Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels 10/18/13

Oct. 17, 2013

The last wave of midterms has finally rolled on, so now it’s time to focus on the important stuff: Halloween costumes and tomorrow’s game against Missouri. But first, a PSA: To all you overzealous autumn-lovers wearing sweaters and scarves, cease and desist. If you keep wearing sweaters during 89-degree weather like today, you WILL get heat stroke. And die.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Get your own fries with that: Fast-food workers’ wages unfair

Oct. 16, 2013

The phrase “fast-food worker” stirs up images of high school kids working an after-school job at Taco Bell to save up for college or a car. However, Marc Doussard, a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who co-authored a recent study on fast-food workers who receive public assistance, said this is not the case.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The God mystery: Is He just chilling?

Oct. 15, 2013

“If God is so caring and great, why is there suffering in life?”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Not even Madonna is safe from wrath of movie theater rules

Oct. 15, 2013

Madonna is officially banned from the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Keep trauma center at ORMC open

By Dereck Welch | Oct. 15, 2013

Some may already know my story, but I was one of the first patients to be treated at Ocala Regional Medical Center’s trauma center when it opened. I had a splenic artery aneurysm and died twice before the excellent doctors at Ocala revived me and saved my life. Back in June I wrote about my story for the Saint Peters Blog, pleading to keep Ocala’s trauma center open. Another publication’s article by Capt. Gail Lazenby of The Villages Public Safety Department about the 1st District Court of Appeals’ decision putting Ocala in danger of closing made me feel the need to write again.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Kenan speaks out but misses the point about lack of diversity on Saturday Night Live

Oct. 15, 2013

During the early years of “Saturday Night Live”'s run, the environment was not friendly to women or minorities. This is made abundantly clear in both the book “Live From New York” and interviews with former female writers and cast members such as Jane Curtin.

OPINION | COLUMNS

When it comes to writing essays, SAT should cut the crap

Oct. 14, 2013

David Coleman was named the new president of the College Board last summer and, thanks to him, the board is debuting a reconstructed SAT in 2015. The SAT has long been a poor excuse for a college-readiness exam. This is especially true of the essay section, which came under heavy fire at a September press conference filled with high school and university faculty from across the country. They told Coleman in no uncertain terms how detrimental the essay portion has become for students. For the first time, the College Board is listening.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Wait for more action — it’s too early to determine new Pope’s impact

Oct. 14, 2013

Many would consider America to be one of the most religious countries on Earth.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

One CEO's advice on climbing the corporate ladder

Oct. 14, 2013

DreamWorks CEO Stacey Snider talked to The Atlantic yesterday in a video segment titled “Advice to a Younger Me” about her climb from an entry-level position in the entertainment industry to chairwoman of Universal Pictures to her current position as CEO.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Greetings from City of Gainesville Student Community Relations Advisory Board

By Christina Ford | Oct. 13, 2013

Greetings from City of Gainesville Student Community Relations Advisory Board

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guest column: Palestinians are people with a voice

Oct. 13, 2013

This past Thursday, I attended an event hosted by CAMERA and UF Hillel titled “Less Hamas, More Hummus.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

How the Internet and television news undermine journalism

Oct. 13, 2013

What I am about to say might not win me any friends at the Alligator, but I must be frank: The current state of American journalism is doing its part to destroy American democracy.

OPINION | COLUMNS

People selling, hustling Banksy works aren't the bad guys

Oct. 13, 2013

He’s reached worldwide fame while preserving his anonymity, putting the spotlight on the underground street-art scene.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

The (Me)rlot Generation: Millenials’ extreme wine consumption changing industry

Oct. 13, 2013

In May, TIME magazine published a trend piece about millennials titled “The Me Me Me Generation,” but it failed to mention one interesting characteristic of our often-scolded generation: We’re turning the wine industry over on its head.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

It’s true: Engineers don’t really socialize

By Ahmed Jorge | Oct. 10, 2013

I agree that engineers don’t really socialize.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Some nominees for Nobel Peace Prize laudable, some laughable

Oct. 10, 2013

Today, the Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels 10/11/13

Oct. 10, 2013

Readers, this is not a drill: Fall is finally upon us in Gainesville. The mornings are crisper, the nights are pleasantly cool, and we’re finally switching from iced coffee to hot pumpkin lattes. Everything is beautiful and nothing hurts.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Why you should be paying attention to Supreme Court campaign finance case McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission

Oct. 9, 2013

Obviously, there aren’t many people happy with what’s happening in Washington right now. And because we live in a democracy, citizens can actually hold the members of Congress responsible for the shutdown — but we probably won’t.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Stop obsessing over "thigh gaps" — it's not healthy

Oct. 9, 2013

Some people have blue eyes, and some people have green eyes. Some people have innie belly buttons, and some people have outie belly buttons. Some people have narrow hips and legs that touch, and some people have wider hips with thighs that don’t touch. All these particular body parts are affected by the arbitrary genetic hand you’re dealt at birth, yet young girls have chosen to obsess over whether they have a “thigh gap.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Supreme Court case McCutcheon v. FEC could get rid of campaign finance restrictions, increase corruption

Oct. 8, 2013

Public opinion polls consistently show Americans are frustrated with the disproportionate influence large corporations and extremely wealthy individuals have on our government and political process.