2 - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Yes, diversity is still something to celebrate

Feb. 5, 2018

Something we have been hearing way too often lately is diversity is not worth praising. That “it’s 2018,” so diversity and acceptance aren’t things we have to worry about anymore. That racism and prejudice aren’t things we have to worry about anymore. That cruelty, judgement and downright bigotry are a thing of the past. Well, dear reader, these assumptions are, unfortunately, incorrect.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The insanity defense: We should try to help rather than simply punish

Feb. 5, 2018

You may recall a story hitting the news in June 2014 about three girls in the woods in Wisconsin. Two 12-year-old girls lured a third into the woods in Waukesha, Wisconsin, attacked her and left her for dead. This past week, the girl who carried out the attack, Morgan Geyser, was sentenced to 40 years in a mental institution. Her accomplice, Anissa Weier, was sentenced in December to 25 years in a mental institution. To provide a little context, Geyser didn't merely attack the third girl, Payton Leutner. She stabbed her 19 times, all over her body. Why in the world would they do this? Apparently, they were trying to appease a character from a popular online horror game called “Slender Man.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Don’t mix religion with education in the name of free speech

Feb. 5, 2018

Between all of the chaos to come from this White House administration, it’s been frighteningly easy for us to miss important news or dismiss seemingly innocuous political moves as insignificant. This is something we need to take note of. At this point, we need to learn to ignore nothing.

Freshman Oliver Crawford fought off a series of match points in his doubles matchup against FSU. “He stepped up big getting us back in doubles,” coach Bryan Shelton said. “He kept us alive.”

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Crawford being exposed to high-pressure tennis early in UF career

By Benjamin Brandt | Feb. 4, 2018

Alone with only the sound of music playing from his phone and the power of his imagination, freshman Oliver Crawford prepared to serve.

Redshirt junior AJ McFarland will attempt to set a school record for the third time this year at the SEC Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

McFarland looking ahead to SEC Championships

By Alanis Thames | Feb. 4, 2018

AJ McFarland chuckled after Friday’s meet in Baton Rouge. He had just broken a school record for the second consecutive outing — registering a mark of 21.89 meters in the weight throw — and took a moment to soak it all in.

Alex McMurtry recorded a season-low 9.225 on the balance beam Friday night against Auburn, but claimed event titles in both bars and vault, leading Florida to a victory over the Tigers.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

McMurtry leads Florida past Auburn despite minor mishap

By Alana Gomez | Feb. 4, 2018

Alex McMurtry was more than ready. She had just recorded her first ever 10.0 on balance beam one week prior against No. 1 Oklahoma, making her the second UF gymnast in program history to tally a perfect score in every event.

After Florida scored a season-low 50 points against Alabama on Saturday, forward Keith Stone was not happy with the team's offensive production. "It's pretty frustrating," he said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators trying to stay afloat in midst of back-to-back losses

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 4, 2018

A common approach to sports is to “control the controllables.” Teams can only focus on their own effort and attention to detail. They have no way of affecting their opponent’s preparation.

Coach Cameron Newbauer used Florida's recent bye week as an opportunity to hit the recruiting trail.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida facing No. 15 Missouri tonight following bye week

By Morgan McMullen | Feb. 4, 2018

For Florida women’s basketball players Haley Lorenzen and Funda Nakkasoglu, there’s one phrase that comes to mind to describe the past week.

Esports are rising in popularity and legitimacy. The top gamer in the world, Germany's Kuro Takhasomi, has won nearly $3.5 million in his career playing "Dota 2."

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Esports are just as interesting and competitive as traditional sports

By Ethan Bauer | Feb. 4, 2018

I know nothing — I mean absolutely nothing — about video games.

METRO

APD arrests member of gang for shooting five people

By Robert Lewis | Feb. 4, 2018

An Alachua man was arrested for a ﬁve-person shooting in the city about three weeks ago, Alachua Police said.

Morningside Nature Center staffer George Chappell shows visiting children how to use the corn sheller that would've been used in 1870.

METRO

Visitors experience life in the 1870s at history event

By Laiz Do Carmo | Feb. 4, 2018

For the past decade, Angelica Torres and Rudy Volenec have made the five-hour drive from Miami to Gainesville to travel back in time.

Sally Wazny shows kids the checkerboard pattern of a red rat snake belly.

METRO

Toddlers pet reptiles, jump like frogs during city educational program

By Rachel Chang | Feb. 4, 2018

Sitting in a circle, 2-year-old Evan Bickford patiently waited to pet Lt. Dan, a red rat snake.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

SG judiciary committee unanimously fails two amendments

By Christina Morales | Feb. 4, 2018

The Student Government judiciary committee met Sunday and unanimously voted down two amendments and tabled a Senate bill.

Michael Gaither, a U.S. Army veteran suffering from multiple sclerosis, lays in bed with his service dog, Honey, by his side. Both are fighting terminal illnesses and need constant medical treatments.

NEWS | CAMPUS

‘She’s part of the family’: A veteran and his dog fight disease together

By Davio Rodriguez | Feb. 4, 2018

As Michael Gaither lay in his bed with a breathing mask strapped around his face, Honey nudged his limp hand.

NEWS | CAMPUS

‘Writing on the Wall’ takes on political climate

By Sabrina Conza | Feb. 4, 2018

As Joey McGinn and dozens of others pulled on different strings, a wall of colorful bricks and words tumbled down.

A student from P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School’s First Robotics Club, 12th-grader Rebecca Schlafke, demonstrates how to use the club’s adapted creations to a child at the Assistive Technology Industry Association Maker's Day on Saturday.

METRO

Local students design toys for children with disabilities

By Lauren Staff | Feb. 4, 2018

Jackson Fugate helped engineer a toy Jeep to start by pressing a steering wheel button instead of a pedal for children who are bound to wheelchairs to ride.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

For first time in at least two decades, three black women running against commission incumbents

By Jessica Giles | Feb. 4, 2018

Three black women will challenge two incumbents in the City of Gainesville regular election in March. Five candidates have qualiﬁed for the March 20 election, and for the ﬁrst time in about two decades, all of the challengers are black women, according to city records.