Sasha Morel is a freshman studying Philosophy and Politics and is a private debate coach for students across the nation. His opinion pieces for the Alligator focus on the intersectionality between Gainesville and the people, problems, and politics that affect the city. He works to inspire structural changes through intellectually profound and empathetic analysis of current events.
COVID-19 did not simply interrupt schooling; it altered how we read. Remote instruction rewarded efficiency over depth. Faced with shortened periods, screen fatigue and constant digital distractions, students adapted by reading strategically rather than attentively.
On Feb. 26, the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team took home the gold medal for the first time in over four decades. Directly after the win, the team spoke with Trump on the phone, and the president facetiously claimed he would be forced to invite the women’s team to celebrate alongside the men. If he didn’t, Trump said, they would “impeach him.”
FLEX has worsened the lives of both students and Gainesville residents. Here’s how.
Farmers markets are supposed to be the city’s antidote to industrial food: shorter supply chains, more money staying in the region and a direct relationship between the person who grows the food and the person who eats it.
Here are what I would call the “blind spots” of the Hamilton School.
Despite the countless initiatives, services and even new grocery stores appearing in Gainesville, food insecurity is back on the rise as of late 2025, with local food shelters such as Deeper Purpose Community Food Ministries reporting an increase from 10 to 40 phone calls per day directed toward food assistance.
Solutions by The State News
