I’m flabbergasted, dumbstruck, incredulous.
The Independent Florida Alligator is a student bastion intended to promote and assist UF students in all aspects — from police reports to athletics to Student Government.
Those of us who write opinion columns have an even greater responsibility when it comes to the realm of SG because we are allowed access to a greater audience — one we should strive to make sure continues to take us seriously, for the most part.
I had a column already submitted for the final day before Spring Break. Then I opened to Page 6 and 7 to check up on my fellow columnists.
I became furious, enraged, livid.
One of the columns was a chest-thumping-I-didn’t-vote-here’s-why-and-I’m-proud-of-it article that blew my mind. We had columnists debate before this semester, notably about rap music. I considered throwing in my two cents, but I decided against it because I prioritized other issues. This issue takes priority.
Voting is a duty all eligible citizens should participate in, regardless of whether the contest is local, collegiate, state or federal.
I have every single “I voted” sticker stuck to a small magnet on my fridge because it fills me with pride to know I am continually involving and investing myself in a democratic process that makes my community — be it UF, Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida or the entire United States — a better place.
When I write my columns, I do so to encourage the ideals I believe in. I give my all to creating an articulate, yet impassioned, argument that seeks to improve the world I live in — even if it’s only by the tiniest iota. Even a column written around 3 a.m. with a nonsensical theme of defending haters has root in ideals that I strive to live by.
All of this led me to a sense of disbelief as I read the column further.
Although a small part of me is appreciative that an uninformed student chose not to vote, I have severe issues with why that voting didn’t occur. The column points out the attempts at rebranding one party undergoes to distance itself from previous scandals.
This party, may I add, has had confrontations with the Alligator in the past.
Events such as dumping papers, which should incense any self-respecting columnist, journalism major or not, and conspiring in a flier campaign that encouraged the removal of the iconic orange racks that hold a prestigious paper come to mind.
It is unacceptable that the greatest distinction one can make between two parties is between T-shirts.
That is a failure as a citizen and a student before anything else. It is disrespectful to those who try to further their cause in the marketplace of ideas.
It is disrespectful to those who read the Alligator, and it is disrespectful to other columnists.
The column ends with the following sentence: “I felt power in lying to them about my voting status and felt power in not being part of their drama.”
This isn’t high school.
The cliques of the popular kids decide more than where the cool table is located now.
If you can’t be bothered to take enough time to make a difference during election season, it’s wrong to expect people to view your opinion on the election as valid.
Enjoy the break, Gators.
Logan Ladnyk is a journalism junior at UF. His column runs on Fridays. You can contact him via opinions@alligator.org.
