2 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida freshman Adhithya Ganesan (left) rips a backhand with sophomore Tanapatt Nirundorn (right) in the Gators’ 7-0 win against The Citadel on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Attendees gather at a vigil for Ukraine on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

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.

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.

Florida women’s basketball added a new coach to its staff Tuesday, as Jackie Moore was named assistant to the head coach.

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.

Gators outfielder Kendra Falby gets her bat to the ball in the team's win over the University of Illinois Chicago on Sunday, February 25, 2024.

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.

Gators baseball left-handed pitcher Jac Caglianone pitches the ball in the team's 12-5 win over Columbia University on Sunday, February 25, 2024.

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.

Freshman Qavia Lopez slams a hit in the Gators women's tennis 6-1 win against Baylor.

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.

A local cat attends the Barkin’ Market event at How Bazar on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.

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.’

Freshman Conor Gesing dives in the Gators meet against Florida State, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

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.

Lucas Zelnic performing at High Dive on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.

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.

Florida baseball freshman right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson shows emotion after escaping a jam in the fourth inning of the team's game against Columbia University on Saturday, February 24, 2024.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Late offensive rally pushes Gators to series win against Columbia

By Luke Adragna | Feb. 24, 2024

The Gators baseball team used a late offensive rally to win Game 2 and the series over Columbia University.

UF track and field coach Mike Holloway led the men’s team to the indoor national championship and the women’s team to a top-10 ranking.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Florida track and field finish second at SEC Indoor Championships

By Hannah Getman | Feb. 24, 2024

The Florida men’s and women’s track and field teams both finished second at the SEC Indoor Championships, earning 17 medals during the meet.

Gators softball redshirt senior Skylar Wallace comes through the ball in the team's loss to Oklahoma State on Monday, February 19, 2024.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida increases win streak to six after two Saturday wins

By Hailey Hurst | Feb. 24, 2024

The Gators softball team increased its win streak to six games after earning two more wins at the T-Mobile Tournament on Saturday.

Gators men's basketball junior guard Will Richard begins to shoot the ball in the team's 77-64 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday, February 24, 2024.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball handles business at home against Vanderbilt

By Max Tucker | Feb. 24, 2024

The Gators men’s basketball team put together an impressive team effort to take down Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Florida lacrosse graduate student Paisley Eagan looks to pass the ball in the team's exhibition against the Scotland National Team on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Florida lacrosse takes down No. 6 Maryland in overtime

By Lacey Rogers | Feb. 24, 2024

The Gators lacrosse team came back from a five-point deficit to defeat the No. 6 Maryland Terrapins in College Park on Saturday.

Florida's swimming and diving program competed last week in the NCAA National Championships, finishing in 13th place.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida swimming continues to shine on Day 5 of SEC Championships

By Shaine Davison | Feb. 23, 2024

On the second-to-last day of the SEC Championships, Florida broke away from the rest of the conference on the leaderboard, sitting 361.5 points in front on the men’s side and 214.5 on the women’s side

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