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Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Book lovers and the Amazon expansion

Feb. 8, 2016

As an English major, it goes without saying that books are a huge part of my life. They pile up on any and every flat surface in my apartment, slowly accumulating and overtaking my space. With my meager Ikea bookshelf packed to the brim, I’ve started using bedside tables, coffee tables, dressers and desks in an effort to contain them. I roll my eyes at anyone who dares suggest I buy a Kindle and wring my hands when my mother mentions our family history of hoarding. There are books worn and dog-eared from frequent readings, books I’ve only half-read, books I promise myself I’ll read one day (hello, “Infinite Jest”), and books that, let’s be honest, are just there for aesthetic purposes.

Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Rubio's policies are not truly conservative

Feb. 8, 2016

As the Republican contention for who will win the party’s primary boils down to just nine candidates — only seven being worthy enough for Sunday night’s stage — a favorite and hopeful among Republican voters is Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Particularly popular among Republican youth, Rubio has gained clout in staying relevant to voters despite having to contend with the show-stealing bravado of the party’s two frontrunners, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and the braggart billionaire Donald J. Trump, placing third in the Iowa caucus just behind “The Donald” himself.

Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: Florida's death penalty is shameful

Feb. 8, 2016

Judge, jury and executioner: Although this idiom is meant to refer to someone having ultimate power and authority over one’s fate, the legal system of the U.S. is designed in such a way that these three functions are meant to remain relatively distinct and act with a measure of independence from one another. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court found two of these roles to be a little too close for its liking in the case of Hurst v. Florida.

Candidates

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Meet the Candidates: Executive Ticket Profiles

By Melissa Gomez | Feb. 7, 2016

Access Party

Kishan Patel is a 20-year-old UF industrial and systems engineering sophomore running for Student Body treasurer with Impact Party.Patel is currently a sophomore senator. He serves as the Indian Student Association treasurer and as a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee in SG. He was a member of GatoRaas Dance Team and is currently a resident assistant in Cypress Hall. He was also the Access Party treasurer.Patel said he decided to run with Impact because he said Access Party was unable to compromise in Senate.“I’m really moving toward tangible change for the students,” he said. “The Impact Party is all about tangible change.”

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Kishan Patel - Impact Party Student Body treasurer candidate

By Melissa Gomez | Feb. 7, 2016

Kishan Patel put his passion for dancing on pause to help student organizations get funding from Student Government.

Lillian Rozsa is a 20-year-old UF political science and women’s studies sophomore running for Student Body treasurer with Access Party.Rozsa currently serves as a senator for District D. She serves as the current vice president of the Women’s Student Association and is the president and founder of the UF chapter of HeForShe. Rozsa has also served on the Transportation and Fee Committee.She said she wants to remain accessible to students trying to start student organizations.“I really understand what it takes to be part of a student organization and to really start from the bottom up in terms of financials with student organizations,” she said. “I really think that I’m someone that students can go to if they have fee complaints or go to for any sort of question they may have.”

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Lillian Rozsa - Access Party Student Body treasurer candidate

By Melissa Gomez | Feb. 7, 2016

The first time Lillian Rozsa didn’t exercise her right to vote was when she came to UF. As a freshman, she didn’t want to vote for the single-party system in Senate, which was run by Swamp Party.

Brendon “BJ” Jonassaint is a 21-year-old UF health science junior running for Student Body vice president with Impact Party.Jonassaint is currently a Cabinet liaison for UF Student Senate. He was also a member of the Florida Cicerones, a Preview staffer, a Preview coordinator and a J. Wayne Reitz Scholar. He is also a member of the Black Student Union.Jonassaint said he especially hopes to improve student life.“I think I should be elected because of my passion for the university and my passion for helping students move forward, helping students out in general,” he said.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Brendon "BJ" Jonassaint - Impact Party Student Body vice presidential candidate

By Melissa Gomez | Feb. 7, 2016

Brendon “BJ” Jonassaint was born in UF Health Shands Hospital. He said he’s had UF spirit running through his blood since he was born.

Hammaad Saber is a 22-year-old UF industrial and systems engineering senior running for Student Body vice president with Access Party.Saber currently serves as a senator for the College of Engineering. He served on the Rules and Ethics Committee, was an Innovation Academy ambassador and has interned as a consultant analyst for The Walt Disney Co. Saber was a First Year Florida peer leader and peer mentor, and he is also the networking director of the Institute of Industrial Engineers. He also founded, and is the president of, IA Leadership Enhancement and Development. He said he wants to apply past experiences to the vice presidential role.“I will do everything I can to make sure that the students’ voice are heard, and if a student has a concern, if a student wants an event, I want to make sure that’s reality,” he said. “I have a huge skill set and I’m itching to use it.”

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Hammaad Saber - Access Party Student Body vice presidential candidate

By Melissa Gomez | Feb. 7, 2016

Ever since high school, Hammaad Saber has been set on becoming an engineer.

Kalyani Hawaldar is a 21-year-old UF sociology and biology senior running for Student Body president with Access Party.Hawaldar currently serves as the diversity affairs executive director in Student Government. She is a Florida Cicerone, a member of Gatorship Staff 2016 and was a part of the Preview staff in 2014. She is part of the Reitz Scholars program and was a member of a task force to create gender-neutral restrooms.She said she hopes to continue working with UF’s administration to help students succeed.“I’m really running to serve as a voice for the Student Body, for all students struggling and striving to be successful,” she said. “My biggest goal is to make sure that students are able to fulfill their potentials here.”

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Kalyani Hawaldar - Access Party Student Body presidential candidate

By Melissa Gomez | Feb. 7, 2016

Kalyani Hawaldar hopes to continue Access Party’s effort to make UF’s Student Government transparent.

Susan Webster is a 22-year-old UF international studies senior running for Student Body president with Impact Party.Webster currently serves as UF Student Senate president and a District A senator. She served as chairwoman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee and Rules and Procedures Ad Hoc Committee. She started the Diversity Outreach and Mental Health Awareness Ad Hoc Committees. She also helped open the Field and Fork Food Pantry.Webster said she hopes to make changes to help serve students and make UF a top-10 institution.“I know that I will be able to fight for you not only on the university level, but in Tallahassee and in (Washington) D.C.,” she said.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Susan Webster - Impact Party Student Body presidential candidate

By Melissa Gomez | Feb. 7, 2016

For Susan Webster, going to UF is a family tradition.

Florida Alligator

NEWS | CAMPUS

New app to help law students find jobs

By Rebecca White | Feb. 7, 2016

UF’s Levin College of Law is helping students find jobs.

Florida Alligator

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF Provost starts scholarship for musical theater students

By Fresia Urdaneta | Feb. 7, 2016

A new scholarship will help UF musical theater students pay for costumes, makeup and dance shoes.

Florida Alligator

METRO

Weekly walks aim to talk about childhood obesity issues

By Kayla Solem | Feb. 7, 2016

About two weeks remain in the third-annual Weekly Wellness Walk program, an effort to highlight the issue of childhood obesity and promote a healthy lifestyle.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Family, friends remember UF veterinary professor

By Katelyn Newberg | Feb. 7, 2016

Paul Nicoletti treated his students like family.

Florida Alligator

METRO

An act of kindness in Gainesville: organizations bikes through and builds homes

By Catherine Dickson | Feb. 7, 2016

After two weeklong road trips, one 6,000-mile journey and one 10,000-mile drive, three 22-year-olds are going to colleges across the country to connect with students and help others.

Florida Alligator

METRO

Ben and Jerry's announces new vegan products, will come to GNV by the end of February

By Lauren Johnson | Feb. 7, 2016

Gaby Martell couldn’t eat Ben and Jerry’s ice cream without getting sick — until now.

Mollie Stevens (17) runs down the field during UF lacrosse's season-opening loss to UNC on Feb. 7, 2015 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Gators lacrosse opens season with win

By Kyle Brutman | Feb. 7, 2016

For just the third time in the program’s seven-year history, the No. 7 Florida lacrosse team came out of its regular-season opener with a win.

Florida's head coach Mike White watches his team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky won 80-61. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

NEWS | CAMPUS

Romped at Rupp: Early deficit led to Florida loss at Kentucky

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Feb. 7, 2016

Rupp Arena: where a team’s confidence and game plan go to die.

Lantern

NEWS | CAMPUS

Food, shows and more to ring in 2016: Year of the Monkey

Feb. 7, 2016

BENTO CAFE

Florida Alligator

NEWS | CAMPUS

Museum of Natural History gets 3-D scanner

By Nate Phillips | Feb. 7, 2016

With the help of a new scanner, UF researchers will be able to enlarge, rotate and see details of specimens.

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