COVID-19

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NEWS  |  CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

The men behind the megaphones

By Zoey Thomas | Feb. 26, 2024

The UF cheerleading team currently has 13 men and 24 women, divided into a combination of male-female stunt pairs and all-girl groups. The athletes spent most of the two-hour practice preparing for next month’s cheer tryout, during which they’ll do their best to recruit talented newcomers — and show up themselves to re-earn their spots on the team. But tryouts will be less competitive for some than others.

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METRO  |  K-12 EDUCATION

Newberry Education First initiative divides Newberry community

By Megan Howard | Feb. 26, 2024

Newberry Education First initiative wants to convert the three Newberry schools into public charters under the guidance of community leaders. The initiative wants to ensure “excellent education, increased teacher pay and the same great sports and activities we all love,” according to its website.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF spearheads nationwide effort to combat retail theft

By Daniel Bednar | Feb. 26, 2024

From Target to Topgolf, 85 of the nation’s largest retail stores rely on technology developed by the Gainesville-based Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) to deter shoplifting. The SaferPlaces Lab, a simulated storefront located at the UF Innovation Hub, is at the forefront of this nationwide initiative to protect retail shoppers financially and physically.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Gainesville art scene pushes for more outreach to underserved communities

By Nicole Beltran | Feb. 26, 2024

Arts and culture are present in Gainesville through museums, exhibits and music venues scattered around the city. Further developments like a cultural arts center in East Gainesville could continue catering to the expansion, providing people with a place to turn to for support. Community members are concerned more outreach needs to be done to fully immerse underserved communities into art outlets. There are opportunities for people to seek support through the arts, but the accessibility can vary.

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THE AVENUE

UF public relations team celebrates hidden identities with Gainesville’s first Multicultural Day festival

By Henry DeAngelis and Alexandra Burns | Feb. 26, 2024

How Bazar became a hotspot for art and culture Feb. 24 as people joined to honor a combination of various cultures, backgrounds and identities at the Culturs Festival. 

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Buchholz High School presents production of ‘The Three Musketeers’

By Bonny Matejowsky | Feb. 26, 2024

The ringing clangs of swashbuckling sword fights resounded loudly in Buchholz High School’s auditorium at a midweek evening rehearsal. In front of a white-columned set piece, two pajama-clad teens duel with careful choreography, jousting silver swords and dodging calculated swings.

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SPORTS  |  OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Adhithya Ganesan first stepped on campus in January; the freshman is already cracking jokes and succeeding on the court

By Chandler Hawkes | Feb. 26, 2024

In the Gators men’s tennis dual against the University of North Florida Jan. 19, the match to clinch the doubles point was tied at 6-6. The score in the tiebreaker was 5-4 in favor of Florida freshman Adhithya Ganesan and sophomore Tanapatt Nirundorn. 

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NEWS  |  CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Spring Student Government elections: A voter’s guide

By Annie Wang | Feb. 26, 2024

On Feb. 27 and 28, UF students will vote for 50 Student Senate seats and the positions of student body president, vice president and treasurer in the Spring 2024 Student Government elections.

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

The 2024 leap year reveals local traditions, celebrations and superstitions

By Molly Seghi | Feb. 26, 2024

Jazzlyn Harrell eagerly punched her number into the keypad in her elementary school lunch line over 20 years ago. More satisfying than the lunch she was served, she savored the ‘Happy birthday’ message that lit up on the screen. Unlike her classmates, she would have to wait another four years to see it again. Harrell, now a 31-year-old Alachua County elementary school counselor, is a ‘leapling,’ a person born Feb. 29. For her, the date brings memories of both small delights and mild frustrations.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

The fight for representation: Why change Is needed now more than ever

Feb. 26, 2024

There’s always more work to be done. This underlying belief has guided Change Party to serve the student body for eight semesters. This thought empowers us to author 200 bills when we are the minority in the Senate chamber. This is our conviction as we strive to put the power back into the hands of all students this election.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Vision Party: Continuing down the path of success

Feb. 26, 2024

From its creation this past Fall, Vision Party has made it its mission to ensure the voices of every student are heard. The very foundation of Vision is based on individuals from all backgrounds coming together to tackle the ineffective governance of other parties. 

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NEWS  |  CAMPUS

Ukrainian Student Association hosts candlelight vigil two years after Russian invasion

By Tanya Fedak | Feb. 25, 2024

Hosted by the Ukrainian Student Association, the event commemorated the second anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. It also honored the 10-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Crimea. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF student on pretrial release arrested on suspicion of indecent exposure, urinating on bottles of alcohol at Total Wine & More

By Bailey Diem | Feb. 25, 2024

A UF student on pretrial release was arrested by the Gainesville Police Department Thursday night on suspicion of indecent exposure.

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SPORTS  |  WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators crushed by Bulldogs on the road

By Jack Meyer | Feb. 25, 2024

The Gators (14-12, 5-9 SEC) were defeated by the Bulldogs (12-15, 3-11 SEC) in a 76-60 loss, Sunday afternoon. Georgia took a 22-point lead into the halftime break and went on cruise control for the remainder of the game to swiftly leave Florida in the dust.

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SPORTS  |  SOFTBALL

No. 14 Gators clinch T-Mobile Tournament with Sunday sweep

By Hailey Hurst | Feb. 25, 2024

The No. 14 Florida Gators softball team (15-2) defeated UIC (9-6) 8-0 to sweep the T-Mobile Tournament. Freshman right-handed pitcher Keagan Rothrock continued her start to the season with a smooth 1-2-3 first inning getting three strikeouts on 11 pitches.

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SPORTS  |  BASEBALL

Gators finish off series sweep against Columbia

By Luke Adragna | Feb. 25, 2024

The Gators baseball team earned its first weekend series sweep of 2024. Florida outscored Columbia 34-14 over the three-game set and defeated the Lions 12-5 on Sunday. 

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SPORTS  |  OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators women’s tennis falls short in top-15 matchup against Pepperdine

By Max Bernstein | Feb. 25, 2024

The No. 15 Gators women’s tennis team (4-5) fell short in their fifth consecutive match 5-2, this time against the No. 13 Pepperdine Waves (6-2). However, the Gators’ lone points came from freshmen Malwina Rowinska and Qavia Lopez in singles action. 

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THE AVENUE  |  FASHION

Circus-themed fashion show for pets unleashes at the How Bazar

By Emilia Cardenas-Perez | Feb. 25, 2024

Under the fluorescent lights of Southwest Second Street’s How Bazar, dogs, cats, snakes and birds circled around the venue Friday, adorned in handmade crochet outfits. The proud owners accompanied each pet, stopping to let the crowd that lined the perimeter admire them, an event organizers call ‘Barkin' Market: A Night at the Circus.’ 

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SPORTS  |  OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida earns back-to-back SEC Championship title

By Shaine Davison | Feb. 24, 2024

UF freshman Jonny Marshall placed first in the men’s 200 back, breaking the program’s record with a time of 1:36.68.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

New York based-comedian, social media sensation sells out seats at High Dive

By Benjamin Miller | Feb. 24, 2024

At 8 p.m. Friday night, Lucas Zelnick, a 28-year-old stand-up comedian from New York City, took the stage at the High Dive, aiming to deliver a memorable stand-up routine to a diverse audience.