A new column is posted each Wednesday at UCF Today. The columns are the opinions of the writers, who serve on the UCF Forum panel of faculty members, staffers and students for a year.
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Columns from 2017
Facing Increasingly Frequent Storms of Wind, Rain, Fire – and Bullets, Lisa Roney
Helping Rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane has Changed Residents – and Me, Christal Peterson
The Search for the Meaning of Life May be as Important as Finding It, Barbara Thompson
Should I Stay or Should I Go? A Disaster Researcher's Personal Dilemma, Fernando Rivera
The Lost Wonder of Being Outside, Running Free and Exploring, Kimberly Nassoiy
I Have Begun to Wonder What is Important to Me as I Consider a Legacy, Adam Meyer
No Longer Burdened as The Keeper of Things, Joan McCain
Veterans at University Offer Different Perspectives for Students, Faculty, Jim Clark
The Magic of America: a Roller Coaster of Opportunities, Manoj Chopra
UCF Forum Opinion Series to begin 6th Year with New Columnists, Gene Kruckemyer
Connecting to the Natural World is Important to Our Personal Development, Nathan Vink
Yes, You Can Do More Than 1 Thing at a Time Successfully, Jim Smith
I Hope This Week’s Graduates Acquired What I Did at College: Lifelong Friendships, Meg K. Scharf
Everyone Can Enjoy Reading—If Given the Right Book, Emma Gisclair
Learning From a Complex Communications Experiment in My Own Home, Carolyn Massiah
There Will Come a Time When You’ll Have to Leave Something Behind, Yolanda Hood
The World is Complex – That's Why We Need All of Us, Bruce Janz
Leadership is About Developing 1 Voice and 1 Movement, Germayne Graham
Seeking Direction in Your Life? Outdoor Education May Point the Way, Nathan Vink
Is it Time to Level the Playing Field for College Athletes?, Ali P. Gordon
Why Can't You Just Be On Time?, Jim Smith
No, There is No Ghost in the Campus Library Stacks, Meg K. Scharf
Allow the Waves to do Their Work, Carolyn Massiah
Maybe Colleges Should Take a Lesson from Zoos, Michael Preston
There's More Than $ Involved When it Comes to Understanding Costs of Fracking, Ali P. Gordon
Much of My Work Ethic, Time Management I Have Learned Through Parenting, Germayne Graham
The Key to Discovery: Pose the Right Questions, Bruce Janz
The Earth Does Not Need Us, but We Most Certainly Need a Healthy Planet, Nathan Vink
Why Can't Everyone RSVP Responsibly?, Jim Smith
With a Little Help From My Friends..., Meg K. Scharf
I Still Love Watching Films on Big Screen – Despite Trend To Small Screens, Amanda Osorio
It's Time to Spring Clean Your Closets — and Personal Relationships, Carolyn Massiah
Fake News? Know the Source, Question Motivation Behind Stories, Gerrod Lambrecht
In These Troubled Times of Public Discourse, is There Still a Place for Dialogue?, Bruce Janz
Never Underestimate the Power of Forgiveness, Germayne Graham
Basketball's On-the-Court Situations, Strategies Often Extend to Workplace, Ali P. Gordon
Now More Than Ever We Need to Protect Our Public Lands, Nathan Vink
The Advice I Follow: ‘Conquer by Continuing’, Jim Smith
My New Goal: Follow Ben Franklin's Rule to Set Aside 1 Hour a Day to Learn, Meg K. Scharf
My TV Wish List for Future: Latin-Culture Network but with English Dialogue, Amanda Osorio
Relationships That Have Roots Are the Anchors in Our Lives, Carolyn Massiah
2016 Was a Transformative Year for UCF, Gerrod Lambrecht
Columns from 2016
We'll All Be Better Off If We Ask Better Questions in 2017, Bruce Janz
Help Those Who Are Trying to Overcome a Loss During Holidays, Germayne Graham
Homeschooled Students Bring Own Set of Skills to University Campuses, Ali P. Gordon
Help is Here if You Are Experiencing the 'Fear of Missing Out', Nathan Vink
Traffic Obstacles Often Reflect Area's Growth – So I Try To Face Them With a Smile, Jim Smith
Do We Need to Use (and Discard) So Many Plastic Bags Each Year?, Meg K. Scharf
Let's Find a Way to Make the Dialogue Work, Bruce Janz
Flight Emergency Advice Works Just as Well Back on the Ground, Carolyn Massiah
Are You Ready for Some Football – I Mean an Election?, Gerrod Lambrecht
Preparation is the Key to Facing Whatever May Come Your Way, Michael Preston
Try Leaving Your Comfort Zone — You Might Learn Something About Yourself, Bruce Janz
Even in a Crowd, Protest is a Personal Journey, Germayne Graham
Our Future Water Supply Needs Your Help Now, Nathan Vink
What Might Have Happened If I Followed That Dream?, Jim Smith
Checking Out Things at the Library – Including These Myths, Meg K. Scharf
The Only Way I Was Going to 'Veganize' My Life Was to Immerse Myself, Amanda Osorio
We All Should Strive To Be the Palm in the Storm, Carolyn Massiah
Positive Effects Can Result From Both a Cordial Welcome – and Even Adversity, Gerrod Lambrecht
We Must Learn to Tell Narratives That Make Us Better – Not Diminish Us, Bruce Janz
Merging is More Than a Traffic Term, Germayne Graham
Building a Pathway to Engineering for Our Daughters – Brick by Brick, Ali P. Gordon
UCF Forum's New Opinion Columnists to Begin Wednesday, Gene Kruckemyer
What if we stopped speaking negatively and instead used words of kindness?, Elizabeth Santiago
The Only Time You Truly Can Have Everything is on a Bagel, Michael Preston
What Holds Us Back From Achieving a Better Society?, Barry Mauer
The Sacrifices We Parents Make – Even When We Don't Understand Why, Yolanda Hood
University Theatres Should Open People's Eyes to New Ideas, Heather Gibson
Change is Constant – So You Better Learn to Adapt, Traci Evison
Dear Daughter, In Face of Tragedy Try to Keep Your Spirit Intact, Leandra Preston-Sidler
How Did We Wind Up in Such an Unlikely Universe?, Michael Bass
An Updated Variation on Consumer Shopping – And I Like it, William Steiger
New Florida Predator Needs to be Stopped Now Before Problem Worsens, Elizabeth Santiago
Lessons From a Garbage Dump: How to Say 'No', Michael Preston
If Our Gatekeepers Can't Function Properly, We Are Doomed, Barry Mauer
UCF Forum: My Addiction to All Things Colorful, Crafty, Stationery and Office Supply, Yolanda Hood
Exposure to the Arts at Young Age Fosters Creativity in Children, Heather Gibson
He Used the Internet - I Used the Encyclopedia, Rebekah McCloud
Don't Let Clutter of Extraneous Thoughts Get in Your Way, Traci Evison
Do we really need more 'stuff'?, Michael Bass
Political Ads Might Not Change Your Vote- But They May Get You to the Polls, William Steiger
Tapping Into the Issue of Phone Privacy, Elizabeth Santiago
March Madness Lesson: How 'And One' Can Boost Your Career, Michael Preston
Censorship Is Not All Bad, Barry Jason Mauer
We All Have the Right to Read What We Want, Yolanda Hood
My Newfound Respect for the Hard Work Performers do Before Stepping on Stage, Heather Gibson
Our Youth Is to Keep or Surrender As We Choose, Rich Sloane
Volunteering May Teach You Something About Yourself, Traci Evison
Don't be Afraid of Failure, Michael Bass
Online Advertising: Overwhelmed or Overjoyed?, William Steiger
Challenge Yourself to Learn More Than is Being Taught, Elizabeth Santiago
Our Best Hope in a World Filled With Emergencies? Education, Barry Jason Mauer
If You Want to Be On Time, Make Sure You End On Time, Michael Preston
Columns from 2015
This Year Show Compassion – for Others and Yourself, Yolanda Hood
The Good, the Bad and the Quintessential Christmas Music, Heather Gibson
A Holiday Greeting That Applies to Everyone, Terri Susan Fine
Generosity Creates Its Own Ripple Effect, Traci Evison
Toward a More Scientifically Literate Public, Michael Bass
More Ethics Training in Classroom Will Benefit Workplace Behaviors Later, William Steiger