2 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Jordan Cronkrite runs into the end zone for a touchdown during Florida's 24-14 win against South Carolina on Nov. 14, 2015, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: A way-too-early list of Florida football players to watch in 2016

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Jan. 7, 2016

After a lackluster ending to the 2015 season, Jim McElwain and the Florida football team now turn their attention to Spring practice. The Gators return a plethora of starters -- most notably All-Southeastern Conference corner Jalen Tabor, freshman phenom Antonio Callaway and prolific punter Johnny Townsend. But for each starter coming back, Florida sees a veteran heading to the NFL.

UF coach Mike White reacts after a play during Florida’s 77-63 win against Georgia on Jan. 2, 2016, in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Mike White frustrated with loss, lack of effort against Tennessee

By IAN COHEN | Jan. 7, 2016

To say that Florida struggled against Tennessee on Wednesday would be putting it lightly.

UF coach Jim McElwain laughs with players after practice on Dec. 4, 2015, prior to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Jim McElwain talks recruiting on Finebaum

By Luis Torres | Jan. 7, 2016

With the season now over for the Gators, coach Jim McElwain and his staff have shifted their efforts to recruiting.

Kennedy Baker performs her floor routine during Florida’s win against Missouri on Feb. 13, 2015.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF gymastics opens season on the road against familiar foe

By Alejandro López | Jan. 7, 2016

Starting off on the right foot is as applicable in athletics as it is in everyday life.

Freshman Caeleb Dressel jumps into the pool at the start of the 200-yard breaststroke event during Day 3 of the 2014 Pinch A Penny Invitational

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Caeleb Dressel and Natalie Hinds leads UF swimming and diving into Spring

By IAN COHEN | Jan. 7, 2016

Caeleb Dressel is ready to break more records.

Pablo Valencia, an 18-year-old UF computer science freshman in the Innovation Academy, is the first in his family to attend the University of Florida. “Education makes it so whatever you do will help a lot of people,” he said.

NEWS | CAMPUS

IA freshman fulfills parents' dreams

By Katelyn Newberg | Jan. 7, 2016

Pablo Valencia’s parents wanted him to go to college.

NEWS | CAMPUS

New study-abroad trip offered

By Monica Humphries | Jan. 7, 2016

UF students will now have the opportunity to visit the island of Hispaniola this summer.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Apartment janitor arrested for Winter Break burglaries

By Martin Vassolo | Jan. 7, 2016

Gainesville Police arrested a local man Wednesday night after police said he burglarized two Gainesville Place Apartments units over Winter Break.

METRO

City discusses buying biomass plant

By Hunter Williamson | Jan. 7, 2016

Gainesville City Commission discussed the option of buying a controversial biomass plant Thursday during an informational session about the option.

METRO

Have a thrifty new year

By Sara Marino | Jan. 7, 2016

As students return from Winter Break, they often set their sights on thrift shop doors.

Lauren Byers, a 24-year-old UF history senior, speaks during a city commission meeting on Thursday evening. Byers said she was disappointed with Mayor Ed Braddy’s response to the Alachua County Labor Coalition’s demand for a $15 minimum wage.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Coalition demands city raise minimum wage to $15

By Hunter Williamson | Jan. 7, 2016

About 32 members of the Alachua County Labor Coalition rallied at City Hall on Thursday to demand an ordinance raising the minimum wage to nearly $15 an hour for city employees over the next five years.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Ambulance kills deer en route to hospital

By Martin Vassolo | Jan. 7, 2016

A Levy County ambulance crashed and killed a deer early Thursday morning on its way to the hospital.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF ranked top school for military veteran services

By Melissa Gomez | Jan. 7, 2016

If it weren’t for the support for military veterans at UF, Victor Lopez, 27, would have dropped out of school.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: No one is forced to like Shakespeare

Jan. 7, 2016

"Nothing is true; everything is permitted.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Instagram celebrates superficial lifestyles instead of actual lives

Jan. 7, 2016

I don’t have an Instagram. I’d like to pretend it’s because I’m too subversive for social media, but the truth is I’m too lazy for it. After witnessing my friends pour hours into photo capturing and filter selection, I decided it wasn’t worth the effort. Putting on makeup for a first-day-of-school selfie? Please.

METRO | POLITICS

Column: Zorp - will we vote for a space lizard in 2016?

Jan. 7, 2016

Now that it’s actually 2016, the presidential race just got a whole bunch scarier.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels 01/08/2016

Jan. 7, 2016

As the first week of the new year draws to a close, so too does the first week of Spring semester. As anyone who has ever picked up an Alligator on a Friday could tell you, this means it’s time for the most beloved of traditions, the one thing that keeps the Opinions section sane after a week of depressing headlines and deadlines… Darts & Laurels.

NEWS | CAMPUS

RESEARCH ROUNDUP: Education, purple limes and trust

Jan. 7, 2016

Study finds charters schools are losing teachers

UF safety Keanu Neal (42) jumps in an attempt to block FSU kicker Roberto Aguayo's field goal attempt during Florida's 27-2 loss to Florida State on Nov. 28, 2015, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Hard-hitting safety Keanu Neal declares for NFL draft

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Jan. 6, 2016

Keanu Neal will not return to Florida for his senior season.

UF’s Dorian Finney-Smith looks to pass during Florida’s 77-63 win against Georgia on Jan.2, 2016, in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida men's basketball trounced by Tennessee

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Jan. 6, 2016

Some complain that the Tennessee orange is ugly, but it wasn’t the ugliest thing on the court Wednesday night.

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