News - The Independent Florida Alligator

Eryn Brazlavsky gets her face painted by Haley Damon at the MASA Día de los Muertos celebration Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Mexican-American Student Association hosts annual Día de los Muertos celebration

By Peyton Harris | Nov. 3

Día de los Muertos is a traditional Mexican holiday where relatives honor the spirits of deceased relatives. It’s believed that upon death, people travel to the Land of the Dead, or Chicunamictlán — from there, they embark on a seven-year journey to their final resting place. It marks efforts to help the deceased on their journey to that resting place and is celebrated during the first and second days of November.

Senate President Olivia Green (Gator-District A) speaks during the Senate meeting Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UF Student Senate President, senators disagree with Lauren Lemasters on Sasse approval

By Alissa Gary | Nov. 1

During her report, Senate President Olivia Green (Gator-District A) said both she and the student body disagreed with Lemasters’ decision, and she was disappointed in Lemasters’ choice.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Fuchs leaves behind legacy marked by controversy, rankings ascension

By Alissa Gary | Oct. 31

In a sit-down interview with The Alligator, Fuchs shared his thoughts on how extensive he wished COVID-19 regulations at UF could have been, the scariest moment of his presidency and his personal disagreement with officials about perceived indoctrination on campus.

The UF Student Senate meets in the Senate Chamber of the Reitz Union Tuesday, June 7, 2022.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Senate stands in solidarity with Iranian women, approves bloc of seat candidates

By Alissa Gary | Oct. 26

The resolution standing with Iranian women came nearly 40 days after protests in Iran against the government’s enforcement of modesty laws, which began following the death of Mahsa Amini.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Admissions extends deadline amid Hurricane Ian destruction

By Peyton Harris | Oct. 25

The UF admissions department released a statement online Tuesday afternoon extending the freshman application deadline to Nov. 7, as opposed to the traditional Nov. 1 deadline.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Free UF rally urges students to take to the polls

By Christian Casale | Oct. 22

Free UF, a broad coalition of faculty, staff, students, and local advocacy groups who banded together to oppose what they describe as a state encroachment on academic freedom, officially organized the event at the Plaza of the Americas. About a dozen students attended the rally.

Satellite image of Hurricane Ian from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF assessment estimates between $768 million, $1.5 billion in state agricultural losses from Hurricane Ian

By Fernando Figueroa | Oct. 20

Around 4.7 million acres — almost five times the size of Rhode Island — of agricultural land were affected by the storm.

UF President Kent Fuchs, Mayor Lauren Poe and other contributors cut the ribbon at the Newell Gateway Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF unveils newest University Avenue traffic safety measure — Newell Gateway

By Siena Duncan | Oct. 19

Using five pairs of large golden scissors, members of the UF and Gainesville community cut the red ribbon stretching across the newly constructed Newell Gateway Wednesday morning. The ceremony marked the completion of the gateway, which sits between Library West and Keene-Flint Hall, and its sister project, the Northeast Gateway on the corner of campus near the Warrington College of Business.

Lauren Lemasters, Gator Party's nominee for Student Government president, walks up to the podium outside of Library West at the announcement of the party's executive ticket on Wednesday, Jan. 26.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UF Student Senate condemns presidential search committee, Lauren Lemasters for Sasse nomination

By Alissa Gary | Oct. 18

Minority Caucus Leader Faith Corbett (Change-District C) spoke on the resolution during the meeting, calling for Lemasters to vote “no” on Sasse’s confirmation. Lemasters holds one of the thirteen votes cast by the Board of Trustees.

Susan Percival, Food Science and Human Nutrition Department chair, smiles while the judges taste chili during the Chili Cook Off on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. The fundraising event was a part of Food Week 2021.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences kicks off Food Week

By Alissa Gary | Oct. 17

The Food Science and Human Nutrition department of UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is hosting its annual Food Week from Oct. 17 to Oct. 21. Each day will feature food-related demonstrations. The events take place in various campus locations, with some events overlapping throughout the day.

About 80 people hold candles and gather during a vigil on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021 for those killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting three years ago.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Marjory Stoneman Douglas alumni reflect on Parkland shooter’s sentencing

By Sophia Bailly | Oct. 17

Four years after a massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school, the shooter has been sentenced to life in prison. The alternative sentence was life in prison.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Self-fulling prophecy or fair distribution?: Florida A&M University students claim funding discrimination lawsuit referencing UF

By Siena Duncan | Oct. 17

Underfunding is the center of why six FAMU students have filed a lawsuit Sept. 22 against the Florida Board of Governors, claiming the state has substantially deprived the HBCU of money for the past three decades.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Some UF alumni threaten to pull donations, others praise university after Ben Sasse finalist decision

By Peyton Harris | Oct. 17

Following Sasse's contentious selection as UF's lone presidential finalist, many alumni have taken to social media to express their disappointment or support of the choice. Hundreds of alumni comments flooded UF's official finalist announcement on Twitter, with many expressing concern with the university's direction.

Attendees at an ecumenial vigil for peace in Ukraine offer prayers around the cross at Chapel of the Incarnation Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Ukrainian Student Association holds peace vigil after prolonged conflict overseas

By Anushka Dakshit | Oct. 15

The Ukrainian Student Association brought the local Ukrainian community together Friday through a vigil for peace in the prolonged Russo-Ukrainian War. The vigil was held at the Chapel of Incarnation, located at 1522 W. University Ave.

The loan forgiveness plan will reduce or erase the debt of up to 43 million Americans, including select UF graduates, if the U.S. Supreme Court doesn’t block it.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

How to apply for federal student debt forgiveness

By Heather Bushman | Oct. 15

Applicants can now submit their information as President Joe Biden’s administration makes last-minute changes to the relief program’s official website

Karen Cravero with her two sons Walter and Lyndon.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Peruvian student balances motherhood, medical school awaiting residency match

By Ashleigh Lucas | Oct. 14

She took the chance when she fled Lima, Peru, at 12 years old to escape Shining Path, a guerilla organization targeting her father in the Peruvian military.

Members of the UF chapter of Young Democratic Socialists of America hand out leaflets to attendees of a private event at the Harn Museum Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Outside of reception, student picketers demand donors speak out against presidential search

By Heather Bushman and Mickenzie Hannon | Oct. 14

Students gathered outside the Harn Museum of Art to express their frustrations surrounding UF’s presumptive president. Members of the UF Foundation Board attended a private event inside the museum as picketers surrounded the barricaded entrance.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF Faculty Senate President: Search committee had no choice in naming one presidential finalist

By Christian Casale | Oct. 14

The Oct. 6 UF press release that announced Sasse as the finalist mentioned the university courted a dozen highly qualified, diverse candidates — nine of them being current presidents of major research universities.

Amanda Gonzalez, a Florida Dazzler, performs a routine with the rest of the team.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Hispanic Gators Dazzlers credit heritage for love of dance

By Halima Attah | Oct. 13

During Hispanic Heritage Month, Gators Dazzlers Alexandra Gambin, Madison Alvelo and Amanda Gonzalez recognized the influence of their own cultures on their lives as three of the six Hispanic student athletes on the Dazzlers team. Serving as a motivator within their collegiate careers, their Hispanic heritage has fueled their passions for dance.

Shark Tank personality Barbara Corcoran speaks with students at the UF University Auditorium Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.

NEWS | CAMPUS

‘Shark Tank’s’ Barbara Corcoran talks being a woman in business at UF Accent event

By Krisha Sanghavi | Oct. 13

Television personality Barbara Corcoran was the star of UF Student Government’s Accent Speakers Bureau event. The event, exclusive and free to UF students, began at 7 p.m. Doors opened at 6 p.m.