COVID-19 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Metro

Gainesville City Commission votes to implement downtown entertainment district, open-container alcohol ordinance

By Kat Tran | Sep. 17, 2023

The City Commission voted 4-3 Thursday to reinstate the open-container alcohol ordinance, which prohibits public consumption of alcoholic beverages. In addition to the first ordinance, which will bring back open container restrictions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City Commission voted 6-1 to create an entertainment district for downtown Gainesville.

Florida redshirt freshman Matthew Kress putts the ball in the VyStar Credit Union Gators Invitational Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.

Sports

Gators finish ninth in first Fall tournament

By Max Tucker | Sep. 17, 2023

The Florida Gators Men’s Golf team had their first tournament of the 2023-24 season this weekend. The team hit the road to travel to Olympia Fields Country Club in Chicago for the Fighting Illini Invitational. UF finished the tournament ninth out of 15 teams that competed.

Sophomore cornerback Devin Moore returns his first career interception in the Florida Gators' 29-16 win against the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.

Sports

Florida suffocates Volunteers in upset rivalry win

By Topher Adams | Sep. 16, 2023

The Florida Gators (2-1, 1-0 SEC) defeated the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers (2-1, 0-1 SEC) 29-16 Saturday night in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. UF used a 20-point second quarter to race to an insurmountable first-half lead and secure head coach Billy Napier’s first win over a rival.

Florida Gators alternate white football helmet.

Sports

Freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson III out for the remainder of Tennessee game

By Jackson Reyes | Sep. 16, 2023

Gators freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson III will miss the remainder of Florida's game against the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers.

Sophomore running back Trevor Etienne runs the ball in the Gators' 49-7 win against the McNeese State Cowboys Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

Sports

Know Your Enemy: Tennessee Volunteers

By Jackson Reyes | Sep. 16, 2023

I sat down with Caleb Jarreau, the sports editor at The Daily Beacon, the independent student newspaper at the University of Tennessee, to break down the matchup.

The Gators volleyball team celebrates in Florida's 3-0 win against the Winthrop Eagles Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

Sports

No. 3 Florida seeks upset against No. 1 Wisconsin

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Sep. 16, 2023

The No. 3 Florida Gators (8-0) will look to take down the No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers (8-0) Sunday at home in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Both teams come to the match unbeaten. Florida has only dropped seven sets and Wisconsin has only been defeated in six so far into the 2023 season.

Sophomore forward Lauren McCloskey prepares to pass the ball in the Gators' 8-0 win against the Stetson Hatters Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023.

Sports

Florida fails to get back on track, drops first game of SEC play

By Austin Stirling | Sep. 15, 2023

The Florida Gators (4-2-2, 0-1 SEC) fell to the Missouri Tigers (5-1-2, 1-0 SEC) Friday night at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The Gators set a new record high in attendance for this first match of SEC play with 1,283 fans.

Cravings Campus Kitchen adorns indoor and outdoor seating as it sits on Fletcher Drive.

University

New campus dining hall holds mock opening in preparation for official opening date

By Jared Teitel | Sep. 15, 2023

Sitting directly next to Student Recreation and Fitness Center at 244 Fletcher Drive, a new dining hall on UF property might just become the go-to for post-workout grub as students and staff scurry to the nearest spot to satisfy their hunger.

Junior running back Montrell Johnson Jr. celebrates after he scored a rushing touchdown in the Gators' 49-7 win against the McNeese State Cowboys Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

Sports

Gators seek first signature win of 2023 against rivals Tennessee

By Luke Adragna | Sep. 15, 2023

The Volunteers (2-0) are the first Southeastern Conference opponent the Florida Gators (1-1) will play this season and are undefeated entering the weekend matchup. Tennessee hasn’t defeated Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, though, since 2003.

Enterprise

Hamilton Center hosts political thinkers for event

By Sophia Bailly | Sep. 15, 2023

The public event ‘Truth-Seeking and Democracy’ was co-sponsored by the African American Studies Program and Bob Graham Center for Civil Service. The speakers, Cornel West and Robert George, are known for their close friendship and widely different political ideologies.

Redshirt senior Allison Wilson points to the sky after she finished first for the Florida Gators in the Mountain Dew Invitational at Mark Bostick Golf Course Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

Sports

Gators Cross Country open their season with a top-3 finish for the men and women

By Isabella Morales | Sep. 15, 2023

After a two week hold on the season, Florida Gators running made their Fall 2023 debut on their home course at the Mountain Dew Invitational. Fifteen total colleges competed with all 15 competing on the men’s side and 14 on the women’s. This totaled to 178 runners in the men’s 7800 meter race and 139 in the women’s 3 mile, with Florida’s men’s team finishing in 3rd and the women’s in 1st.

Attendees watch the naming of Ada Rosenson Dorfeld Plaza outside of the Norman Hall College of Education on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023.

University

College of Education unveils Ada Rosenson Dorfeld Plaza

By Megan Howard | Sep. 15, 2023

The event, originally scheduled for Aug. 29, honored UF College of Education bachelor’s and master’s graduate Ada Dorfeld who is also a significant donor to the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholarship. Dorfeld died in March before she could see the unveiling of the plaza.

A Florida bag at Mark Bostick Golf Club in Gainesville, Florida. UF took home the hardware with a 21-under-par team performance at the Fighting Irish Classic.

Sports

Luke Poulter — son of pro golfer Ian Poulter — to make collegiate debut at Fighting Illini Invitational

By Max Tucker | Sep. 15, 2023

Friday will be Luke Poulter’s opportunity to embark on his own journey as he tees off for the first time as a Florida Gator.

The Hippodrome Theatre, located at 25 SE 2nd Place, will open its doors on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 for “Murder For Two,” one of the first in-person performances since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Avenue

‘Welcome to your cinema’: The Hippodrome Theatre celebrated its cinema’s reopening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday

By Alexandra Burns | Sep. 15, 2023

The Hippodrome Theatre — located at 25 SE 2nd Place — celebrated Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate its cinema’s reopening after its first major renovation since 1981.

Defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) has played just one game this season and could suit up for the first time since the Gators played Louisiana State on Sept. 13.

Sports

Young Gators defenders make the most of their playtime

By Jackson Reyes | Sep. 14, 2023

Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Jamari Lyons and redshirt sophomore linebacker Scooby Williams made their presence known in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Saturday.

The poster from ACCENT Speakers Bureau's announcement that John Green will speak at UF Sept. 26.

University

John Green to come to UF in two weeks

By Vivienne Serret | Sep. 14, 2023

ACCENT Speakers Bureau announced on its Instagram account the first event for the Fall semester, John Green. The event will take place Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. at the University Auditorium.

Metro

Stormwater management uses funding to install permanent piping and pump stations in Alachua County

By Ella Thompson | Sep. 13, 2023

James Link, Alachua County stormwater engineer, gave a stormwater update to the Alachua County Commission Tuesday afternoon on the effects of pump installations and future stormwater management projects. It’s been almost two years since the last stormwater update of this kind, Link said.

University

UF Student Government Senate approves nominees amid political tension

By Vivienne Serret | Sep. 13, 2023

With the recent tensions brought forth by campaign season and a new apportionment map, recent Senate meetings have fallen short of being considered productive. Senators have taken public comment as an opportunity to vent their frustrations into the mic — calling one another corrupt and disorganized.

Freshman outside hitter Kennedy Martin spikes the ball in the Gators' 3-0 win against the Winthrop Eagles Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

Sports

No. 3 Florida defeats FSU in rivalry match

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Sep. 12, 2023

The No. 3 Florida Gators (8-0) beat the Florida State Seminoles (5-4) 3-2 on the road in Tallahassee. Senior outside hitter AC Fitzpatrick led the way for UF with a career-high 18 kills.

UF golfer Maisie Filler on Monday, February 22, 2021 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville, FL / UAA Communications photo by Isabella Marley.

Sports

Gators finish top ten in first Fall tournament

By Max Tucker | Sep. 12, 2023

The Florida Gators women’s golf team began their season Monday. The team traveled to the Yeamans Hall Club in Charleston, South Carolina, for the Cougar Classic. UF finished the tournament seventh out of 17 teams that participated.