Opinion | Columns

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

My personal struggle with the concept of zoos and captivity

Apr. 9, 2019

“Blackfish” left a bad taste in my mouth for all animal captivity. After watching the documentary, I swore off all aquariums, zoos and things alike, until recently. I went on a trip to the Georgia Aquarium and I couldn’t believe my friends had tricked me into going to this installment of animal exploitation. How could I put money into the hands of these people who use the beauty of animals for the sake of human entertainment? Who had I become? I was a fraud, a fake animal-lover. But I had already bought my ticket, and everyone seemed excited to see the “fishies,” so I went.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium doesn’t have to be just for football

Apr. 9, 2019

It’s a beautiful April day. Beams of sunlight hit the tops of the shimmering bleachers surrounding me. A cool breeze comes through Ben Hill Griffin Stadium every few minutes, just long enough for me to appreciate the fresh air. As a student at UF, this is one of the many unique luxuries I am granted in return for the tuition check I slide over to the Bursar’s Office each semester. The stadium, known to the masses as The Swamp, is one of the most famous landmarks to grace our campus because of its notoriety in college football. However, many students only use it for its main purpose: attending UF’s nationally renowned football games. If you’re one of those Gators, I’m here to give you a wake-up call.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

My painted nails shouldn’t be up for discussion

Apr. 7, 2019

The fickle thing I’ve learned about nail polish is that its drip is incredibly difficult to account for. No matter the layer, I can always expect the slightest spillover onto my cuticles or fingertips. It doesn’t bother me, but instead it encourages me to keep a steadier hand. Luckily, there’s no second glances or mention of my nail color as more people are accepting of different methods of expression. I’ve run into other masculine-presenting people who wear nail polish, earrings and makeup with eyeshadow and eyeliner. I would dare to say this is not a new trend among LGBTQ+ circles. However, the broadening of gender expression through small things, like nail polish, can still be a big change for others.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Individuals can’t save the environment, it’s a group effort

Apr. 7, 2019

Plastic is bad for the environment. This has been common knowledge for years. What is controversial, however, is demanding that everyone turn vegan and ditch single-use plastic. People fail to recognize that most of the earth’s pollution stems from major corporations rather than individuals. Also, expecting everyone to stop using straws fails to acknowledge the unintended consequences, which could be catastrophic for certain groups. Certainly, if you’re able to, do what you can to help the environment. Ditch the straws or get reusable ones, ask for paper bags the next time you go grocery shopping and reduce the amount of meat you consume, but don’t expect everyone to do the same. We first must hold corporations accountable for their actions, which affect the environment differently.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

The problem with the body positivity movement

Apr. 7, 2019

Core ideas of the body positivity movement date back to the late 1800s when the Victorian dress reform movement emerged. This movement aimed to put an end to the fad of corsets and tightlacing, to which women succumbed, conforming to the societal standard of a tiny waistline. The movement emphasized acceptance of all body types, regardless of waist measurements.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Cancel culture can be good, but people can change

Apr. 7, 2019

Lately, there’s been some discussion of something called “cancel culture.” Figures from John Oliver to Tucker Carlson have addressed the topic, with sometimes wildly differing perspectives. Now, I’m diving into the fray.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Putting a price on what makes people happy fosters exclusion

Apr. 4, 2019

The best part about joining clubs or groups is the different personalities you come in contact with. A visual arts student and a business student can be on the same soccer team. An engineering student and a philosophy student can both be members of a knitting group. Everyone is surrounded by people whose individual lives and interests can be nuanced beyond what we see on the surface level. There is an incredible amount of freedom in having friend groups or gatherings where everyone has different interests, but the one underlying character I have difficulty dealing with is the “hustler” of any group.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Here’s the tea on Flat Tummy Tea

Apr. 2, 2019

Flat Tummy Tea ads: They pop up almost everywhere on social media. It is possible that you have seen one on your Instagram, or maybe you follow an influencer who endorses the product every chance they get. But is this get-skinny-quick product actually useful? YouTubers have made videos documenting themselves trying the product, and online reviews offer more insight. However, from these reviews, it seems the only thing this product guarantees is that you’ll be running to the bathroom. So why do influential social media users continue to promote such a product, especially one targeted to young girls, a demographic more likely to dislike their own bodies?

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Our divisions are only growing deeper as history progresses

Apr. 2, 2019

It would be tempting to think the most pressing political and cultural question of our day is the question of political affiliation: Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal. We certainly spend a lot of time wondering if someone, especially someone famous, is one or the other, or which party is better, which view is the correct one. We tuck people we meet or see on TV nicely into those groups so we know what to think about them. “He’s a liberal,” we often say to describe a person, or “She leans conservative.” These are meaningful terms to us, capable of telling you all you need to know about another person. We believe strongly in them.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Spend your money on coffee at your discretion

Apr. 2, 2019

I used to be against the habit of regularly spending money on coffee. My parents were against it too. They would forward articles to my sisters and I about saving $5 a day. They would shake their heads in disappointment whenever they spotted us with a Starbucks cup in our hands. Comments like, “Is that coffee really worth it?” and “You could’ve donated that money to charity!” were not uncommon. I understood their logic, so I only bought it when I really wanted to treat myself. My dad is a full-blown caffeine addict with an ensured headache if he doesn’t drink at least three cups a day. I knew it wasn’t smart to get into the habit anyway.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

So you got rejected. Now what do you do?

Mar. 31, 2019

Everyone has been in this position: You recently applied for a promotion, a job, a program or an internship. You put your all into the application and you think it’s in the bag. Sadly, a few weeks later, you get an email notifying you that you were not selected for this opportunity. You’ve been rejected. You start to think about what went wrong. Why didn’t this company or school see what you have to offer? You begin to wonder what you could have done differently. Rejection is never fun. It’s a gut-wrenching feeling that leaves you insecure, sad and alone. It’s that time of the year when people are applying for new opportunities. While some will get wonderful news, others will get rejected. How do you deal with this?

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Sweetberries: The sweetest spot in Gainesville

Mar. 31, 2019

For my next trick, I am going to guess your favorite place in the world. Close your eyes and think of this place and of where you’d rather be than where you are. Imagine the environment. The sounds. The smells. The sights. Have you thought of it? Great. Now, open your eyes, and I will guess what you were thinking of.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

How to (responsibly) prank your friends

Mar. 31, 2019

Happy April Fools’ Day, Gators! The time for humor, jokes and, of course, pranks both large and small is upon us. While I enjoy the merriment of the holiday as much as anyone else, this column is not a joke. In fact, it is a serious column on a somewhat serious issue: how to prank responsibly.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

When the system fails, we need to lean each other

Mar. 28, 2019

UF does its best with providing the services students need across a variety of issues. The Career Connections Center gives students a head start in preparing to enter the workforce. GatorWell helps spread awareness of student health to make sure students know what resources they may have. But the service that is vital for students in a world of growing anxiety, the UF Counseling and Wellness Center, isn’t keeping up with its monumental task: the maintenance of the mental health of UF’s students.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Student Government: Lies, street lights and blue lights

Mar. 28, 2019

So there I was, reconsidering my life decisions at a 7 a.m. Senate Judiciary Committee meeting when the topic of blue lights came up. There was a resolution, specifically a “Resolution Recommending Installation of Emergency Blue Light Phones Along and Adjacent to Fraternity Drive.” Apparently, there are not many blue lights around Fraternity Row, which is slightly concerning because we all know what can happen around there.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

How I have come to terms with both church and state

By Chasity Maynard | Mar. 28, 2019

I find myself fidgeting with this gold cross necklace my grandmother gave me when I’m thinking or nervous. It’s relaxing. Usually, religion provides me with a comforting sense of safety and guidance. Oftentimes, I find my progressive political views clashing with the church’s stances on controversial topics. I’ve struggled with my identity as a Catholic and a progressive. I’ve recently started to understand that these two aspects of my personality don’t need to confuse me. I can be a devout Christian and a progressive. Let me explain how I have reconciled my beliefs.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Graduation is upon us and so is the senior funk

Mar. 28, 2019

It’s my final semester of college, and it may be yours, too. You’ve most likely been reflecting on your time here in Gainesville, and you may have been left with some bittersweet feelings. The last four years of your life are behind you. They’ve become the past without you even realizing it. If you’re like me, it makes sense that you’re feeling uneasy about the future. It doesn’t matter if you’re graduating with a job, starting graduate school or if you have no idea what your next step is, graduation can still be scary. At some point, you may find yourself experiencing something I like to call the “senior funk.”

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Retail therapy isn’t self-care

Mar. 26, 2019

The idea of retail therapy has never appealed to me, but there are times when I’ve found myself buying something in the name of self-care or because I thought I deserved it. Retail therapy does have some standing in terms of being a psychological coping mechanism; however, it’s hard to say how beneficial it actually is to our mental health and to our wallets. Some people use it to help with their anxious or depressive episodes or anything else they may be experiencing. Kit Yarrow, a consumer research psychologist, wrote an article for Psychology Today in which she says she does not consider retail therapy a form of therapy, but she does mention some of its positive effects, which can be seen as psychological rewards. It isn’t something that is going to cure you of your problems, but it can bring gratification for a short time.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

The “unfriendly” kid might just be shy

Mar. 26, 2019

I can keep up my side of the conversation until I’m sick of the sound of my voice. As an extrovert, it is easy for me to keep my cool in social situations. Small talk is a skill that has always come naturally to me.

---

OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Are “sick-lit” movies romanticizing life-threatening illnesses?

Mar. 26, 2019

“Five Feet Apart” is a movie that follows cystic fibrosis patients Stella (Haley Lu Richardson) and Will’s (Cole Sprouse) relationship, as they must stay six feet apart to keep from catching each other’s bacteria. Walking out of the movie, I wondered how someone with cystic fibrosis would feel after watching “Five Feet Apart.” It also made me think about why sick characters are often used in books and movies targeted at younger audiences.