Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Gun regulation is impotent

Apr. 17, 2014

Cody Wilson is not your typical second-amendment activist. The former University of Texas law student has gained international notoriety by being the first to manufacture a gun with a 3-D printer and to make public the information necessary to allow anyone with access to a 3-D printer to do the same — actions that earned him the No. 14 spot on Wired.com’s list of “The 15 Most Dangerous People in the World.”

OPINION | EDITORIALS

FSU, Tallahassee Police seriously mishandled Jameis Winston case

Apr. 16, 2014

The New York Times investigation published Wednesday reopened the discussion of the sexual assault allegations filed against Florida State University football’s crown jewel, Jameis Winston.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Harsh truth: Global warming is imminent

Apr. 16, 2014

Despite years of warnings, overwhelming evidence and changing climate patterns, most of humanity sits idly as our planet continues to warm.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Our society needs modern, intelligent Renaissance thinkers

Apr. 15, 2014

History is full of influential thinkers, philosophers and stoics. These men pondered life’s existence, wondered what feats mankind could endure and grasped the abstract. They were experts in their fields and interested in the world around them: They were “Renaissance men.” Thomas Jefferson, our third president and author of the Declaration of Independence, took that term to its rightful extreme. He was an inventor, philosopher, writer and politician. He was truly a man of thought with an impressive intellect.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Lawmakers decide who to ruin next

Apr. 15, 2014

WASHINGTON — Congress has reached a stalemate, the effects of which haven’t been felt since the government shutdown in 2013. Apparently, this stalemate was reached after Sen. Simpson, D-Ohio, filibustered a bill concerning whom to completely screw over next.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

U-No-Poo: Pick up after your dogs, Gainesville

Apr. 15, 2014

Listen up, Gainesville dog owners: It’s time to cut the s**t.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Energy companies bring ‘crony capitalism’

Apr. 15, 2014

In the Florida Legislature, the state’s largest energy companies wield extraordinary influence.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Bear attacks show Florida's development problem

Apr. 14, 2014

On Saturday night, an Orlando woman was mauled in her driveway by a black bear. In the past few days, five bears have been killed by wildlife officials in search of the bear that initiated the attack, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Focus on giving — not receiving — love

Apr. 14, 2014

Midway through April, we are enjoying the height of spring and the season of love.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Modern dating, playing it cool and the Mr. Darcy mentality

Apr. 14, 2014

Listicles on this topic are circulating on my social media pages lately from sources we’ve all come to know and have love-hate relationships with: Thought Catalog, the Huffington Post and BuzzFeed. They’re not about graduating seniors or cats but rather another popular college-student topic — modern dating.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The road less traveled: Avoid our culture of conformity

Apr. 14, 2014

If all I ever did with my life was watch television and read magazines, this is how I would envision my life should be: I should marry a white heterosexual man, have a few rambunctious children, stay at home and use my new Swiffer WetJet and Dyson vacuum, go to the gym for yoga, buy the newest beauty products, sell my clothes when they go out of style and eat Special K cereal until I have the right measurements.

OPINION | COLUMNS

College football players should bargain collectively

Apr. 14, 2014

The headlines are Northwestern University and unionized college sports, but the storyline is universal and highlights an opportunity for us all.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Florida’s guns-and-riots bill cause for worry

Apr. 13, 2014

The Florida House passed an insane new bill regarding guns and riots last week, prompting Cliff Schecter of the Daily Beast to say, “you could call Florida the Grand Ole Opry of gun nuttery.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Home run king speaks truth about Obama

Apr. 13, 2014

Home run king Henry “Hank” Aaron shed his quiet demeanor last week, chastising Republicans for derailing President Barack Obama’s agenda. Aaron — like many — believes the vitriol many spew at Obama has less to do with political disagreements and more to do with race.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Mating call: A guide to finding your next no-strings-attached hookup

Apr. 13, 2014

The weather is starting to heat up, and students are shedding their polar vortex sweaters for muscle tanks, crop tops, swimsuits and anything that shows off their midriffs or deltoids.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels 4/11/14

Apr. 10, 2014

Another productive week has gone by, filled with reasonable bedtimes, completed homework assignments and lots of salad. Just kidding! Everyone’s too busy having a panic attack over the fact that Monday marks the last full week of classes to be responsible. This weekend, shirk your responsibilities and do fun things. Anything’s better than studying, and that’s what reading days are for.

OPINION | COLUMNS

A nonconformist guide to not being basic

Apr. 10, 2014

I started today like most Americans: thinking I knew exactly what it means to be a basic bitch. But, boy, was I schooled on the matter.

OPINION | COLUMNS

HBO GO: Streaming is an afterthought

Apr. 10, 2014

On Sunday night, season four of “Game of Thrones” premiered, and it broke the Internet.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

UF should observe National Alcohol Screening Day

Apr. 9, 2014

Today is National Alcohol Screening Day, and more than 600 colleges in the U.S. will be holding free alcohol screenings on their campuses to help students identify any problems they may have with alcohol abuse. It’s a fantastic idea; after all, nearly 2,000 Americans ages 18 to 24 die each year from alcohol-related injuries. The annual screenings are hosted by a nonprofit called Screening for Mental Health, which advocates mental-health and substance-abuse resources to be made readily available to those who need it.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Criminal justice system favors the rich

Apr. 9, 2014

There are two criminal justice systems in the U.S.: one for the rich, one for the poor.