2 - The Independent Florida Alligator

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.

Nick Brigandi, a 28-year-old employee at Mother's Pub & Grill, pours a beer on Wednesday afternoon. Brigandi and other employees are preparing for all the business on St. Patrick's Day by wearing shirts from last year's festivities.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Where to celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day in Gainesville

By Ana-Katarina Stanic | Mar. 15, 2017

Check out these local favorites for events worth more than a pot of gold Friday. There is plenty going on around Gainesville to keep you busy all day and night, whether you’re going for the corned beef and cabbage or the green beer.

UF head coach Amanda Butler looks on during Florida's 84-75 loss to Ole Miss on Feb. 6, 2017, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Firing Butler was a tough call, but the correct one

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 14, 2017

I had been planning a column calling on UF athletics director Scott Stricklin to fire women’s basketball coach Amanda Butler for weeks. I was waiting until after the season ended — presumably with an early exit in the SEC Tournament — to write it. It was actually supposed to run in place of this column, but then it didn't need to.

Lindsey Ronbeck runs toward the goal during Florida's 14-4 loss to Maryland on March 19, 2016, at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Gators crush Orange behind career performance from Ronbeck

By Jake Dreilinger | Mar. 14, 2017

Sophomore attacker Lindsey Ronbeck received a pass from senior attacker Sammi Burgess while standing behind the net.

UF quarterback Luke Del Rio rides the bike during Florida's 13-6 win against Vanderbilt on Oct. 1, 2016, at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Del Rio to have shoulder surgery

Mar. 14, 2017

The most interesting thing Jim McElwain said at his press conference on Tuesday came toward the end. UF’s third-year coach had already been asked about the team’s injuries, its quarterback battle and every other pertinent thing when a question came up about why he liked to use athletes — like receiver Dre Massey and true freshman Kadarius Toney — at quarterback.

UF's Brooke Austin hits a backhand during Florida's 4-2 win against Oklahoma State on Feb. 18, 2017, at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators dominate singles play, beat No. 2 Ohio State

By Spencer Thompson | Mar. 14, 2017

With the doubles point on the line, Brooke Austin ran up the court, turned her arm and swung.

UF catcher Mark Kolozsvary rounds the bases after hitting a home run in Florida's 2-0 win against Miami on Feb. 25, 2017, at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators shut out Florida State at home

By Patrick Pinak | Mar. 14, 2017

Mark Kolozsvary tried to hold himself from swinging, but it was too late.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

At Senate, students call for Meyers' resignation while senators stand with him

By Paige Fry | Mar. 14, 2017

Smith Meyers' Key West arrest smeared UF's reputation and is grounds for resignation, a group of UF students argued during a Student Senate meeting on Tuesday.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

APD: Gas station clerk steals lotto tickets, cash

By Meryl Kornfield | Mar. 14, 2017

A Kangaroo gas station clerk ran out of luck Monday when he was arrested for stealing about $1,364 worth of winnings from lottery tickets, Alachua Police said.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

APD: Man drives drunkenly, urinates on himself twice

By Meryl Kornfield | Mar. 14, 2017

After being pulled over for driving drunkenly on the wrong side of a highway, a Newberry man urinated his pants in front of a police car, Alachua Police said.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF offers $500 cash prizes for taking campus survey

By Romy Ellenbogen | Mar. 14, 2017

UF wants to know how students really feel and its willing to shell out $500 cash prizes for insight about the university.

From left: Lisa Marshall congratulates David Arreola, 26, on his District 3 win Tuesday night at a results watch party at Blue Gills Quality Foods.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Warren, Democrats celebrate city commission victories

Mar. 14, 2017

In the wake of the low voter turnout in Tuesday’s local commission election, three commission candidates celebrated their victories as election officials began to look for ways to increase turnout.

Anthony Rojas (front), a 21-year-old third-year political science major who organized the protest against student body president Smith Myers, tries to speak to a crowd while counter-protesters hold signs behind him and other protesters.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Protest for Meyers’ resignation overpowered by counter-protesters

By Paige Fry | Mar. 14, 2017

The debate over Smith Meyers' future as a Student Government official spilled onto Turlington Plaza on Tuesday.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UPD: UF transportation worker wrote fraudulent checks

By Meryl Kornfield | Mar. 14, 2017

A UF Transportation and Parking Services employee was arrested Monday for cashing $8,401.75 in fraudulent checks she had written to herself, Univeristy Police said.

COVID-19