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Sunday, July 20, 2025

El Caimán

Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Gov. Rick Scott cares only for himself

Last week, Gov. Rick Scott presented his budget for the 2012 fiscal year, proclaiming, “This was the budget you asked for.” The proposed budget is $5 billion leaner than budgets of years past, as Scott promised. However, the governor cut from areas most critical to the state’s well-being.


Florida Alligator
THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

“Guitar Hero” franchise takes its Last Waltz

My first experience with the “Guitar Hero” franchise was in summer 2007 in my neighbor’s garage. With a full drum kit in one corner and a Marshall stack beside it, there wasn’t a better atmosphere to begin my imaginary rock star life. On a small outdated television, I became entranced by the rainbow of notes speeding toward me, seemingly leaping off the onscreen fret board. The clicking of the strum bar was like a subtle bass groove to “Mother.” When I reached “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” I ignored my cramping left hand and played all through the night.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reusing items a good alternative to recycling

Laura Ellermeyer’s editorial in Tuesday’s paper highlights an important topic: the cost of waste. Perhaps a more appropriate title and discussion could have been “Reduce and Reuse First; Recycling Still Uses Resources.” It is true there are costs associated with recycling — fiscal and environmental. That is why the best action one can take is trying to consume less. This helps reduce the amount of resources used to mine and create the products in the first place, as well as avoids the added resource use associated with the process of recycling.


Florida Alligator
THE AVENUE  |  MUSIC

Gainesville gets dazed by the dub

The club doors open, and the immediate presence of the disc jockey is felt — the bone-rattling effects of the sub woofer penetrating every nuance, every movement, every breath within the tightly packed surroundings.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Affirmative Action bake sale ignores history

The UF College Republicans, the same people who brought you the People Eating Tasty Animals barbecue in 2009 “to raise awareness of the extreme stances of the animal rights organization PETA,” have taken their political activism to the next level with their Affirmative Action bake sale. By charging different prices based on race and gender, they plan to, as their Facebook event page puts it, “denounce the bias of Affirmative Action.”


THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Platonic partnerships can be beneficial, experts say

Ladies, don’t be shy. Go ahead and show your “we’re-just-friends” guy some love. Sure, girls have to have their girl BFFs, but some say women may be remiss in ducking platonic friendships with guys. For one, that male chum of yours has something none of your estrogen-fueled cohorts do: less emotion.


THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Woman’s life “All About Elephants”

Mid-afternoon, Bunny, Luke and Roxy sway their rotund, wrinkly bodies in anticipation. They know feeding time is approaching.  But their shifting weight is not only out of excitement: It’s also out of necessity. Each of the three Asian elephants weighs about 10,000 pounds.


Florida Alligator
NEWS  |  CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Graduate student proud to belong to SG party

I choose to Unite because results matter. I don’t want false promises or dirty politics. I choose a party that believes in following through, campaigning hard and respecting people along the way. I choose Unite. I’ve been a part of the late-night and early-morning campaigning. More importantly, I’ve seen the dedication and long hours Unite members put in once appointed to get the results for their constituents.



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