COVID-19 - The Independent Florida Alligator

POTUS at the Hippodrome Theatre Picture by Michael A Eaddy – Left to right Kelly Atkins*^ as Jean and Sophia Paige as Dusty

The Avenue

‘I am woman, hear me roar’: ‘POTUS’ debuts at the Hippodrome

By Bonny Matejowsky | Sep. 12, 2023

The Hippodrome’s latest production subverts the idea of an orderly presidential office from the moment the play begins when a four-letter expletive reverberates through the theater’s halls, kicking off an unapologetically witty and feminist performance. The theater debuted the first show of its 51st season, “POTUS: Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive,” Sept. 6.

Santa Fe College President Paul Broadie II stands next to Sen. Keith Perry at the groundbreaking ceremony Monday, Sept. 11, 2023.

University

Santa Fe College hosts ‘groundbreaking’ event honoring longtime supporter

By Bailey Diem | Sep. 11, 2023

A parking lot across from the Santa Fe College Gymnasium will soon be home to a new institute for skilled trades commemorating Ralph Wilson Cellon Jr., who has dedicated both time and money to the college. Administrators, elected officials and students gathered at the designated plot Monday to honor the upcoming building’s namesake in a ceremonial groundbreaking.

University

Sasse announces vice president for PK-12, pre-bachelors programs

By Garrett Shanley | Sep. 11, 2023

UF President Ben Sasse announced Penny Schwinn as the inaugural vice president for PK-12 and pre-bachelors programs in a press release Monday.

Opinion

Florida's divisive legislation of 2023: A comprehensive recap

By Paulina Trujillo | Sep. 11, 2023

Understanding all of Florida’s legislation is overwhelming; bills pass during a short period and it seems there is too much to keep up with. However, it is crucial to know how legislation is currently impacting Floridians. A few notable policy areas for the 2023 legislative session include abortion, gender-affirming care and immigration.

Opinion

New Florida legislation combats left-wing agenda

By Michael Andre | Sep. 11, 2023

The legislation written about in this article, all hot-button issues, serve to 1) protect and defend the most innocent and vulnerable; 2) afford eligible American citizens unfettered access to a constitutional privilege; and 3) stave off the smuggling of drugs, humans and the resulting violence occurring at the U.S. southern crossings. In truth, we should all like to see legislation advance across the states, in one form or another.

Midpoint Park & Eatery offers a family-friendly outdoor dining area with a variety of food trucks to choose from on Sept. 2, 2023.

The Avenue

Food truck owners discuss ups and downs of the booming industry

By Alexandra Burns | Sep. 11, 2023

From juice bars to funnel cakes to Venezuelan-styled sandwiches, food trucks provide easy access to various dishes and flavors and introduce new cultures and cooking styles to customers.

The Avenue

Jewish Gators provided with a ‘home away from home’ for the High Holidays

By Molly Seghi | Sep. 11, 2023

Picture this: crisp apples bathed in sweet honey, a ram’s horn blown like a trumpet and the head of a fish served on a dinner plate. These objects all act as cultural symbols of the upcoming Jewish High Holidays.

Board member of the Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative Ethan Maia de Needell speaks at the GINI Anniversary celebration at the Matheson History Museum on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. Ethan Maia de Needell, miembro de la junta de Inclusión de Vecinos Inmigrantes de Gainesville [Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion], habla en la celebración del aniversario de GINI en el Museo de Historia de Matheson el viernes 8 de septiembre de 2023.

El Caimán

Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative celebrates third anniversary

By Nicole Beltran | Sep. 11, 2023

The Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative, led by the Rural Women’s Health Project, provides opportunities for local immigrants and Gainesville residents looking to support their immigrant community with language access, inclusion initiatives and more.

El Caimán

La Iniciativa de Inclusión de Vecinos Inmigrantes de Gainesville celebra su tercer aniversario

By Nicole Beltran | Sep. 11, 2023

El Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative [Iniciativa de Inclusión de Vecinos Inmigrantes de Gainesville], dirigida por el Rural Women’s Health Project [Proyecto de Salud de Mujeres Rurales], brinda oportunidades para inmigrantes locales y residentes de Gainesville que buscan apoyar a su comunidad de inmigrantes con acceso lingüístico, iniciativas de inclusión y más.

Human Rights Coalition Volunteer, Beatriz, checks in Alachua county residents arriving at Westminster Presbyterian Church to receive their community IDs on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. Beatriz, voluntaria de la Coalición de Derechos Humanos, registra a los residentes del condado de Alachua que llegan a la Iglesia Presbiteriana de Westminster para recibir sus identificaciones comunitarias el miércoles, 6 de Septiembre de 2023.

El Caimán

Local non-profit program provides community IDs to Alachua residents in need

By Eluney Gonzalez | Sep. 11, 2023

A congregation filed into the Westminster Presbyterian Church not to pray, but to receive valuable identification cards. The local non-profit Human Rights Coalition of Alachua County hosts short, appointment-driven events at least once a month since it established the Community ID Program. They continue to hold these drive-bys twice a month.

The Avenue

UF PhD student discovers record-breaking number of sea turtle nests at Disney Conservation

By Jared Teitel | Sep. 11, 2023

For the past six months, Rachel Smith and her team of conservationists at Disney Conservation loaded into their ATVs at first light and ventured along the scruffy sands and past the warm waters of the Disney Vero Beach Resort. As she travels further down the 5-mile stretch, she closely watches for footprints left behind by sea turtles in the peak of their nesting season.

El Caimán

Un programa sin fines de lucro local proporciona identificaciones comunitarias a residentes necesitados de Alachua

By Eluney Gonzalez | Sep. 11, 2023

El programa local sin fines de lucro Human Rights Coalition of Alachua County [Coalición de Derechos Humanos Del Condado de Alachua] organiza eventos breves y programados al menos una vez al mes desde que establecieron el Programa de Identificación Comunitaria. Continúa realizando estos eventos dos veces al mes.

University

Navigating freshmen fall: UF’s mental, emotional resources for students

By Megan Howard | Sep. 11, 2023

There are many resources available to freshmen students to help them adjust to college life. Resources for freshmen include the CWC, resident assistants and student organizations.

Adam Steinberg jogs on the court during the Gators' practice on Friday, August 25, 2023 at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville, Florida.

Sports

Florida men's tennis head coach aims for 13th SEC title

By Krisha Sanghavi | Sep. 11, 2023

After 11 successful seasons, former head coach Bryan Shelton stepped down to spend more time coaching his son, Ben Shelton, who reached the semifinal of the US Open Sept. 8. Three weeks after Bryan Shelton stepped down, UF Athletic Director Scott Stricklin hired Steinberg for the upcoming season.

Opinion

Navigating the Grey Areas of Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric: Can We Disagree Without Demonizing?

Sep. 11, 2023

UF College Republicans hosted Christian preacher Derek Paul as the speaker for their first meeting of the semester Sept. 6. Paul identifies himself as an “ex-gay” who overcame his same-sex attraction through the Christian faith. As a queer woman who was once religious, a lot of emotions and thoughts came up at the prospect of writing about his speech. I was angry, confused and asked myself a lot of questions.

The Florida Gators defeated the McNeese State Cowboys in their first home game of the season in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

Sports

Florida finally tastes victory in Tennessee tuneup

By Topher Adams | Sep. 11, 2023

The Florida Gators (1-1) cruised past the McNeese State Cowboys (0-2) 49-7 Sept. 9. The win snapped a four-game Florida skid and secured the Gators’ first victory of the season. Head coach Billy Napier was pleased with his team’s performance in the commanding win.

Metro

Local front-yard ‘fresh eggs’ box delights neighborhood

By Zoey Thomas | Sep. 11, 2023

Michelle Castronover wasn’t keen on owning chickens. But when her husband and daughter asked to build a coop as a “COVID project,” the 49-year-old Shell Elementary teacher agreed. Three years later, the Castronovers own 10 chickens — the maximum allowed to residents by Gainesville’s Fowl, Chickens or Livestock Code — and share their eggs with the neighborhood through the “fresh eggs” box standing on the edge of their front lawn, which they restock regularly with six- and nine-egg-sized boxes. The coop is just one of the family’s backyard sustainability projects, along with a greenhouse and butterfly garden.

Opinion

UF’s AI vision: A policy of buzzwords

By Ronin Lupien | Sep. 11, 2023

We call ourselves an AI university. The artificial intelligence page of the UF website claims we are on the brink of a fourth digital revolution. The page — singularly focused on our AI policy and research — highlights specific uses of the technology. The highlights given should be an example of how the president can reshape his communications. The information is there, he just needs to communicate it.

University

UF Student Government has new parties: Vision and Pizza

By Vivienne Serret | Sep. 11, 2023

In the Fall, students elect district representatives senators who represent students per their dorm or off-campus district. Students will get to vote for Change Party, Gator Party, Vision Party and Pizza Party in the upcoming election cycle.

Third grade teacher Alayna Schwenker sits on a hand-made bench in the library corner of her classroom at Stephen Foster Elementary School Sept. 8, 2023.

Metro

Teachers spend up to thousands on classroom supplies

By Alissa Gary | Sep. 11, 2023

Teachers across Alachua County Public Schools and throughout the country spend from hundreds to thousands of dollars each year buying school supplies, class decorations, cleaning supplies and snacks for their students — most of which can’t be purchased using district-allocated supply funds. Among the ACPS teachers who talked to The Alligator, the average amount spent out-of-pocket was between $1,460 and $2,500, with the lowest estimate being $100 and the highest being $10,000.