2 - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

The only March Madness bracket I care about is Kanye’s

Mar. 19, 2019

Every year, basketball fans fill out a March Madness bracket in an attempt to predict the future and win an insurmountable amount of money. Around this time of year, I usually look at my sports-obsessed friends who have the basketball knowledge to fill out those cool-looking, debate-starting brackets and think to myself, “Darn, I wish I cared or knew enough about basketball to fill out one of those.” Then, last year came the Kanye bracket; now my bracket-filling cravings are satisfied with so many non-sports related brackets to choose from.

Elise Selah, Storm Tracy and Lauren Crandall act out a scene from “White Guy on the Bus,” a play by Bruce Graham being put on by the UF School of Theatre and Dance. Showings for the play will begin March 21 in the McGuire Pavilion Black Box Theatre.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

A mirror up to nature: ‘White Guy on the Bus’

By Sara Han Avenue Staff Writer | Mar. 19, 2019

Expect “White Guy on the Bus” to open eyes and open discussion. It does not provide answers, but it does raise a lot of questions.

Ambulance staff take a man from outside a mosque in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, March 15, 2019. A witness says many people have been killed in a mass shooting at a mosque in the New Zealand city of Christchurch.(AP Photo/Mark Baker)

OPINION | COLUMNS

Why everyone should take the New Zealand mosque attacks personally

Mar. 19, 2019

It is hard for bad news to surprise me nowadays. Headline after headline summarizing tragedies and horrific events are nothing new. When I read about these bad things happening, I usually feel very removed from the situation. I understand their negative effects, and my heart aches for all of the hate in the world. However, something about it does not seem real without seeing it happen firsthand. My life continues, and nothing changes. Gun control laws are not tightened, the country’s faulty socioeconomic system prevails and the depressing articles keep pouring in. I have almost reached the point of utter hopelessness.

Photo by Jonathan Cosens - JCP on Unsplash

OPINION | COLUMNS

Cable TV is becoming more provocative. Here’s why.

Mar. 19, 2019

Whatever happened to television shows like “Little House on the Prairie” and “That’s So Raven”? Shows that are sweet and often have a happy ending. Nowadays, if someone turns on the television, networks are most likely playing some type of provocative show. For example, the first episode of “Enemy of the State” involved at least four murders. All of this led me to think: Is television becoming too violent and sexual?

Ibrahim Ragab, a 21-year-old biology senior, closes his eyes Monday during a moment of prayer at a memorial for the victims of the New Zealand mosque shootings. “I’m Muslim and I wanted to empathize with my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters who have lost their lives in such a tragic way,” he said.

NEWS | CAMPUS

‘We’re all human’: UF mourns loss of 50 victims in Christchurch shooting

By Kelly Hayes | Mar. 18, 2019

About 150 people attended the vigil.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Man involved with Richard Spencer shooting sentenced to 5 years

By Josephine Fuller | Mar. 18, 2019

He pleaded guilty

Matthew Diaz, a 21-year-old political science third year, hands a rose and thank you card Monday to Shameer Boursiquot, an 18-year-old aerospace engineering first year, to give to a bus driver for the RTS Driver Appreciation event. “I ride the bus nearly every day to and from school, and it’s always been something I’m really grateful for,” Diaz said.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Students show bus drivers love on RTS Driver Appreciation Day

By Mikayla Carroll | Mar. 18, 2019

Students gifted their regular bus driver with a thank-you note and flowers.

Catcher Kendyl Lindaman hit a grand slam to give the Gators the 4-1 lead in the seventh inning. Florida topped Mississippi State 4-3 on Saturday.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Gators lose two straight series for first time since 2011

By Mark Stine | Mar. 18, 2019

UF second baseman Hannah Adams stabbed at a ground ball with her glove hand, attempting to backhand the softball. She dropped it, picked it up and threw to first in attempt to beat the runner, Amber Serrett.

Students and other passengers walk toward a RedCoach bus to begin boarding Thursday afternoon at the Commuter Lot as UF will begin its Spring Break this upcoming week.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Foundation testing at new UF parking garage will begin

By Lakshmi Gomez | Mar. 18, 2019

Loud explosions may set off nearby car alarms

FILE- In this March 5, 2019 file photo, Florida Gov. Ron Desantis gives his state of the state address on the first day of the legislative session in Tallahassee, Fla. De Santis has pushed for a repeal to Florida's ban on smokable medical marijuana. The Senate passed a bill Thursday, March 7, 2019, that repeals the ban, and now the House takes up that legislation Wednesday. It's the first major action by lawmakers this year, largely because DeSantis gave them a mid-March deadline to get it done. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon, File)

METRO

Gov. Ron DeSantis signs smokable medical marijuana bill into law

By The Associated Press | Mar. 18, 2019

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida's ban on the use of smokable medical marijuana by eligible patients ended Monday when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill repealing it.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

This week in the stars: Poetry edition

By Jackie DeFreitas | Mar. 18, 2019

This week, we take a less serious approach to the stars with these haikus. Like the poetry often seen on Instagram and Snapchat, these haikus are part horoscope and part joke: Enjoy!

Oliver Crawford is coming off a match in which he beat the No. 2 player in the country in Wake Forest's Petros Chrysochos.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

UF sweeps weekend with win over Tennessee

By Noah Ram | Mar. 17, 2019

The No. 8 Gators men’s tennis team did something on Sunday it hadn’t done in nine years: Start SEC play 5-0.

Pitcher Natalie Lugo gave up three solo home runs in three innings in the Gators 3-0 loss to Tennessee on Saturday.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Gators hammered by LSU in run-rule loss

By Mark Stine | Mar. 17, 2019

UF outfielder Jade Caraway tracked a high, fly ball to the left-field wall in the bottom of the fifth inning. She leaped up and stretched her glove over the wall to attempt a home-run rob.

Florida midfielder Shannon Kavanagh (left) is second on the Gators with 24 draw controls this season and is the main option for the draw circle. “The draw circle is where the game is won and lost, for the most part,” coach Amanda O’Leary said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Gators welcome eighth-ranked Princeton

By Bryan Matamoros | Mar. 17, 2019

Players on the Florida women’s lacrosse team made their way toward senior goalkeeper Haley Hicklen as she walked off the field after Saturday’s loss to No. 3 North Carolina.

Senior guard KeVaughn Allen scored 17 points in the Gators 64-60 win over Missouri on Saturday.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida is in for tough challenge in West Region of NCAA Tournament

By Alanis Thames | Mar. 17, 2019

The Florida men’s basketball team has finally reached its destination.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Chiefland men accused of car burglary spree in Gainesville

By Taylor Girtman | Mar. 17, 2019

They stole about $3,152.79 in items

Victoria Emma (pitcured) and her doubles partner McCartney Kessler have won in doubles in four straight matches.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida upsets Tennessee in Gainesville

By Victor Prieto | Mar. 17, 2019

Victoria Emma was getting frustrated.

Florida designated hitter Nelson Maldonado went 5 for 11 during UF's weekend series against Mississippi State.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Bulldogs too tough a test for young UF squad

By Kyle Wood | Mar. 17, 2019

The Florida baseball team hoped its 20-run outing against FSU was a sign of things to come. Instead, the Gators struggled mightily against Michigan State's elite pitching staff.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

18-year-old accused of hitting teen with handgun

By Josephine Fuller | Mar. 17, 2019

He has a $170,000 bond

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Man accused of keeping 211 grams of marijuana in USPS box

By Josephine Fuller | Mar. 17, 2019

Small plastic baggies and two scales were also found

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