Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

In search of an understanding of prejudice

Nov. 12, 2017

Last Wednesday, I was at my usual weekly Undergraduate Philosophy Society meeting (shameless plug, check us out on Facebook). That evening, the discussion centered around how we should attempt to understand bullying and how to prevent kids from doing it. Quickly, the group of us recognized the ways in which bullying mirrors — and frequently reflects — different phobias and other bad “-isms” like homophobia, racism, sexism and transphobia.

OPINION | COLUMNS

When yes means no: Blackouts and sexual assault

Nov. 12, 2017

Jamie (which is not the real name of the victim) woke up on the floor next to a couch she didn’t recognize. The party was a few hours old.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Do white supremacists even believe in white supremacy?

Nov. 12, 2017

White supremacy is on the rise. Not just in the U.S. but in nations across the globe.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Take it from me, just wear the helmet

Nov. 7, 2017

It’s been more than a week since a car hit my scooter while I was driving, but I can’t stop replaying the moment in my head. I can still hear the car’s brakes screeching futily. I can still feel the road scraping my hands and my back as I tried to catch myself. I remember looking at one of my best friends, who was riding on the back, with tears and shock in both of our eyes. Gasoline was spewing from the scooter — which my helmet was resting safely inside of.

OPINION | COLUMNS

It’s OK if you’re not ready to get married in your early 20s

Nov. 7, 2017

I don’t know if it’s because the holidays are coming up, or if there’s something in the air, but a large portion of my friends have recently gotten engaged. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s fantastic. Really. I am so happy they found and picked the person they want to be with for the rest of their lives. But at the same time, it has left a lot of my single friends feeling like they don’t have their lives together.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Diversity for the sake of diversity has hit a damaging extreme in the U.S.

Nov. 7, 2017

Last week I was applying to an internship at a well-known financial institution when I came across a bizarre portion of the application. Titled “self-identification,” I was asked a series of questions that you’d typically expect on a job application. There was nothing abnormal about the self-identification section until I reached the very bottom of the page where, in my opinion, I was asked an extremely invasive and inappropriate question: “Please indicate your sexual orientation.”

OPINION | EDITORIALS

For once, FSU is a role model

Nov. 7, 2017

Florida State University President John Thrasher announced Monday he’s indefinitly suspending all fraternities and sororities at FSU, effective immediately. This follows a slew of appalling incidents within the school’s Greek community, most notably the death of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledge Andrew Coffey who was found unresponsive after attending a party.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The need (and struggle) to make time for yourself

Nov. 5, 2017

A quick note before we begin: I am by no means a professional in self-help practices nor do I consider myself an expert in mindfulness. Heck, I’m writing this column during my “me time” in between doing my laundry, mentally organizing tomorrow’s agenda and trying to remember the date of my next exam. That aside, I’m going to write this as a message to myself — and anyone else who might need this reminder — about the importance of carving out space and time for oneself each week.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Creating a better world starts with a culture of caring

Nov. 5, 2017

When was the last time you asked someone how they were doing and really meant it?

OPINION | COLUMNS

Circumstance and decision: We can only change the future

Nov. 5, 2017

Our lives are based around two things: circumstance and decisions. Circumstance is everything you can’t control. This is your privilege or your lack thereof. This is the stuff that just happens to you. Were you in the right place at the right time? Circumstance. Then, the rest of your life is made up of decisions. This is everything you actively do. Did you work really hard or not hard enough? Did you take that risk or let it slip through your fingers? These are both decisions.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels

Nov. 2, 2017

You’re exhausted. You haven’t showered in a few days because you haven’t left the library. Your diet for the past week has consisted solely of Starbucks paninis and Jimmy John’s sandwiches delivered to your workspace. You fear 90 percent of the liquid inside your body is now pure coffee, and you’ve seen several of your friends break down crying. That’s right — it’s exam season.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Your purpose in life will constantly change, summarizing it isn't easy

Nov. 2, 2017

I am supposed to write about my purpose. That is an odd task, at least in my opinion, to reduce my purpose to one or two single-spaced pages. This implies a multitude of things: one, that I do have a purpose and, two, my purpose is applicable to the exact program and exact situation so I could sum it all up in one or two single-spaced pages.

OPINION | COLUMNS

UF to Greek women: Don’t get assaulted

Nov. 2, 2017

"In that situation, I did everything right.”

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Regarding the CWC and Student Body President Smith Meyers

Nov. 2, 2017

I’d like to begin by applauding recent efforts to secure permanent funding for eight counselors to be added to the Counseling & Wellness Center. This truly is a fantastic stride in acquiring necessary mental health resources for our Student Body. However, this stride was clouded by a terrible misjudgment by Student Body President Smith Meyers.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Trump does not deserve a double standard when it comes to assault

Oct. 31, 2017

Earlier this week, “Star Trek” and “Rent” actor Anthony Rapp revealed to the public the “House of Cards” star Kevin Spacey sexually assaulted him more than 30 years ago when he attended a party thrown at Spacey’s home.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Journalism is struggling, it’s time to help

Oct. 31, 2017

I see you clearing your cookies on your computer to get 10 more free articles for the Sun Sentinel or The Washington Post without having to pay their monthly subscription, and for a while I was like you. I get it, you don’t have the money to pay $5 a month for news, so you cheat the system. It makes sense, but you’re hurting the very institution that you count on for reliable news, and it’s time we started supporting newspapers. They need us.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Mental health needs to be a top priority for colleges

Oct. 31, 2017

Counseling and mental health services are a top priority at UF and need to be part of continued conversations nationally within higher education and beyond.

OPINION | COLUMNS

It’s time to take a stand against the statue vandals

Oct. 31, 2017

Over the past several months, Americans across the country have taken it upon themselves to destroy, deface and rewrite American history with the removal of historical statues and monuments. Virtually unchallenged, this small segment of the public has attempted to bully fair-minded citizens into accepting a new American reality: one without our Founding Fathers.

OPINION | COLUMNS

We have power across generations

Oct. 29, 2017

Over the past few days, I have seen multiple articles detailing the lives of middle school students who chose to end their lives by killing themselves. Suicide is always tragic. Suicide should always draw our attention and ignite a desire for action and change. When those who choose to end their lives are not even teenagers yet, it can capture our attention in a particularly intense way.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Speak out against unjust organizations

Oct. 29, 2017

“If you see something, say something.” This slogan can apply to suspicious activity monitored by the Department of Homeland Security, but it should also apply to our everyday interactions.