Opinion | Letters To The Editor - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Stickers encourage voters

By Ryan Weiss | Sep. 27, 2009

Friday's Alligator contained a four-paragraph diatribe concerning the distribution of "I Voted" stickers during Student Government elections. How can one be so petty? We have students trying to ensure the safety of the community, to save language programs and to allocate money to student groups, and you go after stickers? Those of us in Greek houses know that it is not "coercion" that goes on, but rather encouragement to vote in SG elections. With such a small percentage of students voting in these elections, it is shameful that you resent Greek participation. Sen. Gary Benedix, you seem pleased with yourself that you "have it all figured out."

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Students should vote to nix "I Voted" stickers

By Gary Benedix | Sep. 24, 2009

During next week's election, voters will have the chance to put an end to wasteful spending in Student Government and prevent students from being coerced into voting. The "I Voted" stickers initiative petition campaign I ran this summer collected 1,211 signatures from students who were appalled after learning SG spent close to $1,900 on unnecessary "I Voted" stickers for the Spring 2009 election, even though there were about 50,000 unused stickers left over from previous SG elections.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Expenditures prove irresponsibility

By Ryan Sappenfield | Sep. 24, 2009

Last campaign the Unite Party promised that it would build a new parking garage. This campaign the Unite Party promises to build a new Reitz Union. What's next, a pyramid on Turlington Plaza?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

SG turned a blind eye to workers' rights

By Ryan Bird | Sep. 23, 2009

When the UF administration signed a no-bid contract with Aramark last year, many students at UF were disconcerted with the lack of research into the options available for food services on campus.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Students do care about The New York Times

By Jake Pease | Sep. 23, 2009

Fransisco Sotomayor: Students like me care about The New York Times.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Senators failed to support human rights

By Fernando Figueroa | Sep. 23, 2009

As a Hispanic student, I am very disappointed that Student Government senators couldn't find it in them to pass a simple resolution supporting human rights and dignity for farm workers in Immokalee, Fla., especially since most of the workers affected are also minorities.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

UF should consider minorities as new hires

By Bradford Hall | Sep. 22, 2009

UF has continued to make known its desire to become one of the top 10 national institutions of higher learning. I commend the university for desiring to achieve this level of distinction. However, UF's administration seems to have eradicated the university's low number of minority faculty members. In 2008, less than 10 percent of our faculty body was black or Hispanic. While seeking to employ faculty members at the top of their fields at this institution, racial diversity must become a component.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Newspapers not worth the cost

By Francisco Sotomayor | Sep. 22, 2009

Let me let the hardcore political party members in on a little secret: The average student does not care about The New York Times.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Food service provider requires oversight

By Mark Jaskowski | Sep. 22, 2009

As a student at UF, I am distressed to see that Aramark, the company contracted to provide food services, has seen fit to raise the prices charged by franchises in the Reitz Union and elsewhere on campus above those charged at off-campus franchise locations, especially while students are increasingly feeling financially crunched. Where is the oversight?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Aramark encourages unfair labor practices

By Dave Schneider | Sep. 22, 2009

The issue of campus food reform is starting to gain some serious momentum. A few letters to the editor, some annoyed complaints to restaurants and raw discontent with the high prices of campus dining options was enough to convince Pollo Tropical that they were charging too much for their food.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Wall Street Journal should be available

By Nick Alsaka | Sep. 21, 2009

As a McCain supporter and a conservative, I've always wished there was a more conservative newspaper voice on campus.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Scalpers show business sense

By Jon Levy | Sep. 21, 2009

In response to the letter in Monday's Alligator that called student ticket scalpers a disgrace to Gator Nation: what a load of crap.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Community needs classical station

By Barbara Wickwire | Sep. 21, 2009

I can't tell you how much I miss classical music from UF radio. You have cut it, perhaps, to give students a chance to report news. But what is the community supposed to do? Do you have no obligation to us?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Student government official right to resign

By Kenneth Kerns | Sep. 21, 2009

I was surprised to hear of the story last week about William Sedgwick, a UF Student Government official who was arrested on a DUI charge and resigned.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Wasted student government money could fund free paper

By Nick Mildebrath | Sep. 21, 2009

In a year when budget cuts incited outrage over the proposed elimination of The New York Times, isn't it better to cut costs that don't directly benefit students?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Marketplace of ideas good for society

By JOSH BUKARD | Sep. 17, 2009

Hilary Lehman's article on Wednesday was the epitome of journalistic arrogance. She argues that facts are "undebatable," and despite your opinions, some things cannot be questioned. Is this why we came to college? To accept what we're told? Or was it to learn how to think critically?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Jesus neither liberal nor conservative

By Warren Rhea | Sep. 17, 2009

In response to Paul Murty: Like most fair-minded people, Jesus was both a liberal on some issues and a conservative on others. He felt a great drive to understand and help the poor. He also spoke of his admiration and respect for soldiers in service of their country. He tells us to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and render unto God what is God's." Here we can see a broad range of reasonable views emphasized to different degrees by both liberals and conservatives.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gardasil necessary in an unideal world

By Rebecca Theobald | Sep. 17, 2009

I felt a responsibility to address the misguided information given by Caitlin O'Conner on human papillomavirus and Gardasil.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

ACORN rotten with corruption

By David Drescher | Sep. 17, 2009

I find it rather shocking that the Editorial Board of the Alligator so casually brushed off the actions of ACORN - the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now - in their Thursday column and were so quick to vilify the filmmakers who brought the situation to light. The Editorial Board described ACORN's actions as "explaining how to run a brothel of underage 'women of the night' while evading the federal government."

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Protestors held inaccurate signs

By PAUL MURTY | Sep. 16, 2009

As I was driving to the movies past The Oaks Mall on Sept. 11, I saw a group of anti-Islam protesters complete with "Islam is of the Devil" T-shirts. The scene was appalling, and the only consolation I found was that no one honked for them or showed support.