Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Country and football, viewed necessarily in that order

Dec. 8, 2015

Let’s go back to Sept. 8, 2011. The U.S. unemployment rate is around 9 percent and President Barack Obama has called a joint session of Congress to address the nation on what the U.S. government is going to do to improve the economy. Millions of Americans at the time were struggling to make ends meet while unemployed, scraping together what they had just to make it by. That night, Obama had the answer to the fear and struggle of many Americans. But this wasn’t the priority for most: That night it was Thursday Night Football.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Winter blues and finals make for a depressing combination

Dec. 7, 2015

The winter blues, or as they call it in the medicinal biz, "seasonal affective disorder," is a phenomenon that does not distinguish between age, creed or color. Whether you’re killing the proverbial game as an academically exceptional, sexually active frat star or you’re more of the type to quietly mill about one of Gainesville’s many coffee shops and debate whether latter-day Morrissey matches the height of his lyrical prowess during his time with The Smiths (hint: it doesn’t), the slight fluctuation in temperature and ever-subtle changing of leaf color leaves many curled up in bed.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor 12/8/2015

Dec. 7, 2015

Dear Editor,

OPINION | COLUMNS

The end of the semester is a time for reflection

Dec. 7, 2015

For the next week, any room with a Wi-Fi connection and four walls will be overrun by over-caffeinated undergrads frantically typing, highlighting or scribbling. Most conversations will be haunted by looming deadlines, libraries will be filled to capacity and everyone in your life will claim to be "burnt out." With the end of the semester comes not only a heightened state of anxiety, but also the opportunity to reflect on any lessons learned in the last four months (and the chance to successfully procrastinate at the same time).

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guest Column: Undergrads face grad bargaining issues

Dec. 7, 2015

In the Alligator’s coverage of UF graduate assistants’ struggle for fair pay, UF Provost Joseph Glover is quoted as saying, "(Graduate Assistants United’s) position is they want a lot of weight for people on the lower end," referring to GAU’s proposal to redistribute student fees. In this model, GAs with the lowest income would pay proportionally less in fees, and GAs with more income would pay proportionally more in fees. According to Glover, this "would be unfair to the people who are working hard, who are at the higher end of the pay scale." Presumably, this means Glover is working extremely hard, since he’s paid over $300,000 a year and doesn’t have to pay fees to work at UF. Plus, there’s his $50,000 raise in 2010. Compare this to the 2-percent raise for GAs currently offered by negotiator Bill Connellan. (In case Connellan doesn’t know, a 2-percent increase in poverty is still poverty.)

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: In the wake of Art Basel, the state of art needs to be evaluated

Dec. 6, 2015

This past weekend saw the culmination of Art Basel, the weeklong centerpiece to Miami Art Week. All over the city, from Wynwood to South Beach, Miami residents and out-of-towners milled about, hoping to experience as much "culture" (depending on one’s definition of culture) as they could fit into a week.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Goodbye, Gainesville, and all of its lessons

Dec. 6, 2015

Proust once wrote memory isn’t contained within us, but all around us, in the seasons that come and go and remind us the world goes on. And so every winter, I remember the winters previous, going back to the first one when I came to Gainesville, on the edge of beginning my so-called real life.

OPINION | COLUMNS

GOP Primary race is like Midtown

Dec. 6, 2015

As a supporter of the presidential candidate Gov. Jeb Bush, I am frequently asked about the polls that show outsiders out-pacing establishment candidates by ever-increasing numbers. As well as the anti-Washington rhetoric of the election and about the throngs of people who show up to Trump-mania rallies. How can all of this be?

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Legal guns are used in crimes, too

Dec. 6, 2015

Mass shootings have become so frequent it is difficult to keep track of them. With the San Bernardino shooting, the U.S. has seen 355 shootings this year according to The Washington Post. What distinguishes this shooting from the rest of them is the shooters’ association with the terror group Daesh.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels 12/4/2015

Dec. 3, 2015

Well, finals are now upon us. As many of you grab your face and cover your mouth in disbelief, curl your hair, bite your nails or indulge in other popular nervous habits of choice, take refuge in the knowledge that we’re still here, and yes, Darts & Laurels is still around to provide comfort to the afflicted.

OPINION | COLUMNS

STEM subjects are not the only important paths to pursue in college

Dec. 3, 2015

Toward the end of my freshman year, I decided to switch my major to economics. I found its unique blend of social science and math fascinating, and I was excited to pursue a degree in it. When I told one of my friends in the College of Engineering about my decision, he laughed at me. "Economics?" he said. "What a joke. You should pick something that matters if you want to get a job someday." I nodded and smiled while making a mental note to demote him from "friend" to "mild acquaintance."

OPINION | COLUMNS

A retort to concealed-carry advocates

Dec. 3, 2015

On Monday morning, I read a piece in this very section by Michael Beato, a genuinely great guy with a stronger grip on style and common sense than I could ever hope for. I have a lot of respect for him, a sentiment made stronger by the fact we hardly ever agree on anything political. I haven’t had too many conversations with the guy, but, based on previous experience, I’d much rather spend an hour — or even an afternoon — shooting the political shit with Michael than any college Democrat in the area.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Going out with a bang: It’s been a pleasure

Dec. 3, 2015

In January 2014, I walked into the Alligator office for its open house. I was a sophomore at the time, and I went straight to the then-opinions editor with, "I’d like to write a sex column."

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: Just the facts on guns in America

Dec. 2, 2015

Following Wednesday’s shooting in San Bernardino, California, The Washington Post published a piece aggregating data collected in recent years regarding America’s ongoing gun crisis. Collected for your perusal, here is some of the data we found the most interesting, presented without comment.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Print is not dead — it’s making a comeback

Dec. 2, 2015

If you are even remotely interested in a career path that involves the written word on paper — journalist, writer, librarian, editor, etc. — this has probably happened to you.

OPINION | COLUMNS

What ignoring women in film really means for women in reality

Dec. 2, 2015

Our favorite thing to tell toddlers is how unique they are, that each and every one of them is a special snowflake. Although they are each made of the same stuff, ice and air, their bodies, personalities and experiences are individualized. Then, for the lives of a good half of them, we find ways to make them feel less so.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: If you ain’t first… that’s actually OK

Dec. 1, 2015

Ricky Bobby: I did just like you told me: "If you ain’t first, you’re last!"

OPINION | COLUMNS

Don’t dismiss the verb ‘be like’ — praise it

Dec. 1, 2015

"And you touch me and I’m like…ooh ooh" — "Empire" by Shakira.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guest Column: Animal welfare cannot be dismissed

Dec. 1, 2015

On Tuesday, the animal rights network Direct Action Everywhere released an exposé of a top-rated Whole Foods turkey supplier that found thousands of birds in cramped, filthy sheds with open sores and crippled legs. This investigation confirms my personal experience searching for "humane" animal products: When you look behind the closed doors of animal agriculture, you will find violence and cruelty that companies strive to keep hidden from the public.

OPINION | COLUMNS

You should care about other countries

Dec. 1, 2015

Do you know someone who could tell you the capital of Venezuela? Or someone who knows where Iraq is on a map? It would be extremely difficult to find an average American who could point out more than two African countries on a map, if even that. On the other hand, I’m sure it would be easy to find someone who not only knows where France or Germany are located, but also wants to visit one of these countries.