Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Dismal journalism: A Sean Penn story

Jan. 21, 2016

Veteran newscaster Charlie Rose let out one of his rare nervous smiles on last Sunday’s “60 Minutes” during an interview with actor Sean Penn. Rose, usually a distinctly eager, curious and captivated interviewer, recognized his interviewee had made a remark that would appear to viewers as perhaps insensitive at worst and tone-deaf at best: “My article failed.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Don't be rude about BDS movement

Jan. 21, 2016

I’ve wanted to write about the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement for a while, but I haven’t had a real reason that’d be worth the inevitable barely-coherent shouting in my direction.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor: A Letter to Congressman Yoho Regarding the MOU

Jan. 21, 2016

Congressman Yoho,

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Chronic relationship posting is exhibitionist

Jan. 21, 2016

My Facebook is a cesspool of unwanted information. Whether it’s a paragraph-long status or a link to a BuzzFeed list called “20 things every 20-something should know,” my news feed always has something new for me not to care about. If Facebook didn’t occasionally facilitate conversations with people I’ve lost touch with, I would probably delete my account.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels: 01/22/2016

Jan. 21, 2016

We’re tired, Gator Nation. On top of last week’s abysmal, regrettable series of unfortunate events, the Spring semester has gone into full swing, and we’re tired. Oh so very, very tired.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: In tragedy, we should come together

Jan. 20, 2016

Last semester, we ran an editorial on struggle following the suicide of a young UF student. It does not bring us any pleasure to find ourselves doing so once again.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: The divide between Democrats and Republicans is as wide as ever

Jan. 20, 2016

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OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Rethinking the Beatles' addition to Spotify

Jan. 20, 2016

Here are some hypothetical scenarios that never actually happen:

OPINION | COLUMNS

From President Fuchs: The benefits of intentional joy

Jan. 20, 2016

The first year in a new job or as a new student is stressful. I just finished my first year. Some of my stress came from leaving friends behind and not knowing if people at UF would like me or if I would like them. Some of my anxiety came from not knowing if I would succeed at my new job.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: In remembrance of Alan Rickman

Jan. 19, 2016

I was devastated after logging onto Twitter on Thursday morning to discover what many were already talking about: Actor Alan Rickman passed away at 69 after suffering from a bout with cancer.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: English accents and the importance of /r/ sounds

Jan. 19, 2016

In the 10 minutes I could bear to watch Sunday’s Democratic debate, I was struck by Bernie Sanders’ speech – namely, his accent. Apart from his distinct pronunciation of a few vowels and his intonational and rhythmic patterns typical to New York English, Sanders’ speech mostly perked up my ears because of one feature: its lack of the sound /r/.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: Tragedy in Flint shows government at its worst

Jan. 19, 2016

The effects of the health crisis currently unfolding in Flint, Michigan, will be felt for years to come. This is not a bold, overly negative prognosis: It is a tragic reality reinforced by science — or, rather, the lack thereof.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: A dreamer’s work is never done

Jan. 18, 2016

As the lack of a paper attested to, Monday marked the 30th celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday. Although we cannot speak with authority for the rest of the country, here in Gainesville, the dream of Dr. King remains apparent and palpable. On Tuesday, UF will be visited by Virginia Tech professor and civil rights activist Nikki Giovanni, whose speech will serve as the cornerstone event to the university’s celebrations of Dr. King’s life.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: One last look at Zadroga and the up-hill battle

Jan. 18, 2016

For those of you who read my column regularly — hi, Mom and Dad! — you know the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act is a piece of legislation I kept close track of last semester. Well, on Dec. 18, the Zadroga Act was finally reauthorized via its inclusion in the omnibus bill, the spending agenda Congress crafts for the following year.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Junior year, the academic limbo

Jan. 18, 2016

As far as religious doctrines go, I don’t remember much from my eight-year stint in Catholic school. The lessons occasionally flash bright in my mind, triggered by some sort of stimulus, like an evangelical billboard on the highway or a literary allusion. Yet, one concept has always stuck with me: limbo. Something about that transitional state, not quite hell but not quite heaven, struck me as the worst possible fate.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Gainesville can do more recycling

Jan. 18, 2016

Before Yoda — the force-sensitive and elderly cousin of Kermit the Frog — effervesced into the great beyond in 1980, he left us with this peerless wisdom: “Do or do not. There is no try.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Gainesville should honor fallen legend

Jan. 14, 2016

On Monday morning I was rolled up in my blankets, all of my extremities icy, waiting on the motivation to get out of bed. It was in this state that I shut off my phone alarm, looked through my missed texts and learned that David Bowie had died.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Professors would like to hear from you

Jan. 14, 2016

The atmosphere on the first day of a big lecture class, at least before the professor arrives, is something akin to a rock concert that’s going to immediately sour. Everyone has some semblance of a clue as to why they’re there, but no one has an idea of what this event — the performance of entertaining the attention of as many as 600 students — is really going to be like.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Counseling and Wellness Center leaves much to be desired for students

Jan. 14, 2016

I suffer from generalized anxiety disorder and depression. I’m not ashamed of it, and I don’t let it define me. I’ve done as much as I can to educate myself on my illnesses so I’m properly equipped to keep them managed as much as possible. However, there are times when it feels like I’m losing the battle, and that’s when I seek outside help.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels: 01/15/2016

Jan. 14, 2016

We’re not going to lie to you readers of the finest newspaper collegiate journalism has to offer: It’s been a pretty godawful, downcast week.