Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

The motto of the informative and highly addictive TED Talks is “ideas worth spreading.” Gainesville’s independent offshoot — TEDxUF — had plenty of ideas worth writing home about. Some of the area’s best and brightest took to the stage Saturday and shared their experiences, concerns and hopes for the future.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Swamp Party’s Spring platform

By Susan Webster | Feb. 10, 2014

It is my pleasure to announce that Swamp Party has officially set its Spring 2014 campaign platform.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Confronting fear is good for your health

Feb. 10, 2014

One good quip that came from John Mayer’s song “The Heart of Life” was “Fear is a friend who’s misunderstood.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Disturbing findings on UF student leadership

Feb. 10, 2014

Like most students, I rarely pay attention to UF politics. However, when someone promises me there’s more than what meets the eye, I try to understand what’s going on.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Taco Libre write-in campaign idea is doomed

Feb. 10, 2014

People don’t take write-in candidates seriously.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Culture is a part of human identity

Feb. 10, 2014

Syria is rife with civil unrest. Many archaeological sites have been looted, museums are being damaged, and artifacts are being stolen. During times of war, cultural heritage is left defenseless. Islamic landmarks like the Umayyad Mosque, the old city of Aleppo and the Krak des Chavaliers — a crusader castle — have all been damaged by bombs and theft.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Voter suppression machine targets UF

Feb. 9, 2014

Is Gov. Rick Scott so concerned about his chances at re-election that his appointees need to prevent early voting on UF’s campus? After the Florida’s Division of Elections announced last week the Reitz couldn’t be an early voting location for Gainesville’s upcoming municipal elections, it certainly appears that way.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Please, please, please don’t ever drive drunk

Feb. 9, 2014

During the early hours of Sunday morning, a fiery car crash on Interstate 275 in North Tampa resulted in the death of five men — four of whom were University of South Florida students, according to NBC News. An unidentified driver of a Ford Expedition was traveling south on the northbound side of the road and struck a Hyundai Sonata carrying the four USF students head-on. Authorities are investigating whether the driver of the Expedition was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of the SUV was a male in his early 20s, but they have so far been unable to identify the body due to severe burns.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Real talk: Valentine’s Day sex isn’t special

Feb. 9, 2014

If you Google “Valentine’s Day sex,” you’ll get about 312 million results. That’s a lot of ideas.

OPINION | COLUMNS

NYFW: ‘Find me posing for the paparazzi’

Feb. 6, 2014

There are two kinds of people: those who will admit they care about fashion and those who care about fashion but don’t know it.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels 2/7/2014

Feb. 6, 2014

Gainesville, we can’t live like this much longer: Are you participating in this polar vortex or not? Why do you think it’s acceptable to be 80 degrees and muggy one day and 49 degrees and windy the next? At this rate, we’re going to have to start investing in those ‘90s-throwback cargo pants with legs that unzip into shorts.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Tiffany Sessions case developments: Why cold cases matter

Feb. 5, 2014

In 1989, a young UF student named Tiffany Sessions vanished.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Plutocracy hurts middle class, widens gap

Feb. 5, 2014

A rising tide to lift all yachts?

OPINION | COLUMNS

Obama’s ‘year of action’ is too late

Feb. 4, 2014

“Lame duck” is too misleading a description of the remaining years of President Barack Obama’s time in office. Labeling a term “lame duck” implies that nothing will get done in Washington, and everyone knows it. The truth is, nothing will indeed happen, but the chief executive will try everything in his power to convince you otherwise.

OPINION | COLUMNS

GatorWell responds to ‘GatorAid’

Feb. 4, 2014

Last week in the Alligator’s GatorAid advice column, Leslie Cole responded to an anonymous student’s question, “I’m a girl, but I’m not 21. What are good old-fashioned ways to have fun without drinking?”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Scott’s shady donations crony capitalism

Feb. 4, 2014

As Gov. Rick Scott gears up for his 2014 re-election campaign, his primary focus has shifted away from dealing with the many critical issues our state faces. Instead, he has decided to devote the bulk of his energy toward fundraising for his re-election bid in advance of the November election.