Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
We inform. You decide.
Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Opinion

Florida Alligator
Opinion

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

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

Darts & Laurels: March 23, 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

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

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

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

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.


Florida guard Chris Chiozza 
Opinion

Letter to the Editor from Chris Chiozza's grandmother

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

Our love of Stephen Hawking isn't scientific

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

When teachers speak, we need to listen

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

Are alligators more dangerous than you think?

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

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

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: March 16, 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.


Craig Sager threw out the first pitch of a Cubs game in June 2016. He was a longtime NBA sideline reporter before his death in December 2016.
Sports

An honest assessment of bias in sports reporting

Long after the Florida basketball team’s lifeblood had trickled from its veins on Friday in St. Louis, the Arkansas Razorbacks continued to pound a beaten UF team that just wouldn’t stop trying. That was much to the frustration of one broadcaster on press row, who slammed a table with his open palm and mouthed something under his breath.



Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2026 The Independent Florida Alligator and Campus Communications, Inc.