opinion - The Independent Florida Alligator

Opinion

Public must take interest in polluted site

By CHRIS MOODY | Nov. 11, 2009

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.

Opinion

Proposed public option destined to fail

By Clay Hughes | Nov. 11, 2009

This letter is in response to statements made by the UF College Republicans’ chairman, Bryan Griffin, and the Florida College Democrats’ president, Ben Cavataro, in Tuesday’s article “Locals react to House vote.”

Opinion

Florida teens should get life in prison

By Kathryn Beaty Ivey | Nov. 11, 2009

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.

Opinion

Teens knew what they were doing

By Abigail O’Connell | Nov. 11, 2009

I’m writing in regards to Tuesday’s editorial, “Cruel Courts.” While I agree that the judicial system should rethink how it tries teens for certain crimes, I was shocked that you defended the three teens charged as adults for lighting another on fire.

Opinion

Republicans aren’t actually conservative

By Frederic Spieler | Nov. 11, 2009

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?

Sports

Tebow’s path to win second bronze statue

Nov. 9, 2009

Shortly before last year's Academy Awards, I remember listening to an NPR broadcast that featured a panel of respected film critics discussing who would take home the top honors.

Opinion

‘Support the troops’ not just a phrase

Nov. 9, 2009

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. Support the troops.

Opinion

Cruel Courts: Florida judicial system should rethink how it tries teens

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 9, 2009

Three South Florida teenagers who stand accused of setting another teen on fire will be charged as adults, according to the Associated Press. Denver Jarvis and Matthew Bent, both 15, and Jesus Mendez, 16, were charged with one count each of attempted second-degree murder on Monday.

Opinion

WUFT-FM should rethink change in format

By Frank Bracco | Nov. 9, 2009

In a report compiled in June, consultants advising John Wright, the dean of UF's College of Journalism and Communications, suggested a format change to WUFT-FM would only lose $52,000 in membership dollars the first year ($26,000 per semester). Sadly, this semester's drive fell short. It represented a loss of more than $49,000 compared to fall 2008. That is a nearly a 40 percent reduction in pledge dollars; the number of pledges fell by 40 percent as well. The fall pledge drive brought in 29 percent less than the much weaker spring 2009 pledge drive.

Opinion

Republicans aren’t too conservative

By Jenna Kilic | Nov. 9, 2009

Matthew Christ needs to learn a thing or two about the political ideology of Americans before he writes another column. In his latest one, "Republicans should move away from fringe," he seems to be under the impression that this country leans moderate to left, and therefore the Republicans lost the presidential election. With every column of his I read, I find myself questioning his understanding of what a conservative is. He seems to think that we are all "Bible-thumping," overzealous patriots, and I for one resent his attempts to pigeonhole us.

Sports

Nobody wants the Heisman

Nov. 8, 2009

The Heisman Trophy can't be that

Opinion

Guest column captures patriotic spirit

By Jote Thompson | Nov. 8, 2009

Bravo to Daniel Rood for his thought-provoking column in Wednesday's Alligator, "Remember the 5th of November." Dan has certainly captured the pulse of the patriotic movement in our nation at this time. I gasp when I think of what could happen in the near future if our constitutional rights are not restored soon. The Bush/Obama/Federal Reserve takeover of our country has been swift and decisive. I believe the revolution to come will be decisive, as well.

Opinion

Goldstone Report includes firsthand evidence of war crimes

By Christine Schoellhorn | Nov. 8, 2009

Because good journalism always tells two sides of the story, and Friday's guest column by Yoav Mor was less than half of one side, allow me to clear up a few inaccuracies printed in the Alligator. This time, let's err on the side of fact rather than rhetoric.

Opinion

Library doesn’t need stricter rules

By Nicola Hill | Nov. 8, 2009

I wonder how Don Kershaw expects the libraries to regulate incoming users. Should everyone enter single-file while some hapless student worker swipes IDs and holds up the line writing down identifying information of those without a coveted Gator 1 Card?

Opinion

Republicans should move away from fringe

Nov. 8, 2009

Conservatives are like a group of elephants being led in circles by circus masters. Slowly, they sway back and forth, huffing and puffing, only to gain little ground after completing a circle.

Opinion

Waging War: Farmworkers' wages often forgotten

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 8, 2009

The closest that the average UF student comes to seeing the working conditions on an American farm is the occasional visit to FarmVille. (Well, for some unfortunate souls, this has become an all-too-frequent visit.)

Opinion

Blue-doggy style: Democrats shouldn’t bend on key issues

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 8, 2009

On Saturday night, the House of Representatives passed sweeping health care legislation in what President Barack Obama called "an historic moment for our nation and for American families."

Sports

Media overblows Spikes’ eye-gouging situation

Nov. 5, 2009

When Brandon Spikes was done explaining why he wanted to have his suspension for the Vanderbilt matchup lengthened from a half to the full game Wednesday, a smattering of reporters thanked him for his time.

Sports

Pick Column: Vanderbilt

Nov. 5, 2009

We here at the alligatorSports Brand Picks column know Florida has already punched its ticket to Atlanta, but this weekend will go a long way toward determining who it faces for the Southeastern Conference title.

Opinion

Goldstone report doesn’t tell full story

By Yoav Mor | Nov. 5, 2009

There has been recent commotion by supporters of the United Nations' Goldstone report spreading half-truths and misinformation by claiming that the report deals with "human rights."