News - The Independent Florida Alligator

President Donald Trump points his finger at the crowd during his campaign rally at the Ocala International Airport on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020.

NEWS | CAMPUS

‘There will never be justice’: UF progressives, professors react to Trump’s conviction

By Garrett Shanley and Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | June 3, 2024

UF College Democrats President Connor Effrain was in Washington, D.C., roughly 20 minutes walking distance from the U.S. Capitol building when the news broke. The slack face of former President Donald Trump flashed across his phone screen beside the word “guilty.”

John Brinkman poses at The Independent Florida Alligator on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UF student body president elected president of the Florida Student Association

By Timothy Wang | June 3, 2024

UF Student Body President John Brinkman was elected as chairman and president of the Florida Student Association (FSA) for the 2024-2025 term, earning him a position on the Florida Board of Governors.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

UPD, Gainesville Police Department arrest two men in response to gunshots on campus

By Lee Ann Anderson and Garrett Shanley | May 28, 2024

The UF Police Department and Gainesville Police Department arrested two men Sunday night in response to reports of gunshots at the intersection of Hull Road and SW 34th Street.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF dining hall workers struggle after sudden layoffs by campus food provider

By Grace McClung | May 28, 2024

Robin Lalande has fed students in UF’s dining halls for years, but now she’s struggling to feed herself. She and several other employees of Chartwells Higher Education, UF’s campus food provider, are relying on unemployment benefits and food stamps after sudden mass layoffs earlier this month.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF briefly removes Lavender, Black Cultural Living Learning Communities from housing website and application

By Timothy Wang | May 28, 2024

The Lavender LLC and the Black Cultural LLC, located in Graham Hall, disappeared from the UF housing website May 7. Clayton and other students said they think the removal of both LLCs could be related to legislation banning funding of diversity, equity and inclusion programs at state universities, which has left the future of diversity-related initiatives like LLCs and the Center for Multicultural Engagement unclear.

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.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

UF, Space Foundation, Blue Origin and universities launch program for students interested in the space industry

By Timothy Wang | May 23, 2024

UF is collaborating with other universities and companies to create Space-Edge, a space-centered business accelerator to help students break into the space industry, according to a UF news release. The program will pair students with researchers and industry leaders in the space market.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

Former UF physician accused of sexual misconduct, files for a court seal

By Lee Ann Anderson | May 21, 2024

Former UF physician Ahmad Abdul-Rahim resigned from the UF College of Medicine following an accusation of sexual misconduct. He is petitioning the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court to seal his prior charges.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Federal aid delays leave students in limbo after one million errors

By Avery Parker | May 20, 2024

As college decision deadlines approached May 1, students anxiously awaited their financial aid offers after a botched federal student aid rollout left current and prospective students unsure if they could afford college tuition.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF graduates its first class of teacher apprentices from new state program

By Grace McClung | May 20, 2024

The program, funded by the Florida Department of Education, is part of an alternative teaching pathway initiative that allows students to remain employed in schools while working toward their degrees and professional certifications.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

Former UF administrator will not face charges for alleged assault

By Garrett Shanley | May 17, 2024

A former UF administrator who was trespassed from campus will not face charges for an alleged assault. The university has since lifted its trespass order against Griffith.

Protesters gather at the Plaza of the Americas in commemoration of the 76th anniversary of the Nakba on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF, Gainesville communities rally on Nakba Day

By Timothy Wang | May 16, 2024

A crowd of about 50 UF and Gainesville community members wearing keffiyehs and carrying Palestinian flags gathered in the Plaza of the Americas Wednesday evening to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Nakba.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

What to expect from UF Student Government this summer

By Timothy Wang | May 13, 2024

During the Spring semester, the Student Senate passed laws and resolutions covering issues ranging from rebuking ACCENT and Student Government Productions Agency for inviting Nelly to calling upon UF to address climate change and move away from fossil fuels. Looking ahead at the summer session, senators agreed the budget, redrawing of the voting districts and keeping Marston open 24/7 are top ticket items students should keep a close eye on.

The Social at Midtown pictured on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS

The Social at Midtown closes its doors, future plans unclear

By Avery Parker | May 13, 2024

UF students chugged bottomless mimosas in their last visit at The Social at Midtown May 5, after the expansive, two-story bar situated on West University Avenue across from campus announced it would close its doors.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF professor sues Florida officials over law restricting international student employment

By Grace McClung | May 13, 2024

After losing his top pick for a postdoctoral assistantship, UF professor Zhengfei Guan is suing top state officials to block a law restricting international student employment at Florida public universities.

Governor Ron DeSantis addresses campus protests at the Plaza of the Americas on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 amid chants for UF to divest funds to weapons manufacturers involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

NEWS | CAMPUS

‘We will not let the inmates run the asylum’: DeSantis condemns pro-Palestinian protestors at UF

By Garrett Shanley | May 8, 2024

Governor Ron DeSantis spoke at UF Wednesday morning about ongoing campus protests in solidarity with Gaza across the state and country.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is seen on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean steps down

By Timothy Wang | May 7, 2024

The dean of UF’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will be stepping down from his position effective June 30, according to a UF news release.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

All pro-Palestinian protestors released from jail one day after UF campus arrests

By Zoey Thomas | Apr. 30, 2024

Of the nine people arrested at a UF pro-Palestinian protest Monday evening, eight were released from Alachua County Jail early Tuesday without having to pay bail.

A attendee at the "Stand with Palestine" protest holds a "Not war, it's colonialism; not eviction, it's ethnic cleansing; not conflict, it's occupation; not complicated, it's genocide" sign at the corner of University Avenue on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Police arrest 9 pro-Palestine protestors on UF campus

By Zoey Thomas | Apr. 29, 2024

The UF Police Department and Florida Highway Patrol arrested nine protestors on UF’s campus Monday evening following a five-day occupation in the campus’s Plaza of the Americas by pro-Palestinian groups. UF spokesperson Steve Orlando wrote in a statement that those arrested refused to comply with rules after being given multiple days, warnings and opportunities to do so by UF police.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Florida public sector unions are under threat. How is UF adapting?

By Zoey Thomas and Delia Rose Sauer | Apr. 22, 2024

Almost one year after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law changing certification requirements for Florida public employee unions, one UF union is gone, and two are struggling to survive. The law, from Senate Bill 256, requires public sector unions boost the rate of members paying dues to 60% or else be decertified.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Florida bill impacts classrooms two years later

By Delia Rose Sauer | Apr. 22, 2024

House Bill 7 went into effect July 1, 2022. The bill, nicknamed the “Stop WOKE Act,” wanted to protect individuals from specific concepts that can be seen as “discrimination based on race, sex and national origin.” The bill also states that students or employees cannot be considered inherently racist or oppressive based on their race and sex.