Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dems should be cautious with reform

By Jenna Kilic | Nov. 23, 2009

Thank you, Editorial Board, for writing the “Party Poopers” editorial in Monday’s paper. You were dead on. Those stupid, cautionary senators, Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman, need to keep their mouths shut so we liberals can ram through health care legislation we think is appropriate. If any Democrat questions whether it’s financially sound, screw ‘em! They can join those loser Republicans, who for eight years got to be fiscally irresponsible. Well, now it’s our time, damn it. Who cares if we’re in a recession?

OPINION | COLUMNS

Holidays create ‘Garden State moments’

Nov. 23, 2009

For many first years, the Thanksgiving holiday is the first real opportunity in the semester to go back home. And thus, it’s often the first real opportunity to have what I call a “Garden State moment.”

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Party Poopers: On health care, Democrat defectors better left alone

Nov. 22, 2009

On Saturday night, the Senate voted to move health care legislation to the floor for debate in a close party-line vote of 60 to 39.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Poison the Well: Lobbyists do more harm than good by opposing regulations

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 22, 2009

Last week, a federal judge in Tallahassee approved a settlement in an environmental suit that requires the EPA to set nutrient limits for lakes, streams and creeks in Florida.

OPINION | COLUMNS

US keeps moral high ground with trials

By Nick Miner | Nov. 22, 2009

Last week, the Alligator published contradictory views on whether trying Khalid Sheikh Muhammad in New York is the right move. Unfortunately, both pieces missed some of the most pertinent questions. Before addressing these, it must be said that I feel trying Muhammad in New York is the right decision. Don’t get me wrong, he in no way deserves the protections we are providing him.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

RTS is concerned with rider safety

By RTS Executive Board | Nov. 22, 2009

The RTS family joins the Alligator in offering the sincerest condolences to the family of Erin Pelton. No words can express the loss of such a bright young person on the cusp of a promising future.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Undergrads have right to protest fee

By Frank Coxon IV | Nov. 22, 2009

I would like to give a response to Matthew Powers and all those others who have stated, “Undergraduates haven’t the right to complain about the fee.” To all of those, I return your “Shut up, undergrads,” with a “Shut up, graduates, and think about it.”

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

SG, administration have bad timing with renovation and expansion plans

By Patrick McHenry | Nov. 22, 2009

The issue about the Reitz Union expansion raises fundamental and core problems surrounding the attitudes of this university, its administration, its Student Government and the complete lack of distinction between any and all of these categories.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Embargo gives Castro regime leverage over citizens

By Andrew Wilson | Nov. 22, 2009

I used to feel the exact same way as Dayme Sanchez does about the Cuban embargo, but last time I went to Cuba I changed my mind.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Pride in UF doesn’t come from buildings

By Lauren Parater | Nov. 22, 2009

This is in response to Zach Faza’s letter to the editor about his support for the renovation of the Reitz Union. It is ignorant to argue that the pride Florida students have is derived from the quality and beauty of their campus. This is not a resort, but a university that students attend for a reputable education. What separates UF students from everyone else? Certainly not an addition onto an already over-glorified building. Suggesting that our “premier” university status is dependent on such materialism is insulting.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Anyone can be a drunken driver

By Nicole Martingano | Nov. 22, 2009

Friday night I received text messages from several friends and students at UF regarding a DUI featured on the front page of the Alligator. Kristen Gillis, an avid supporter of my personal campaign against drunken driving and a friend of mine, made a mistake, a big one. I was worried, personally hurt, and pretty heartbroken.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Actions speak louder in the ‘war on terror’

By Stephen Bradford | Nov. 19, 2009

In Patrick Poage’s response to Tuesday’s guest column, he took offense to the characterization of the United States’ actions against al-Qaida and other terror organizations as a “war on terror.”

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 19, 2009

Last week was unusually slow for the Department of Darts and Laurels. In light of this, we made a (desperate?) plea for Gators to go out and make some real news. While we doubt that the overwhelming response was due entirely to the public pity party we held for ourselves last week, we think it helped. So now, inundated with news, we would like to present you with a be-careful-what-you-wish-for edition of:

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Grad students shouldn’t have to foot bill

By Tim Johnson | Nov. 19, 2009

On Wednesday, the UF Graduate Student Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing additional student fees for the renovation of the Reitz Union. This measure was taken to contest the recent resolution passed by UF Student Government proposing such fee increases.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Undergrads shouldn’t complain about fee

By Matthew Powers | Nov. 19, 2009

Are undergrads seriously up in arms over a $20 flat fee plus $3 per credit hour for the new Reitz Union? I’m an out-of-state student receiving $0 in government aid. In case you’re unaware, out-of-state tuition is now approaching $800 per credit. My Reitz student fee of $65 would buy me a little more than one hour of class at UF.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reitz repairs irresponsible, unnecessary

By Rachael Day | Nov. 19, 2009

Sitting in the Reitz Union yesterday, I was approached by a student senator who encouraged me to sign a petition in favor of a “small fee” that would favor a new student union. He assured me that the fee would “only be a couple of dollars” and that I would be leaving a legacy for future Florida students.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Cuban embargo should remain in place

By Dayme Sanchez | Nov. 19, 2009

It seems that there are many people out there ill-informed about the Cuban embargo. The first false assumption people make is that the U.S. initiated the embargo because Cuba became a communist country. The truth is that the U.S. enacted the embargo because when the Castro regime took power in 1959, it expropriated all of the properties of the U.S., including that of American citizens and corporations. Castro enriched his regime with the millions of dollars he stole from the U.S. and has never paid the money back.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Fee-for-All: SG should get student input on new Reitz fee

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 18, 2009

Tuesday’s Student Government vote on the proposed Reitz Union expansion has stirred up almost as much interest (and as many impassioned letters and Web site comments) as SG’s pending decision on a resolution denouncing the Goldstone report, the controversial UN report alleging Israeli war crimes.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Pray for less fortunate at Thanksgiving

Nov. 18, 2009

While driving Oprah to her highest ratings in two years, Sarah Palin asked that we cast aside our petty sociopolitical differences and as a united country pray for the everliving soul of Levi Johnston.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Preachers shouldn’t mask messages

By Rebecca Theobald | Nov. 18, 2009

This morning, while I strolled through Turlington Plaza, I was delighted to see that people were handing out copies of “The Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin. This seemed a vast improvement over coupons and fliers. Then I opened the book and found the “special introduction” urging me to accept an intelligent designer and “receive the gift of eternal life.”