Opinion | Columns

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

UF College Republicans does not support animal cruelty

By Bryan Griffin | Feb. 10, 2010

In response to Bruce Friedrich’s column printed Wednesday, I must take a moment to point out the grave inaccuracies in both his perceptions and argument against the College Republicans’ People Eating Tasty Animals event. First, Bruce pointed out that I was not at his forum/speech held at UF in October. While this is true, it does not negate the fact that he did not show up at my event, either. Bruce was quick to make harsh and thoroughly misguided judgments as to the intent of the event and my beliefs on the issue of animal rights.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Iran covering up ‘Lost’ set duplicate

Feb. 10, 2010

The announcement by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of an Iranian surprise that will “punch” the rest of the world and leave them “stunned” was met with an exaggerated yawn this week from a Western media enervated by vague threats from heavily bearded men.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Student Government opposes union fee for grad students

By Jordan Johnson | Feb. 9, 2010

During my time as Student Body President, I have constantly tried to work with any student that has an opinion about how Student Government can improve the lives of students at UF.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Animal rights debate to inform students

By Bruce Friedrich | Feb. 9, 2010

As vice president of policy and governmental affairs for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), I have debated animal protection issues around the world.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Singles should seize V-Day opportunity

Feb. 8, 2010

I think Valentine’s Day is really a holiday for singles.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Gator Growl wants Student Body’s opinion for 2010 show

By Bryan Griffin | Feb. 8, 2010

Some people may think it is awfully early in the year to begin talking about the next Gator Growl, but people have been planning the 2010 Growl since late December.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Technological advances like Facebook more than just fun

By Will Penman | Feb. 7, 2010

There’s this new thing out that’s pretty fantastic.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Palin taking ‘retard’ comment too far

By Ryan Spencer | Feb. 7, 2010

Well, it finally happened. I suppose it was only a matter of time before one of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel’s well-rumored, profanity-laced harangues would surface while he was in office. Indeed, it was only a snippet of his Chicago-sharpened talent, but it was worth the wait.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

US Senate should put end to gender pay discrimination

By LINDA MERIC | Feb. 4, 2010

A year ago, dozens of women’s and civil rights activists gathered at the White House to watch President Barack Obama sign his first piece of legislation into law: the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Modern Tea Party is deeply flawed

By PAUL MURTY | Feb. 4, 2010

I don’t understand the Tea Party. I’ll admit that I’ve spent the past day trying to research what they want on the Internet, and the only thing I can come up with is they just don’t want to pay taxes. I can understand the frustration. I hate when I go to Publix to buy a newspaper and I have to pay an extra 6 or 7 cents in sales tax. But that’s mostly because I just don’t feel like getting that much change.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Tebow ad is stealing Super Bowl limelight

Feb. 3, 2010

Starring in a controversial anti-abortion commercial bankrolled by a fundamentalist Christian group, Tim Tebow headlines the first-ever “issue ad” aired on Super Bowl Sunday and has effectively hijacked the pre-Super Bowl hype machine.  

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Study abroad offers valuable experience

By Joshua Lee | Feb. 2, 2010

Last Wednesday, I stopped by the UF Study Abroad fair outside of the Reitz Union to discover what options are open to me  for getting out of Gainesville and my pitiful dorm room.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Ending relationships has its positives

Feb. 1, 2010

Breakups aren’t fun. In fact, as far as things in relationships go, they pretty much suck.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

America’s drinking problem serves as way to escape reality

By Eric Tegethoff | Feb. 1, 2010

Every foreign tourist who comes to America must think we are walking advertisements for the latest low-calorie Budweiser. America has a drinking problem and a culture that once scoffed at the idea of moderation.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Apple’s release of iPad a letdown

By Ryan Spencer | Jan. 31, 2010

There was a torrent of publicity surrounding Apple’s unveiling of its iPad last week. I watched a video of Steve Jobs presenting it, and needless to say, I wasn’t impressed. Here’s a quick rundown of what transpired:

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Politicians support parties, not voters

By PAUL MURTY | Jan. 28, 2010

As long as I can remember, we have had terrible political divisions in our country. The only time Democrats and Republicans seem able to work together are in times of crisis, like after the attacks of Sept. 11 or Pearl Harbor. The politics of our country, specifically of Congress, are inherently wrong and against what Americans want.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

U.S. should pay attention to educational instability in Afghanistan

By Joshua Lee | Jan. 27, 2010

Too often during times of chaos and conflict, children are marginalized victims and face extreme suffering and life-threatening problems.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Baby boomers caught with pants down

Jan. 27, 2010

There are many avenues President Obama could have traversed with his first State of the Union speech, and I suppose that he can be forgiven for wanting to stick with whatever it is his teleprompter told him to say Wednesday night. I probably would have paid attention if he were wearing a T-shirt with three wolves on it.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Religion must evolve with audience

By Ryan Spencer | Jan. 26, 2010

The whirlwind that is “Avatar” made it over to the Vatican earlier this month in a private screening before its release in Italy. They were not enthused with the movie, and I am not surprised with their reaction.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Town hall forum to discuss Reitz Union plans

By Jordan Johnson | Jan. 26, 2010

As we begin discussions on how to effectively address the issues that face the Reitz Union, Student Government and the Alligator have teamed up to host a town hall forum. The purpose of this town hall forum will be to provide students an opportunity to learn about the significant issues facing our Union and engage each other in a constructive conversation.