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Sunday, April 27, 2025

Opinion

The legs of costumed people participating in the annual Gay Pride event in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday Oct. 26, 2019. Thousands took part in this 30th edition of the Gay Pride. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

All about coming out

On Oct. 11, we celebrated National Coming Out Day. Oh, how happy I am to live in a time and place where coming out as LGBTQ+ is not only tolerated, but something to be proud of. 


OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Counseling is for everyone

I went into counseling not knowing what I would get out of it or how it could really benefit me. This might sound naïve, but it’s easy to convince ourselves that we’ve thought through everything and don’t need anyone else to explain what’s going on. In reality, just about everyone can benefit from therapy, even in a totally stress-free life. 


OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to The Editor: The impact of climate change on birds

As a Florida resident, the impacts of climate change on my immediate environment are not lost on me. As an avid bird watcher, the impacts of climate change on the local bird communities are also not lost on me. One of the potential effects of climate change is an increased intensity of natural disasters. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew devastated Florida’s coastline, and I experienced firsthand the changing sand and vegetation composition. Shorebirds, such as terns, were heavily affected because their breeding grounds are on these beaches.


farm
OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Food affects your health, but it also impacts the Earth

All bodies are beautiful. Earth, on the other hand, hasn’t been looking so hot — unless you count global warming, of course. Whether it’s carbon dioxide emissions or the burning of one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, we’re making the world uglier every day. At this point, it seems we don’t really have a grasp on what’s important, especially when it comes to food.


halloween
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Halloween movies you need to watch

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and there are dozens of movies to watch to get you into the holiday spirit. It’s spooky season, and we can honor the ghouls and goblins this month by watching proper seasonal films.


Former President Jimmy Carter answers questions during a news conference at a Habitat for Humanity project Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. Carter fell at home on Sunday, requiring over a dozen stitches, but he did not let his injuries keep him from participating in his 36th building project with the nonprofit Christian housing organization. He turned 95 last Tuesday, becoming the first U.S. president to reach that milestone. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Why we should strive to be more like this president

In honor of former President Jimmy Carter’s 95th birthday Oct. 1, I would like to take a moment to discuss the most underrated president in modern U.S. history. His presidency is often considered a failure, despite all of its successes. Carter was ahead of his time with his foresight into climate change and human rights, serving as president from 1977 to 1981. It would be difficult to find someone who cares more about this nation than Carter.


OPINION  |  COLUMNS

American health care compared to the rest of the world

In the U.S., health care can be quite expensive. The total amount spent on health care last year was $3.65 trillion. U.S. health care expenditures for 2018 were nearly 17 percent of the gross domestic product. This is almost twice the average cost of other countries’ health care within the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Why is health insurance so expensive in our country, and how do our costs compare to health care costs around the world?


Marchers gather for the Climate Strike in Edmonton, Alberta, on Friday, Sept. 27, 2019. (Amber Bracken/The Canadian Press via AP)
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

You should still care about the environment

On Sept. 20, a youth climate strike of unprecedented proportions stood at the forefront of the world stage. Now, two weeks later, that energy has died down to some degree in Gainesville’s corner of the world. This is a shame, because it’s our generation's responsibility to enact the change. The private sector still needs to be held accountable, the government still needs to be pressured and public sentiment still needs to be changed: and here lies the purpose of the Climate Reality Project.


Photo by Andrik Langfield on Unsplash
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

It’s alright to feel lonely on campus

How is it possible to feel alone in a crowd? Among 50,000 other students, I thought I’d arrive on campus and surely find my place shortly thereafter. How could I not with such a massive pool of students and clubs? I had seen cliques form as early as Preview. A few months in, and it still hadn’t happened to me.


OPINION  |  DARTS LAURELS

Darts and Laurels: Sept. 27

The weather is still unbearable. You feel a gentle breeze here and there, but Mother Nature lied about the fall season — or at least we did something to mess it up. Either way, it’s hot, you’re sweaty and the walk from the Reitz Union to Library West isn’t making things easier. 


Photo by Louis Hansel on Unsplash
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Stress less about your food

As exam season peaks its head around the corner, I think it’s important to talk about ways to maintain a healthy mental state while going through the rigors of midterms and finals. I’m not sure about everyone else, but for me the first thing to go during times of stress is always food. During a packed day, it just feels inconvenient to have to cook or go out. Although, I think anyone can tell this is a bad habit to keep. Food is the fuel your body will use when you study and eventually rock those exams, so it’s important to be mindful of what you use. Here I’ll recommend some foods that have helped me stay sharp during tests.


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