Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
We inform. You decide.
Sunday, February 09, 2025

Opinion

Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Gay marriage is inevitable

Gay marriage recently suffered a devastating setback in Maine. This loss was made all the worse because it not only amended the constitution to outlaw gay marriage, it was also in a state that previously allowed it.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Obama’s hesitation deserves acclaim

An Associated Press article Thursday stated that Barack Obama’s hesitancy on Afghan war buildup implies weakness. I wish world leaders had more of that kind of weakness. President Obama does not want to send soldiers into harm’s way without a clear goal, a solid plan and an exit strategy.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels

This week the world celebrated momentous changes in history, and America celebrated some changes of its own. By contrast, things have been a little slow around the Alligator; the most noteworthy thing to happen this week is the mysterious disappearance of the friendly rats that live in our walls (if you’re reading this, we miss you). These epic world events only make the mundane state of affairs in Gainesville harder to bear. With that in mind, we are happy to present you with a don’t-let-the-small-town-blues-get-you-down edition of...


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

T-shirt displays offensive messages

On Tuesday night, The Laboratory, a local bar/cafe on University Avenue, unveiled its new promotional T-shirts. One of the T-shirt designs was offensive and misogynistic, portraying a woman’s buttocks (her face was not shown) as she was entangled in tentacles. The accompanying caption read, “The Laboratory: more fun than a night in Japan!”


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter generalizes conservative principles

In response to Frederic Spieler’s letter, “Republicans aren’t actually conservative,” Spieler asks what the conservative principles are. I would like to try to answer that. Conservatism operates off the ideas of personal freedom, limited government interference in the daily lives of its citizens and a strong capitalist society. It also stands for fiscal responsibility and strong national defense. The government shouldn’t help those who aren’t willing to help themselves. Sorry to bust your ideological bubble, but there are people who, no matter how much help you give them, will continue to be self-destructive, make bad decisions and contribute nothing to society. They should not be given a free ride on everyone else’s dollar.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Alligator balances fraternity coverage

I am writing this letter to commend the Alligator on the way in which it reported the story “Fraternities charged with providing alcohol to minors.” Contrary to the way in which stories involving the Greek system are typically reported, this article displays the relevant conflicting viewpoints inherent in any news story. Hopefully the level of journalistic quality present in this story will continue to be present in all of the Alligator’s future news articles, particularly stories regarding events that are crucial to the daily lives of hundreds of young men. I applaud the effort to contact each of the relevant organizations.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Take It Easy Police: partygoers should think before acting

“They think Gainesville is their personal toilet... coming from behind shows what kind of garbage they are.” These are the words that Gainesville Police spokesman Keith Kameg used to describe five individuals arrested for attacking police at a Fest after party on Nov. 1. He went on to describe these individuals as a “fringe element” who only visited Gainesville looking for a place to stay.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Public must take interest in polluted site

The Cabot-Koppers Superfund site is at the corner of Northwest Sixth Street and Northwest 23rd Avenue. For those of you who don’t know about this, let me enlighten you. This property has been used since 1916 for wood treatment. Chemicals from this site have been found seeping into the groundwater and surface water, including arsenic, copper and nine other chemicals found to cause cancers and other health problems. According to EPA testing in 2006, harmful chemicals have already started reaching the upper portion of the aquifer (not good, considering nearly 100 percent of the drinking water in Florida comes from the Floridan aquifer). As bad as all this sounds, it might surprise you that nearly 19 years after a cleanup approach was signed, no action has been taken besides a few trenches being dug.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Florida teens should get life in prison

This letter is in response to Tuesday’s editorial, “Cruel Courts.” The teens in South Florida who threw rubbing alcohol on a young boy should not only be tried as adults, they should be put in prison for life without parole. These teens knew exactly what would happen when they threw the match: extensive physical and psychological damage and, most likely, death.


Florida Alligator
OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Republicans aren’t actually conservative

In response to Tuesday’s letter to the editor “Republicans aren’t too conservative,” Ms. Kilic really drops the ball. She says Mr. Christ “attempts to pigeonhole” Republicans by claiming that they are all “‘Bible-thumping,’ overzealous patriots.” She further claims that Republicans are hurting for straying from party principles. Well, what are those principles? What goals does the Republican party have? Banning abortion? Keeping gays out of the military? Making sure that Obama fails, no matter what he is doing?



Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2025 The Independent Florida Alligator and Campus Communications, Inc.