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Friday, September 20, 2024

Opinion | Columns

Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Voter suppression machine targets UF

Is Gov. Rick Scott so concerned about his chances at re-election that his appointees need to prevent early voting on UF’s campus? After the Florida’s Division of Elections announced last week the Reitz couldn’t be an early voting location for Gainesville’s upcoming municipal elections, it certainly appears that way.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Obama’s ‘year of action’ is too late

“Lame duck” is too misleading a description of the remaining years of President Barack Obama’s time in office. Labeling a term “lame duck” implies that nothing will get done in Washington, and everyone knows it. The truth is, nothing will indeed happen, but the chief executive will try everything in his power to convince you otherwise.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

GatorWell responds to ‘GatorAid’

Last week in the Alligator’s GatorAid advice column, Leslie Cole responded to an anonymous student’s question, “I’m a girl, but I’m not 21. What are good old-fashioned ways to have fun without drinking?”


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Scott’s shady donations crony capitalism

As Gov. Rick Scott gears up for his 2014 re-election campaign, his primary focus has shifted away from dealing with the many critical issues our state faces. Instead, he has decided to devote the bulk of his energy toward fundraising for his re-election bid in advance of the November election.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

What’s worse: weed or alcohol?

The U.S. federal government is not known for always making the best choices. In some states, it’s legal to marry your first cousin but not a member of the same sex. However, one of America’s biggest flubs is the propagation of alcohol and the criminalization of marijuana.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Labels can liberate rather than limit

It’s OK to like labels on things other than clothes — or really, on anything but your clothes   — because those things can be itchy and uncooperative. Some people say labels are limiting, but I argue they are liberating. As humans, it is easier for us to categorize things. Labeling helps us process the world around us, as well as ourselves.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

The drifter who changed our history

With the national spotlight often on Floridians like Casey Anthony and Terry Jones, there’s not much we can be proud of. The Sunshine State isn’t exactly known for its positive contributions. However, there is one exception, and we recently marked its 50th anniversary.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Celebrate the real star of the Super Bowl: pizza

The weekend is finally here, and I’m more excited about it than usual because this Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday! Who cares if the half-time performer is Bruno Mars? Who cares if it’s going to be freezing at the MetLife Stadium? Who actually cares if the Seahawks or the Broncos win? Not me, because I don’t even like football. But I love Super Bowl Sunday, because I love food — namely, pizza.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

SOTU addresses students’ needs

During Tuesday’s State of the Union address, I was proud to hear our president talk about the issues that matter to Americans, especially those that impact us as students. From the skyrocketing cost of college to the importance of raising the minimum wage, the vision the president laid out last night is distinctly American: infused with the optimism and pragmatism that has always kept our nation moving forward.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Netflix: Why net neutrality matters

They say that when we landed on the moon, the scientists who got us there used computers with less processing power than what’s in an iPhone. This implies that everyone who has a computer today has an opportunity to do something awesome. It also implies they’re probably wasting that opportunity, consuming massive quantities of porn or binge watching series on Netflix — or a weird combination of the two.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

America must end gun-control taboo

Last week in Virginia, a group of gun-control activists planned to hold a rally at the Virginia State Capitol. The protesters were turned away by Capitol Police, who informed them that the sticks on the American flags that they carried were forbidden inside the building because they could be considered weapons.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Football and the concussion paradox

Right now, the big buzzword for the NFL is “concussion.” It’s hard not to hear about it. Ever since the book and documentary “League of Denial” entered into the sports media arena, concerns for player safety and head-related injuries intensified. The word is in the back of every fan’s, coach’s and player’s mind. I challenge you to find a game where the word “concussion” has not been brought up by the play-by-play or color commentator.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Double standards are really just sexism

Unfortunately, it’s become quite acceptable to use the term “double standards.” Double standards, of course, refer to the things socially acceptable for a certain type of person to do while the same things remain completely socially unacceptable for another type of person. Overwhelmingly, the term is used for all things related to gender. The phrase is used by an astounding number of people, partially joking and partially serious. But let’s get something straight here: Double standards are just a way of holding prejudices without actually saying out loud, “I’m sexist.”


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