Opinion | Columns
The arts thrive in Gainesville, Alachua County
By David Ruiz | Nov. 18The emperor is back
By Lucas Sprung | Nov. 12The “Election Police”: Another Republican shenanigan bullying minorities and women of the “free” state of Florida
By Sylvain Doré | Nov. 5In 2022, Gov. Ron DeSantis made national headlines when he created the Office of Election Crimes and Security, a so-called “election police” force designed to investigate and prosecute alleged voter fraud. The timing was no coincidence. As DeSantis cemented his political ambitions and positioned himself for a presidential run, he needed to appeal to a specific base. In creating this office, DeSantis wasn't protecting democracy — he was pandering to conspiracy theorists and sowing doubt in the electoral process, all while laying the groundwork for voter intimidation and going after petitions and amendments to please his voters. And now, in 2024, we are seeing the full, dangerous impact of this move.
The DeSantis death cult of climate change denial
By Rey Arcenas | Oct. 31However, DeSantis’s brand of climate change denial is not merely about rejecting science but perpetuating cruelty.
The forgotten class
By Lucas Sprung | Oct. 28So why are so many young white men attracted to the conservative ideology? It’s because they have been lied to over and over again. Young men were told growing up to suppress their masculinity in a world that hates men. They were promised a future like their fathers and grandfathers had. But that future does not exist anymore.
Conservatism is man’s binky
By Eriel Pichardo | Oct. 28While I’ve long since recovered from the realization of my involvement in our country's ensuing downfall, I realize that if we look at the current situation of men in our country and the rise of young male conservatism, we begin to see a pattern.
Cherishing and Exercising the Right to Vote
By Matthew Jacobs and William Inboden | Oct. 23This political season, like many before it, has no shortage of acrimony and division. Some prominent candidates inspire equally passionate devotion from their supporters and loathing from their critics – here among our UF community just as across the rest of our nation.
Beyond comfort: embracing challenge and community in the Peace Corps
By Dani Arnwine | Oct. 22Among Peace Corps volunteers, we often say our service is “the toughest job you’ll ever love.”
A Call for Accountability: Rethinking Student Government at UF
By Austin Britton | Oct. 15My time in the senate chamber has been nothing short of disappointing. I hate politics. I am someone who prioritizes communication above all, and yet every time I worked on a piece of legislation, or went to a senate meeting, I saw nothing productive being done for the students.
A brief history of political machinery at the University of Florida
By Rey Arcenas | Oct. 15Political machinery has a long history in UF SG, dating all the way back to its beginning. SG began in the summer of 1915 but in only a few years, a group of students conspired to monopolize its levers of power.
The University of Florida’s embarrassing suppression of pro-Palestinian demonstrators
By Rey Arcenas | Oct. 14Here at UF, Gov. Ron DeSantis made multiple attempts to suppress pro-Palestinian students.
A Year After Oct. 7
By Lucas Sprung | Oct. 14Instead of feeling anger for the people who were brave enough to call for the destruction of my country, I felt sad for them and UF. Sadly, students who were smart enough to get into UF could not understand fundamental human rights or even know why it was wrong to protest on Holocaust Remembrance Day. It's embarrassing that UF and the city of Gainesville allowed it to happen.
Despite concerns, AI is a win for education
By Ethan Niser | Oct. 11For over 40 years, the solution to improving education has been clear. It’s not a secret teaching method or an innovative curriculum, but something much simpler: one-on-one tutoring.
Calling all white activists
By Eriel Pichardo | Oct. 8We all remember the black screens in 2016 that symbolized solidarity for the Black lives lost at the hands of abusive police officers. In a way, it allowed large groups of people to sympathize with their Black counterparts and show solidarity without ever having to leave the comfort of their own homes. It was the height of performative activism. While Black communities and allies alike banded together to sign petitions, share their stories and protest in spite of massive retaliation, the rest of passive white activists were posting black screens with the BLM slogans followed by useless hashtags and emojis.
JD shows a fresh face for Republicans
By Lucas Sprung | Oct. 3Two new politicians came to the debate stage Tuesday night, and unlike the previous presidential debates, this one felt weirdly refreshing.
Mandate future politicians to prioritize Florida's homeless crisis: A look at HB 1365
By Eric Protein Moseley | Sep. 30ecently, Gov. Ron DeSantis introduced HB 1365 addressing homelessness. The legislation bans camping on city streets, sidewalks and parks, redirecting individuals to temporary shelters overseen by law enforcement.