News: Campus - The Independent Florida Alligator

Members of the Food Justice Coalition pose for a photo with a "Boycott the Reitz" banner that was hung outside of the Tigert Hall administration building on Friday, April 23, 2021.

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UF students and Gainesville activists denied opportunity to change the university’s food system

By Jake Reyes and Julia Cooper | May 21, 2021

The Food Justice Coalition, a group of 36 UF and Gainesville organizations, formed in January to address food injustice at UF. With less than two weeks for the coalition to incorporate its demands into UF’s next food service contract, UF denied the coalitions’ request for a seat on the committee shaping the new contract.

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UF Blueberry Lab aims to create a better berry

By Eve Thompson | May 21, 2021

The UF/IFAS Blueberry Breeding and Genomics Lab is responsible for breeding and cultivating many varieties of the beloved blueberry. Patricio Muñoz, an assistant professor at UF’s Horticultural Science Department, is the principal investigator at the lab.

Scott Murphey, 52, a Santa Fe college math department professor, gets his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Thursday morning at Santa Fe College Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall, Gainesville, Fla., May 13, 2021.

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Santa Fe College hosted a COVID-19 vaccine event Thursday

By Antonia LaRocca | May 19, 2021

Santa Fe College partnered with the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County to host a COVID-19 vaccine event Thursday, providing 442 doses of the Moderna vaccine to students, faculty, staff and community members.

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Santa Fe College students build relationships and skills through global collaboration

By Antonia LaRocca | May 19, 2021

Two teams from Santa Fe College worked with colleges in Jordan in a competition through a virtual exchange program this Spring to produce business concepts for sustainable development in technology without jeopardizing future generations.

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Senate President Franco Luis Announced Senate Will Meet In Person This Summer

By Eve Thompson | May 19, 2021

This is the second meeting in two weeks that has been canceled after the first meeting last week could not begin due to an insufficient amount of senators present. This is a result of Senate codes limiting virtual meetings passed over Fall. Last week, Luis had to choose between breaking its own codes or the university’s COVID-19 policies to hold Senate online or in person.

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UF will no longer require masks on campus

By Alexandra Harris | May 17, 2021

The university will no longer require masks for students, faculty, staff and guests on UF property effective immediately. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and UF still recommend anyone who is not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 should wear a mask.

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UF’s first gender-neutral Living Learning Community will officially open to students this Summer

By Camila Pereira | May 13, 2021

After scrolling through different housing options when applying to UF, the name Lavender Living Learning Community caught Kate Eggenberg’s eye.

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CJC Faculty Harrison Hove and Clay Calvert named Teacher and Teacher/Scholar of the Year

By Makiya Seminera | May 13, 2021

Harrison Hove and Clay Calvert, J.D., Ph.D. — two faculty members within the College of Journalism and Communications — were named Teacher of the Year and Teacher/Scholar of the Year respectively for the 2020-2021 school year.

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Santa Fe College students show off their graphic design skills

By Antonia LaRocca | May 12, 2021

Santa Fe College held a virtual 2021 Student Exhibition April 29. Instead of shaking hands and saying farewell to graduating students face-to-face, attendees gazed at glowing computer screens and false backgrounds during the exhibition.

Aleidys Lopez, 19, a UF sustainability studies and women's studies sophomore shields her face from the sun with a "Save Bright Futures" sign as she three other protestors march down University Avenue on Friday, March 26, 2021. The protest was held to raise awareness about Senate Bill 86, which was amended on Tuesday.

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End of Florida legislative session stops controversial student financial aid bill

By Juliana Ferrie | May 12, 2021

After months of controversy, a bill proposing changes to Bright Futures funding was finally terminated when it stalled in the Florida House of Representatives. While students’ majors will not impact their scholarships for now, Bright Futures funding may still change

Juliet Rapaport, UF health science junior (left) and Hannah Shiffner, UF history junior (right), grab some Starbucks drinks together outside of Library West on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. The pair said they went to high school together and met to catch up.

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UF will have full capacity classrooms and relaxed COVID-19 protocols during Summer B

By Makiya Seminera | May 10, 2021

Summer A and C classes will maintain many of the same COVID-19 policies seen during Spring and will serve as a transition period to in-person classes starting May 10. This time will allow staff and faculty to make necessary preparations for their classrooms and allow the UF community time to get vaccinated.

UF graduates stand and sing along to Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" during the 2021 graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 1, 2021. (Photo by Makiya Seminera)

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UF graduates attend first in-person commencement ceremonies since 2019

By Makiya Seminera and Isabella Douglas | May 10, 2021

From April 29 to May 3, around 10,000 students registered to graduate in the Spring 2021 graduation ceremonies — the first in-person graduation ceremonies since since December 2019. Of the 10,000 students registered, about 3,000 were graduates from spring, summer and fall of 2020 who returned to UF’s campus to attend in-person commencement ceremonies the following weekend.

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Here’s what you missed in Student Government this Spring

By Carolina Ilvento and Grace Stoler | May 10, 2021

Throughout Spring, Senate passed a total of 19 bills — 11 of which were resolutions, which by definition are an expression of the Senate’s sentiments on behalf of the Student Body. No bills enabling direct change were passed.

Photo courtesy of the department of public relations

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Former UF public relations professor Kathleen Kelly dies at 77

By Camila Pereira | May 10, 2021

Kelly, who was a former UF public relations professor and advisor for mass communication Ph.D. students, died April 28 in her St. Augustine condo at 77.

Photograph of Nicole Stedman. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Stedman)

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Nicole Stedman takes on new position as Dean of UF’s Graduate School

By Isabella Douglas | May 10, 2021

Nicole Stedman, soon-to-be associate provost and dean of UF’s Graduate School, will be responsible for understanding the current issues the Graduate School faces and administer communication between the university and graduate students. She was chosen for the role over two other finalists.

Alexander McCollum, 19, a Santa Fe Associate of Arts graduate stands through the sunroof of a white limousine with his hand holding a paper scroll raised in the air in celebration during Santa Fe College’s Drive-Thru Grad Walk ceremony on Thursday, April 29, 2021.

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Santa Fe College graduates attend drive-thru graduation by motorcycle, limousine and decorated cars

By Antonia LaRocca | May 7, 2021

During the event, graduates exited their vehicles to walk across the stage. They could remove their face masks for photos once on the stage.

Photo of Newell Drive with Century Tower and Marston Science Library visible in the view

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UF employees tried to deal with their health. They say their bosses stood in the way

By Corbin Bolies | Apr. 23, 2021

The Alligator found three cases of current and former UF employees with medical issues facing alleged resistance from their supervisors since 2019. These employees, who were not tenured, faced two propositions: medical leave or unemployment.

A lone man is seen walking through Turlington Plaza at UF in Gainesville, Fla., on August 31, 2020. The plaza, which is usually filled with people, remained relatively bare on the first day of fall classes.

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UF’s class 2025 grows in size while its diversity numbers stagnate

By Alexander Lugo | Apr. 23, 2021

While the number of UF admits keeps growing, Black, Hispanic and Native American admits saw subtle decreases this year.

Two people hand out sticks of incense during the funeral of Bach Lien Tong Duong on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. Duong was a volunteer who taught Vietnamese at UF before an official position was created and played a significant role in creating the annual Pho fundraiser for the Vietnamese Student Organization before she passed away.

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Prominent UF and Gainesville figure Bach Lien Tong Duong dies at 72

By Juliana Ferrie and Michelle Holder | Apr. 23, 2021

She found herself halfway across the world from her home country in Gainesville where she left a lasting impact on the UF and Gainesville community through her unending service of education and teaching.

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Limited tours and online Preview present challenges for incoming students

By J.P. Oprison | Apr. 21, 2021

With campus tours at reduced capacity and new student Preview, which helps students transition to UF with tours and advising, held online, UF class of 2025 students are worried about how well they can get to know their new college.