News - The Independent Florida Alligator

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Sasse’s quiet first week follows loud first day

By Christian Casale and Alissa Gary | Feb. 13, 2023

Ben Sasse’s first day as UF president began with an email to students, faculty and staff with high expectations to see them around campus. That same afternoon, students, faculty and alumni gathered for another protest against him outside Tigert Hall. Despite the commotion of the first-day protest, a majority of students didn’t attend, and some were unaware that Sasse began his tenure at all.

Attendees walk through the “Posing Beauty in African American Culture” exhibit Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023.

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Harn Museum of Art debuts African art exhibit

By Halima Attah | Feb. 11, 2023

The Harn Museum of Art hosted “Africa Everywhere,” an Africa-themed exhibition event Thursday. Celebrating the “beauty of the arts of Africa and the African diaspora,” the program was one of Harn’s many Museum Nights: monthly showcases that allow visitors to interact with unique art, speakers and attractions. The featured artwork will still be available for viewing following the event.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Senate passes resolutions against political encroachment, antisemitism

By Amanda Friedman | Feb. 8, 2023

Student Government senators approved two resolutions condemning antisemitism and political encroachment and a new Change Caucus minority party leader was appointed during the Feb. 7 meeting’s 29 minutes.

In the left image, Jonner Delgado (left), Faith Corbett (center) and Kacie Ross (right) are announced as the Spring 2023 executive ticket for UF Student Government's Change Party Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. In the right image, Nyla Pierre (left), Olivia Green (center) and Clara Calavia (right) are announced as the Spring 2023 executive ticket for UF Student Government's Gator Party.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Gator, Change Party announce Spring election executive tickets

By Amanda Friedman | Feb. 8, 2023

UF students will elect a new student body president, vice president and treasurer, and 50 new senators representing various academic colleges during the Student Government Spring elections between Feb. 28 and March 1.

UF President Ben Sasse talks with attendees of the press conference held at Jacksonville City Hall about plans to open a new graduate campus, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF to build new graduate campus in Jacksonville

By Alissa Gary | Feb. 7, 2023

UF President Ben Sasse and other UF officials announced a plan Tuesday morning in Jacksonville for a new graduate campus there specializing in medicine, business and engineering.

Gov. Ron DeSantis looks down at his notes as he speaks to a crowd of reporters in Surfside, Florida on Thursday, July 1, 2021.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

DeSantis appoints new UF trustee

By Alissa Gary | Feb. 6, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed businessperson and Republican Party donor Patrick Zalupski to the UF Board of Trustees Thursday, whose company donated $150,000 to the Friends of Ron DeSantis political committee since Nov. 2021, according to the Florida Department of State Division of Elections.

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UF Online delivers high-quality degrees remotely

By Ella Thompson | Feb. 6, 2023

UF Online was named the No. 1 online bachelor’s program in the country for the second year in a row by U.S. News and World Report. It was created in 2014 and is known for its high-caliber classes and flexibility, according to students.

Eva Garcias Ferres, a 26-year-old graduate assistant at UF, talks about her journey as an international graduate student Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023.

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UF graduate assistants seek more pay, better living conditions

By Sophia Bailly | Feb. 6, 2023

Graduate assistants are continuing to struggle with a stipend minimum of $17,000. Students speak up about their individuals experiences and how GAU might make a future impact.

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)

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Florida House audits communications of UF diversity, equity and inclusion staffers

By Alissa Gary | Feb. 6, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a proposal to defund what he called “DEI bureaucracies” at Florida universities during a press conference on higher education Jan. 31.

Pamela Bingham, the first and only Black female UF student body president ever, spoke to UF's Black Student Union Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

First Black female UF student body president returns for Black History Month

By Halima Attah | Feb. 3, 2023

Pamela Bingham visited her alma mater Thursday as part of the Black Student Union’s 2023 Black History Month program, speaking to a group of BSU students in the Reitz Auditorium.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

UF Jewish community drowns out antisemitic streamers

By Alligator Staff report | Feb. 2, 2023

Self-identified Christian Nationalist streamers Tyler Russell and Dalton Clodfelter began tabling at the Plaza of the Americans at about 1:30 p.m., donned in Yeezy merchandise, with a few supporters. A few feet across from them, the UF Jewish community showed up en masse.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

Bomb squad calls false alarm after UF Turlington Hall evacuation

By Alligator Staff report | Feb. 2, 2023

It was “research material” on the first floor of Turlington Hall that caused hundreds of students to flood out of the building when law enforcement ordered an evacuation of the building around 12:30 p.m, UF spokesperson Cynthia Roldan said.

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Gator 2.0: Gator 1 Cards go contactless

By Sydney Johnson | Feb. 2, 2023

The updated card’s new features include contactless payment and a magnetic stripe. Users will continue to use the card for dining halls, UF-affiliated banks, campus access and the Regional Transit Service.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Tension persists in UF Student Senate around student organization funding

By Amanda Friedman | Feb. 1, 2023

With no legislation on the docket, public comments concerning student organization funding and executive branch efforts consumed the Jan. 31 Student Government Senate meeting.

Mark Oppenheimer, a religion writer and scholar, appears at Pugh Hall on UF's campus to discuss the increase of antisemitism Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Jewish author Mark Oppenheimer speaks on antisemitism at UF

By Zoey Thomas | Feb. 1, 2023

Oppenheimer — a writer and self-described challah baker whose portfolio includes projects such as “The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia” and the “Unorthodox” podcast – visited UF Tuesday to speak to over 50 students and other members of the Gainesville community in an open conversation about antisemitism.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

UF Jewish community, Fuchs react to antisemitic ‘Ye’ Kanye West messages

By Ella Thompson | Feb. 1, 2023

UF campus will have increased police presence this week after members of the UF community discovered multiple antisemitic messages written in chalk on campus in support of Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West.

On the steps of Tigert Hall, members of the UF community are seen rallying in support of higher wages for graduate and teaching assistants on Tuesday, March 1.

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Graduate Assistants United reopens stipend negotiations with UF

By Sophia Bailly | Jan. 31, 2023

GAU reopened stipend negotiations Monday with UF.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

DeSantis to defund diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at Florida universities

By Alissa Gary | Jan. 31, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he will completely defund diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at Florida universities during a press conference Tuesday morning.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Honors search committee begins search for new director

By Alissa Gary | Jan. 30, 2023

The search committee to find a permanent director to the Honors Program met Jan. 27 at Tigert Hall to discuss narrowing down applicants and finalizing a selection by summer at the latest. The committee will review initial candidate résumés before Jan. 30.

From left to right, Sarah Toomey, Carina Swenson, Madison Hendrikse and Kyle Hopwood gather around a table at Marston Science Library to study Monday, Jan. 16, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Marston Library’s return to 24/7 hours may be temporary

By Amanda Friedman | Jan. 30, 2023

UF’s student government announced on Instagram Jan. 13 that Marston Library would reinstate 24-hour services after spring break with funding secured through Provost Joe Glover. However, details of the deal reveal the provost agreed to fund the initiative only for the remainder of the Spring and Fall 2023 semesters for a pilot study that’ll collect data on overnight hour usage to inform future funding decisions.