at graduation, we "kinda" wish it was a little further off. Thanks to all. Mary (Grandma Bunny) and GrandDad Frank Chiozza.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

You should be more concerned about the Facebook scandal

Mar. 20, 2018

There’s an old adage that goes, “If you’re not paying for it, you are the product.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Let’s embrace the power of romantic comedies

Mar. 20, 2018

Romantic comedies: We all know them, but not everyone loves them.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Stop telling women feminism and reality television are mutually exclusive

Mar. 20, 2018

It’s 2018, and for some reason, men are still dictating what constitutes good taste. This is a well-kept secret, but it’s evident in the way we as a society talk about entertainment. Work produced by women, or with women in mind, is cast away — categorized — as less valuable.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Our love of Stephen Hawking isn't scientific

Mar. 20, 2018

On March 14, Stephen Hawking passed away. He received a lot of attention on social media, complete with lots of praise for what he accomplished. Hawking was a theoretical physicist who studied black holes and time. He was famous for applying Einstein’s theory of relativity and quantum mechanics to the beginnings of time, which he predicted was a singularity that exploded (in other words: the Big Bang). He was also famous for his work on the nature of black holes.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Start taking care of yourself. Really, do it. It’s time.

Mar. 18, 2018

We all have our breaking points. We all have a threshold that, if crossed, will cause us to feel overwhelmed and defeated.

OPINION | COLUMNS

When teachers speak, we need to listen

Mar. 18, 2018

Lots of news can get lost in the shuffle these days, but I hope this piece won’t. Beginning late last month and stretching past the first week of March, teachers across West Virginia went on strike to demand better salaries, benefits and a stop to charter-school expansion, among other demands.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The negative mental health effect of an unwanted pregnancy is worse than that of an abortion

Mar. 18, 2018

A new landmark study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine shows that abortions in the U.S. are safe and have few complications. It examines the four major methods used for abortions in this country, as well as women’s care from before the procedure through follow-up care.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Are alligators more dangerous than you think?

Mar. 18, 2018

In 1947, Dr. Ross Allen, founder of The Reptile Institute at Silver Springs, donated an alligator nicknamed “Albert” to the University of Florida. Before kickoff of every home football game, Albert was strapped to a leash and would lead the team onto the field. He was then kept on the sidelines for the rest of the game. A chain-link pen was even built near Century Tower to keep the gator.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Here are some reasons you should care about Student Government at UF

By Zachariah Chou | Mar. 15, 2018

Perhaps you’re just a plebeian, going in and out of the Reitz Union and Southwest Recreation Center, showing up to various general body meetings of clubs and riding the bus. Maybe you’re a power user of Student Government services, taking advantage of our school’s free New York Times subscriptions and subsidized late-night Uber services (Google “UF Safe Rides” if you don’t know what I’m talking about, and thank me later).

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels: March 16, 2018

Mar. 15, 2018

Like most college seniors about to graduate, you want answers. You need to know where you’ll be in a few months. Realizing you don’t have the power to see the future, you seek out someone who does: a psychic.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Politicians are trying to limit access to information. Let them know you're watching.

Mar. 13, 2018

Whether you realize it or not, you benefit from and want there to be open information laws.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Don't be paralyzed by the unknown, but rather inspired by possibilities

Mar. 13, 2018

In a culture that worships people who “have it together,” it seems as though today’s millennials and Gen Zers have been conditioned to fear uncertainty as if it were the plague.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Let's fight for women to be heard — and when the time comes, remembered

Mar. 13, 2018

Charlotte Bronte, Henrietta Lacks and Ida B. Wells: You’ve probably heard these names because of the notable contributions they gave the world during their lives. However, they were forgotten after they died. At least by one of the country’s most widely circulated newspapers.