Opinion | Columns

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Equal opportunity still doesn’t exist

Oct. 11, 2015

Equality of opportunity is often cited to undermine criticisms pertaining to the lack of women or people of color in positions of power and in certain professions. Pretending we live in a post-racial and post-sexist society does not make it so. Gender, race, sexuality and socio-economic status can affect the kind of opportunities a person has. The idea of equality of opportunity in the U.S. is a myth. Although things have certainly improved with time, there is still much that prevents equal opportunity from being a reality.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Well-known ‘subversive’ artist Banksy really isn’t

Oct. 8, 2015

I’ve got a bone to pick.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

It’s on us: Stop shaming survivors

Oct. 8, 2015

Last Saturday, I was called a "cunt."

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

John Kasich is the dark horse candidate of the Republican Party

Oct. 8, 2015

While it is still relatively early in the primary season, I think I am ready to place my bet on who will eventually be the Republican candidate for 2016: John Kasich. You may know him from his comments about going to a same-sex wedding in the first Republican debate, but otherwise he has not made a lot of waves in the Republican race so far.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Pre-Meds: How are you going to stand out?

Oct. 7, 2015

It’s a question as harrowing as the MCAT itself: How are you going to distinguish yourself?

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Press coverage of mass shootings leave neuro-divergent on margins

Oct. 7, 2015

Mass shooting after mass shooting, the news media boils the trend down to an issue of mental illness. How do they continually get it so wrong?

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Our gun culture is terroristic and growing

Oct. 6, 2015

Last week, in response to the latest in a long series of mass shootings, various media outlets posted infographics that juxtaposed the number of Americans killed by guns with the number killed by terrorist acts.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

John Boehner’s resignation presents trouble

Oct. 6, 2015

About two weeks ago, John Boehner held a press conference after Pope Francis addressed Congress. A practically cheerful Boehner replaced the weeping one from the previous day as he announced his plan to leave Congress at the end of October. While many expected the speaker to be ousted by the Tea Party bloc of his party, no one could have foreseen Boehner leaving on such an abrupt note.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Social media is pretty awesome, helps curate human existence

Oct. 6, 2015

On Monday, I participated in a research study. This was not your average, answer-these-three-questions-please-to-save-my-grade type of survey you see plastered all over Facebook.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Christianity and gay marriage: Embrace the change

Oct. 5, 2015

Ever since the June 26 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage in all 50 states, the radical Christian community has exploded in outrage. Christian public figures like Franklin Graham and Joel Osteen contend the foundations of Christianity itself are under attack.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Mid-terms bring about stressful times

Oct. 5, 2015

"Stressed" is a key word in the college student vocabulary. You hear it in class, from your friends, walking through campus and essentially anywhere you’re within earshot of 18- to 25-year-olds. It’s typically around this point in the semester that every area of our lives is moving at maximum speed, and with the first round of midterms rapidly approaching, it seems as though stress is all anyone talks about — myself included.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Latest shooting the latest in a long American tradition

Oct. 5, 2015

It is a dance we Americans have familiarized ourselves with and have become pretty good at since the Columbine High School massacre: One or more distraught gunmen and several or more victims. A school or theater in sanguinary peril. A storm of grief that floods the community and ends up briefly affecting the whole nation. Trivial debates on whether to mention the killer’s name or pretend he is (because, yes, it is always a he) Lord Voldemort. The urge to have the memory of the victims take precedence over the memory of the perpetrators. The manning of the battle stations as pro-gun proletarians exchange fire with those burghers who demand more regulation. A speech from the governor, and if the stars are aligned properly, a head-nodding indie-pop hit about the massacre. In the end, no change in policy occurs, and the timer is reset to mark the seconds from the last blasting till the next one.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

UF would benefit from a Public Service Academy

Oct. 4, 2015

Dear President Fuchs,

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

UF reacts to Catalan independence vote

Oct. 4, 2015

On Sept. 27, Catalonia held elections to its devolved parliament. A coalition of nationalist parties won 72 out of 135 seats, though only 48 percent of the vote. The coalition, which ranges from the center-right Convergència to radical CUP, bills this vote as a de facto affirmative referendum on independence from Spain, and right-wing president of Catalonia, Artur Mas, agrees.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Pope Francis is not as liberal as he seems

Oct. 4, 2015

When Pope Francis visited the U.S., he caused quite the stir with all major news channels covering his every move. The vast amount of coverage was strange, considering only 20.8 percent of Americans considered themselves Catholic in 2014, according to Pew.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Impact wins: We get the government we deserve

Oct. 1, 2015

As I watched the election results roll in live on Twitter Wednesday night, I found myself more and more frustrated, wondering if giving up and embracing cynicism wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all. It certainly would do a great deal of good for my mental health.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Planned Parenthood: Worth the stand

Oct. 1, 2015

The new battlefield in the war for women is Planned Parenthood.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Denying the existence of climate change is unfair to poor countries

Oct. 1, 2015

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Josaia Bainimarama of Fiji addressed the United Nations General Assembly on the threat of climate change. As a Pacific Island state, Fiji is already experiencing the negative impacts of climate change; Bainimarama spoke of plans underway to relocate some Fijian villages due to rising sea levels. He urged the general assembly to take action at the upcoming climate change conference in Paris.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

While the TSA is harassing a transgender woman, body scans aren’t making us safer

Sep. 30, 2015

The Transportation Security Administration’s policies, intended to fulfill the responsibility to detect and deter terrorist plots in U.S. airports, use largely invasive and discriminatory procedures that end up profiling whole groups of people.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Meet Joselin: Dancer, sister and your UF Student Body President

Sep. 30, 2015

Hello Gators! My name is Joselin Padron-Rasines and I’m your Student Body president. Even more than that, I’m a Gator.