News | Campus Breaking News - The Independent Florida Alligator

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‘He won’t live a day in peace’: UF presidential finalist Ben Sasse cut off by protesters flooding Q&A

By Alligator Staff report | Oct. 10, 2022

After just ten minutes protesting outside, around 300 protestors moved up the staircase of Emerson Alumni Hall to the second floor. UF administrators and police stood stone-faced outside the ballroom, Emerson Hall echoing from the slams of dozens of fists on the solid wooden doors to the ballroom.

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Live updates: UF presidential finalist Ben Sasse addresses community in campus visit, protestors storm forum

By Makiya Seminera | Oct. 10, 2022

Sen. Ben Sasse made his first visit as UF's sole presidential finalist Monday. This story will provide live updates throughout Sasse's three forums with faculty, students and staff.

File image of Sen. Ben Sasse from The Associated Press.

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Republican U.S. Senator Ben Sasse is lone finalist in UF’s presidential search

By Christian Casale | Oct. 6, 2022

The UF presidential search committee, led by search committee chair and UF Trustee Rahul Patel, unanimously recommended the senator to be considered by the UF Board of Trustees as the next UF president.

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Hurricane Ian FAQ: How to prepare, stay safe on UF campus

By Alligator Staff report | Sep. 27, 2022

The Alligator has created a list of frequently asked questions for students and faculty to prepare for Hurricane Ian and remain safe in dangerous weather conditions.

This GOES-16 satellite image taken Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019, at 17:00 UTC and provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows Hurricane Dorian, right, churning over the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricane Dorian struck the northern Bahamas on Sunday as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, its 185 mph winds ripping off roofs and tearing down power lines as hundreds hunkered in schools, churches and other shelters. (NOAA via AP)

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UF cancels classes ahead of Hurricane Ian

By Fernando Figueroa | Sep. 27, 2022

UF announced all classes will be canceled Wednesday through Friday ahead of Hurricane Ian’s arrival in a Monday night alert. The cancellation includes online classes.

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UF keeps No. 5 spot in public university ranking

By Christian Casale | Sep. 11, 2022

The university has maintained its status as a top five public university for the second year in a row, according to the U.S. News & World Report 2023 Best Colleges rankings released Sept. 11.

UF students exit RTS buses at The Hub on Friday, Jan. 14, 2021.

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Regional Transit System app left inaccessible to Gainesville residents for nearly a full week

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | Sep. 8, 2022

Without a working app from Sept. 2 to Thursday, UF students struggled to find transportation to accommodate their daily schedules. City staff heard about connection issues with the RTS app Sept. 2 and immediately began working with the provider to restore function, city spokesperson Rossana Passaniti said.

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UF no longer expects masks on campus

By Maia Botek | Mar. 23, 2022

UF no longer expects or encourages wearing masks on campus. Now, the university supports and welcomes masks if people choose to wear them.

Students walk through Turlington Plaza in between classes on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Monday marked the beginning of the Fall semester at UF.

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A social media threat spurred officers to investigate Turlington Hall

By Troy Myers | Feb. 4, 2022

A social media post on Yik Yak Wednesday night spurred University Police Department officers to investigate Turlington Hall at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning. The post alluded to a suicide in the building or around the area, and it was not threatenining to other students, UF spokesperson Hessy Fernandez said.

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Judge prevents UF from enforcing its conflict-of-interest policy

By Elena Barrera | Jan. 21, 2022

A federal judge prohibited UF from enforcing its conflict-of-interest policy, which the university had used to bar professors from testifying in court, Friday morning. Six UF professors suing the university over their academic freedom and First Amendment rights asked District Judge Mark Walker, a double Gator, for a preliminary injunction, an order to end UF’s policy.

UF President Kent Fuchs addresses the Board of Trustees in 2020. He announced he would step down from his role at the beginning of the Spring semester.

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UF President Fuchs announces resignation

By Elena Barrera | Jan. 5, 2022

Under Fuchs eight-year term as UF president, the university became a top five public university in the nation and was embroiled in an academic freedom scandal.

UF President Kent Fuchs and Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini are seen during the meeting at Emerson Alumni Hall on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021.

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UF Board of Trustees takes aim at faculty, unions over academic freedom scandal

By Alexander Lugo | Dec. 6, 2021

UF Board of Trustees chair Mori Hosseini responded after a month-long scandal plaguing UF with investigations

Tigert Hall is seen on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.

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UF professor files grievance over school’s denial of critical race theory concentration title

By Elena Barrera | Dec. 1, 2021

UF Associate Provost Chris Hass met with the College of Education’s faculty Sept. 28 to discuss the curriculum initiatives surrounding race and antiracism, according to a grievance filed by Chris Busey, a UF College of Education professor.

Senate members cast their secret ballot and wait for the final count to be announced on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021.

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UF Faculty Senate passes COVID-19 ‘no-confidence’ resolution as rebuke toward administration

By Camila Pereira | Nov. 19, 2021

First drafted in August, the resolution detailed UF faculty and staff’s dissatisfaction with the state’s and university administration’s COVID-19 policies. Faculty concerns have ranged from in-person teaching requirements without social distancing or masking and vaccination requirements to the school’s lack of flexibility to accommodate at-risk faculty.

The University of Florida's Century tower, as viewed from Newell Drive on Thursday, July 22, 2021. The tower commemorates UF students who fought and died in World War I and World War II -- the tower also commemorates the 100th anniversary of UF's founding in 1853.

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Congressional subcommittee announces investigation into UF’s academic freedom scandal

By Elena Barrera | Nov. 18, 2021

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Rep. Jamie Raskin sent a letter to UF President Kent Fuchs Thursday expressing their deep concern about the recent challenges to academic freedom at the university. The House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, which is part of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, will be investigating the extent UF has undermined the integrity of academic freedom, according to the letter.

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Dean who barred professor from testifying against state says UF administration directed him to do so

By Elena Barrera | Nov. 17, 2021

After receiving a request from professor Daniel Smith to testify in a case challenging the state’s voting rights law, Richardson said he sought counsel from central administration. In the meeting, he said he did so because the defendant in the case in question was a state official.

The area of the Reitz Union where the sexual assault happened is seen on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021.

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UF sophomore details sexual violence at Reitz Union

By Isabella Douglas | Nov. 15, 2021

UPD is asking anyone who has information regarding the man to contact UPD or submit a tip to its silent witness portal. The victim encourages others to use their best judgment.

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Three UF professors file lawsuit against university

By Alexander Lugo | Nov. 8, 2021

Lawsuit claims UF violated professors' first amendment rights

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The latest news on UF’s barring of professors from testifying against the state

Nov. 5, 2021

UF faculty senate releases damning report on academic freedom probe

Droves of students head to and from classes in front of Century Tower during class-change Thursday morning.

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President Fuchs asks university to reverse decision barring professors from testifying

By Elena Barrera | Nov. 5, 2021

After at least eight professors claimed UF compromised their academic freedom and freedom of speech, President Kent Fuchs and Provost Joe Glover appointed a special task force to investigate the university’s conflict of interest policy, which was used to bar the professors from testifying.