Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Nonlethal weapons are a more effective option

Nov. 17, 2015

About two weeks ago, America was hit with the horrifying story of Jeremy Mardis. Mardis was a 6-year-old boy who was shot to death by two police officers while riding in the car with his father in Marksville, Louisiana. Mardis’ father, Chris Few, had no outstanding warrants for his arrest, nor was there a gun found in Few’s vehicle. This information begs the question: Why were shots fired by police in the first place?

OPINION | COLUMNS

Million Student March, rethinking taxation reform and student debt

Nov. 17, 2015

Last week, students under the banner of the Million Student March demonstrated on college campuses across the country. There was even a demonstration at UF, although only about a dozen marchers actually showed up. Regardless, the collective demands of the protestors were clear: tuition-free public college, $15 minimum wage and the cancellation of all student debt.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Don't forget your childhood dreams

Nov. 17, 2015

When I was deciding my career as a little girl, full of blind naiveté and enthusiasm for a world that seemed so clearly ready to catapult me to stardom, there were a lot of options on the list. My aspirations ranged from ballerina to doctor to orange-truck driver over the years, but there was one job that kept coming up in the mix, no matter how many years passed: I wanted to be a writer.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: Accepting Syrian refugees is the safer option

Nov. 16, 2015

Following Friday’s attacks in Paris, the American jingoist machine has begun whirring to life. Monday’s headlines were dominated by the rhetoric of American governors declaring their state would not play host to displaced Syrians. As of press time, governors or state officials of more than 20 states, including Florida and more traditionally liberal states, such as New Hampshire, have released statements saying as much.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Perils of registration, death of English program

Nov. 16, 2015

Registering for Spring classes is a perpetually stressful experience. Just in case the mid-semester deluge of papers, exams and self-doubt wasn’t enough, you also have to effectively plan four months’ worth of classes (assuming you’ll make it through December alive). While this process used to make me feel as though I had some aspect of my life under control, it has recently become an unavoidable and highly involved burden.

OPINION | COLUMNS

An update on Zadroga — Congress lets act expire

Nov. 16, 2015

About two months ago, I wrote a column about the plight of 9/11 first responders and the progress of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act.

OPINION | COLUMNS

American allies need to be held accountable

Nov. 16, 2015

The free world continues to weep for Paris this week.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: The politicizing of a tragedy is unexpected

Nov. 15, 2015

There should be no doubt as to whether Friday’s horrific attacks in Paris were political: They were. Any attack on civilians by an "other" always has an agenda to push. The Islamic State groups’ subsequent claims of responsibility ought to remove any traces of skepticism from those who would seek to speak about the attacks in de-politicized terms.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Abortion restrictions are an issue of class

Nov. 15, 2015

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case on Texas’ House Bill 2 — a bill that resulted in half of the state’s abortion clinics being closed. The law is a threat to the rights of low-income women in Texas. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear one of its first abortion cases in a while, it must consider the motivations behind such restrictions. Given abortion is a low-complication procedure, many of the restrictions are unnecessary and serve only to make it difficult for women to get an abortion.

OPINION | COLUMNS

We can condemn terrorism without targeting refugees

Nov. 15, 2015

This has been a year of magical thinking.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Millennials aren’t THAT terrible

Nov. 12, 2015

You’ve heard the complaints. We’re lazy and entitled, and when we aren’t staring at a screen, we’re staring at ourselves. We’re millennials, and we’re pretty unpopular.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The mother of sexual awkwardness

Nov. 12, 2015

My worst nightmare came true Friday. It was about 15 minutes after meeting my partner’s mom for the first time. We were walking down the street to the Homecoming parade when someone handed us a copy of the Alligator.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Mizzou students are the crest on a wave of activism

Nov. 12, 2015

This column concerns the events which transpired at the University of Missouri on Monday. No doubt you’re familiar with it already — along with the heresy of plain red cups, the Mizzou story has captured the country’s imagination.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: Sexual assault is too prevalent on college campuses — even ours

Nov. 12, 2015

Our front page story today concerns the investigation of a sexual assault on campus. Our decision to publish this story was not made lightly, nor was it made from malice or a desire to set off a witch hunt. It is no secret that sexual assaults on college campuses are an alarming epidemic. Sexual assault in any form represents a grave threat to the safety — both mental and physical — of college students. Even though it is easy, and perhaps preferable, to act as though such acts of viciousness could never happen here, that is simply not the case.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: Police need to be held to the same standards

Nov. 11, 2015

A wise man who’s either Baba Oje or Gurdijeff once said, "When it rains, it pours." If the rain in this idiom was news regarding police brutality, then this week was a monsoon.

UF President Kent Fuchs delivers his State of the University address in the Reitz Union Auditorium on Sept. 24, 2015. He plans to increase diversity and research opportunities at UF.

OPINION | COLUMNS

From President Fuchs: Listening, learning and combating racism

Nov. 11, 2015

In 1902, two years before he became UF’s first president, Andrew Sledd lost his faculty position at Emory University in Georgia because he spoke out against racism.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: Aziz Ansari for comedian of the decade

Nov. 9, 2015

The countercultural revolution of the ‘60s coincided with remarkable advancements in recording and broadcast technology. With the two occurring in tandem, it became easier than ever for fanbases to develop around adored figures in pop culture. This proved to be a boon for stand-up comedians who, given the transgressive era they operated in, gained notoriety among young people for putting truth to power — in other words, giving voice to and reflecting the fears, concerns and sensibilities of young people. In short, they called it as they saw it.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Syria, Afghanistan and double-back in U.S. strategy

Nov. 9, 2015

This past October, we witnessed a stark readjustment of the U.S. military agenda in the Middle East. On Oct. 30, President Obama announced the U.S. military would, in fact, be putting "boots on the ground" in Syria. Earlier on Oct. 15, the Obama administration announced an extension of the timeline for U.S. military presence in Afghanistan. Through most of next year, 9,800 troops will continue operations, and by Jan. 2017, a residual force of 5,500 troops will remain indefinitely.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor: 11/10/2015

Nov. 9, 2015

Support a living wage today

OPINION | COLUMNS

Mississippi needs to change its state flag

Nov. 9, 2015

"Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before the fall."