News - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida’s first presumptive case of monkeypox was identified May 22.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF students confront pandemic fatigue, lingering anxiety as monkeypox cases rise in Alachua County

By Melanie Pena | Sep. 12, 2022

As of Sept. 10, there are nine monkeypox cases reported in Alachua County, with one of the cases belonging to the 15 to 19 years age range, and another in the 20 to 24 years age range. The number of reported cases increased by five since Aug. 29. Now, as monkeypox casts a familiar air of uncertainty, UF students worry they could face another viral outbreak.

Soup sits on a shelf at the Santa Fe Food Pantry Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.

NEWS | SFC

Santa Fe College Saints Food Share pantry experiences a high demand head of food drive

By Claire Grunewald | Sep. 12, 2022

SFC’s food pantry, Saints Food Share, encountered an increased demand for food from students since school started, Sarah Blanc, a SFC civic engagement and service specialist, said: The pantry is getting three times the number of normal requests for food ahead of its Hunger Action Month Food Drive.

Construction on UF campus along Museum Road shutters bus routes and commutes across the university.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Part of Museum Road may open by October, multiple UF construction projects still underway

By Peyton Harris | Sep. 12, 2022

Road closures are still a major concern for the UF community, as construction is still underway under UF’s Campus Landscape Master Plan and other projects slated to continue for at least another year. Reasons for road closures range from underground piping replacement to new campus structures, which have resulted in altered routes and ways of transportation for many.

UF Graduate Assistants United Co-President Rachel Hartnett talks to Talia Jacobsen, a new graduate assistant from Chicago, at GAU’s first “payday party,” Friday, Sept. 9, 2022.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Graduate Assistants United expands recruiting efforts through first ‘payday party’ after stipend raise

By Siena Duncan | Sep. 12, 2022

UF Graduate Assistant Union hosted its first payday party to foster community among its members and recruit more of them, but opinions were divided over whether union membership was worth it.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

UF keeps No. 5 spot in public university ranking

By Christian Casale | Sep. 11, 2022

The university has maintained its status as a top five public university for the second year in a row, according to the U.S. News & World Report 2023 Best Colleges rankings released Sept. 11.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Florida Gators superfan group reunites 20 years later

By Alissa Gary | Sep. 9, 2022

During their sophomore year, the Super Gators invited friends from their hometown of Pensacola to live together in apartments situated behind what used to be a Kash N’ Karry store in Gainesville. When the group threw parties in their apartments, more people kept joining.

UF students exit RTS buses at The Hub on Friday, Jan. 14, 2021.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

Regional Transit System app left inaccessible to Gainesville residents for nearly a full week

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | Sep. 8, 2022

Without a working app from Sept. 2 to Thursday, UF students struggled to find transportation to accommodate their daily schedules. City staff heard about connection issues with the RTS app Sept. 2 and immediately began working with the provider to restore function, city spokesperson Rossana Passaniti said.

Screenshot of Flo Rida announcement on UF Homecoming and Gator Growl's Instagram page.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Former UF quarterback Danny Wuerffel to host Gator Growl 2022

By Alissa Gary | Sep. 8, 2022

He will take the Stephen C. O’Connell Center stage alongside headliner Flo Rida and opener Olivia O’Brien.

Entre 2020 y 2022, estudiantes de la UF reportaron niveles más altos de ansiedad, ADHD y depresión.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF researchers investigate link between bacteria and depression

By Siena Duncan | Sep. 6, 2022

A study from UF researchers, published Aug. 22 in Scientific Reports, found the saliva of some college students with suicidal thoughts lacked bacteria that promote brain health. If the research is further tested and proven true, the medical treatments for those with depression could drastically expand.

The front entrance of the James W. “Bill” Heavener Football Training Center Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022.

NEWS | FEATURES

UF balances exclusivity, program competitiveness with new $85 million football complex

By Topher Adams and Claire Grunewald | Sep. 6, 2022

As Florida comes off the high from Saturday’s win, players can use its new football complex to continue training between games. The new James W. “Bill” Heavener Football Training Center is part of an effort to match the dominance of Southeastern Conference rivals Alabama and Georgia, both on the field and, more importantly, on the recruiting trail.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Health pauses booster shots as new COVID-19 boosters targeting Omicron are on the way

By Melanie Pena | Sep. 5, 2022

UF Health has pre-ordered, redesigned boosters and is expecting the shipment early next week, according to a UF Health Shands Hospital email Friday. The health system also temporarily paused booster administration of the current Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to those 12 and older until it receives the new boosters.

Tailgater Dane Ullian grills hotdogs off of West University Avenue before Florida’s matchup with Utah Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.

NEWS | CAMPUS

‘Football family’: ‘Tailgators’ return to the Swamp

By Alissa Gary | Sep. 5, 2022

The Two-Headed Tailgaters are just some of the hordes of people, including alumni, grad students and football fans who arrive early to the Swamp to tailgate.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Senate passes Senate reapportionment bill, recognizes 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at first Fall meeting

By Alissa Gary | Aug. 31, 2022

The most contested bill of the night was the Senate Reapportionment Act of 2023, which defines the number of seats each sector of campus will be allotted within the Senate.

Mark Law was terminated from his position as UF Honors director Monday.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF, embattled former Honors Program director at odds over nature of termination

By Christian Casale | Aug. 29, 2022

Mark Law and UF administration are publicly at odds about the nature of his termination. Honors students say they were confused about the nature of Law’s firing, and some faculty who already distrusted the administration rallied to Law’s cause.

House Bill 7, dubbed the “Stop WOKE Act” by Gov. Ron Desantis, went into effect July 1, 2022.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

‘A political weapon’: UF community left divided on how to navigate Florida’s new ‘Stop WOKE’ Act

By Peyton Harris | Aug. 29, 2022

House Bill 7, dubbed the “Stop WOKE Act” by Gov. Ron Desantis, went into effect July 1, 2022. The law is an expansion on Florida Statute Section 760.10, now including language that prohibits certain material from being taught at universities in the Florida State University System.

The bat houses at UF Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. UF is moving the bats from a house that is collapsing to a newer one.

NEWS | CAMPUS

After five years of waiting, UF bats finally start moving into their new home

By Siena Duncan | Aug. 27, 2022

Bat house three is occupied as of Thursday morning, meaning that a summer of work enticing them inside for a UF team made up of conservationists, biologists and construction workers has finally paid off.

Screenshot of Josh Richards announcement on UF Accent Speakers and UF Student Government page.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Accent Speakers Bureau reschedules Josh Richards for first Fall speaking event

By Anushka Dakshit | Aug. 26, 2022

Accent Speakers Bureau rescheduled TikTok star Josh Richards to do the first Fall show September 8 at 7 p.m. at the University Auditorium, according to an announcement Thursday.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Flo Rida, Olivia O’Brien to perform at UF’s Gator Growl 2022

By Alissa Gary | Aug. 26, 2022

UF Homecoming and Gator Growl announced Friday headlining artist, Flo Rida, and opener, Olivia O’Brien, will perform at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Oct. 7.

As the lights dimmed in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, the ground shook with students rising from their seats and introductory music reverberating through mega speakers attached to the ceiling. From the stage, a white fluorescent streak of light emerged through the smoke, crossing to point into the crowd. Then, from the wings, the long-awaited star of the night emerged.
“Oh man, University of Florida, what’s poppin’?” Joey Bada$$ yelled into his microphone, kicking off his set for the night as well as the start of the Fall semester.
Joey Bada$$ and Jean Deaux took to the stage to play a UF student-only concert at the O’Connell Center Wednesday night.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

‘What’s poppin’?’: Rain, technical issues didn’t stop Joey Bada$$ and Jean Deaux’s first day of school performance

By Alissa Gary | Aug. 25, 2022

Joey Bada$$ and Jean Deaux took to the stage to play a UF student-only concert at the O’Connell Center Wednesday night.

Newell Hall will house SweetBerries' newest location. The opening date will be announced this week.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Local Gainesville favorites SweetBerries and Opus Coffee arrive to new campus locations

By Claire Grunewald | Aug. 24, 2022

SweetBerries' newest location can be found at UF Newell Hall, replacing another campus favorite, Au Bon Pain. Another popular Gainesville eatery, Opus Coffee, has also arrived on campus at Norman Hall.