Opinion

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels: June 30, 2016

June 29, 2016

So, here we are, dear readers: the end of June. For those of you experiencing your first few days here at UF, we at the Alligator would like to welcome you. And for those returning for Summer C, sorry break was only a week. We realize our opinions editor failed to greet you all warmly and probably frightened you a bit Tuesday by jumping straight into a bleak look at the political scene… Damn it, David… you had one job. Anyway, in the words of The Black Eyed Beans — or whatever they’re called — “Let’s get it started (ha).”

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Opinion: Navigating the wolf’s den of undergrad life

June 29, 2016

Nestled in the evergreen woods of Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire, past the visitor’s center and the uphill boardwalk through The Flume, is an attraction known as “Wolf’s Den.” The narrow climbing space drops about 10 degrees cooler compared to the outside air, as it is enclosed by damp boulders and infrequently exposed to the sun. As my family and I, vacationing near these woods, walked toward the den, at least three other families turned back. Whatever we were approaching would surely be arduous or frightening enough to make them turn around, we thought. But we persevered.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Opinion: Americans aren't ready, Soccer will not be popular in the US anytime soon

June 29, 2016

Since June has become the month of soccer for Europe and the Americas, many have dusted off their national flag sweatsuits and vuvuzelas. However, for U.S. fans, it’s difficult to start parading around with American flag capes. The U.S. needs better players, and to get them, Americans have to play soccer.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Editorial: Apocalypse now — but, like, for real this time

June 27, 2016

The end of the world: We tease the idea here in the opinions section every now and again. Like in our opening editorial of Summer A and C—we mentioned an apocalypse was sure to come because Ted Cruz and John Kasich dropped out of the Republican presidential primary. Well, here’s the thing: We may have cried wolf a little bit.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Opinion: The Jungle, We got the fun... and some games

June 27, 2016

Hello my dearest readers. To everybody returning to Gainesville, let me be the first to welcome you back to our humble home. To all of the freshmen who just graduated from high school, don’t worry; the worst (the move-in process with crying mothers, silent fathers and impatient siblings) is behind you. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Zach, but you can call me Zachary. I write a weekly op-ed column here in your soon-to-be most favorite newspaper, The Independent Florida Alligator. Congratulations on beginning your collegiate journey by joining us in the wonderful, religiously drunken pilgrimage that is Summer B.

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Student Body President Susan Webster addresses voting issues, changes

June 27, 2016

Hello, Gator Nation, and welcome to Summer B!

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Opinion: Was the Brexit worth it? As with most questions, the answer is probably no

June 27, 2016

The United Kingdom’s referendum to leave the European Union, or the “Brexit,” as it has been affectionately called, has been a long time coming with strangely not a lot of attention throughout the world until it happened.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

UF President Kent Fuchs: "Love and be kind to one another"

June 27, 2016

Universities don’t teach the one concept most important in our world and in our personal lives.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Opinoin: Fathers are underrated

June 18, 2016

I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my father. Countless studies over the past decade point to the fact that the possibilities for my future improved tremendously because my dad was simply there for me during my childhood. Parents determine the destiny of their children in the years when kids try to make a sense of this world. Fathers traditionally play half the role in parenting, but their role is often underrated.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels: June 16

June 15, 2016

How do we have a Darts & Laurels today, while we still grieve over those we lost in Orlando, while we painstakingly hold our breath for those still in recovery. The rest of the country can move on, but how do we? It happened right here at home. How did those in Newtown, Connecticut, or Charleston, South Carolina, move on when mass murder devastated their lives?

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Opinion: What is this tragedy befalling us all?

June 15, 2016

There is a Swahili proverb: “The world is a field of chaos.” With my eyes I see it is so, and with all my heart I wish it wasn’t the case.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Guest Column: New administration, new developments and exciting things to come

June 15, 2016

Hey Gator Nation!

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Guest Column: Be wary of instant approval credit

June 13, 2016

Let’s be honest, getting offers for free or discounted things online or in the mail can be pretty exciting. As you move forward in your financial life, you will start to get more and more offers for things like new cars, insurance options and instant approval credit card offers. Most of these offers are easy to disregard, as they include major financial decisions you have to make when the time is right for you.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Opinion: Gun reform still largely out of reach

June 13, 2016

Sunday morning Orlando became the center of another massive shooting, something that seems to have become an occupational hazard of American life. While the details are still coming in about the deaths and injuries, and the whole story is not yet clear, a couple things are.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Opinon: No one is above the law, except Brock Turner

June 13, 2016

Wow, has it really been a week since our last talk? I feel like so much has happened! I don’t know if 650 words are going to be enough to express my discontent with three latest controversies: the gorilla, the rapist and the two hair-dyed blondes that could possibly be president.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Editorial: How long will this go on?

June 13, 2016

Twenty first-graders attending school in Newtown, Connecticut. Then, it was a family and pedestrians in Santa Monica, California. Twelve more at a Washington, District of Columbia, naval yard. Three at Fort Hood, Texas. A long-planned mass-murder at Isla Vista, California.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels: June 9, 2016

June 8, 2016

Dear readers, we’re nearing the end. Five weeks into Summer A. It’s already almost over: crazy, right? It’s time to hit the books and try to pull some miracles in these classes so that we can all go back to enjoying what summer is truly about… never-ending rain?

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Opinion: The U.S. ‘justice system’ is not doing its job

June 8, 2016

In light of the controversy around the Stanford rape case, it’s amusing to observe Americans wonder why there are many in our country who don’t have an ounce of respect for the justice system.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Opinion: With the onset of global warming, climate change talks will start again

June 8, 2016

My gosh, it’s been hot these past few months. It must be from that El Niño. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 13 of the 15 highest monthly temperature anomalies have occurred since February 2015. Unfortunately, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology declared El Niño finished on May 24. Opponents of the existence of climate change have blamed abnormalities, climate and weather since 2014 on El Niño. Now that it has ended, politicians may actually have to respond to Mother Nature.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Satire: Save money, live better... Build drones?

June 6, 2016

Well, dear readers, this is it. We’re calling it. The end is nigh — and not the cool kind of Nye we all know and love from probably the only thing we liked in elementary school more than recess: “Bill! Bill! Bill!” (If this reference went over your head, you need some more science and bowties in your life!) But for real, the coming months are basically life-or-death… or move to Canada.