2 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida Polytechnic University, located in Lakeland, will not merge with UF.

METRO

Merger plan dies in Florida House of Representatives

By Elisabell Velazquez | Mar. 11, 2020

The bill proposed Florida Polytechnic University and New College of Florida merge with UF

Alachua County residents show up to vote in the Florida primaries at the Reitz Union Sunday evening.

METRO

Early voting sites taking extra measures in midst of coronavirus

By Anna Wilder | Mar. 11, 2020

4,700 people have voted early so far this year

NEWS | NATIONAL

WHO declares that virus crisis is now a pandemic

By Nicole Winfield | Mar. 11, 2020

ROME (AP) — Expressing alarm both about mounting infections and slow government responses, the World Health Organization declared Wednesday that the global coronavirus crisis is now a pandemic but also said it's not too late for countries to act.

The official UF account combines Gator content with popular TikTok trends.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

TikTok trends are “Fabulous”

By Julia Collins | Mar. 11, 2020

How TikTok, a UF attendee and Phineas and Ferb all came together

River Phoenix was the frontman of Gainesville alternative rock band Aleka's Attic.

THE AVENUE | MOVIES AND TV

River Phoenix: old haunts and movements

By Christopher S. Cann | Mar. 11, 2020

The actor, musician and activist lived in Alachua County for five years

EmoProm will take place at High Dive Saturday night following the Original Gainesville Food Truck Rally.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

An Emo Night to Remember

By Chloe Greenberg | Mar. 11, 2020

High Dive hosts Gainesville’s first EmoProm

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., speaks before introducing Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at a campaign rally in Springfield, Va., Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Muslims have concerns for safety, policy in primary election

By Samia Lagmis | Mar. 10, 2020

78 percent of Muslim Americans approved of President Obama

Fayetteville State University students and members of the Black Voters Matter organization at the Smith Recreation Center polling site in Fayetteville, N.C., on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Fayetteville State students were there to vote in North Carolina's Super Tuesday primaries. (Paul Woolverton/The Fayetteville Observer via AP)

NEWS | CAMPUS

What do black UF students want from presidential candidates?

By Samantha Chery | Mar. 10, 2020

Older black voters appeared to favor former Vice President Joe Biden on Super Tuesday

Michell Hernandez, a 22-year-old UF microbiology and cell science senior, and Saira Gonzalez, an 18-year-old UF anthropology sophomore, work with UF Chispas. Both are DACA recipients, and Hernandez is co-president, while Gonzalez is the assistant membership director.

NEWS | CAMPUS

These UF students can’t vote. But they want others to cast their ballot this election season.

By AJ Bafer | Mar. 10, 2020

DACA recipients and international students weigh in on the upcoming primary election

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators hoping for redemption as they eye SEC Tournament

By Evan Lepak | Mar. 10, 2020

The Southeastern Conference Tournament in Nashville is set to tip-off on Wednesday — at least for now.

UF pitcher Nick Pogue picked up his first loss of the season Tuesday night. He allowed one earned run and four hits in three innings of work.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida nonexistent at the plate in its first loss of the season

By Joseph Salvador | Mar. 10, 2020

With a season-high 5,276 fans packed into McKethan Stadium, it was as loud as it has been all season during the ranked matchup between Florida and Florida State.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Three Gators honored on SEC end-of-year teams

By Kyle Wood | Mar. 10, 2020

Florida was well-represented on a pair of lists denoting the top players in the SEC.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Kavanagh, Harris, Bresnahan sink Navy at the ‘Diz’

By Christian Ortega | Mar. 10, 2020

It started with her — and the game’s — first goal.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Adams, Lindaman down Penn in midweek contest

By Graham Marsh | Mar. 10, 2020

Defense wins championships and midweek matchups.

NEWS

President Donald Trump took a lot of flack recently for comments

Mar. 10, 2020

President Donald Trump took a lot of flack recently for comments he made about the coronavirus outbreak, including an assertion that because the illness caused by the virus is mild in most cases, many “go to work, but get better.”

NEWS | CAMPUS

First case of coronavirus confirmed in Alachua County; officials await other tests results

By Hannah Phillips , Alexandra DeLuca and Alex De Luca | Mar. 10, 2020

An unknown number of lab tests are still pending

Diane McFarlin, the dean of UF's College of Journalism and Communications, was named a member of Florida Trend Magazine’s Florida 500 list. She attributes her success to the team she works with.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF College of Journalism and Communications dean announces retirement

By Stephany Matat | Mar. 9, 2020

Diane McFarlin, the dean of the UF College of Journalism and Communications, took over the position in January 2013. She’s been the dean for seven years after a long career in newspapers.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Takeaways from Mullen’s first spring presser

By Brendan Farrell | Mar. 9, 2020

Florida coach Dan Mullen made his first appearance of the spring since National Signing Day in February on Monday alongside a handful of players. Mullen discussed a wide range of topics, but here are three takeaways:

The Accent Speakers Bureau announced Monday that Andrew Yang will speak at UF March 16.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang is making a stop. But it’s not on the campaign trail.

By AJ Bafer | Mar. 9, 2020

Andrew Yang, a former Democratic candidate, will speak in March, the UF Accent Speaker’s Bureau announced Monday. This comes a semester after Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle spoke at UF and were paid $50,000 in student fees.

Crew members swab down Florida's House floor at the state Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla., Monday, March 9, 2020, after several members voluntarily submitted themselves for testing of a new strain of coronavirus. The Florida House abruptly recessed Monday afternoon and cleared public galleries after several of its members agreed to be tested for the new strain of coronavirus after recently attending a political event in Washington where one attendee tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Bobby Caina Calvan)

METRO

Virus threat: Florida governor declares state of emergency

By Caina Calvan | Mar. 9, 2020

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Swift-moving developments over the new coronavirus ricocheted across Florida's Capitol as Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency Monday and lawmakers disrupted their legislative session so crews in surgical gowns could swab down the House chambers.

COVID-19