Campus - The Independent Florida Alligator

Juliet Rapaport, UF health science junior (left) and Hannah Shiffner, UF history junior (right), grab some Starbucks drinks together outside of Library West on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. The pair said they went to high school together and met to catch up.

CAMPUS | UF ADMINISTRATION

UF will have full capacity classrooms and relaxed COVID-19 protocols during Summer B

By Makiya Seminera | 6:35am

Summer A and C classes will maintain many of the same COVID-19 policies seen during Spring and will serve as a transition period to in-person classes starting May 10. This time will allow staff and faculty to make necessary preparations for their classrooms and allow the UF community time to get vaccinated.

UF graduates stand and sing along to Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" during the 2021 graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 1, 2021. (Photo by Makiya Seminera)

CAMPUS | STUDENT LIFE

UF graduates attend first in-person commencement ceremonies since 2019

By Makiya Seminera and Isabella Douglas | 6:30am

From April 29 to May 3, around 10,000 students graduated in the Class of 2021 — the first class since December 2019 to have in-person graduation ceremonies. The following weekend, 3,000 graduates from spring, summer and fall of 2020 registered to return to UF’s campus to attend in-person commencement ceremonies.

CAMPUS | STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Here’s what you missed in Student Government this Spring

By Carolina Ilvento and Grace Stoler | 6:20am

Throughout Spring, Senate passed a total of 19 bills — 11 of which were resolutions, which by definition are an expression of the Senate’s sentiments on behalf of the Student Body. No bills enabling direct change were passed.

Photograph of Nicole Stedman. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Stedman)

CAMPUS | UF ADMINISTRATION

Nicole Stedman takes on new position as Dean of UF’s Graduate School

By Isabella Douglas | 6:10am

Nicole Stedman, soon-to-be associate provost and dean of UF’s Graduate School, will be responsible for understanding the current issues the Graduate School faces and administer communication between the university and graduate students. She was chosen for the role over two other finalists.

Alexander McCollum, 19, a Santa Fe Associate of Arts graduate stands through the sunroof of a white limousine with his hand holding a paper scroll raised in the air in celebration during Santa Fe College’s Drive-Thru Grad Walk ceremony on Thursday, April 29, 2021.

CAMPUS | SFC

Santa Fe College graduates attend drive-thru graduation by motorcycle, limousine and decorated cars

By Antonia LaRocca | May 7

During the event, graduates exited their vehicles to walk across the stage. They could remove their face masks for photos once on the stage.

Photo of Newell Drive with Century Tower and Marston Science Library visible in the view

CAMPUS | UF ADMINISTRATION

UF employees tried to deal with their health. They say their bosses stood in the way

By Corbin Bolies | Apr. 23

The Alligator found three cases of current and former UF employees with medical issues facing alleged resistance from their supervisors since 2019. These employees, who were not tenured, faced two propositions: medical leave or unemployment.

Two people hand out sticks of incense during the funeral of Bach Lien Tong Duong on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. Duong was a volunteer who taught Vietnamese at UF before an official position was created and played a significant role in creating the annual Pho fundraiser for the Vietnamese Student Organization before she passed away.

CAMPUS

Prominent UF and Gainesville figure Bach Lien Tong Duong dies at 72

By Michelle Holder and Juliana Ferrie | Apr. 23

She found herself halfway across the world from her home country in Gainesville where she left a lasting impact on the UF and Gainesville community through her unending service of education and teaching.

CAMPUS | STUDENT GOVERNMENT

SG passes resolution calling UF to commit to 100% renewable energy

By Carolina Ilvento | Apr. 21

In 2018, Gainesville committed to have all its energy provided entirely by renewable sources by 2045. The resolution follows four other Florida universities that have passed resolutions like this, such as FSU, UCF, USF and UWF.

Pictured is the Santa Fe College clock tower.

CAMPUS | SFC

Santa Fe College COVID-19 update: 15 students and employees tested positive last week

By Juliana Ferrie | Apr. 21

The college’s total number of reported positive cases since last March is now 747, according to a report provided by Santa Fe spokesperson Jay Anderson. There are 12,469 students enrolled at the college this semester.

Frank Daldine, 19, a UF mechanical engineering sophomore (left) receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, April 5, 2021. Monday was the first day COVID-19 vaccines were made widely available to UF students.

CAMPUS | STUDENT LIFE

UF students reflect on Spring and the future of Fall

By Abigail Hasebroock | Apr. 19

As UF’s Spring semester comes to a close, students reflect on how the pandemic allowed for the opportunity to gain new abilities and navigate through HyFlex classes. They also look ahead to Fall — with some feeling apprehensive about UF’s decision to return to full, normal operations and others eager to step foot back on campus.

Screenshot of the event poster on UF Accent Speakers Bureau Facebook page.

CAMPUS | STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy discusses brand success and controversies

By Manny Rea | Apr. 19

Portnoy, the last speaker in the UF Accent Speakers Bureau’s Spring lineup, joined moderator Ted Spiker, the journalism department chair, over Zoom to discuss his latest ventures.

Tenders, one UF’s campus cats, gazes upward as she sits on a table in the Tolbert Area.

CAMPUS | STUDENT LIFE

UF campus cat garners attention from students

By Abigail Hasebroock | Apr. 16

Tenders, the campus cat, reels UF students in with her loveable personality and undeniable charm. She is one of many cats who occupies UF’s campus and garners attention through online posts.

CAMPUS | STUDENT LIFE

What students should know about their UFL emails before graduating

By J.P. Oprison | Apr. 14

Graduating seniors’ email accounts expire one year after graduation. At that point, all data attached to the account will be deleted, Saira Hasnain, UFIT spokesperson and senior director, wrote in an email. Any student discounts registered with a UFL email will expire.

Edward Ke Sun, 30, a PhD candidate for architectural history, theory and criticism at UF, colors a sign that reads “UF Don’t Tear Down Maguire & UVS Village” on Friday, April 9, 2021. Sun protesting to raise awareness about UF’s plan to demolish three out of the five graduate student housing complexes in Gainesville.

CAMPUS | STUDENT LIFE

Fuchs promises replacement graduate living, students demand more information

By Carolina Ilvento | Apr. 14

Fuchs said both Maguire Village and University Village South need to be demolished due to irreparable damage in the buildings, and the campus plans are likely to continue. He hopes to replace those buildings with an “equal number of apartment units.”

CAMPUS | SFC

Santa Fe College COVID-19 update: 13 students reported testing positive in the last two weeks

By Juliana Ferrie | Apr. 14

The college’s total number of reported positive cases since last March has now reached 732, according to reports provided by Santa Fe spokesperson Jay Anderson. There are 12,469 students enrolled this semester.

CAMPUS | STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy to be next Accent speaker

By Meghan McGlone and Carolina Ilvento | Apr. 12

Portnoy began Barstool Sports in 2003 as a free newspaper in Boston. Now, the brand produces a wide range of multimedia, including blogs, podcasts and social media posts. In 2020, it was worth $450 million.

CAMPUS | STUDENT LIFE

Muslim UF students balance studies and spirituality during Ramadan

By Sofia Echeverry | Apr. 12

Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar, in which every month begins with a new moon. Muslims who observe Ramadan fast from dawn to sunset every day of the month, eating one meal before dawn and another after sunset.

CAMPUS | STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Guy Fieri talks food and future at virtual event for UF students

By Carolina Ilvento | Apr. 12

Accent Speakers Bureau, a UF Student Government agency funded by student fees, hosted the renowned chef, restaurateur, author and TV host Guy Fieri to speak to students at a free, virtual event.

A pedestrian jaywalks across West University Avenue on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021.

CAMPUS | STUDENT LIFE

“It definitely changed my outlook on life”: The lasting impact of crashes on families and victims

By Abigail Hasebroock and Juliana Ferrie | Apr. 9

This year, 24 pedestrian crashes have already occurred in Alachua County — three of which were fatal, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles crash dashboard. These incidents uproot the lives of victims, their families and leave lasting impacts on the Gainesville community.

CAMPUS | STUDENT LIFE

Graduate students worry about UF’s plans to demolish 40% of graduate housing

By Carolina Ilvento | Apr. 2

The campus housing plan prioritizes undergraduate housing by proposing 38% of undergraduate beds to be renovated or replaced with new ones in the next decade. Meanwhile, graduate housing capacity will be cut by more than a third with no anticipated plans of construction of new buildings.