Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

It isn’t just what you learn: The value of experience for STEM

By Ronin Lupien | Apr. 8, 2024

Recently, fellow columnist Sabrina Castro wrote about the value of involvement culture. With nearly 1,000 registered student organizations and many informal organizations, involvement forms a key aspect of the college experience. While what you learn is important, what you experience will be essential to the rest of your life. This is especially the case for STEM.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Vote for Debbie, save my healthcare

By Ashley Mason | Apr. 1, 2024

The fight for Florida’s United States Senate seat is not just a political race; its outcome is deeply personal to me. This past summer, my mom faced a health scare marked with uncertainty, all while navigating a healthcare system rife with economic barriers. Like millions of Floridians, the Affordable Care Act saved us from crippling medical bills.

OPINION | COLUMNS

A refresher on Trump’s legal battles

Apr. 1, 2024

As the political landscape heats up for November’s rematch, the specter of former President Donald Trump’s legal battles looms large.

OPINION | COLUMNS

A reflection on UF’s construction closures, accessibility

By Ronin Lupien | Apr. 1, 2024

Since my freshman year, there has been at least one large and obstructive campus construction project. I remember a time when most of Museum Road was closed off. Now, with only a few weeks before my graduation, I find myself boxed in with few good sources of information to learn more.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Justice denied: Anti-democratic practices of the SG Supreme Court

By Ronin Lupien | Mar. 27, 2024

The UF Supreme Court is a little-known part of Student Government. The adage goes: justice delayed is justice denied. The Supreme Court is insistent on delaying justice.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Your vote DOES matter: The importance of voting in local elections

By Morgan Vanderlaan | Mar. 25, 2024

Walking through Turlington Plaza, in between the chaos of students scrambling to arrive to class on time, you will undoubtedly be asked to sign a petition, join a political movement, or maybe even register to vote. To the average student, the nuisance of being approached despite wearing headphones outweighs the merit of exercising one’s civil duties, as there is a growing sense of voter apathy amongst younger generations.

OPINION | COLUMNS

My love letter to involvement culture at UF

By Sabrina Castro | Mar. 25, 2024

As I prepare to finish my junior year, the involvement culture surrounding the student body isn’t just a freshman year fad. Before I could even realize it, these questions have quickly become, “What organizations have you been accepted to?” or even worse, “Have you received any internship offers?”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Message from an alumnus: Get off the sidelines and restore DEI

By Mark Shmueli | Mar. 18, 2024

As a high school graduate from New England, I knew little about UF and had never been to Gainesville before I applied. After arriving as a freshman in 1984, I quickly became immersed in the culture of the school, served in Student Government and was one of the many founders of SCAAR, the Student Coalition Against Apartheid and Racism. Florida was still under the radar, but to me it was a hidden gem in large part because of its myriad of cultures.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The rematch we were given

By Andrew Taramykin | Mar. 18, 2024

On March 19, voters in the Republican Party of Florida will head to the polls to vote in the state’s presidential preference primary election, although the contest is purely a formality. Former President Donald Trump (fitting that the first president associated with Florida is actually just a snowbird, right?) has already secured enough delegates to win the GOP nomination.

OPINION | COLUMNS

What UF tells us about America

By Andrew Taramykin | Mar. 5, 2024

I am confident the overwhelming majority of our faculty and staff hold this position, and absolutely positive that our students do. While the provost’s promises of maintaining trust and respect may seem disingenuous in this context, I believe most Gators remain steadfast in our commitment to a more equitable university, community, and world.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Federal funding saves lives in Gainesville

By Harvey Ward | Mar. 4, 2024

Over the course of the past few weeks, it became obvious to anyone paying attention that the national crisis in chronic homelessness was manifesting itself in a couple of new tent camps, including one downtown on SE Fourth Place — literally on the street itself. As mayor, I knew my colleagues on the Gainesville City Commission and I had to act, but I also knew we were fiscally restrained, in the middle of an unusually challenging budget year.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The uncertain future of the University Multicultural Mentorship Program

By Ronin Lupien | Mar. 4, 2024

Diversity, equity and inclusion programs are on the chopping block at UF and every other state institution of higher learning. Just recently, the administration shut down the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, amongst other DEI positions. In response to The Alligator breaking this story, Gov. Ron DeSantis quote reposted its coverage to further classify DEI as “toxic.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Statement on the elimination of DEI at UF

By Saketh Damera , Laura Thomas and John Brinkman | Mar. 1, 2024

We, the student body officer-elects of UF, are writing with concern and disappointment regarding the recent decision to close the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer and to eliminate various diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) positions and appointments.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Book banning is politics, not protection

By Amanda Lacy | Feb. 29, 2024

The dreaded inevitable has finally happened. We have an ever-growing list of book challenges at Eastside High School. School libraries — bastions of diversity, enrichment, inclusion and democracy — are under attack. There’s not much I can say that hasn’t already been said. I have no words to magically shift the momentum of this legislation. Still, I can no longer remain silent.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The fight for representation: Why change Is needed now more than ever

Feb. 26, 2024

There’s always more work to be done. This underlying belief has guided Change Party to serve the student body for eight semesters. This thought empowers us to author 200 bills when we are the minority in the Senate chamber. This is our conviction as we strive to put the power back into the hands of all students this election.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Vision Party: Continuing down the path of success

Feb. 26, 2024

From its creation this past Fall, Vision Party has made it its mission to ensure the voices of every student are heard. The very foundation of Vision is based on individuals from all backgrounds coming together to tackle the ineffective governance of other parties.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Black History Month, to me

By Chrystie Blot | Feb. 23, 2024

February. 29 days.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Floridians need to vote yes on 4

By Paulina Trujillo | Feb. 19, 2024

If you have seen the bright pink Planned Parenthood Generation Action table on campus, you have been asked to sign the abortion ballot initiative. Ballot initiatives get a bad reputation on college campuses, as some paid petitioners who are just doing it for the money and are not invested in the cause can be very pushy. However, it is important not to let this skew your narrative of this pivotal campaign.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Supreme Court will rule in favor of Trump for the sake of democracy, not party

By Ashley Mason | Feb. 14, 2024

On Feb. 8, I listened to the United States Supreme Court oral arguments in Trump v. Anderson, a case deciding if the Colorado Supreme Court was correct that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to be on the ballot due to the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment. Many who listened, myself included, are predicting a decision in Trump’s favor.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Black History Month: My experience as a biracial student

By Xavier Scott | Feb. 12, 2024

It’s not easy being a biracial student anywhere. Growing up, I was often faced with challenges of finding my place, of feeling included in certain communities, of feeling accepted.