Virtual graduations, reduced capacity at football games and the rise and fall of COVID-19 cases have made for a tough past year. Many students have had to navigate questionable quarantine procedures, the loss of 2021's Spring Break and study abroad cancellations.
The United Faculty of Florida, UF’s faculty union, published a statement on its website Thursday expressing disappointment in the governor’s decision to ignore higher education faculty in his vaccination plans. The order takes effect Tuesday and includes people who are deemed at high risk of COVID-19 complications by doctors.
Despite UF’s increasing confidence that the COVID-19 pandemic is coming to an end, 56 UF Sponsored study abroad programs for this Summer have been canceled.
On Zoom Tuesday night, Senate elected former Judiciary Chair Franco Luis (Gator, District B) and former Majority Party Leader Blake Robinson (Gator, Sophomore) to be the next Senate President and Senate President Pro-Tempore, respectively. Senate also unanimously ratified the Spring election results.
The college’s total number of reported positive cases since March 8 is now 696, according to a report provided by Santa Fe spokesperson Jay Anderson.
The Alachua County Library District and George A. Smathers Libraries at UF partnered to organize a display to honor Hilliard-Nunn, an activist and adjunct associate professor in UF’s African American Studies Program who was known for her research in media and culture, enslaved Africans and African American history in Alachua County. Hilliard-Nunn died on Aug. 5 at 57.
The average GPA for admits was 4.51 along with an average SAT score of 1392 and an average ACT score of 31.
Among the recipients were employees, retirees, students and “the expanded SF family” — relatives of Santa Fe community members who live in the same household and meet the criteria for vaccination.
There were 6,650 total ballots cast, Supervisor of Elections Haley Price announced on a live stream Wednesday evening. Student Body President-elect Cooper Brown and Student Body Vice President-elect Faith Maniti won with 4,629 votes, or 69.78% of the vote. Student Body Treasurer-elect Giovanna Mompremier won with 4,515 votes, or 68.85%.
Santa Fe’s total number of reported positive cases is now 687, according to a report provided by Santa Fe spokesperson Jay Anderson. Since Feb. 1, the college’s weekly confirmed positive COVID-19 cases have decreased each week.
On Saturday, about 80 UF students gathered outside the Reitz Union and walked to Prayers By Faith Family Ministries, the original location of Gainesville’s NAACP chapter, in honor of Gainesville’s Black history.
Miami Heat player Udonis Haslem and former Gators football players Kyle Trask and Kyle Pitts endorsed the Change Party's Student Body presidential candidate Wynton White along with other UF athletes. Kansas City Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend showed support for the Gator Party candidate Cooper Brown.
The first day of voting for the UF Student Government Spring Election included some technical difficulties, short lines and about an 80% decrease in voter turnout from last Spring's election.
Some of UF’s face-to-face courses, which begin June 28, will return back to normal capacity levels, according to an email sent to a course scheduling listserv from Colin Yokomi, UF’s assistant university registrar, and several departments across campus. It is unclear if masking will still be mandatory and which courses this will affect.
Gator, Change and Keg Party have candidates running for Student Body president, vice president and treasurer positions.
Students can vote at the Reitz Union Computer Lab, the Social Lounge at Southwest Recreation Center, the Broward Hall Recreation Room, the Murphree Area Office Conference Room, the Springs Office Conference Room or the Cypress Meeting Room.
The university raised $25.3 million during its third annual Gator Giving Day fundraiser Thursday, making it the highest yielding year.
The university announced plans Friday to have 14 in-person ceremonies at the O'Connell Center between April 29 and May 3, with the same safety protocols used for athletic events at the arena. Make-up in-person recognition ceremonies for 2020 graduates are still being planned.
In a two-case hearing, the SG Supreme Court ruled unanimously against the claim of bias against applicants for Senate positions not affiliated with the majority party, currently the Gator Party. It also determined that future cases of discrimination can be heard by the court.
UF geological sciences assistant professor Amy Williams is participating in her second mission to analyze for signs of ancient life on Mars through NASA's Perseverance rover team, which is landing on the red planet Thursday.
Solutions by The State News
