News - The Independent Florida Alligator

About 50 members of UF's Pride of the Sunshine marching band participate at a live-audition of America's Got Talent in Jacksonville in January. The whole marching band was filmed in Gainesville in January at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to be featured on the show during promotional advertising.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF’s Pride of the Sunshine featured on America’s Got Talent

By Catie Wegman | June 16, 2017

Growing up, Howard Lin always watched America’s Got Talent.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF plans to hire 500 faculty members to be a top 5 public research university

By Sara Marino | June 14, 2017

UF President Kent Fuchs said he plans to increase the faculty at UF by 500 people within the next few years.

About a week ago, demolition began at the block where The Jam and other storefronts once stood between Midtown and downtown Gainesville, said Eddy Arenas, the former The Jam co-founder and co-owner. “It’s disheartening because it feels like they’re getting rid of the old part of Gainesville,” he said.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Owners, UF students say last goodbyes to The Jam

By David Hoffman | June 14, 2017

Mika Sheerin remembers feeling starstruck her first time at The Jam.

The first of a four-phase construction project is underway at the intersection of Stadium Road and Gale Lemerand Drive to improve underground utilities. The intersection is expected to open again at the end of June.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Construction on Gale Lemerand Drive and Stadium Road to improve underground utilities

By Catie Wegman | June 12, 2017

UF’s Gale Lemerand Drive will be under construction for the Summer semester to improve underground utilities for the university.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF students, faculty celebrate LGBTQ+ community in honor of Pulse nightclub shooting

By Sara Marino | June 12, 2017

Trung Tran remembers June 12, 2016, clearly.

NEWS | CAMPUS

North Central Florida YMCA to celebrate 50th anniversary

By Catie Wegman | June 12, 2017

The North Central Florida YMCA will celebrate its 50th year in Gainesville this month, an achievement that comes after a financially stressful year.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Monday night ceremony on UF campus to honor lives lost at Pulse Nightclub

By Molly Vossler | June 12, 2017

The UF community will gather Monday night to remember the lives of those who died one year ago in a mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

NEWS | CAMPUS

MCDA hires new director of Black Affairs

By Catie Wegman | June 7, 2017

UF’s Multicultural and Diversity Affairs hired a new director of Black Affairs this week.

Randy Singer, a 31-year-old UF Ph.D. student, works with the NOAA to research rare deep-sea fish through their Okeanos Explorer project. Singer has been working with the NOAA since 2013.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Ph.D. student uses ground-breaking technology for deep-sea research

By Catie Wegman | June 7, 2017

A UF Ph.D. student has been working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct deep-sea research.

NEWS | CAMPUS

GAU, UF reach health care agreement, three-year contract

By David Hoffman | June 7, 2017

After more than five months of negotiations, the Graduate Assistants United and UF reached an agreement on health care and are on track to renew their contract for the next three years.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Top UF lawyer resigns amid investigation

By David Hoffman | June 5, 2017

Amid a series of major changes within UF’s administration, a top legal adviser for the university has resigned.

A gator swims in trash in a creek on Gale Lemerand Drive. Mirsada Serdarevic, a 26-year-old UF graduate student, said allowing our school mascot to live in an area with a substantial amount of litter is a disgrace.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Gator found swimming in trash in creek on Gale Lemerand Drive

By Catie Wegman | June 5, 2017

When UF graduate student Mirsada Serdarevic was walking on Gale Lemerand Drive, she noticed a substantial amount of trash in a creek that is home to about three or four gators.

NEWS | CAMPUS

All 47 UF students studying in London are safe

By David Hoffman | June 5, 2017

When UF alumnus and England native Scott Henshall heard the news of a deadly attack in London on Saturday night, he immediately reached for his phone to message his brother.

An artist’s rendering of two black holes prior to their merge. Black holes have such a strong gravitational pull, nothing is able to escape, including light. The merged black hole has a mass 49 times that of the sun.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF physics professor helps detect black-hole collision

By Adam Turner | June 5, 2017

Three billion light-years away, two black holes collided and merged to form one larger black hole, sending gravitational waves rippling through the universe.

UF’s Clinical and Translational Research Building has achieved LEED certification, an award for sustainable buildings.

NEWS | CAMPUS

At UF Health Shands, limited awareness for sustainability

By Sophie Feinberg | June 5, 2017

As the sustainability movement gains traction, the medical field is looking toward implementing earth-conscious practices.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Former athletic director to teach at UF

By David Street | June 5, 2017

In 1992, a man was tasked with heading UF’s athletic department — Jeremy Foley. From 1992 to 2016, the Gators had 10 teams win a combined 27 championships and ended up in the top 10 of the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings each year, which is presented to the nation’s best overall collegiate athletics program.

The Newell Hall Learning Commons just finished the installment of a 14-foot sculpture intended to represent the agricultural history of the building.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Agricultural art installation erected on Newell Hall’s front lawn

By Catie Wegman | June 5, 2017

Newell Hall put the finishing touches on a brand-new 14-foot public piece of high-art installation Monday.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF IFAS course teaches adults how to navigate death

By Jenna Metcalf | June 5, 2017

A new UF-sponsored course will teach adults of all ages the art of saying goodbye.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Smith Meyers placed on probation, avoids trial

By David Hoffman | May 31, 2017

UF Student Body President Smith Meyers waived his right to a speedy trial and instead faces up to 12 months probation, according to Monroe County court documents obtained by the Alligator.

Library West installed 10 FitDesks to help students manage stress and anxiety while studying through exercise. The FitDesks were paid for with a $2,500 grant.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Library West installs FitDesks in hopes of reducing student stress

By Catie Wegman | May 31, 2017

Based on the 2016 GatorWell Healthy Gators Survey, stress and anxiety are the greatest health concerns facing students.