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Opinion

Book banning is politics, not protection

By Amanda Lacy | Feb. 29, 2024

The dreaded inevitable has finally happened. We have an ever-growing list of book challenges at Eastside High School. School libraries — bastions of diversity, enrichment, inclusion and democracy — are under attack. There’s not much I can say that hasn’t already been said. I have no words to magically shift the momentum of this legislation. Still, I can no longer remain silent.

A mostly deserted evening along Newell Drive at the University of Florida’s Gainesville campus on Tuesday, July 22, 2021. The upcoming fall semester will see tens of thousands of students return to Gainesville, although an increase in the number of delta variant COVID-19 infections raises concerns about viral spread among unvaccinated people.

News

UF jumps to no. 2 spot for number of Fulbright scholars

By Sydney Johnson | Feb. 29, 2024

If a poet, athlete, music enthusiast and novice ping pong player were gathered into a room, it may seem like they wouldn't have much in common.

Malachowsky Hall stands on Museum Road on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023.

News

Email reprimanding napping students at Malachowsky Hall brings backlash

By Delia Rose Sauer | Feb. 29, 2024

On Feb. 7, around 50 students received an email whose first line read, “We appreciate how hard our faculty and students work, but it’s Malachowsky Hall, not Malachowsky Hotel.”

Senior guard Leilani Correa holds possession against a Razorback defender during the Gators' 85-81 win over Arkansas, Thursday, February 8.

Sports

Florida’s comeback effort against Alabama falls short in final minutes

By Jack Meyer | Feb. 29, 2024

The Gators (14-13, 5-10 SEC) dropped a 76-73 loss to the Crimson Tide (22-8, 9-6 SEC) on Thursday evening. After trailing for the vast majority of the ball game, Florida nearly strung together a last-second comeback in the fourth quarter, but to no avail.

Student Body Treasurer-elect Saketh Damera reacts to a Vision Party victory in the Spring 2024 UF Student Government election at the Reitz Union on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.

News

Vision Party wins Spring 2024 executive ticket, majority Senate seats

By Alligator Staff report | Feb. 28, 2024

Vision Party swept the executive ticket of the Spring 2024 Student Government election, electing John Brinkman as student body president. Laura Thomas and Saketh Damera, both from Vision, will serve as vice president and treasurer.

Gators baseball freshman left-hander Robert Satin pitches the ball in the team's 13-4 win over the University of North Florida on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

Sports

Florida cruises past Bethune-Cookman to wrap up midweek slate

By Luke Adragna | Feb. 28, 2024

Florida got back on schedule and cruised past Bethune-Cookman Wednesday night. The Gators are set for an in-state matchup with Miami over the weekend.

Junior guard Walter Clayton Jr. shoots at the buzzer in the the Gators' 83-74 win over the Missouri Tigers.

News

Samuel shines as Florida claims seventh-straight win on home court

By Max Tucker | Feb. 28, 2024

The No. 24 Florida Gators men’s basketball team (20-8, 10-5 SEC) defended its home court at Exactech Arena 83-74 on its way to handing the Missouri Tigers (8-20, 0-15 SEC) Wednesday.

A student attends the second day of voting for the UF Student Government election at Heavener Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.

News

Students await results of Spring 2024 Student Government elections

By Alligator Staff report | Feb. 28, 2024

Students had the opportunity to vote for student body president, student body vice president and student body treasurer, along with 50 Senate seats. Tuesday brought out 6,740 student votes, Supervisor of Elections Ethan Halle said. Total votes and results will be announced in the Reitz Union Wednesday night.

Senior midfielder Madison Waters goes to pass the ball in the Florida lacrosse team's 21-4 win over Jacksonville University on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.

Sports

Florida lacrosse cruises past Jacksonville University 21-4

By Lacey Rogers | Feb. 28, 2024

The No. 11 Gators lacrosse team crushed Jacksonville University 21-4 in Florida’s first home game of the regular season, Wednesday.

Florida baseball head coach Kevin O'Sullivan visits the mound in the Gators' win over Columbia University on Saturday, February 24, 2024.

Sports

Florida edged by Stetson in first road loss

By Luke Adragna | Feb. 27, 2024

The Gators baseball team fell to the Stetson Hatters 7-4 in its first road loss of the year, Tuesday.

Students attend the first day of voting for the UF Student Government election at the Reitz Union on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024.

News

Over 6,700 students vote in first day of Student Government elections

By Alligator Staff report | Feb. 27, 2024

Students gathered Tuesday at polling locations across campus to cast their ballots for the Student Government executive ticket and 50 Student Senate seats. Tuesday brought out 6,740 student votes, Supervisor of Elections Ethan Halle said. It’s about 1,000 votes fewer than the first day of Spring 2023 elections, which brought out 7,619 students.

Florida redshirt freshman Matthew Kress swings his club during the Southeastern Conference Championships Thursday, April 20, 2023. / Photo by Leslie White

Sports

Florida men’s golf finishes fourth at the Southern Highlands Collegiate

By Hannah Getman | Feb. 27, 2024

After two days of waiting, junior Ian Gilligan finally saw his opportunity to secure his first win as a Florida Gator. After ending rounds 1 and 2 behind Missouri senior Jack Lundin, Gilligan was ready to fight out the final round and secure first place.

Gainesville Chief Climate Officer Dan Zhu held an open discussion with a group of citizens and activists at a Climate Action Plan meeting on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024.

Metro

Gainesville chief climate officer presents update on City Climate Action Plan

By Kylie Williams | Feb. 27, 2024

The Climate Reality Project and local activists met Monday afternoon to hear an update on Gainesville’s climate action plan from Chief Climate Officer Dan Zhu. The city official outlined the plan and focused on two main aspects: adaptation and mitigation.

Gainesville Chief of Police Lonnie Scott speaks about the K9 unit during the city commission’s special meeting Wednesday, Nov 16, 2022.

Metro

Gainesville police chief Lonnie Scott resigns

By Daniel Bednar | Feb. 26, 2024

Gainesville Police Department Chief Lonnie Scott submitted his letter of resignation to Gainesville City Manager Cynthia Curry Monday, saying he would rather resign than be fired by the city manager.

Florida right-handed pitcher Ava Brown subbed in the fifth inning during the Gators’ 8-0 win over UIC, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.

Sports

Florida softball's new pitching staff finds early success

By Hailey Hurst | Feb. 26, 2024

During the 2023 season, the Gators softball pitching staff struggled. The staff had a 3.69 ERA, and the team faltered in SEC play, in part due to the pitching. The Gators ranked second-to-last in the category, ahead of Kentucky. In June, the team decided to move on from former pitching coach Mike Bosch, who had been with the team since 2018. To replace Bosch, Florida went with Chelsey Dobbins. Dobbins had been with the University of North Carolina for the past eight years. This season under Dobbins, the staff has found success, recording a 0.48 ERA in the team’s first 17 games.

A man walks through the homeless encampment Southeast Fourth Place on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.

Enterprise

Gainesville homeless population struggles with encampment sweeps, lack of options

By Diego Perdomo | Feb. 26, 2024

The attention around homelessness in Gainesville has heightened after recent sweeps on homeless encampments and city commission decisions to allocate 30 beds to GRACE Marketplace in the next 90 days, move $700,000 to homeless support services and prepare for the sale of the vacant Gainesville Fire Rescue station. House Bill 1365 aims to prevent city and county governments from allowing people to sleep in public. As the bill moves through the Florida Legislature, members of Gainesville’s homeless population, the city government and residents met Feb. 22 at a general policy meeting to discuss the city’s approach to these issues.

The DMV office at Butler Plaza on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024.

Metro

Florida ban barring residents from changing license gender marker gives ‘added injury to insult’ for Gainesville residents

By Bailey Diem | Feb. 26, 2024

As of Jan. 26, Florida residents are no longer able to change the gender marker on their state-issued driver’s licenses.

Florida Gators cheerleader Waleed Aref tosses Amrynne Hill during the team's practice on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024.

News

The men behind the megaphones

By Zoey Thomas | Feb. 26, 2024

The UF cheerleading team currently has 13 men and 24 women, divided into a combination of male-female stunt pairs and all-girl groups. The athletes spent most of the two-hour practice preparing for next month’s cheer tryout, during which they’ll do their best to recruit talented newcomers — and show up themselves to re-earn their spots on the team. But tryouts will be less competitive for some than others.

Newberry High School pictured on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.

Metro

Newberry Education First initiative divides Newberry community

By Megan Howard | Feb. 26, 2024

Newberry Education First initiative wants to convert the three Newberry schools into public charters under the guidance of community leaders. The initiative wants to ensure “excellent education, increased teacher pay and the same great sports and activities we all love,” according to its website.

Metro

UF spearheads nationwide effort to combat retail theft

By Daniel Bednar | Feb. 26, 2024

From Target to Topgolf, 85 of the nation’s largest retail stores rely on technology developed by the Gainesville-based Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) to deter shoplifting. The SaferPlaces Lab, a simulated storefront located at the UF Innovation Hub, is at the forefront of this nationwide initiative to protect retail shoppers financially and physically.