2 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida pitcher Olivia Gigante swings her bat in the Gators' 11-0 win against the Jacksonville Dolphins Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball blows past UC Riverside in Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Feb. 24, 2023

The No. 3 Florida Gators (11-1) blew past the California, Riverside, Highlanders (6-8) 7-0 Friday afternoon in Big League Dreams - Fenway Sports Park. This marked the Gators’ first win in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic after their first loss of the season against the California, Los Angeles, Bruins Thursday.

Ohio State professor Julia Andrews gives a presentation on female Chinese artists in the 1900s at the Harn Museum of Art Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Harn Museum educates visitors on 20th century Chinese female artists

By Zoey Thomas | Feb. 24, 2023

Audience members — including local families and UF students — had a hard time looking away from the colorful paintings flashing across the projector behind her as she spoke.

UF campus cat Eve eats Churu cat treats.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF students befriend Riker Hall cat colony

By Alissa Gary | Feb. 24, 2023

The six tabbies and two black cats may have different names depending on who’s visiting that day. As somewhat-strays, each person interested enough to come close calls them differently.

Florida pitcher Rylee Trlicek prepares to pitch the ball in the Gators' 11-0 win against the Jacksonville Dolphins Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida suffers run-rule loss to UCLA for first defeat of season

By Brandon Hernandez | Feb. 24, 2023

The No. 3 Florida Gators (10-1) suffered a 10-0 loss — their first of the season — against the No. 1 UCLA Bruins (13-0) after four and a half innings Thursday. UF didn’t record a single hit and had three different pitchers in the circle.

Sophia De La Cruz (left) and Krystin Anderson (right) speak to attendees at the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program’s teach-in session about black history and intellectual freedom in Marston Science Library Thursday, February 23, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF students protest DeSantis’ ‘attacks on higher education’

By Peyton Harris , Halima Attah and Ella Thompson | Feb. 24, 2023

In a moment of solidarity, UF students, many clad in black and holding signs, gathered outside Marston Science Library at noon Thursday in support of gender-affirming health care and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as they come under fire from the state government.

Florida guard KK Deans celebrates during the Gators' 90-79 loss to the Louisiana State Tigers Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida holds on to win nail-biter against Alabama on senior night

By Austin Stirling | Feb. 23, 2023

The Florida Gators (15-13, 4-11 SEC) defeated Alabama (20-8, 9-6 SEC) 81-77 Thursday night in their final home game of the 2023 season. The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Gators.

The Change Party and the Gator Party’s candidates for student body president, vice president and treasurer engage in a debate moderated by Marna Weston in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Gator, Change executive tickets battle for votes in Student Government debate

By Amanda Friedman | Feb. 23, 2023

With less than a week until the Spring elections, Gator and Change party’s executive tickets sparred over student organization funding, graduate student resources and 24/7 library services in the Student Government debate Tuesday.

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THE AVENUE

Sweetwater Greenway Loop Festival: Local neighborhoods celebrate their culture

By Gracey Davis | Feb. 23, 2023

Sarah’s Sweetwater Greenway Loop Festival, which took place Feb. 16- 20, expanded across five historic neighborhoods in Gainesville where the city approved a greenway, or a strip of land dedicated to recreational use, to connect them.

Florida guard Riley Kugel takes a jump shot in the Gators' 82-74 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Kugel finished the game with a career-high 24 points.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators’ late comeback falls short against Kentucky at home

By Jackson Reyes | Feb. 22, 2023

The Florida Gators (14-14, 7-8 SEC) were defeated by Kentucky (19-9, 10-5 SEC) 82-74 in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Wednesday night. The Wildcats completed the season sweep against the Gators.

Florida left fielder Wyatt Langford hits the ball in the Gators' 16-2 win against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers Saturday, Feb. 18

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida blows five-run lead in ninth inning in loss to South Florida

By Topher Adams | Feb. 22, 2023

The Florida Gators (4-1) lost to the South Florida Bulls (2-3) 10-9 Wednesday night at Condron Ballpark. Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said critical defensive errors played a big role in the late-game collapse.

Florida senior Carly Briggs (left) and sophomore Alicia Dudeney (right) give each other a high five in the Gators' 4-1 victory against the Florida State Seminoles Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators women’s tennis soars above Eagles with sweeping victory

By Luke Adragna | Feb. 22, 2023

The No.15 Florida Gators (5-1) hosted the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (7-3) in the first-ever meeting between the schools. The Gators swept the Eagles 6-0 to win their third-straight match.

A Florida football helmet, pictured during a game against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 4, 2021.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Austin Armstrong replacing Patrick Toney as defensive play-caller

By Kyle Bumpers | Feb. 22, 2023

UF head football coach Billy Napier is bringing in Alabama inside linebackers coach Austin Armstrong to replace former defensive coordinator Patrick Toney, Matt Zenitz reported on Twitter.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Suspected hit-and-run leaves grandmother, 2 year-old in hospital

By Aidan Bush | Feb. 22, 2023

The Gainesville Police Department responded to a report at 10 a.m. in which a driver hit an older woman and her 2-year-old grandchild who were crossing Northwest 10th Avenue and Main Street.

Florida guard Will Richard dribbles the ball in the Gators' 88-80 loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida, Kentucky set for rematch in Gainesville

By Jackson Reyes | Feb. 22, 2023

Florida has the chance to split the season series Wednesday but will have to do so without graduate student forward Colin Castleton, who leads the team in scoring.

Florida senior golfer Jackie Lucena swings her club in round 3 of The "Mo" Morial Invitational Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Lucena’s hole-in-one lifts Gators to third-place finish

By Madilyn Destefano | Feb. 21, 2023

Florida’s women’s golf team traveled to Melbourne, Florida, to compete in the tournament Feb. 19. After finishing in 12th last week, the Gators secured third place — trailing Louisiana State and Northwestern — with an 18-under-par 864.

Florida infielder Tyler Shelnut celebrates with his teammates after he hit a home run in the Gators' 16-2 win against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators pitching outduels South Florida in road victory

By Ethan Eibe | Feb. 21, 2023

The No. 7 Gators (4-0) defeated the South Florida Bulls (1-3) at Red McEwen Field in Tampa Tuesday night.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

New York Times wages unfair culture war on transgender community

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Feb. 20, 2023

As journalists about to enter the professional workforce, we’re hopeful that the brave decision to stand up to powerful, well-established newsroom editors will effect change within the NYT.

OPINION | COLUMNS

When did diversity become a bad word?

By Albert Ritzhaupt | Feb. 20, 2023

Albert Ritzhaupt said his major concern about the use of the word diversity as a so-called “bad word” is that we seem to have forgotten what the word really means.

Customers browse the vast plant selection at Serpentine Plants + Provisions Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.

THE AVENUE

Serpentine Plants + Provisions combines plants with home design

By Amanda Rubio | Feb. 20, 2023

Serpentine Plants + Provisions, located at 209 NW 10th Ave., sells a variety of plants as well as curated homeware and gift products from local, independent retailers.

THE AVENUE

North Dakotan writer, environmentalist Taylor Brorby to visit UF

By Zarin Ismail | Feb. 20, 2023

Taylor Brorby, an environmentalist and University of Utah instructor will visit the UF Smathers Library Tuesday at 7 p.m. to talk about his 2022 memoir, “Boys and Oil: Growing Up Gay in a Fractured Land,” which explores issues regarding queerness, the environment and extractive economies through his own experiences.

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