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Opinion
Inclusion isn’t a check mark
By Sophie Feinberg | July 25, 2018Everyone is a different person with different needs. Diversity and inclusion are important. In journalism, there are so many stories to tell. But often, some voices go unheard.
Opinion
Stand your ground stands for legal murder
By Layla Soboh | July 25, 2018Last week, a 5-year-old watched his father die in a gas station parking lot. The shooter, Michael Drejka, will likely face no charges because of Florida’s incredibly lax stand your ground law. The victim, Markeis McGlockton pushed Drejka to the floor after he came back from the inside of the gas station to find Drejka arguing with his girlfriend. Little did McGlockton know that making the mistake of pushing too hard as defense of his family would lead to his death. Drejka shot from the floor at McGlockton who as evidenced in a security video was not lunging at him after the first push.
Opinion
Rain is far more than a hardship for the homeless
By Stephan Chamberlin | July 25, 2018The drone of rain on the car roof is almost deafening. It comes through to the inside like loud TV static. If you peer out the window at the mute downtown scene, between the droplets, you can see that white water pours off storefront awnings like an avalanche. On the flooded sidewalk, huddled in a shallow doorway, a faceless man’s fingers hold a cardboard shield in defense against the damp. The problem of homelessness is never so striking as it is in a rainstorm. An increased supply of short-term shelter is a more immediate solution to this problem which statistics fail to capture.
Opinion
Clear eyes, empty chairs, students lose: how we lost out 24/7 Library West (part 3)
By Zachariah Chou | July 25, 2018It started out innocently enough. “24/7 Study Space Survey” says the subject line for the email that flies into my inbox from former Monroe County Detention Center inmate/Student Body President Smith Meyers. “Your responses to the attached 5-minute survey will be invaluable as we prioritize support for the overnight study spaces needed for your academic success.”
Sports
UF football player charged with 2 felonies, suspended
By Mark Stine | July 24, 2018Justin Watkins, incoming freshman and four-star recruit of the UF football team, was in Alachua County jail Tuesday on four criminal charges.
News
Southwest Rec cuts gym hours
By Jacob Kovach | July 23, 2018Late night gym-goers may have to turn elsewhere after a reduction in nighttime hours at Southwest Recreation Center.
News
Q&A: Gainesville Police Officer Dontonya Smith has a history with the Police Explorers in town
By Jessica Curbelo | July 23, 2018When she was about 13, Gainesville Police Officer Dontonya Smith joined the Police Explorers as a part of Post 917, the local section in Gainesville. About 32 years later, the Florida Association of Police Explorers named her the 2018 “Explorer Advisor of the Year.”
Metro
Man rescued after failed climb to O'Connell Center roof
By Devoun Cetoute | July 23, 2018A trapped man was rescued from the O’Connell Center on Thursday.
Sports
alligatorSports Awards: Newcomer of the Year
By Alligator Staff report | July 23, 2018A trio of freshmen – corners Marco Wilson, CJ Henderson and running back Malik Davis – stood out in UF football team’s 4-7 campaign last season.
Metro
Man accused of threatening customer at Chili’s Grill & Bar
By Devoun Cetoute | July 23, 2018A man accused of threatening a guest and bothering other customers at a Chili’s Grill & Bar was arrested Sunday by Gainesville Police.
Sports
It’s time to induct UF’s best football coach of all time into the Ring of Honor
By O’B-Wan Kenobi and Chris O'Brien | July 23, 2018Recently, Tim Tebow was named to the Gators Football Ring of Honor, the highest achievement that a player or coach at the university can reach. For one to merit consideration for induction into the Ring of Honor, the individual must be five years removed from UF and must be in good standing with the institution.
Opinion
I’m a 20-year-old geriatric
By Sophie Feinberg | July 23, 2018I’ve had dozens of doctor’s appointments this summer.My medical chart classifies me as someone with high-risk medication usage.The people at my pharmacy know my name.I have more than five diagnoses, and they keep coming.I appear out of place in specialists’ waiting rooms and in society.Expectations for my peer group don’t align with the lifestyle I live or want to live.When I’m not in class, doing extracurricular assignments or studying, I’m at the doctor or recuperating with heat pads and ice packs in bed. I’ve never been out to Midtown or even a football game yet because I’m scared about my health and accommodations. An outing can cost me a semester if I’m not careful. Pushing myself doesn’t make me better. It can leave me in the hospital. But I keep doing it anyway because I want to be with friends, gain experience in my major and be a part of the UF community.It’s hard to balance society’s expectations with how I live. What is even harder is how I balance my own expectations and goals with where I’m at. I’m constantly at odds. Even in doctor’s offices, I’m misunderstood. I’m accused of lying or am not taken seriously. “You’re too young to have these problems,” isn’t an uncommon message from doctors. No kidding.Wishing or wondering won’t make my circumstances change. Pushing onward has a silver lining. I’m learning to find my voice, be an advocate and reason with professionals. It’s given me a different kind of strength amid my physical weakness. I hate pity. I just want understanding, especially in health care. If there’s anything my life has shown me, it’s that there is a health care gap. There’s specialized care for older patients but not for young ones with similar issues. That’s a problem.Worse than feeling alone and in pain is going to get help and being refused or unheard.This is a widespread problem. I’ve had to wait months for a diagnosis. I’m still waiting for solutions to other problems. That could take years. Worse than fighting to live “normally” is fighting to be heard and waiting, feeling sick and knowing something is off but jumping from doctor to doctor until someone finally listens. Then it’s waiting for test results. Then it’s becoming your own doctor. It’s turning to Google and scanning medical research and asking for, or demanding, tests. It’s researching at-home treatments.
Metro
Road to Change tour hits Gainesville Thursday
By Danielle Ivanov | July 23, 2018The Road to Change tour is stopping by Gainesville this Thursday, revitalizing the debate for gun reform, school safety and the student-voter movement.
Opinion
Election Prep: Part 2
By EDITORIAL BOARD | July 23, 2018We’re chugging right along with our four-part series on the upcoming primary election Aug. 28. Alachua County residents have until July 30 to register or change party affiliations in order to vote for candidates in their party.
Opinion
Drop the act: You don’t work at work
By Stephan Chamberlin | July 23, 2018You have been staring blankly at your computer screen for about an hour. You have made coffee, gone to the bathroom, tried to study, but it just isn’t happening. Maybe you checked social media once or twice. Sound familiar? That’s normal human behavior, and the lack of productivity for most of the day is surprisingly common. If you feel like you often spend too much time doing too little work, idling or just wondering how to get started, pick your most productive hours to work. One thing is for certain, you won’t be productive for a majority of the day if you don’t plan out your day carefully.
Metro
Man charged with having 20 fraudulent credit cards
By Jessica Curbelo | July 23, 2018Gainesville Police arrested a man Thursday afternoon for having 20 fraudulent credit cards.
Opinion
Kylie Jenner has something in common with Trump
By Layla Soboh | July 23, 2018What do Kylie Jenner and President Donald Trump have in common? It’s not just the fact that they both get spray tans, they both were born into wealth and expanded that wealth into billions, and they both are part of the most powerful families in the country. Jenner is a part of the Kardashian clan who seem to turn everything they touch into gold. Trump was born into a wealthy real estate developer and profited by literally putting the family name on stuff in gold.
Metro
City Commission discusses community ID program
By Angela DiMichele | July 23, 2018On Thursday, Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe and the City Commission discussed a possible community ID program that could provide the homeless, ex-prisoners, immigrants and refugees in the Gainesville community with a valid alternative to state IDs.
Metro
‘Artists Supporting Pride — Rainbow Spirits’ raised thousands for Pride events and programs
By Angela DiMichele | July 23, 2018Cesar Evans glanced at the silent auction bid sheet in front of his light red and blue painted mannequin titled “Indivisible.”
