News - The Independent Florida Alligator

NEWS | CAMPUS

State bill could eliminate gender studies, grant hiring power to trustees

By Alissa Gary | Feb. 27, 2023

If passed, House Bill 999 would ban the instruction of gender studies and critical race theory, give hiring powers to each state university board of trustees and allow them to call post-tenure review at any time for any purpose. It would also prohibit any campus programs or activities that say people are discriminated against because of their race, sex or national origin.

Dr. Dan Berger, a UF alum and author, signs his books and talks with attendees at a UF Samuel Proctor Oral History Program event on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.

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UF hosts talk, signing for new civil rights book ‘Stayed on Freedom’

By Ben Crosbie | Feb. 26, 2023

As Black History Month comes to a close, Dan Berger and Zoharah Simmons brought a personal piece of history to life in UF’s Smathers Library on Thursday, Feb. 23.

Ohio State professor Julia Andrews gives a presentation on female Chinese artists in the 1900s at the Harn Museum of Art Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023.

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UF Harn Museum educates visitors on 20th century Chinese female artists

By Zoey Thomas | Feb. 24, 2023

Audience members — including local families and UF students — had a hard time looking away from the colorful paintings flashing across the projector behind her as she spoke.

UF campus cat Eve eats Churu cat treats.

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UF students befriend Riker Hall cat colony

By Alissa Gary | Feb. 24, 2023

The six tabbies and two black cats may have different names depending on who’s visiting that day. As somewhat-strays, each person interested enough to come close calls them differently.

Sophia De La Cruz (left) and Krystin Anderson (right) speak to attendees at the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program’s teach-in session about black history and intellectual freedom in Marston Science Library Thursday, February 23, 2023.

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UF students protest DeSantis’ ‘attacks on higher education’

By Peyton Harris , Halima Attah and Ella Thompson | Feb. 24, 2023

In a moment of solidarity, UF students, many clad in black and holding signs, gathered outside Marston Science Library at noon Thursday in support of gender-affirming health care and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as they come under fire from the state government.

The Change Party and the Gator Party’s candidates for student body president, vice president and treasurer engage in a debate moderated by Marna Weston in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Gator, Change executive tickets battle for votes in Student Government debate

By Amanda Friedman | Feb. 23, 2023

With less than a week until the Spring elections, Gator and Change party’s executive tickets sparred over student organization funding, graduate student resources and 24/7 library services in the Student Government debate Tuesday.

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DeSantis proposes university network ban on TikTok

By Sophia Bailly and Peyton Harris | Feb. 20, 2023

Despite UF's growing presence on TikTok, the use of it could be prohibited at UF starting in March after a proposal from Gov. Ron DeSantis. The bill will be heard in the March 2023 Legislative session.

Rachel Taylor (left) and Will Marshall (right) honor the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting at the five year anniversary remembrance vigil at UF's Plaza of the Americas Tuesday, February 14, 2023.

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5 years after Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy, gun control legislation stalls

By Amanda Friedman | Feb. 20, 2023

Feb. 14 marked the fifth anniversary of the MSD High School shooting in Parkland in 2018, which left 17 people dead, including 14 students and three school faculty members. Since that day, there have been over 900 mass shootings at K-12 schools in the U.S.

Three members of the search committee for the Director of the Honors Program review interview questions in the Dr. C. Author Sandeen conference room Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Honors director search committee selects semifinalists

By Halima Attah | Feb. 20, 2023

The committee responsible for finding a new UF Honors Program director met Feb. 17 to discuss plans for the final stages of their search process. A group of 10 applicants was selected from the committee’s initial talent pool to become semifinalists.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks as he announces a proposal for Digital Bill of Rights, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

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DeSantis signs bill to update name, image and likeness legislation

By Krisha Sanghavi | Feb. 20, 2023

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis eased coaching involvement restrictions on name, image and likeness legislation Feb. 16 with a bill that passed through the state legislature unanimously.

At UF's Smathers Library Grand Reading Room, Bill Nelson, former U.S Senator for Florida and current administrator for NASA, speaks at the Nelson Initiative on Ethics and Leadership. Nelson was joined by previous astronauts Charles Bolden and Robert Gibson Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.

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NASA administrator, former US Sen. Bill Nelson gives UF talk on leadership, ethics

By Sophia Bailly | Feb. 18, 2023

Bill Nelson, who has served in the Florida House of Representatives and in both chambers of U.S. Congress, gave his sixth presentation of the Nelson Initiative on Ethics and Leadership series, which aims to educate the public about how to build strong leadership skills.

Faculty senators listen as UF Faculty Senate President Amanda Phalin addresses those in attendance Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF Faculty Senate approves new AI degree, 2027-2028 academic calendar

By Halima Attah | Feb. 17, 2023

The UF Faculty Senate voted Thursday to approve the creation of a new master’s degree under the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and the university’s 2027-2028 academic calendar — both now subject to approval by the Florida Board of Trustees.

Rabbi Berl Goldman walks through the crowd of students gathered in Plaza of the Americas as an antisemitic group "Ye is Right" attempts to interview people on campus Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023.

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UF Chief Diversity Officer, panelists speak on fighting antisemitism

By Alissa Gary | Feb. 16, 2023

A four-person panel, organized by the office of the Chief Diversity Officer in partnership with UF Hillel and UF Chabad-Lubavitch, met to discuss and answer questions about the rise in antisemitism on campus Wednesday night.

FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks after being sworn in to begin his second term during an inauguration ceremony outside the Old Capitol on Jan. 3, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

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Gov. DeSantis proposes to ban access to TikTok on university internet services

By Alissa Gary | Feb. 15, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a set of proposals on internet safety Wednesday, including that the state will ban access to TikTok and other foreign platforms on all public university networks, during a press conference in West Palm Beach.

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UF community remembers Parkland mass shooting victims

By Amanda Friedman | Feb. 15, 2023

About 100 people gathered at Plaza of the Americas for a candlelit vigil Tuesday to commemorate the tragedy's 19 victims — 17 who died in the shooting and two who died by suicide after — on its fifth anniversary.

Guest speaker Giancarlo Esposito, a 64-year-old actor best known for his role in "Breaking Bad," addresses the crowd of UF students and faculty before an interview conducted by Ted Spiker, chair of the UF department of journalism, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

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Giancarlo Esposito speaks at UF on Valentine’s Day

By Sydney Johnson | Feb. 15, 2023

The 64-year-old actor, director and producer spoke with Ted Spiker, UF College of Journalism chair, and implored students to stick with what inspires them. During the event, hosted by UF Accent Speakers Bureau, he asked that students not only make their dreams happen, but invite them to happen.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF faculty, administration reflect on Provost Joe Glover’s tenure

By Ella Thompson | Feb. 15, 2023

Joe Glover announced Jan. 27 he will step down as provost and top academic officer but will remain at the university as a senior advisor to President Ben Sasse, who took office Feb. 6.

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Suspended Phi Delta Theta fraternity member pleads not guilty to sexual battery

By Ella Thompson | Feb. 13, 2023

Kancherla is still enrolled at UF, according to UF spokesperson Cynthia Roldan. On Jan. 13, he was issued a no trespass warning — meaning he is unable to enter all UF and Shands properties without permission — that expires in 2026.

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M.J. Hardman, UF linguistics professor, dies at 87

By Sophia Bailly | Feb. 13, 2023

M.J. Hardman died Feb. 6 at age 87. The UF professor spent her life bringing cultures together through linguistics research.

Sep 14, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Austin FC in a huddle before the game against Real Salt Lake at Q2 Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports; Courtesy of the MLSPA

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UF Online, Major League Soccer Players Association announce partnership

By Topher Adams | Feb. 13, 2023

UF Online and the Major League Soccer Players Association announced a new partnership Tuesday to allow current and former MLS players to pursue online degree programs. Beginning in the Fall 2023 semester, players will be able to choose from 25 UF Online programs and will be connected with an academic adviser when they start their program.