2 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Actors from The Hippodrome are seen on stage for A Christmas Carol.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Christmas past, present and future: The Hippodrome’s holiday season

By Bonny Matejowsky | Dec. 3, 2023

To some people, Christmas begins when a shining star is placed on the peak of an ornamented fir tree. For others, it starts when the radio decides it’s time to air Christmas music. But for many people in Gainesville, the holiday season doesn’t kick off until they view a theatrical spin of a classic tale.

Matthew Lindsay and Connor Nugent perform as Santa Claus and Perry the Mouse for the Holiday Santa Fe show on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023.

NEWS | SFC

‘Holiday at Santa Fe’ brings winter cheer to Santa Fe College

By Bailey Diem | Dec. 3, 2023

Gainesville residents of all ages filled the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall Dec. 2, learning about animals and summoning snow alongside Santa Claus, Frosty and Perry the Mouse.

Florida guard Leilani Correa scans the court in the Gators' 92-54 win against the Florida A&M Rattlers on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida suffers second loss of the season behind fourth- quarter offensive struggles

By Brandon Hernandez | Dec. 2, 2023

The Florida Gators (6-2) suffered their second loss of the season to the Marshall Thundering Herd (3-4) 91-88 at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington, West Virginia, Saturday. Despite Gators senior guards Leilani Correa and Aliyah Matharu combining for 50 points, UF struggled to answer back to a 10-0 three-minute Marshall run to end the game.

The Gators volleyball team embraces each other in Florida's 3-0 win against Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida eliminated from NCAA Tournament by Georgia Tech in second round

By Krisha Sanghavi | Dec. 1, 2023

The No. 4-seed Florida Gators (19-10, 10-8 SEC) lost to the No. 5-seed Yellow Jackets (24-6,13-4 ACC) 3-2 Friday night in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The loss eliminates the Gators from the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville police arrest man suspected of multiple hate crimes against Chabad UF Jewish Student Center

By Garrett Shanley | Dec. 1, 2023

Geoffrey Lush, 50, faces two felony charges including intimidation by threatening a mass shooting and destruction of property belonging to a synagogue.

Freshman outside hitter Kennedy Martin tips the ball in the Gators' 3-0 win against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

No. 20 Florida wins first round of NCAA Tournament in three-set sweep

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Nov. 30, 2023

The No. 20 Florida Gators (19-9, 10-8 SEC) swept the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (27-7, 15-1 ASUN) 3-0 Thursday evening in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Redshirt junior quarterback Graham Mertz celebrates after he ran the ball for a touchdown in the Gators' 49-7 win against the McNeese State Cowboys Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Quarterback Graham Mertz will return to Florida for 2024 season

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 30, 2023

Gators redshirt junior quarterback Graham Mertz will return to Florida for the 2024 season, he announced in a Tweet Thursday.

Sophomore safety Kamari Wilson completes a rep in the Gators' fall scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Several Gators enter Transfer Portal Wednesday

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 30, 2023

Four Gators players entered or are set to enter the Transfer Portal Wednesday.

Sophomore guard Riley Kugel drives the ball in the Gators' 89-68 against the Florida State Seminoles on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.

SPORTS | BASKETBALL

Gators fall to Wake Forest in first-ever ACC/SEC Challenge

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 29, 2023

The Florida Gators (4-3) lost to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-3) 82-71 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wednesday night. Sophomore guard Riley Kugel led UF with 24 points in the losing effort on 9-14 shooting and 4-6 from deep.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators leave Atlanta as winners after beating Georgia Tech

By Lacey Rogers | Nov. 29, 2023

The Florida Gators (6-1) took home its third victory in a row, 68-58, against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-2) in Atlanta Wednesday.

Junior defensive lineman Cam Jackson warms up before the Gators' 52-35 loss to the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida defensive lineman Cam Jackson to return for senior season

By Topher Adams | Nov. 29, 2023

Florida junior defensive tackle Cam’Ron Jackson will return to UF for his senior season, he announced on social media Wednesday.

Redshirt junior quarterback Graham Mertz drops back to throw the ball in the Gators' 38-14 win against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

End of Season Mailbag: Answering questions about the Gators football team

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 29, 2023

As many questions loom around the Florida program, it’s time to open up the mailbag from the fans to answer some of the biggest questions heading into the offseason.

Yarin Levin answers the crowds questions after sharing his story about the Nova Festival at the Chabad UF Jewish Student & Community Center on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023.

METRO

Nova Festival survivor shares story with Gainesville Jewish community

By Ella Thompson | Nov. 29, 2023

Yarin Levin, a 24-year-old former Israeli Defense Force officer, was standing outside the entrance of the Nova Festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7 when Hamas started dropping missiles around 6:20 a.m. He had stayed up all night chatting and drinking with other festival goers, thanking his friends for inviting him and wasn’t alarmed by the missiles as a former combat soldier.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Max Brown runs the ball in the Gators' 24-15 loss to the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida quarterback Max Brown to enter the transfer portal

By Topher Adams | Nov. 29, 2023

Florida redshirt freshman quarterback Max Brown is expected to enter the transfer portal, according to Hayes Fawcett of On3.

Felix Wilson, the vice president, of Trane’s Southwest and West U.S., presents UF the Trane Energy Efficient Leader Award to Curtis Reynolds, UF’s vice president for business affairs; Eddie Daniels, the assistant vice president for business services; and David Kratzer, a former UF vice president for Student Affairs. The award recognizes the efficient and sustainable approach to the renovation of the Reitz Union.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

Top UF official departs for private Christian university

By Garrett Shanley | Nov. 29, 2023

Curtis Reynolds, UF’s vice president of business affairs, announced his resignation in a news release Wednesday morning. His departure comes after a series of shakeups in top level leadership at the university since President Ben Sasse took office in February.

UF head coach Billy Napier and the Gators prepare to enter Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Florida's 24-15 loss to the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Billy Napier faces turning point following underwhelming second season

By Topher Adams | Nov. 29, 2023

Florida finished its season 5-7. The Gators have now finished with a losing season for three straight years, something that hasn’t happened since 1945-1947. The disappointing season is an early inflection point for Napier.

SPECIAL REPORTS

SPECIAL EDITION: Mind over Stigma

By STAFF | Nov. 27, 2023

This special edition focuses on the resilient individuals who embody the statistics of mental health, aiming to shatter the stigma surrounding these conversations.

Florida Gators alternate white football helmet.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida parts ways with secondary coach Corey Raymond, defensive line coach Sean Spencer

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 27, 2023

The Florida Gators parted ways with secondary coach Corey Raymond and defensive line coach Sean Spencer Monday.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Jewish student center vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti

By Garrett Shanley | Nov. 27, 2023

The Chabad UF Jewish Student Center was vandalized early Friday morning with “anti-Semitic graffiti and hateful slurs,” according to a Chabad UF press release.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Lake City man arrested after shooting at ex-girlfriend's car

By Jordan Ramos | Nov. 27, 2023

A Lake City man was arrested Sunday after shooting at his ex-girlfriend's car several times, with an additional person in the car, while in his own vehicle.

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