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NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Iconic ‘The Office’ duo, will speak to students Wednesday

By Isabella Douglas | June 26, 2021

The free event is hosted by Accent Speakers Bureau in partnership with Student Government Productions and Student Activities and Involvement, which are student government agencies funded by student fees. Accent will pay Greater Talent Network, LLC $70,000 to perform at UF. The event was announced Monday on Facebook, and will host the duo in a 45-minute moderated conversation.

UF and FSU students part of the Global Medical Brigade in Panama in 2019.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF Global Brigades chapters makes lasting impact on international communities

By Camila Pereira | June 18, 2021

As international travel came to a halt with COVID-19, the humanitarian nonprofit organization, Global Brigades created TeleBrigades to allow students to still work virtually with these communities in need through a multi-week program.

Few students are seen wandering around UF’s campus on August 31, 2020, in Gainesville Fla., due to the social distancing guidelines and mask requirements set in place. However, the Campus Connector and RTS buses still operate with frequent trips across campus.

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UF approves historical marker recognizing first Black students

By Joseph Oprison | June 9, 2021

The new marker will be in the courtyard near Bryan Hall — a high traffic area near the center of campus and previous home of the College of Law, where the first Black UF student attended class.

The street sign for West University Avenue along the UF campus on Sunday, June 6, 2021. The Newell Gateway, one of two gateways to be constructed, will be implemented at the intersection of Newell Drive and West University Avenue as part of an effort to create an auto-free zone at the core of campus.

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UF plans to create an auto-free zone on campus

By Camila Pereira | June 7, 2021

To accomplish the long-term goal of increasing traffic safety, the university will implement an 86-acre bicycle and pedestrian zone in the heart of campus. This project includes the construction of the Newell and Northeast Gateway projects, which will incorporate more pedestrian access into campus and a connection from UF to the city, respectively.

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UF students reflect on Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month

By Juliana Ferrie | June 2, 2021

Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month was celebrated across the U.S. in May, commemorating Asian American and Pacific Islander culture and history. UF students shared what the month and their heritage means to them.

Pedestrians walk down West University Avenue on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. Signs down the road redirect traffic due to ongoing construction on the road, near UF campus and Midtown.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

West University Avenue changes prioritize pedestrian safety

By Isabella Douglas and Phong Huynh | June 1, 2021

Nearly a year after three deadly accidents took place on West University Avenue, the city of Gainesville is working with UF and the Florida Department of Transportation to address traffic safety near campus. Efforts include decreased speed limits, license plate readers, LED message boards, increased police patrols, signal retiming and crosswalk enhancements.

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Electric Scooters Are Coming to UF

By Eve Thompson | June 1, 2021

The city of Gainesville plans to introduce electric scooters, or e-scooters, throughout UF and surrounding areas this month. E-scooter companies Bird, Spin and Veo will be allowed to install small fleets of scooters available for rent.

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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.

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.

Frank Daldine, 19, a UF mechanical engineering sophomore (left) receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, April 5, 2021. Monday was the first day COVID-19 vaccines were made widely available to UF students.

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UF students reflect on Spring and the future of Fall

By Abigail Hasebroock | Apr. 19, 2021

As UF’s Spring semester comes to a close, students reflect on how the pandemic allowed for the opportunity to gain new abilities and navigate through HyFlex classes. They also look ahead to Fall — with some feeling apprehensive about UF’s decision to return to full, normal operations and others eager to step foot back on campus.

Tenders, one of UF’s campus cats, gazes upward as she sits on a table in the Tolbert Area.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF campus cat garners attention from students

By Abigail Hasebroock | Apr. 16, 2021

Tenders, the campus cat, reels UF students in with her loveable personality and undeniable charm. She is one of many cats who occupies UF’s campus and garners attention through online posts.

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What students should know about their UFL emails before graduating

By J.P. Oprison | Apr. 14, 2021

Graduating seniors’ email accounts expire one year after graduation. At that point, all data attached to the account will be deleted, Saira Hasnain, UFIT spokesperson and senior director, wrote in an email. Any student discounts registered with a UFL email will expire.

Edward Ke Sun, 30, a PhD candidate for architectural history, theory and criticism at UF, colors a sign that reads “UF Don’t Tear Down Maguire & UVS Village” on Friday, April 9, 2021. Sun protesting to raise awareness about UF’s plan to demolish three out of the five graduate student housing complexes in Gainesville.

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Fuchs promises replacement graduate living, students demand more information

By Carolina Ilvento | Apr. 14, 2021

Fuchs said both Maguire Village and University Village South need to be demolished due to irreparable damage in the buildings, and the campus plans are likely to continue. He hopes to replace those buildings with an “equal number of apartment units.”

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Muslim UF students balance studies and spirituality during Ramadan

By Sofia Echeverry | Apr. 12, 2021

Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar, in which every month begins with a new moon. Muslims who observe Ramadan fast from dawn to sunset every day of the month, eating one meal before dawn and another after sunset.

A pedestrian jaywalks across West University Avenue on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021.

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“It definitely changed my outlook on life”: The lasting impact of crashes on families and victims

By Abigail Hasebroock and Juliana Ferrie | Apr. 9, 2021

This year, 24 pedestrian crashes have already occurred in Alachua County — three of which were fatal, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles crash dashboard. These incidents uproot the lives of victims, their families and leave lasting impacts on the Gainesville community.

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Graduate students worry about UF’s plans to demolish 40% of graduate housing

By Carolina Ilvento | Apr. 2, 2021

The campus housing plan prioritizes undergraduate housing by proposing 38% of undergraduate beds to be renovated or replaced with new ones in the next decade. Meanwhile, graduate housing capacity will be cut by more than a third with no anticipated plans of construction of new buildings.

Oscar Santiago, 18, a political science freshman, finishes spray painting a sun on a mural that reads "Save our Bright Futures" on Sunday, March 7, 2021. The mural was painted in response to Senate Bill 86, which would limit some students’ access to state funding, including the Bright Futures scholarship.

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Senate subcommittee sends amended student financial aid bill closer to senate floor

By Juliana Ferrie | Mar. 26, 2021

“I think it just shows the power of public opinion and that your voice does matter,” Karina Bravo, a 20-year-old UF political science and international studies sophomore, said. “These are our representatives, and they do listen to us if we are loud enough.”

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UF offers students more financial aid for pandemic-related expenses

By Sofia Echeverry | Mar. 24, 2021

Students can fill out the application to receive aid for the second round of funding until April 2. Students must either be U.S. citizens, permanent residents or eligible non-citizens to receive funds.

Christopher Dawes, 20, a UF health science sophomore and Tri Gators member, leaves the Stephen C. O'Connell Center after getting tested for Covid-19 on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020.

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UF mandatory biweekly COVID-19 reduced to only students with in-person classes

By Manny Rea | Mar. 22, 2021

In an email sent to students March 12, UF Vice President for Student Affairs D’Andra Mull announced students in Greek life or living in a residence hall and not taking face-to-face classes would no longer need to be tested every two weeks starting March 15.

Screenshot of the event poster on the Accent Speakers Bureau's Facebook page.

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UF Accent Speakers Bureau to virtually host TikTok star Tabitha Brown

By J.P. Oprison | Mar. 20, 2021

Brown, a North Carolina born actress, mother and wife, is known for her veganism and comedy, according to Accent Speakers Bureau. She amassed two million TikTok followers in 40 days for her videos featuring vegan recipes, cooking tips and nuggets of wisdom, and is affectionately known as “America’s mom.”