2 - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels: March 17, 2017

Mar. 16, 2017

Ah, St. Patrick’s Day. The day when most Americans will proudly thump their chests, claim distant Irish heritage (yes, we get it Karen, your great-great-great-great grand-mother was Irish) and raise a pint to the air, singing what they think sounds like an Irish folk song. There may be shamrocks and green glitter involved. If you’re trapped in lecture and counting down the hours to your own St. Patty’s Day celebration, take a moment to prepare your toasts for tonight and go over this week’s...

UF's Alfredo Perez hits a backhand during Florida's 4-0 win against UNC Wilmington on Jan. 28, 2017, at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Perez, Gators gaining momentum in SEC play

By Mark Stine | Mar. 15, 2017

The University of Florida men’s tennis team captured a much-needed win over then-No. 23 South Carolina on Sunday. Heading into its matchup with the Gamecocks, the team had lost four out of its last five matches.

UF pitcher Alex Faedo throws a pitch during Florida's 5-4 win against William & Mary on Feb. 17, 2017, at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Column: Even if the offense doesn’t come around, Florida baseball will be just fine

By Patrick Pinak | Mar. 15, 2017

Even if the offense doesn’t come around, Florida baseball will be just fine.

UF gymnast Alex McMurtry sprints during a routine in Florida's win against Missouri on Feb. 24, 2017, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gymnastics team adjusting to podium

By Lauren Staff | Mar. 15, 2017

When she’s competing, Alex McMurtry feeds off of the energy of her team and the crowd.

Janell Wheaton notched a walk-off walk to seal the game for the Gators early Friday morning.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

UF shuts out North Dakota State

By Skyler Lebron | Mar. 15, 2017

In the season opener against Illinois State, junior catcher Janell Wheaton totalled two hits in three at-bats. But over the next 15 games, Wheaton only mustered two hits, and at one point in the season her batting average dipped under .100.

UF forward Justin Leon walks on the court during Florida's 93-54 win against Missouri on Feb. 2, 2017, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Like his mom, Florida forward Justin Leon took the hard road

By Matt Brannon | Mar. 15, 2017

Before Justin Leon takes the court, before he slips on his No. 23 jersey, before the arena doors open and Florida basketball fans flood in, his mom is awake in Arkansas.

Members of UF’s Young Americans for Freedom pose in front of a sign advertising their socialist bake sale on Turlington Plaza on Wednesday. Members of the student organization sold cookies and doughnuts, giving some away, to point out the issues with socialism.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Students host anti-socialism bake sale on Turlington Plaza

By Molly Vossler | Mar. 15, 2017

UF students held an unconventional bake sale on Wednesday, one that attempted to point out the flaws of socialism.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Florida ranked No. 1 for higher education in US

By Jimena Tavel | Mar. 15, 2017

When UF student Sarah Nguyen thinks of Florida’s universities, her mind quickly jumps to athletic programs, not necessarily academics.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Police: Man caught peeking into sorority

By Meryl Kornfield | Mar. 15, 2017

Gainesville Police arrested a local man Tuesday night after witnesses saw him peeking through the windows of a UF sorority house.

A video camera catches an unknown man stealing a painting from the wall of Flaco’s Cuban Bakery. The painting of a rhino was returned almost two weeks later to the front door of the restaurant.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Flaco’s painting returned

By Meryl Kornfield | Mar. 15, 2017

Flaco’s Cuban Bakery was closed for the night when employees spotted a white trash bag by the front door Wednesday.

Members of Project GATOR test their “subjugator” underwater robot in a pool by Graham Hall. The group received a $6,000 grant from the U.S. Department of State to help build the machine, which searches for abandoned crab fishing traps.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF student, alumni to use robot in search of crab traps

By Romy Ellenbogen | Mar. 15, 2017

A UF student and two alumni are hoping to use an underwater robot to locate abandoned crab fishing traps strewn across the ocean floor.

NEWS | CAMPUS

SNL’s Kenan Thompson to perform standup at UF

By Romy Ellenbogen | Mar. 15, 2017

Two current Saturday Night Live cast members are bringing their comedy chops to the O’Connell Center for a free show March 22.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

A message to the Student Body

Mar. 15, 2017

We’ve received some complaints saying we as a newspaper opinions section have been too ambivalent. This was in regards to Wednesday’s editorial, which was intended to view the Smith Meyers situation at a macro-scale. We wanted to highlight the domination

OPINION | COLUMNS

Let me ask you this: Why are you in college?

Mar. 15, 2017

One thing I learned quickly during my first few weeks on campus last year is that hardly anybody valued or enjoyed the mandatory class “What is the Good Life?” My teaching assistant for the class acknowledged this stigma himself on our first day of class. But he also posed to us a question, one that stopped me personally in my tracks. It was a simple question: Why are you in college?

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Electronic artists Eptic, Must Die!, more to perform tonight

By Natalie Rao | Mar. 15, 2017

Bass-heavy artists Eptic, Must Die! and Gentlemens Club are set to welcome students back from Spring Break with a concert tonight at the Florida Theatre, located at 233 W. University Ave.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Gainesville organization creates storytelling meetups

By Jeremy Haas | Mar. 15, 2017

Tonight, Gainesville-based storytelling group Self Narrate will be hosting one of its monthly meetups at Third House Books & Coffee from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This event will feature stories told live by Gainesville residents on the topic of leaving home. Each story will be approximately five minutes long.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Cuban festival Bulla Cubana showcases culture, theatre

By Taylor McLamb | Mar. 15, 2017

Bulla Cubana, a three-month festival of Cuban art and culture, is wrapping up this month after putting on events celebrating the country since January. The festival aims to start cultural conversation between Cuba and the North Central Florida region through food, film, music, visual art and the play “My Little Sister.”

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

New music you may have missed over break

By Mackenzie Duffy | Mar. 15, 2017

Ed Sheeran — ‘Divide’

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Folk singer City and Colour to perform in GNV this weekend

By Rebecca Rubin | Mar. 15, 2017

In his debut Gainesville performance, City and Colour is playing at the Florida Theatre on Sunday.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

The definitive senior bucket list for your last six weeks

By Kirsten Chuba | Mar. 15, 2017

If you’re graduating this semester, and you’re like me, you’re starting to panic about leaving behind everything Gainesville has to offer. Coming back from Spring Break made that impending diploma seem way too real, and now you may be looking to pack in everything you’ve wanted to do over the last four years into the last six weeks. Lucky for you, I’m here to round up all of the must-do activities you need to check off your bucket list before the end of April.

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