Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Response to Silver’s veganism and vaccine column

Feb. 19, 2015

The argument made by Andrew Silver in his editorial “Refusing vaccines for veganism is a right” is ignoring a crucial part to the premise. He states that, if an outbreak occurs, then the unvaccinated employee should be put on paid leave or work from home (or in his case, excused from classes). Silver seems to think very highly of himself, and apparently believes that UF does also. Unfortunately, it’s not all about him or his dietary ethics.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Condom sense: Please use protection

Feb. 19, 2015

The week before sophomore year started, I decided I was finally an adult, and it was high time that I purchased my own box of condoms. Prior to that, I had always relied on the free condoms from the health center or crossed my fingers that my partner would bring some.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Legislators’ aim to ban AP classes is just a political game that ignores reality

Feb. 19, 2015

The Oklahoma Legislature is hard at work this year creating the greatest education system in the nation. How will they go about it, you ask? They are trying to ban Advanced Placement classes. Yes, the classes many of you took in high school just for the opportunity to attend UF may soon be banned in Oklahoma.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Student organization support of Muslims is hypocritical

Feb. 19, 2015

The fatal shooting of Deah Shaddy Barakat, his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha and her sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha has sparked outrage. While mainstream media is still portraying the incident as a killing over a “parking dispute,” we know that this was a hate crime against the Muslim community. In turn, many communities are condemning Islamophobia. But what does their condemnation actually mean? A vigil at UF that happened Friday evening was endorsed by many different student organizations, including the Jewish Student Union and J Street UF, two organizations that actively perpetuate Islamophobia through their acceptance and funding of Israeli apartheid. What needs to be understood is that one cannot claim to stand in solidarity with the Muslim community while simultaneously supporting Zionism and Israeli state-sponsored terrorism against the Muslim world.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Prohibited Student Government debate recordings an injustice to voters

Feb. 18, 2015

On Tuesday night about 500 people packed into the University Auditorium for the Student Government and Freshman Leadership Council candidate debate.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Debate should be filmed

Feb. 18, 2015

One and a half percent. That’s the percentage of UF students who showed up to watch the Student Government debate Tuesday based on the 500-person estimate by this publication. The Freshman Leadership Council is claiming that the debate was not recorded in any manner — text, audio or video — to protect the integrity of the debate. I was told that the Alligator live-tweeted the event, which is fantastic except that Twitter is nothing but sound bites, and a paper can only print so big of an article. Where is the integrity of an event if 98.5 percent of the university cannot see it in its entirety?

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Accent lacks speaker, acknowledgement of Women’s History Month

Feb. 17, 2015

Accent Speaker’s Bureau has reliably brought us great guests over the years. Thanks to the group’s work, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting such illustrious and enviable personalities as Carl Hiaasen, Kurt Vonnegut, George Takei, Queen Latifah, Dr. Kevorkian and Ben & Jerry — yes, THAT Ben & Jerry. Next week, they’ll be bringing us James Franco, who will converse with J-school professor and de facto journalism guru Mike Foley.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Trans women of color are overwhelming oppressed, even more ignored

Feb. 17, 2015

Our current sociopolitical climate is confusing and sometimes paradoxical. I’d like to believe that legislation reflects popular opinion or, at the very least, is protective and just. The shortsighted have praised marriage equality gains as a reliable sign of progress. But many are quick to forget the end of the LGBTQ+ acronym.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Dietary supplements are not required to maintain a healthy lifestyle

Feb. 17, 2015

February is always a challenging month to push through. It’s not just because of the cute couples who meander through campus and remind you that you are, in fact, single.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Refusing vaccination for veganism is a civil right

Feb. 17, 2015

An Ohio hospital fired a 58-year-old vegan customer service representative for refusing a flu shot in 2010. She sued the hospital for religious discrimination.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Past lynchings are still part of our present

Feb. 16, 2015

On a hot, muggy, summer day in Georgia, two black couples were seized by a mob of white men. They were taken to a clearing overlooking a nearby river — the Apalachee, some 15 miles from where the University of Georgia stands today. There, they were tied up and shot to death — the coroner’s report estimated they were shot as many as 60 times. One of the women was pregnant; though it isn’t certain, some reports claim the unborn child was ripped out from her body.

OPINION | COLUMNS

NY Fashion Week: Walk in my Yeezys

Feb. 16, 2015

Last Thursday in New York City, Adidas let down its front during its fashion show to let everyone know that Yeezy Season was approaching once again.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Online shaming is shameful itself, only ruins strangers’ lives

Feb. 16, 2015

How many tweets does it take to ruin a life? Apparently, just one.

OPINION | COLUMNS

College transience will not last, but it’s not a bad thing

Feb. 16, 2015

Ask anyone older than 35 and feeling judgmental — our generation is materialistic. We love owning and buying things. We adore massive quantities of, well, stuff.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Last week was a heartbreaking week for journalists, media consumers

Feb. 15, 2015

Last week was a terrible one for the news industry.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Valentine’s Day is over; let’s get on with our lives

Feb. 15, 2015

And so a time of year that many hopeless romantics and romance hopefuls look forward to all year comes to an end.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Legalizing marijuana is still a challenge for the Sunshine State

Feb. 15, 2015

Colorado has had recreational marijuana legalized for one year now, and its effects are still hard to determine. Many questions still remain: Did it bring in expected tax revenue? Were there any devastating unexpected consequences? Should other states follow suit and legalize pot? Many in Florida are looking into Colorado’s experiment to find support for legalizing marijuana, but the evidence may not be totally available yet.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Being Mountain Ridge Little League: from loss to ‘win’

Feb. 15, 2015

They were losers. They lost. But in a twisting turn of events, they won.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Kanye West, veterans and cub scouts in this week's Darts & Laurels

Feb. 12, 2015

So, it’s the middle of midterms, and like you, we’re looking desperately for the light at the end of this dark, dark tunnel. Coffee has completely wrecked our digestive systems, and it feels like we gave up on eating real food weeks ago. But there’s hope on the horizon — we’re right at peak testing insanity, and there’s only about a week left. Until then, enjoy this holding-out-for-next-weekend edition of…

OPINION | COLUMNS

“Fifty Shades” shouldn’t be on your Valentine’s to-do list

Feb. 12, 2015

Put away your candy hearts and flowers and pull out your floggers and whips — “Fifty Shades of Grey” is here.