Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Wake up and get that bread, you’ll thank yourself later

Jan. 14, 2019

Good morning, Gators! If that greeting is even remotely accurate to you, give yourself a pat on the back and keep up that persistence. For the rest of you who, like myself, struggle with getting out of bed and maintaining a routine, I’m here to offer you some words of advice. Become someone who can be productive before a 9:35 a.m. class. You’ll become a part of a class so elite that even AirPod users won’t be able to compare to your power.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Millions of Americans need to change their food habits

Jan. 14, 2019

An estimated 160 million Americans are either overweight or obese, according to a study published in 2014 by The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. This number accounts for roughly two-thirds of all adults and close to 30 percent of all children in the U.S. To make matters worse, the incidence of obese and overweight Americans has been on a massive upswing in recent years. The nation’s obesity rate is expected to soon approach 40 percent.

OPINION | COLUMNS

It’s not too late to put yourself back on track this Spring semester

Jan. 14, 2019

The Spring semester's first week has now passed. By now you’ve all attended your first lectures of the semester or completed your first assignments. If so, hopefully you did well and managed to find a routine that works best for you. If you did, congratulations! But if you didn’t and you’re struggling to get back in the groove of things after break, here are some tips to put you back on track.

OPINION | COLUMNS

It’s OK to be angry over the government shutdown

By Chasity Maynard | Jan. 10, 2019

The current political atmosphere deserves a prime-time spot on TLC. The government’s drama is reaching a high point this week. Capitol Hill’s heated debate over the border wall reached a peak at the end of 2018 when President Trump dug his heels in and demanded his border wall, to which Democrats expressed their disapproval. Twenty-one days later and the U.S. is entering into the longest government shutdown in its history.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The best way to spend syllabus week doesn't include another night in Midtown

Jan. 10, 2019

There’s nothing better than a week to get back into the swing of things. School might have technically started Monday. But let’s be honest, it doesn’t really start until next week.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Checkmate, conservatives? A curious glance into the SG lawsuit

Jan. 10, 2019

It’s always tea time in Student Government land. One of the fascinating developments over Winter Break was the news of Young Americans for Freedom suing Student Government over claims of free speech violations. (Long story short, YAF wanted money to bring speakers in; SG said no.)

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guys, it’s time for some real talk

Jan. 10, 2019

I hope I’m not the only one who feels a slight tug in their chest when they hang out with their guy friends. Guys, we can talk sports, exercise, video games or anything pop culture related, but there always seems to be a lull in the conversation after the normal talking points are exhausted. Sometimes, I find that I catch a friend’s words caught in his throat. I can tell there is something bothering him, but the words to explain whatever it is never make it to the surface.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Let’s give animation the love it deserves

Jan. 8, 2019

When I was younger, animated movies were all the rage. I’m sure many people my age can relate. Disney’s animated classics played on repeat in my household, and I would beg my parents to take me to the movies every time a new animated flick hit the big screen. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that animated films are often placed on the back burner. Advertising for these films is less apparent; their box office numbers often dwindle and my interest in seeing them has waned.

OPINION | COLUMNS

My family got a puppy for Christmas, and I hate it

Jan. 8, 2019

The barking starts at 7 a.m.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Some New Year’s resolutions for UF

Jan. 7, 2019

We are now officially in 2019. With the coming of the new year, many people make New Year’s resolutions for things they want to improve on. However, it doesn’t just have to be individuals who make New Year’s resolutions. For my first column of both the new year and the new semester, I’d like to offer some New Year’s resolutions for UF:

OPINION | COLUMNS

UF Needs To Spend More On Mental Health

Jan. 7, 2019

Mental health, I believe, is not given the attention it deserves. This can result in a lack of happiness and contentment and at worst, tragic and preventable suicides for those struggling with their own mental health. College exacerbates stress and mental health issues, warranting an abundance of mental health resources. However, this is often not the case.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Old Friendships and What They Mean For Home

Jan. 7, 2019

It’s a new year, and some of us returning Gators are returning with some serious baggage from the holiday season. When we leave behind our plebeian friends for the golden fields of Gainesville and our top 8 public university, a new life begins. Most students experience a departure from the old as they struggle through college to discover the new, and this departure often sentences old friendships to death by distance.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Is Bringing Humanity Back into Politics

Jan. 7, 2019

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has made her way into the hearts of liberal millennials across the nation. Her quirky demeanor, unrivaled confidence and leftist progressive platform are just some of the reasons why she has quickly gone from political newcomer to Democratic icon in a matter of months.

OPINION | COLUMNS