OPINION
|
COLUMNS
This year, resolve to create attainable goals
Jan. 13, 2014For gyms, the most wonderful time of year follows closely after Christmas.
Opinion
OPINION
|
EDITORIALS
MTV’s ‘Teen Mom’ is effective advocacy journalism
Jan. 13, 2014In 2011, the creator of the MTV reality shows “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom” wrote an article for CNN defending the show’s value in response to media critics claiming the two shows glamorize teen pregnancy.
OPINION
|
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letter to the Editor 1/13/14
By Bruce Frendahl | Jan. 12, 2014Dear Editor,
OPINION
|
COLUMNS
Gov. Chris Christie’s bridge to nowhere
Jan. 12, 2014For commuters in New York and New Jersey, Sept. 9 was just another day — until they reached the George Washington Bridge that connects the two states.
OPINION
|
EDITORIALS
R.I.P. Sam Berns: The importance of public optimists
Jan. 12, 2014As consumers of media, we often encounter public intellectuals: well-known, intelligent, learned persons whose written works and other social and cultural contributions are recognized not only by academic audiences and readers, but also by many members of society in general. Vaclav Havel, Noam Chomsky and Gloria Steinem are all prominent public intellectuals who contribute to discourse across a wide span of topics that affect our lives, from politics to economics to feminism.
OPINION
|
COLUMNS
Because I got Gainesville: Don’t write off Afroman
Jan. 9, 2014Gather some Colt 45s and maybe a few Zig-Zags: Afroman is coming to the High Dive on Wednesday. Afroman, or Joseph Foreman, Grammy-nominated slacker rapper star behind the hits “Because I Got High” and dirty rap anthem “Crazy Rap” — known to many as “Colt 45 and Two Zig-Zags” — is leaving his beloved Palmdale to bring Gainesville the music that has enchanted generations since he rose to fame and fortune in the early 2000s.
OPINION
|
COLUMNS
Hairy situation: Don’t be bullied by trends
Jan. 9, 2014During my first semester of college, while killing time between classes, I found myself listening in on a classmate and his friends as they loudly engaged in a “Would you rather?” about girls.
OPINION
|
COLUMNS
Legalized marijuana means higher tax
Jan. 8, 2014New Year’s Eve was about lighting fireworks. New Year’s Day in Colorado was just about lighting up.
OPINION
|
EDITORIALS
F*** civil liberties, how do they work? Rap group sues FBI
Jan. 8, 2014“Workaholics” fans remember the episode in which Adam, Ders and Blake become entangled with the Juggalos, or devotees of the rap and hip-hop duo Insane Clown Posse. Members of the Juggalos are, stereotypically, drug-addled low-income followers of the band famous for their yearly gathering — or as the New York Daily News called it, “weeklong bacchanal” — called the Gathering of the Juggalos. The Gathering is notorious for Juggalos engaging in “blatant drug use and general bad behavior.”
OPINION
|
COLUMNS
America’s problem is lack of social mobility
Jan. 7, 2014Another semester brought me another opportunity to contribute to the Alligator Opinions section. As I sat down and faced my laptop, preparing to write my first piece of the new year, I thought I should tackle the benefits of reading or my collegiate career so far. I wanted to stay away from politics at least for one week — we all want to start the semester on a good note.
OPINION
|
EDITORIALS
Drop it like it’s hot — or not: Drop/add week woes
Jan. 7, 2014Like taxes, gynecological exams and salad, drop/add week is a necessary evil — a time of the semester where classes are treated like sample stations at Costco, only instead of hairnet-wearing old ladies, professors and TAs are doling out the tastes of what the semester will bring.
OPINION
|
COLUMNS
New Year’s resolution for America 2014: Greater economic equality
Jan. 6, 2014Another year has come and gone. America began 2013 facing a number of difficult political and societal challenges, including an unemployment rate of 7.9 percent, increasing rates of economic inequality and poverty, and the ever-looming specter of global climate change.
OPINION
|
EDITORIALS
No Rose for You: ABC, it’s time to revamp ‘The Bachelor’
Jan. 6, 2014Last night, the new year saw a new crop of screaming, swooning female hopefuls on “The Bachelor,” which began its 18th season on ABC. The premise of “The Bachelor” and its sister show, “The Bachelorette,” represents something both modern and weirdly primal: Cameras, boom mics and Chris Harrison follow a group of 20-somethings as they compete fiercely for the affection of a mate — presumably so the winner and said mate may become engaged and begin a life together.
OPINION
|
COLUMNS
Obama needs to shut down his campaign
Jan. 5, 2014If President Barack Obama is in need of a New Year’s resolution, I have the perfect one: Shut down your campaign.
OPINION
|
EDITORIALS
Greetings, Spring: Apply to be an Alligator columnist
Jan. 5, 2014Welcome back, Gators! Breaking news: It is about to be COLD in Gainesville. Like, seriously. Pull those hats and mittens out of retirement, and for those of you who rely on scooters as your main method of transportation — we are so sorry.
OPINION
|
EDITORIALS
‘I know myself, but that is all’: Final reflections on Fall 2013
Dec. 3, 2013A lucky batch of seniors will graduate next week and depart into the real world of graduate schools, jobs and paid internships, international travel or mom and dad’s basement. They’ll have college degrees under their belts — essentially, really expensive pieces of paper to hang in their offices to remind them of the four (or three or five) years they spent at UF.
OPINION
|
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Consider getting involved in civil work
By Peter Levine | Dec. 2, 2013As a rule, we get the government we deserve. Political institutions work well when citizens are engaged: following the news, electing good representatives and pitching in ourselves to address serious national problems like health care and national security. When people are detached, governments generally fail.
OPINION
|
COLUMNS
Guest column: Proposed Student Senate bill is an attack on Palestinian students
Dec. 2, 2013Today, the Student Senate at UF will attempt to pass an anti-BDS bill titled “Resolution Condemning the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement.”
OPINION
|
COLUMNS
Twerk it: In defense of Miley
Dec. 2, 2013The general public’s reaction to the New Miley has been like finding a tarantula in the bathtub while somehow also witnessing a horrific train wreck. Fear, disgust, concern and morbid curiosity have all been rolled up into a giant ball of emotion that has fueled media coverage of the star’s transformation, as well as Twitter jokes and YouTube “Wrecking Ball” parodies ad nauseum. Most people view the New Miley as a loathsome, offensive brute; yet they can’t look away.
OPINION
|
COLUMNS
Bye UF, remember: Journalism isn’t dead
Dec. 2, 2013It’s 4:30 p.m., and I’m sitting alone in the newsroom.
