It took me one 5-mile walk in 20-degree weather in the pitch black through the Ocala National Forest for me to kill my idols, or for them to nearly kill me.
UF President Bernie Machen's recent statements concerning a desire to focus mostly on graduate education is troubling. In itself, setting a goal to become the best research university in the nation isn't a bad thing, but only focusing on the programs that attract the most grant money forecasts a dire picture of UF's future.
Last week a New York cartoonist sparked a national controversy by directly relating a rampaging, face-biting monkey to the stimulus package recently signed into law.
Even as a naïve freshman, I have already been exposed to far more Student Government politics than anyone would ever want to know. Ever since the "green means go" scandal in which several members of the Gator Party were implicated for fixing interviews so that only individuals with select organizational affiliations would be selected, I have been interested in discovering what really goes on in SG elections.
I was dismayed to read the misrepresentation and misinformation in Kyle Robisch's Friday column. Representing the Fall 2007 Progress Party as pompous and not distinguishing it from the new Progress Party is intellectually dishonest. And certainly, Robisch must have noticed in the past year or so the partisan bickering between Orange & Blue and Gator, now Unite. The butting of heads was clearly displayed during Wednesday's presidential concluding remarks, Sunday's debate and many other times.
For at-risk youth in Alachua County, hope for a second chance starts at the Gainesville Wilderness Institute.
While a typical study abroad trip may include basking in the Australian sun, UF's latest overseas offering will take students even further down under.
It may not be "sexy," but one Student Government party doesn't care how their platform will look on a campaign poster.
What is it that's so frustrating about listening to only one side of a conversation?
During the closing arguments of the Student Government debate, Unite Party's Jordan Johnson proposed the creation of a memorial at the Reitz Union to showcase "minority achievements." He touted this project as a positive step forward in the advancement of diversity on campus.
The final days of the pamphlet-pushing party loyalists haranguing me on Turlington Plaza to vote for their candidate in the impending Student Government election are upon us. They do a marvelous job, those pamphlet pushers, because once again I'm devoting another 500 words to their collective cause.
Ah, the naiveté of being a UF freshman.
The following is in response to my column that appeared in Thursday's Alligator, which referenced some harsh comments written about me two years ago apparently by Ben Dictor, the Progress Party's candidate for SG president.
I've come to terms with my post-graduation joblessness. I haven't raised a white flag. Hope is not lost. I just understand my career won't be awaiting me, flowers in hand.
Since Thursday's column about the validity of voting for revenge, I've gotten the chance to speak to Erik Voss. I was able to impress upon him my regret at having never heard about the comments posted on his Facebook. After a long day of trying to figure out what exactly happened, a friend of mine came forward and acknowledged that it was he who, after one-too-many drinks, left the aforementioned note on Voss's Facebook one evening while I was still logged in. He has since apologized to Voss and me.
With midterms currently cramping our cool-as-a-cucumber style, the understatement of the year would be to say that tension runs high at the Department of Darts & Laurels. Sure, we know that Spring Break is almost here, but how do you expect us to study up on the unabridged history of satellites when we can't stop daydreaming about getting our tan on at the beach?
Ah, Student Government election season.
It's funny how you're never really "done" with people in college.
A quick glance at Wednesday's edition of The New York Post revealed that racism remains alive and strong in America.
As a close observer of the massive social transformation currently taking place in Venezuela right now, I take issue with Eric Chianese's column Wednesday. Media pundits love to paint Hugo Chavez as a dictator, but look at the facts.
Solutions by The State News
