Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Endless options for students looking to get involved

By COLLEEN SHEA | Aug. 28, 2007

UF is bursting at the seams with new opportunities for every type of student. There is a colorful cornucopia of clubs to join, an endless sea of parties to crash, a large number of athletic-based activities to avoid and a ginormous stack of coupons to treasure - all of which are great if you are a fearless person who isn?t afraid to fall flat on your face diving for a Frisbee.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Make sure you earn your education — you paid for it

By JESSICA MILLER | Aug. 28, 2007

BEducation is one of the few things a person is willing to pay for and not get,C William Lowe Bryan once said.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Greeks must accept some stereotypes

Aug. 27, 2007

I heard through the Greekvine that the Greek community needs a makeover. Apparently some silly television show filled with sex and sex and beer - oh my! - bruised their peach-like reputation. I put together some slogans for them. Here's my top sorority slogan: "To-ga, to-ga, to-gather under the bonds of sisterhood is a wonderful idea." It says, "We're a little formal, but we're here for the party, too." They can thank me later.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Greek life has more ups than downs

By ANDREW MEYER | Aug. 27, 2007

They meander across campus, maps held high in front of their faces, barely knowing where they are going in the next four minutes - let alone the next four years. Yes, UF's newest batch of fresh-faced, doe-eyed freshmen is here, and they are, for the most part, clueless.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Marching band worth the weight

By Bruce Matza | Aug. 27, 2007

I am writing in response to Monday's article, "UF band marches on." I can relate to Scarlet Basler's frustrations in being assigned to play a sousaphone after years at the oboe. I joined the Gator Band in 1961 having played trumpet and baritone in high school, only to find all of those positions filled. I was asked to join the crew of the Big Bass Drum, a six-foot drum that sat on a large rolled carriage.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Get Registered

By EDITORIAL BOARD | Aug. 27, 2007

Finally, students can register to vote on campus.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

We Approve

By EDITORIAL BOARD | Aug. 27, 2007

Hallelujah!

OPINION | COLUMNS

Florida: Screwing up elections since 2000

By Gordon van Owen | Aug. 26, 2007

After spending the summer interning in Washington D.C., I?ve learned that politics are about as useful as hanging chads, and congressional interns are more stuck up than their do-nothing bosses on Capitol Hill.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Corn based ethanol not cure-all for gasoline, energy woes

By Jesse Butler | Aug. 26, 2007

As we?ve all realized, perhaps too late, summer is ending, and the summer driving season is coming to a complete stop. Considering the price of gas, that?s probably a good thing. But long after our collective finances have recovered from the petrol outlays of summer 2007, we?ll be hearing about gas and more energy issues from a whole host of Democratic and Republican presidential candidates.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Students expect hard work from senators

By the Editorial Board | Aug. 26, 2007

Our Student Senate is finally getting back to work. We can?t blame them for taking it easy over the break. It was summer, after all, and nothing is more tempting than a cool pool and an icy drink. We wouldn?t want to be cooped up in the Reitz Union while all our friends played Frisbee on the beach.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Call for columnists

By the Editorial Board | Aug. 26, 2007

Ah, the Alligator columnist. Esteemed in the eyes of your peers. Lauded on the streets. Free beer at all the best bars. All this could be yours.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels

By EDITORIAL BOARD | Aug. 23, 2007

New year, new you, new things for the Alligator editorial board to complain about.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Back up computer data to save money, sanity

By SEAN O'KEY | Aug. 23, 2007

Every 15 seconds, a hard drive crashes. This summer, I was fortunate enough to experience it firsthand. Twice.

OPINION | COLUMNS

No denying rankings matter

By Danny Beaulieu | Aug. 23, 2007

Recently, U.S. News and World Report ranked UF as the 17th best public university in the country. Last year, UF was ranked No. 13 by the report, and UF President Bernie Machen was spearheading an aggressive campaign to get UF into the Top 10. Machen's obsession with the rankings was almost nauseating. Now Machen says, "The reality is, our change in the academic rankings is insignificant."

OPINION | COLUMNS

New Alligator Web site full of goodies

By LYNDSEY LEWIS | Aug. 22, 2007

Here at the Alligator, we love to yak about how old our newspaper is.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Rankings Game

By EDITORIAL BOARD | Aug. 22, 2007

As the fall semester begins and visions of football dance in your head, you can give yourself a pat on the back for getting into the No. 17 public university in the country, according to the U.S News and World Report.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Lawsuit makes illegal downloading not as sweet as it sounds

Aug. 22, 2007

Warning - this column may contain absurd, random song lyrics. You may be under investigation for illegally downloading music on campus. And wait, you may be one of the students or personnel the Recording Industry Association of America plans to serve with a lawsuit. "I don?t want to lose your love tonight," but UF is one of 58 universities nationwide receiving these pre-litigation letters from the RIAA as a part of its "education and deterrence campaign." Mo? illegal downloading, mo? problems.