University Police (UP) trained and enlisted the first and only therapy K-9 on campus and in Hillsborough County on Feb. 15. Bailey, a 1-year-old boxer, is on call for students who need comfort after being the victim of a crime or during welfare checks. USF and Hillsborough County should invest […]
Opinion
OPINION: ‘Anti-mob’ bill is excessive, ignores actual injustices
A protest took place in downtown Tampa on Sunday afternoon in response to the “Combating Violence, Disorder and Looting, and Law Enforcement Protection Act,” which intends to expand laws against those who act violently toward police officers and was announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis in September 2020. The “anti-mob legislation,” […]
OPINION: Upcoming events should be reconsidered after Gasparilla cancellation
Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and EventFest announced Tuesday the cancellation of the annual Tampa tradition Gasparilla. The parade and ensuing events usually attract over 300,000 participants from Tampa and neighboring cities and states. Canceling Gasparilla may have prevented a possible spike in COVID-19 cases in our community, potentially saving […]
OPINION: Legislation to prevent COVID-19 victims from suing nursing homes needs to go
Legislation to prevent those affected by COVID-19 from suing negligent businesses like nursing homes and health care providers is being pushed through the Florida Congress to ensure victims and their families never get justice for the suffering they have endured. The bill (PCB HHS 21-01) was introduced Feb. 10 to […]
OPINION: Florida will benefit from Biden’s calls for federal gun reform
On the three-year anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) High School shooting in Parkland, President Joe Biden called on Congress to enact long-awaited gun law reform. The proposed reforms abide by some of the surviving MSD students’ wishes, including making background checks for gun buyers mandatory and banning assault […]
OPINION: Community farms, gardens should be invested in for all of Tampa
In downtown Tampa, a new urban farm has blossomed from the efforts of three local farmers and the Tampa Housing Authority, turning what was once two acres of concrete into an abundant supply of nutritious foods. Meacham Urban Farm is located in a mixed-income housing development called the Encore District […]
OPINION: Schedule Planner should be brought back to streamline registration process
The Office of the Registrar released a universitywide email to USF students Feb. 2 that included the tentative summer schedule. The email announced that the Schedule Planner would no longer be available for class and schedule selection for future terms. Even though the decision was already made, the Schedule Planner […]
OPINION: American school curriculums need to include Black history beyond Black History Month
Black History Month, occurring every February in the U.S., highlights iconic Black figures who have influenced America and the world, ranging from Harriet Tubman, to Frederick Douglass, to Martin Luther King Jr. and Marsha P. Johnson. While many honor their legacy during the month of February, these figures deserve to […]
OPINION: Rerouting students to St. Pete campus could be ineffective
USF administration announced Jan. 27 that it will be rerouting incoming students who applied after Jan. 6 to the St. Pete campus, if their major is applicable, in an attempt to increase enrollment at the campus. These students will have to attend the St. Pete campus for at least one […]
OPINION: Biden helps public health by preventing America’s break from WHO
An executive order to prevent the U.S. from leaving the World Health Organization (WHO) was signed by President Joe Biden two days after the Jan. 20 inauguration. The decree follows an attempt by former President Donald Trump to dissociate the U.S. with the WHO on July 7. Trump aimed to […]