A new column is posted each Wednesday at UCF Today and then broadcast between 7:50 and 8 a.m. Sunday on WUCF-FM (89.9). 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 2021
Our Parents are Cooler Than Us, Narvin Chhay
How Becoming a Professional Star Wars Sandtrooper Changed My Life, Peter W. Telep
3 Lessons I Learned On the Way to Finding Passion Again in My Career, Matthew Scott
The Impact of Innovation in the New Era of Space Exploration, Seetha Raghavan
Benefits of Practicing Radical Gratitude, Jacquline Joe
Presidential Rankings are a Game — not History, David Head
Coffee in the Age of COVID, David Poissant
It’s Time for Daunte Culpepper to Come Home, Marc Daniels
The Pandemic Ruined My Social Skills, Ashley C. Turner
Learning as a Student in the Pandemic, Narvin Chhay
An Ode to the RA, Bree Watson
The Courage to do the Right Thing, Matthew Scott
Planning for Imperfection in a World Often Obsessed with Perfection, Seetha Raghavan
Recognizing the Therapeutic Value of Baking During the Pandemic, Camille Dolan
Richie Grant’s Journey Is 1 to Salute, Marc Daniels
Spain Deserves More Credit for American Independence, David Head
Getting to the Place Where Body Size Doesn’t Matter, Richelle Joe
Everything in This Life is Connected, Narvin Chhay
In Defense of Doing Nothing, Bree Watson
Your Most Important Question Today May Be: Who Are You?, Matthew Scott
When Flying is Truly Out of This World, Seetha Raghavan
I Wish We Had Learned Better From Our Early Response to HIV, Richelle Joe
Better Parenting Through Western Civ, David Head
Industry Adjunct Faculty: The X Factor, C. Keith K. Harrison
Change Brings A New Era to UCF, Marc Daniels
Being Interested is Interesting, Ashley Colquhoun
As Second-Generation Americans, We Aren’t as Different from Our Parents as We May Think, Narvin Chhay
Learning to Parent in the Pandemic, Bree Watson
Overcoming Fear, Matthew Scott
Shattered Glass Ceilings that Pave the Way to Inspiration, Seetha Raghavan
In Celebration of Aunts, J. Richelle Joe
Now is Right Time to Heed Washington’s 1st Inaugural Address — a Call to Unity, David Head
I Turned My Love for Hip-hop into My Dream Job, C. Keith K. Harrison
Columns from 2020
More than a Quarterback, Marc Daniels
The Cost of Procrastination Is the Life You Could Have Lived, Ashley Turner
Not Everything in Today’s Society Needs to be a Competition, Narvin Chhay
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Paw Patrol, Bree Watson
Remember Love, Matthew Scott
The Benefits of Discovery Through International Collaboration, Seetha Raghavan
Solving the ‘Mystery’ of Cranberry Sauce at Thanksgiving, a Holiday for All Americans, Maritza Martinez
Tell the Truth and Make Space for Hope, Richelle Joe
The Art and Science of Preparing Today’s Students for the Real World, Keith Harrison
We Must Be Vigilant to Preserve Proper Respect for Our Veterans, David Head
The Irresistible Draw of Sports, Marc Daniels
“I Am Speaking!”, Ashley Colquhoun
We Need to Make Today the New Tomorrow, Narvin Chhay
Even Virtual Meetings Can Have Powerful Lessons, Brenda Thompson
If You Don’t Take a Risk, You’ll Never Know Victory or Defeat, Peter W. Telep
Are We As Great If Our Nation Is Built On Hate?, Syretta Spears
Each Generation Must Act as a Cultural Bridge to the Next, Chung Park
Finding a Sense of Belonging in an Orlando Community, Katie Philp
The Times They ARE a-Changing!, Roy Lenfest
Reality of My Daughter’s Home Schooling During Pandemic Has Begun to Sink In, Lillian Caraballo
Pets Are Not People, Jeff Kunerth
If 2020 Hasn’t Turned Out the Way You Planned – You’re Not Alone, Emma Gisclair
A Perspective on Our Most Valuable Natural Resource, Brenda Thompson
Some Don’t Realize What a Profound Gift of Time This Pandemic Is, Peter W. Telep
Each Human Being is Precious, Syretta Spears
Green Suggestions to Benefit Us All on Campus, Chung Park
A Long Walk and the Kindness of Strangers, Katherine Philp
What Makes You Think Your Rights Are More Important Than My Rights?, Roy Lenfest
The World is Changing — and I’m Ready to Evolve With It, Lillian Caraballo
Life Lessons From Baking My Own Bread, Emma Gisclair
I’m in Paris Today Via an Online Course…Bonjour Mes Amis!, Brenda Thompson
Now More Than Ever We Need to be Vigilant for Symptoms of Distress, Syretta Spears
Regaining Our Innocence, Chung Park
The Virus is Not Our Enemy Plotting Against Us, Katie Philp
Seeking Quiet Solace Amid a Pandemic, Michele Gill
‘Old’ in the Age of Coronavirus, Jeff Kunerth
Somehow, Amid the Coronavirus Chaos There Can Be Peace, Lillian Caraballo
Surviving the Ravages of COVID-19, Brenda Thompson
The Powerful Force of Nostalgia, Peter W. Telep
Misconception About Childless Adults Can Be Misguided, Syretta Spears
Friendship, Forgiveness and Fences: Healing a Past Hurt, Camille Dolan
Not All Healing is Physical – Recognizing and Overcoming Grief, Katie Philp
All That Glitters – Could Be Unhealthy, Roy Lenfest
Maybe it was Dumb Luck – Or Maybe it was Something Else, Jeff Kunerth
Doctor Killed by Coronavirus Will Long be Revered for Trying to Protect Others, Lillian Caraballo
The Main Reason People Don’t Chase Their Dream of Writing, Emma Gisclair
To Win at Sports, You’ve Got to Get in the Game – and Don’t Give Up, Brenda Thompson
The Agony of Defeat, Peter W. Telep
Why Are Adults Without Children Sometimes Made to Feel Incomplete?, Syretta Spears
There is Power Inherent in Working with Colleagues from Different Disciplines, Chung Park
As We Enter 2020, Let’s be the Change Our Children Need, Katherine Philp
Columns from 2019
Why I Believe in the Power of Positivity, Roy Lenfest
Why Do I Teach Journalism? Because it is More Important Now Than Ever, Jeff Kunerth
Go Ahead — It’s OK to Allow Yourself to be Silly Sometimes, Lillian Caraballo
Yes, I Waited 6 Hours in Line for a New Theme Park Ride, Emma Gisclair
Who, Me? A Philanthropist?, Brenda S. Thompson
On Becoming a Mom in Central Florida, Katie Philp
From My First-hand Experience, Unhealthy Sugar Habit is Hard to Break, Syretta Spears
Access to Awe, Wonderment and Beauty are Basic Necessities, Chung Park
The Mountains Are Not IN the Way—They ARE the Way, Peter Telep
Texting Drivers, Yes You! — Put Down Your Phones and Pay Attention, Roy Lenfest
The Evolution of an ‘Office Park’ to a Campus with Vitality, Jeff Kunerth
A New Generation That Understands Its Power and Role in the World, Lillian Caraballo
In Defense of Fan Fiction, Emma Gisclair
I’m About to Graduate – But I’ll Never Stop Learning, Nicole Wills
Dreaming About the Transformative Power of International Service-Learning, Alvin Wang
I’ve Learned Firsthand the Difficulties of Coping with Mental-Health Issues, Katherine Torres