Remember that one-liner when you were writing your college admission essay or when you cast your ballot during the recent election? You know, the one about "saving the world" or "making a difference"? Well, guess what? This summer is your big opportunity to fulfill that promise by improving your local community.
Most people think that by buying "organic" they are guaranteed safer, healthier food. In reality, this food, which costs twice as much, may not be any better than normal food.
While I agree with the heading of Amanda Sookdeo's article from Tuesday's letter to the editor, "GMOs represent technology of the future," new technologies shouldn't invalidate good old American values.
Although I can understand the frustration felt by Matthew Vann in his letter to the editor and tobacco farmers in general, I also understand the reasoning behind taxing a dangerous product that creates a huge burden on the state's health care system.
Even though I agree with Johnathan Lott's column about the DREAM Act, I have to dispute his use of the term "illegal."
The new tobacco tax that came into effect on April 1 is a much larger detriment to our society than the tobacco itself.
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been an issue for many years relating to the question of whether they are safe. I understand the big conflict surrounding this issue but do not understand the big deal.
Kate Cardinale is right about one thing. Abortions are extremely common in the United States.
A recent survery showed that President Bernie Machen has the eighth highest salary of all public-school executives. While Machen has been doing the admirable thing with the budget cuts (he raised employees salaries by an average of 2 percent and denied himself a raise), there is more that should be done.
I would like to point out that using the "Harvest of Fear" video as the sole determinant of one's position on genetically modified (GM) crops is to be misled. Those familiar with the movie know that its directors resort to scare tactics and doomsday music, which attempt to simplify the complex issue of genetically modified organisms. Surely, interviewing organizations like Green Peace (who believe agribusinesses are conspiring a world takeover of GM seed production) on GM foods is enough to freak out the average American.
Johnathan Lott ought to get his facts straight before trying to be cute. UF does have a grade redistribution system. It is called curving grades, which literally means you force grades in to a normal distribution; they are fit to the bell curve. Many of the university's most commended students would fail out if they were graded merely on their raw percentage scores rather than on a curve.
In my opinion, the impending budget cuts show what each department and the university values. Here is a recent example of misplaced values.
In response to an article regarding the ongoing debate about policy concerning the act of feeding the homeless, I feel obliged to speak about a recent experience that may provide some insight for others on this situation.
I received an e-mail Thursday afternoon from Dr. Creed Greer, assistant program director of the University Writing Program, informing me that due to a "scheduling error," the Writing for Pre-Law section I registered for nearly a week and a half ago was closed and would not be held in the fall.
Do you know someone who has or had Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, ALS, autism, Alzheimer's disease, a stroke, a traumatic brain injury, a hearing impairment, cochlear implant, a cleft lip and/or palate, dyslexia, stuttering, or head and neck cancer?
Amongst all of the budget woes here at UF, it was inevitable that some student organizations would feel the impact.
Although I know that Johnathan Lott's column in Thursday's Alligator comparing grades to taxes was written in jest, I have to say that I take serious issue with his metaphor.
Before we legalize pot, if we were opposed to it, we should definitely write an article with a plethora of construed facts that have nothing to do with marijuana at all.
Wednesday's letter to the editor stated that marijuana has no benefit to society whatsoever and is extremely dangerous to the public.
Today marks the first day of the new cigarette tax, and as I prepare myself for the inevitable trips to Georgia to buy cartons, I wonder how the government ever managed to pass such a discriminatory tax. Ignoring the obvious problems with covertly making an activity illegal through taxation (Stamp Act, anyone?), I'm going to focus on the tangible consequences of this tax.
Solutions by The State News
