Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor from two SG senators supporting Gators Matter, Period.

Jan. 23, 2018

Last week, the Budget and Appropriations Committee met to discuss the code revision for the Gators Matter, Period initiative, and did not vote in favor of the code revision to allow student organizations to purchase menstrual hygiene products for distribution using the Activity and Service Fees. However, the decision made by the Budget and Appropriations Committee does not reflect Student Government’s stance on the Gators Matter, Period. initiative. Rather, Student Government stands firm in their support for the Gators Matter, Period. initiative, and is currently working to fund this project through Facilities Services and GatorWell.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the editor from SG Supervisor of Elections

Jan. 22, 2018

Hello Gators! My name is Erica Baker, and I am the supervisor of elections for Student Government. I am writing to you to discuss the importance of SG Elections. SG impacts the campus in a number of ways, through their ability to advocate on behalf of the Student Body at UF and in the state and federal government.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Poor leadership does not equal mental health problems

Jan. 21, 2018

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump underwent a four-hour examination of physical and cognitive health. As of late, some were concerned about Trump’s erratic speech patterns, exhibited narcissism, often poor judgment and rash decision making. He was deemed healthy, passing the cognitive test — the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, widely used to test for early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia — with a reportedly perfect score. This test is fairly high in validity but is not used to assess psychiatric disorders such as narcissistic personality disorder, anxiety or depression.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The US underestimates the power of nuclear weapons

Jan. 21, 2018

On Jan. 13, Hawaii experienced 38 minutes of fear from a supposed incoming ballistic missile attack when a state employee clicked the wrong item from a drop-down menu. One would think the U.S. government would handle nuclear prevention programs with the same degree of sophistication that makes these weapons possible. Instead, the warning for the inescapable likelihood of thousands of deaths and the beginning of nuclear war was determined by the same interface that students use to save their homework.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Encouraging children to explore art, music and poetry

Jan. 21, 2018

Does anyone else remember those little “karate belts” we tied to the ends of our recorders in music class? Perhaps a tiny white ribbon for a successful rendition of “Hot Cross Buns,” or a bead hung on a black string for the advanced version of “Ode to Joy?”

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Doctors shouldn’t deny treatment based on religion

Jan. 21, 2018

News headlines last week were dominated by the government shutdown and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program deals. These big ticket items, as important as they are, have taken away focus from another just as infuriating issue in President Donald Trump’s administration.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Serena Williams’ story highlights disparities in American health care system

Jan. 18, 2018

A mother has just given birth to a baby. She recognizes the signs of a blood clot. She tells her doctors and nurses, only for them to brush her concerns aside. When she finally does get the tests and medications she needed, they find she did have a blood clot and could have died if she had not advocated for herself.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Salvaging Gainesville’s local music scene

Jan. 18, 2018

For a town of its size and seemingly small cultural relevance, Gainesville actually has quite the thriving music scene, far outfighting its weight class. Nearly every night, a stroll down University Avenue into the center of town will offer you some sort of live music options from which to choose. For what might appear to be a sleepy college town from afar, Gainesville occupies a unique position in the musical environment — it has a humming live music scene filled with a spectrum of independent artists, but it also has the might of UF to bring in much larger performers every once in a while. There truly is something to satisfy each musical taste, and it is something that sets Gainesville apart from many other towns comparable in stature.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels: Jan. 18, 2017

Jan. 18, 2018

You remain snuggled up in your bed as your phone alarm blares next to you. This is the third time you’ve hit the snooze button this morning, but, to be frank, you’d rather die than brace the frigid 23-degree weather waiting for you outside.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Congress needs to act on DACA

Jan. 16, 2018

Hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants continue to live in fear of impending deportation as Congress attempts to finalize their fate with a legislative solution.

OPINION | COLUMNS

We should learn from Logan Paul’s transgression

Jan. 16, 2018

Whatever Logan Paul’s initial thoughts were when he saw a dead person hanging in Japan’s Aokigahara “suicide forest” and whatever his justifications were for making a dead body the subject of a YouTube video, I doubt they were malodorous.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Let’s continue to fight for our abortion rights on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Jan. 16, 2018

Anti-abortion folks never cease to amaze in the tactics they use to prevent access to this entirely lawful procedure. From protesters harassing women and workers at abortion clinics, to state-sponsored fake medical centers that attempt to trick and shame women out of abortions, our access is also obstructed by laws leading to too few abortion clinics in our state – resulting in women traveling long distances and taking off multiple days of work – and abortions themselves costing hundreds of dollars. To make access to abortion a reality for all women, we need free abortion on demand. To make that a reality, women must fight back.

OPINION | COLUMNS

We are trapped in comment culture

Jan. 16, 2018

Why do you comment?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

My period started an hour ago.

Jan. 16, 2018

It came two days later than it was “supposed” to. Like many women, my period’s schedule has never been particularly predictable. Without birth control, mine would arrive weeks late or early, last many days longer than it should, and come with excruciating pain every day.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Student Body Treasurer to De-Affiliate from Impact Party and Announce Affiliation with Inspire Party

Jan. 16, 2018

As a first-generation college student I was eager to learn about all of the different opportunities that the University of Florida presented both academically and professionally—not only for myself, but for every student attending UF. I viewed each position in leadership and campus involvement as an opportunity to make a positive difference in my peers’ lives, to make their experiences better and to encourage them to become their best versions of themselves. This is ultimately what led me on my path to Student Government: knowing leadership was my best chance at a meaningful way to create lasting change for my peers and the students who would come after us.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels: Jan. 12, 2017

Jan. 11, 2018

Ah, syllabus week. For some, this five-day period is used for organization and recalibration after a long month free of classes and responsibilities. For others, the infamous syllabus week is a nonstop bar crawl through Midtown and a chance to sow their wild oats before the stress and pressure of their 18-credit schedule crushes their very soul.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Having high-speed rail in America would be a dream, but right now it’s simply not practical

Jan. 11, 2018

Anybody who’s ever traveled across Europe has likely experienced the marvels of a well connected high-speed rail network. Within a few hours, passengers can traverse entire countries, all the while being able to relax along the way. All major cities have proper and up-to-date infrastructure and stations, and the lines have been constructed in such a way that nearly any town or village either has its own stop or is a relatively short drive away from one.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Don’t be afraid to make a resolution, even if you have failed in the past

Jan. 11, 2018

Happy New Year, dear reader! Welcome back to Gainesville, to school and to your unbridled independence. Did you miss it? Judging by my extensive Twitter research, it would appear that a lot of you did. While I was conducting my all-important social media research, I also came across another common thread. Many people seem to have already crashed and burned in the pursuit of their New Year’s resolutions. This trend is not unique to 2018 — nearly every year I have been a user of social media I have noticed this. People exit a year with big plans and lofty goals for self-improvement. We set goals to accomplish everything from going to the gym to eating healthy, from stopping bad habits to being more positive. And each year, we get upset when we are unable to meet these goals.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Don’t just pick any summer internship

Jan. 11, 2018

Since kindergarten, we have been asked the question: What do you want to be when you grow up? Although each of our predictions may have changed over time, we will soon have that answer.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Don’t let your impostor syndrome haunt you

Jan. 9, 2018

I remember meeting seniors when I was a freshman almost four years ago. It felt like I was meeting someone from another generation — another dimension, even. While I was struggling to remember which Regional Transit System bus would take me home, they seemed like they knew everything and done everything. The word senior seemed synonymous with wisdom. And I hoped I probably would have this wisdom, too, by senior year. I had time.