Opinion

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

The editorial board’s tour at UF Health Shands

Apr. 14, 2019

A few weeks ago, the editorial board was invited to take a tour of UF Health Shands Hospital, specifically the pediatric units after we wrote the editorial, “What does it mean to do it ‘For The Kids’?” In the editorial, we posed questions we felt were not readily available to the general public concerning Dance Marathon at UF, such as how exactly money raised by DM is utilized. As a result, Shands representatives reached out to give us these answers and provide more transparency on how the money is spent in the children’s hospital.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

To Meme or Not To Meme?

Apr. 14, 2019

It is time we talk about memes and meme culture. I love a good meme, and I assume you do as well, or else you wouldn’t be wasting your time reading a column about memes. Internet memes have become a prevalent part of a Millennial and Generation Z’s daily life. You could even say they have become a sort of coping mechanism. Memes represent the pent-up frustrations and passions of this time in history. Millennials are generally known to be in a worse off economic situation than the generation before, having been handed the failures of our ancestors without sufficient education to craft a solution. Those of us pursuing a college degree have to deal with incredibly high tuition costs and possibly immense student loans. Millennials are characterized as the “anxious generation,” and Generation Z has been reported as naming depression and anxiety as the biggest problems facing their peers, according to The Economist. The only way out of the unearned strife that has defined the short run-time of the third millennia is a good meme. But when should we create or share a meme? When should we not? It must be noted one cannot always meme, but then again there are times when a meme is the most essential service one can provide. For guidance, we look to Shakespeare’s most famed work, “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” or Hamlet, for short.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Return-free filing offers a solution to Tax Day woes

Apr. 14, 2019

The dreaded day is upon us: April 15. Tax Day. Whether you did your taxes early or waited until the last minute, and whether you did them yourself or had help, you’ve probably thought at some point, “There has to be an easier way to do this.” I’m pleased to say there is. If you weren’t aware there is an easier system, you can blame TurboTax and H&R Block.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

‘I don’t shine if you don’t shine’

Apr. 14, 2019

Since 2014, co-hosts Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman have used their podcast, “Call Your Girlfriend,” as a platform to discuss pressing social, cultural and political issues. In particular, Sow and Friedman highlight women who are agents, creators and those who initiate change. In doing so, they ensure “Call Your Girlfriend” gives a voice to women.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

How helping our own community can create a better Gainesville in the future

Apr. 14, 2019

UF’s Black Student Union has taken it upon itself to ensure local high school students have the funds necessary to pursue a college degree. UF’s Leadership Development Institute, a program within BSU, recently created a scholarship called the Rich in Color Scholarship to promote higher education for local high school students who otherwise may be unable to afford it.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Darts and Laurels: April 12, 2019

Apr. 11, 2019

You’re in your car scouring a UF parking garage in hopes of finding a gloriously empty parking spot. You have looked for a spot on three floors already and things aren’t looking good. But you have a meeting in 10 minutes that you have to get to, so the search must continue. Then you see it, an empty spot perfectly nestled between two shining cars. You quickly whip into it, claiming the spot as yours.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

A look into Student Government’s $20,000 banquet

Apr. 11, 2019

Do you ever have too much money laying around that you don’t want to spend on initiatives benefiting the student body? Student Government does and it just so happens to be time for our annual banquet.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Luxury and affordability don’t go hand in hand in Gainesville

Apr. 11, 2019

Recently Gainesville has become attractive to real estate developers, as reported by The Alligator in “Living in Gainesville: Students choose between luxury and affordability.” I’m from Orlando, so when I arrived in Gainesville, one thing I noticed was that Gainesville was a bit underdeveloped. This causes a less diverse real estate market, with fewer options to choose from. As housing developers continue to invest in building luxury-style apartments, what’s going to happen to all the students who can’t afford the now-average $860 a month for an apartment? How are older apartments going to keep up and remain marketable?

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Food insecurity is a battle in Gainesville

By Chasity Maynard | Apr. 11, 2019

There is an enormous number of Gainesville citizens struggling with food insecurity, The Alligator reported. Food insecurity is one of those issues many people hear about in passing or read about occasionally, but it never seems to receive the attention it deserves. Food insecurity is a devastating issue in our community and it deserves more attention. The people who help combat food insecurity deserve more praise and support.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

How is it possible for people to relate to superheroes?

Apr. 11, 2019

When the latest Marvel movie, “Captain Marvel,” was released, there was a good amount of articles that said something like this: “What a great, strong female lead for girls to see on the big screen.” This struck me as odd since Captain Marvel is a superhuman who can fly, dwell in outer space and shoot energy blasts out of her hands. I find this to be a strange role model for anyone, let alone girls searching for a female heroine in their lives. The character seems more super than human, after all.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

A look back at our favorite series as they come to an end

Apr. 9, 2019

April is the beginning of the end for major pop culture phenomenons, namely “The Avengers” franchise (at least for now) and “Game of Thrones.” Both franchises have captured the attention of audiences across the globe and have facilitated conversations involving speculation and commentary. They have spawned parody skits, elevated people to A-list stars and created entire worlds people have spent hours recapping and analyzing. The franchises may have multiple spin-offs planned for both franchises, but we wonder if they will spawn the same fan response as their original predecessors.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

I hate that I love the Woah Challenge

Apr. 9, 2019

If you have opened up Snapchat lately, you might have seen a few videos of people setting up their phone cameras, moving away from the screen and doing a quick dance move with their hands. This is called the Woah Challenge, and it has been spreading like wildfire.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

My personal struggle with the concept of zoos and captivity

Apr. 9, 2019

“Blackfish” left a bad taste in my mouth for all animal captivity. After watching the documentary, I swore off all aquariums, zoos and things alike, until recently. I went on a trip to the Georgia Aquarium and I couldn’t believe my friends had tricked me into going to this installment of animal exploitation. How could I put money into the hands of these people who use the beauty of animals for the sake of human entertainment? Who had I become? I was a fraud, a fake animal-lover. But I had already bought my ticket, and everyone seemed excited to see the “fishies,” so I went.

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor: SG allows ICE presence at UF

Apr. 9, 2019

As an immigrant rights advocacy organization, UF Chispas has collaborated with Student Government to advocate for inclusive campus policies toward immigrant students at UF. Due to past cooperation with SG, our organization was shocked and disappointed to see the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Chomp the Vote’s Public Policy Career Day on March 21. We were also hurt by the way SG entities poorly handled our concerns.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium doesn’t have to be just for football

Apr. 9, 2019

It’s a beautiful April day. Beams of sunlight hit the tops of the shimmering bleachers surrounding me. A cool breeze comes through Ben Hill Griffin Stadium every few minutes, just long enough for me to appreciate the fresh air. As a student at UF, this is one of the many unique luxuries I am granted in return for the tuition check I slide over to the Bursar’s Office each semester. The stadium, known to the masses as The Swamp, is one of the most famous landmarks to grace our campus because of its notoriety in college football. However, many students only use it for its main purpose: attending UF’s nationally renowned football games. If you’re one of those Gators, I’m here to give you a wake-up call.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

World Health Day and what it promotes

Apr. 7, 2019

Since 1948, April 7 has been celebrated as National World Health Day. This day is a celebration of the implementation of the constitution of the World Health Organization. It was adopted during an International Health Conference in New York, held on June 1946 and later signed by 61 States on July 22, 1946. The constitution, which can be read on the organization’s website, was implemented on April 7, 1948.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

My painted nails shouldn’t be up for discussion

Apr. 7, 2019

The fickle thing I’ve learned about nail polish is that its drip is incredibly difficult to account for. No matter the layer, I can always expect the slightest spillover onto my cuticles or fingertips. It doesn’t bother me, but instead it encourages me to keep a steadier hand. Luckily, there’s no second glances or mention of my nail color as more people are accepting of different methods of expression. I’ve run into other masculine-presenting people who wear nail polish, earrings and makeup with eyeshadow and eyeliner. I would dare to say this is not a new trend among LGBTQ+ circles. However, the broadening of gender expression through small things, like nail polish, can still be a big change for others.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Individuals can’t save the environment, it’s a group effort

Apr. 7, 2019

Plastic is bad for the environment. This has been common knowledge for years. What is controversial, however, is demanding that everyone turn vegan and ditch single-use plastic. People fail to recognize that most of the earth’s pollution stems from major corporations rather than individuals. Also, expecting everyone to stop using straws fails to acknowledge the unintended consequences, which could be catastrophic for certain groups. Certainly, if you’re able to, do what you can to help the environment. Ditch the straws or get reusable ones, ask for paper bags the next time you go grocery shopping and reduce the amount of meat you consume, but don’t expect everyone to do the same. We first must hold corporations accountable for their actions, which affect the environment differently.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

The problem with the body positivity movement

Apr. 7, 2019

Core ideas of the body positivity movement date back to the late 1800s when the Victorian dress reform movement emerged. This movement aimed to put an end to the fad of corsets and tightlacing, to which women succumbed, conforming to the societal standard of a tiny waistline. The movement emphasized acceptance of all body types, regardless of waist measurements.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Cancel culture can be good, but people can change

Apr. 7, 2019

Lately, there’s been some discussion of something called “cancel culture.” Figures from John Oliver to Tucker Carlson have addressed the topic, with sometimes wildly differing perspectives. Now, I’m diving into the fray.