Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Distance shouldn’t limit relationships

By Laura Ellermeyer | Apr. 11, 2011

As the horrific years of high school finally come to a long-anticipated close, many lovebirds find themselves debating the future of their coveted young romances. Sweethearts around the country gaze longingly into each others’ eyes and mourn the impending split caused by age, different schools or any variety of other reasons. Many couples, fearing their young love is not strong enough glue to hold them together over distance, find themselves pining out car windows in a cinematic way as they drive off to college toward untold adventures. However, for folks such as myself, the distance is not enough of a deterrent to constitute a break up, and freshmen find themselves thrust into a whirlwind of constant texting, hour-long Skype sessions and (hopefully) frequent weekend visits.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Government crisis averted for now

By Zack Smith | Apr. 10, 2011

It was 11:59 p.m., and only one minute remained until the U.S. federal government was set to shut down.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Obama and his never-ending campaign

By Bob Minchin | Apr. 7, 2011

It’s official. On Monday, President Obama released a Web video that formally kicked off his re-election campaign for 2012. Four years ago, Obama launched the campaign that took the nation by storm — a campaign that used words and branding to stir up a kind of hysteria that launched an unknown Illinois senator into rock star status and, ultimately, the White House.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Local elections important for students

By Chad Mohammed | Apr. 6, 2011

“All politics are local.” This time-tested adage never has been truer. On Tuesday, the runoff elections for Districts 2 and 3 will take place. Running in District 2, which encompasses the northwest section of the city, is incumbent Lauren Poe. Running in District 3 is Susan Bottcher. District 3 spans the southwestern sector of the city from the western half of campus all the way to I-75.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Princess movies hurting young girls

By Wesley Campbell | Apr. 5, 2011

Disney movies teach awful lessons to children. They have ruined entire generations of Americans’ concepts of love, happiness and the pursuit thereof.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Baseball waning as national pastime

By Laura Ellermeyer | Apr. 4, 2011

Many beautiful things accompany the emergence of spring. Flowers explode, birds rejoice and a long-awaited end of the school year looms closer. But for any red-blooded American, these trivialities are just minor blips on the radar as the arrival of spring means only one thing: baseball.

OPINION | COLUMNS

American exceptionalism exceptional

By Zack Smith | Apr. 3, 2011

Over the past few weeks, the concept of “American exceptionalism” has dominated the airwaves.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Democrats’ driving tax is ridiculous

By Bob Minchin | Mar. 31, 2011

Just when it seems like the Democrats have exhausted their playbook — just when it looks as if the left has attempted every trick in the liberal agenda — it turns out that they have.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Scott for cronies, not average Floridian

By Chad Mohammed | Mar. 30, 2011

I seem to be in fair company with writing this article, as a recent poll showed that Gov. Rick Scott has an approval rating of just 32 percent. On an assortment of issues from education funding to reductions in state workers’ salaries, the governor simply is in the wrong.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Market can’t keep up with law grads

By Wesley Campbell | Mar. 29, 2011

There’s no way around it, because no matter where you turn or how much you try to ignore it, the U.S. is seeing some tough economic times. Yet, despite the fact that job growth in many sectors is slow, law schools seem to be doing nothing less than ignoring this fact and hammering away at the idea that going to law school is a great idea.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Florida House bills would attack women’s right to choose

By Kendra Vincent | Mar. 28, 2011

Women’s rights are under attack again.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Spelling worsened by technology crutch

By Laura Ellermeyer | Mar. 28, 2011

Predictive text technology is a wonderful thing. If you know only a few letters or the beginning of a word, most smartphones will automatically suggest multiple options for what you were looking for.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Florida, other states should elect judges

By Zack Smith | Mar. 27, 2011

It’s a basic tenant of American society that public-policy makers are held accountable for their decisions by an informed electorate.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Obama negatively reshaping America

By Bob Minchin | Mar. 24, 2011

As President Obama’s approval ratings continue to fall and he amasses more enemies on both sides of the aisle in response to his invasion of Libya, I am reminded of perhaps the most telling and haunting moment of the 2008 presidential election coverage.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Lack of funds could prove disastrous

By Chad Mohammad | Mar. 23, 2011

The devastating earthquake and ensuing tsunami that struck Japan earlier this month reminded us all of the ever-present danger of natural disasters and, more importantly, of the need for us to be as well prepared for them as possible — both as a society and as individuals.

OPINION | COLUMNS

People should take more honest photos

By Wesley Campbell | Mar. 22, 2011

Have you ever seen one of those photo montages that show someone’s face holding the same angle and expression relentlessly, regardless of where and when the photo was taken?

OPINION | COLUMNS

General education distracts from major

By Laura Ellermeyer | Mar. 21, 2011

It sometimes seems that high school curricula and “When am I ever gonna use this crap?” go hand in hand. Elective requirements in high school may seem like funny time wasters (I carried a fake baby around for a week and loved every second of it), but as we neared graduation, we looked forward to the end of electives and fixed our gazes on more serious coursework that was actually relevant to a topic and career we chose.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Gator Nation stands together for Japan

By Ben Meyers | Mar. 20, 2011

There are moments in time when I am immensely proud to be a Florida Gator. Thursday was one of them. No, it wasn’t due to many students’ impressive performances on St. Patty’s Day. It wasn’t even due to our dominance in basketball. It was due to the sight I witnessed at the candlelight vigil in commemoration of the disaster in Japan. Hundreds of students sat huddled in the Reitz Union Amphitheatre. There were students from all communities and cliques. Unity prevailed as all the students joined in praying for those affected by the tragedy and committing to doing all they can to help. We heard emotional tales of those here who know individuals who lost their homes and even their lives. Though the words were in Japanese, the emotion transcended language and generated compassion from all in attendance.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Critical analysis of evolution needed

By Zack Smith | Mar. 20, 2011

Nearly everyone agrees that critical thinking is a skill essential for children to develop as early as possible.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Smaller issues not federal concerns

By Bob Minchin | Mar. 17, 2011

The economy is in the tank. Unemployment is stagnant. The budget crisis has brought us to the brink of a government shutdown. Libya is burning, and Egypt is still in turmoil.