OPINION
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COLUMNS
The ‘John Oliver Effect’ in action
Sep. 28, 2015Good satire can make you laugh, think or act; the best satire will make you do all three.
Opinion
OPINION
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COLUMNS
Volkswagen recall may prove to be positive
Sep. 28, 2015It’s a great day when powerful people get caught doing bad things. Not bad as in being fellatio’d in the Oval Office or molesting-their-sister-while-espousing-conservative-family-values bad — more like corporate greed and deliberate-deception-of-the-public bad. Although it should be noted the exposure of hypocrisy does have its salience, there are bigger fish to broil today (not fry, ‘cause we’re trying to watch our figures).
OPINION
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COLUMNS
40 years later, eccentric classic ‘Rocky Horror’ still a crowd pleaser
Sep. 28, 2015This week ushers in the beginning of October, what I believe to be the best 31 days of the calendar year. This opinion isn’t based solely on the imminent approach of Halloween — which is unsurprisingly my favorite holiday — but also on the variety of changes the month seems to bring with it. With October comes the promise of cool(ish) autumn weather, the inability to escape pictures of girls in pumpkin patches and, of course, showings of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."
OPINION
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EDITORIALS
Alligator endorsement: Access Party
Sep. 27, 2015In the past, UF Student Government elections have been marked by how relatively uneventful they were. This changed with Access Party’s victory last Spring and has only been compounded by the emergence of the Impact Party — and the maybe-not-so-coincidental dissolving of the Swamp Party — this semester. The tension in the air has been palpable and a frequent topic of discussion in both the Alligator office and campus at large.
OPINION
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COLUMNS
Republican fact checking needs to be more strict
Sep. 27, 2015C.J. Pearson, a 13-year-old online conservative activist, seems to be overly influenced by Fox News’ hateful rhetoric. It’s not wrong that he has decided to take on political issues. However, I take umbrage with how he has been sensationalized.
OPINION
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COLUMNS
Guest Column: We need to fix the music building if UF wants to be a top university
Sep. 27, 2015This past January, the Alligator published an article about the UF School of Music building and its desperate need for repair and renovations. Though its faculty and students have long called for changes to the building’s structure, many of us remained unaware of the situation inside the building. Most recently, anti-slip coating and handrails were installed in the stairwells. Though the public attention and minor renovations are a step in the right direction, the condition of the building is still very dire. Recently, I have been given tours of the building by a music student and professor.
OPINION
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COLUMNS
Professor Q&A: Kafka and the creeping influence of the past coming back
Sep. 27, 2015Eric Kligerman is an associate professor of German studies in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
OPINION
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DARTS LAURELS
Darts and Laurels 09/25/2015
Sep. 24, 2015Although no one currently on the Alligator staff was in college in 2011, we feel confident in assuming that at some point in the year, a joke was made at the expense of "Friday" by Rebecca Black to introduce that week’s edition of Darts & Laurels. Although we would not stoop to such comedic lows, that isn’t going to stop us from using this information as an incredibly strained way to introduce this week’s edition of…
OPINION
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COLUMNS
There are no absolutes in sexuality
Sep. 24, 2015I keep seeing posts or overhearing conversations where someone says, "I’m completely straight, but I find girls so hot and I want to make out with them!" or, "I’m totally not gay, but I want to try giving a blowjob," or "I swear I’m 100 percent homosexual, but man, do I want to have sex with someone of the opposite gender."
OPINION
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COLUMNS
IS: Terrorism in the Digital Era is cause for concern
Sep. 24, 2015The Islamic State group, or IS (ISIS) is a name that has seldom been far from news headlines over past two years. After establishing a religious caliphate in swathes of Syria and Iraq, the radical Islamist group has gained global attention for the violent rule it has imposed in these regions. While the Islamic State group’s physical control may be confined to the territories it has claimed, its sphere of influence extends far beyond. The Islamic State group has successfully used the Internet and social media to spread both fear and its ideals, making it a uniquely digital terrorist organization.
OPINION
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COLUMNS
The disposability of American pop culture and Father John Misty as an icon
Sep. 24, 2015My favorite dumb hobby is taking pop culture way too seriously.
OPINION
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EDITORIALS
Editorial: Wesleyan, free speech and the state of modern American liberalism
Sep. 23, 2015This past Tuesday, Wesleyan University’s student newspaper, "The Wesleyan Argus," published an opinion piece titled "Why Black Lives Matter Isn’t What You Think." In it, the author postulates that while the BLM movement has noble intentions, it has had the unfortunate side effect of creating a hostile and violent environment for law enforcement. The piece draws a direct correlation between the recent murders of police officers and the proliferation of BLM’s ideals.
OPINION
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COLUMNS
Comedic journalism is informative and here to stay
Sep. 23, 2015"The Daily Show" will soon be returning with a new host: South African comedian Trevor Noah. While Trevor Noah will have large comedic shoes to fill, there is no doubt with time he will find his own unique style and will evolve alongside the show. Every satirical news show that has begun after "The Daily Show" takes, at the least, a few dozen episodes to find its niche. It even took Jon Stewart a while to build a loyal and devoted audience; in the end, "The Daily Show" and its counterparts have created a way for millennials to keep up with the news while having a (somewhat) good time doing it.
OPINION
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COLUMNS
U.S. government needs to combat Islamophobia
Sep. 23, 2015Last week, the hashtag #IStandWithAhmed started trending around the social media sphere. It began with the story of a 14-year-old dark-skinned boy of Sudanese origins who had a keen interest in inventing. He brought a clock he made — comprised of wires, a display and a pencil case — to his high school in Irving, Texas, to show one of his teachers.
OPINION
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EDITORIALS
Editorial | Despite absurdity, ‘Pig-gate’ speaks to major concerns
Sep. 22, 2015In 2004, future presidential candidate and most influential musical artist of the aughts Kanye West rapped, "The people highest up got the lowest self-esteem; The prettiest people do the ugliest things, for the road to riches and diamond rings."
OPINION
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COLUMNS
Marco Rubio is a disgrace to the university
Sep. 22, 2015Last week, Marco Rubio, Florida’s junior senator, took a cheap shot and gave the world a glimpse into his character.
OPINION
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COLUMNS
‘Studying history is like traveling’
Sep. 22, 2015Michael Schuering is the visiting associate professor of history at the UF Center for European Studies. His position is partly funded by DAAD, the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst, or the German Academic Exchange Service. He is currently teaching "Weimar Germany Culture" and "Genes, Blood and the Body."
OPINION
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COLUMNS
Social issues are real and should be more than Emmy punchlines
Sep. 22, 2015This weekend I embarked on a sweaty, bug-bite-infested journey to Camp Crystal Lake, which is a little north of Gainesville, in an attempt to educate Honors freshmen about all the different facets of UF they can take advantage of.
OPINION
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letter to the Editor 09/23/2015
Sep. 22, 2015The absence of a senator for the new residence hall, Infinity Hall, motivated me to attend the Student Senate meeting Sept. 15. I learned that my representatives in the Senate were the District A senators, none of which live in Infinity. During this meeting I voiced my concerns; however, they were not heard by the majority in the Senate.
OPINION
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EDITORIALS
Editorial | Emmys? More like smellys
Sep. 21, 2015Ah yes, publicly broadcast award shows: A beautiful opportunity for those in the entertainment industry to pat themselves on the back for a job well done while simultaneously failing to recognize actual meaningful contributions to their respective mediums. The airing of the 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards this past Sunday meant it was television’s turn to take part in this time-honored tradition of circle jerking and manufactured accolades — although, shout-out to Viola Davis for the historic win of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in "How to Get Away With Murder." As predicted by outlets such as the L.A. Times and Time Magazine, the Academy opted to award Emmys based on popularity, rather than merit.
