opinion - The Independent Florida Alligator

Opinion

Government must facilitate research on marijuana before crafting policies

Jan. 25, 2018

Marijuana wasn’t always prohibited. Due to the 1910 Mexican Revolution, many Mexican refugees migrated to the U.S. With an influx of immigrants of a different culture came the rise of xenophobia along the Mexico-U.S. border. According to Eric Schlosser, author of the article “Reefer Madness,” Texas police officers reported marijuana incited “a lust for blood” in Mexicans who used the drug that gave them “superhuman strength.” To further stir fear, rumors began to spread that Mexicans were giving this “killer weed” to American children.

Former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar is serving 60 years in jail on child pornography charges. He's also currently being sentenced on multiple counts of criminal sexual misconduct.

Sports

Burn it all down: The case against Lou Anna Simon and Michigan State athletics

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 23, 2018

For Larry Nassar, a former doctor for Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics, there is no punishment cruel enough.

Opinion

Another senseless murder happened Tuesday. But you probably don’t care.

Jan. 23, 2018

You’re going to read the story and perhaps feel a pang of sadness. You’ll read the names — maybe even get to know their families for a second.

Opinion

Ways to Overcome Loneliness

Jan. 23, 2018

There is a health crisis in Britain. In response, British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced the creation of a new position in the British government: Minister of Loneliness.

Opinion

We have the power to redefine age on our own terms

Jan. 23, 2018

On Sunday, actress Nicole Kidman gave a poignant acceptance speech at the Screen Actors Guild Awards about the crumbling age barriers of Hollywood. “How wonderful it is that our careers can go beyond 40 years old. . . twenty years ago, we were pretty washed up by this stage in our lives,” the 50-year-old said.

Opinion

Letter to the Editor from two SG senators supporting Gators Matter, Period.

Jan. 23, 2018

Last week, the Budget and Appropriations Committee met to discuss the code revision for the Gators Matter, Period initiative, and did not vote in favor of the code revision to allow student organizations to purchase menstrual hygiene products for distribution using the Activity and Service Fees. However, the decision made by the Budget and Appropriations Committee does not reflect Student Government’s stance on the Gators Matter, Period. initiative. Rather, Student Government stands firm in their support for the Gators Matter, Period. initiative, and is currently working to fund this project through Facilities Services and GatorWell.

Opinion

Letter to the editor from SG Supervisor of Elections

Jan. 22, 2018

Hello Gators! My name is Erica Baker, and I am the supervisor of elections for Student Government. I am writing to you to discuss the importance of SG Elections. SG impacts the campus in a number of ways, through their ability to advocate on behalf of the Student Body at UF and in the state and federal government.

Florida's gymnastics team has reached the Super Six 11 times since 2006.

Sports

UF gymnastics is the model sport at Florida: Competitive. Compassionate. Fun.

By Ethan Bauer | Jan. 21, 2018

All-American gymnast Alex McMurtry celebrated after her team lost a competitive match to LSU on the evening of Jan. 12. Or, at the very least, she didn’t care at all about the loss.

Opinion

Poor leadership does not equal mental health problems

Jan. 21, 2018

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump underwent a four-hour examination of physical and cognitive health. As of late, some were concerned about Trump’s erratic speech patterns, exhibited narcissism, often poor judgment and rash decision making. He was deemed healthy, passing the cognitive test — the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, widely used to test for early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia — with a reportedly perfect score. This test is fairly high in validity but is not used to assess psychiatric disorders such as narcissistic personality disorder, anxiety or depression.

Opinion

The US underestimates the power of nuclear weapons

Jan. 21, 2018

On Jan. 13, Hawaii experienced 38 minutes of fear from a supposed incoming ballistic missile attack when a state employee clicked the wrong item from a drop-down menu. One would think the U.S. government would handle nuclear prevention programs with the same degree of sophistication that makes these weapons possible. Instead, the warning for the inescapable likelihood of thousands of deaths and the beginning of nuclear war was determined by the same interface that students use to save their homework.

Opinion

Encouraging children to explore art, music and poetry

Jan. 21, 2018

Does anyone else remember those little “karate belts” we tied to the ends of our recorders in music class? Perhaps a tiny white ribbon for a successful rendition of “Hot Cross Buns,” or a bead hung on a black string for the advanced version of “Ode to Joy?”

Opinion

Doctors shouldn’t deny treatment based on religion

Jan. 21, 2018

News headlines last week were dominated by the government shutdown and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program deals. These big ticket items, as important as they are, have taken away focus from another just as infuriating issue in President Donald Trump’s administration.

Opinion

Serena Williams’ story highlights disparities in American health care system

Jan. 18, 2018

A mother has just given birth to a baby. She recognizes the signs of a blood clot. She tells her doctors and nurses, only for them to brush her concerns aside. When she finally does get the tests and medications she needed, they find she did have a blood clot and could have died if she had not advocated for herself.

Opinion

Salvaging Gainesville’s local music scene

Jan. 18, 2018

For a town of its size and seemingly small cultural relevance, Gainesville actually has quite the thriving music scene, far outfighting its weight class. Nearly every night, a stroll down University Avenue into the center of town will offer you some sort of live music options from which to choose. For what might appear to be a sleepy college town from afar, Gainesville occupies a unique position in the musical environment — it has a humming live music scene filled with a spectrum of independent artists, but it also has the might of UF to bring in much larger performers every once in a while. There truly is something to satisfy each musical taste, and it is something that sets Gainesville apart from many other towns comparable in stature.

Opinion

Darts & Laurels: Jan. 18, 2017

Jan. 18, 2018

You remain snuggled up in your bed as your phone alarm blares next to you. This is the third time you’ve hit the snooze button this morning, but, to be frank, you’d rather die than brace the frigid 23-degree weather waiting for you outside.

New Orleans Saints third-string quarterback Taysom Hill nearly blocked a punt in Sunday's divisional round playoff game, prompting praise from Fox broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.

Sports

Column: Let’s talk about race in NFL broadcasting

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 16, 2018

In games that I have no emotional stake in, I root for chaos. And punts — both blocked and returned — provide a good chance of something ridiculous happening.

Opinion

Congress needs to act on DACA

Jan. 16, 2018

Hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants continue to live in fear of impending deportation as Congress attempts to finalize their fate with a legislative solution.

Opinion

We should learn from Logan Paul’s transgression

Jan. 16, 2018

Whatever Logan Paul’s initial thoughts were when he saw a dead person hanging in Japan’s Aokigahara “suicide forest” and whatever his justifications were for making a dead body the subject of a YouTube video, I doubt they were malodorous.

Opinion

Let’s continue to fight for our abortion rights on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Jan. 16, 2018

Anti-abortion folks never cease to amaze in the tactics they use to prevent access to this entirely lawful procedure. From protesters harassing women and workers at abortion clinics, to state-sponsored fake medical centers that attempt to trick and shame women out of abortions, our access is also obstructed by laws leading to too few abortion clinics in our state – resulting in women traveling long distances and taking off multiple days of work – and abortions themselves costing hundreds of dollars. To make access to abortion a reality for all women, we need free abortion on demand. To make that a reality, women must fight back.

Opinion

We are trapped in comment culture

Jan. 16, 2018

Why do you comment?