News - The Independent Florida Alligator

Contestants gather around a five-and-a-half foot long inflated penis for X-Mart’s “Longest Handy Ever Contest” held Saturday at the store.

NEWS | FEATURES

Longest Handy Ever Contest finishes earlier than expected

By Alex Harris | July 21, 2014

The Longest Handy Ever didn’t last very long.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Summer Plunge day of service to become annual event

By Ashley Iaccarino | July 18, 2014

Sen. Leah Miller, chairwoman of the allocations committee, speaks during Tuesday's Student Senate meeting.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Senate passes resolutions thanking Florida Legislature, awards funds to health organization

By Alex Harris | July 16, 2014

UF’s Student Senate passed three pieces of legislation during its Tuesday meeting.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Author asks students ‘What If?’ to publish e-book

By Gigi Pena | July 16, 2014

Best-selling author Rebecca Donovan is promoting her new book, “What If,” using moments captured on UF’s campus.

Shelby Concon (left) and Kyle Smith (right) at the South Regional qualifier holding the bass they caught that day.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Two UF students hope to reel in summer fishing championship

By Lindsey Cook-Saucier | July 16, 2014

This summer, two UF students will represent their school with fishing poles in hand.

Rich Hibner crouches behind an obstacle at the new M2 Battlesports field in Newberry on Saturday.

NEWS | FEATURES

Outdoor laser tag arena opens

By GRAHAM HACK | July 14, 2014

Water droplets fell from the trees as the red team discussed its strategy.

Central Florida Office Plus, located at 10 Northwest Sixth St., closed its doors Tuesday after 56 years of business. The store was a hub for local artists and office workers.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Art supply store closure leaves void

By Jacqueline Adadi | July 14, 2014

When Central Florida Office Plus shut down after being in business for 56 years, it left more than just an empty store.

Freshman Truc Nguyen, an 18-year-old nutrition major, purchases books for her first semester from bookstore associate David Martinez, 25, Tuesday afternoon

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Renting books busts bookstores’ backs, benefits students

By Lindsey Cook-Saucier | July 14, 2014

For most students, the ability to rent textbooks instead of buying them saves quite a bit of cash. But for bookstores, that doesn’t always translate into more profits.

UF President Bernie Machen gives his State of the University speech Thursday in the Reitz Union. He talked about the development of UF eCampus, Florida Core curriculum and expanding faculty resources, among other projects.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Board of Trustees approves new UF president’s salary range

By Alex Harris | July 9, 2014

UF’s next president could make more than $1 million a year.

In a panoramic photo, a crowd of students and residents gathers beneath an impending storm on campus at Flavet Field for UF’s Fanfares & Fireworks event  in 2013.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Flavet Field fireworks display fizzled

By Steven Katona | July 9, 2014

John Casse and his team waited for four hours in the rain last Thursday before being told it wasn’t safe to shoot off his fireworks.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Gator Motorsports places ninth in international race

By Hannah Fell | July 7, 2014

Jonathan Nuñez couldn’t be happier to peel the large, white “10” off of his team’s race car and replace it with a “9.”

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF observatory gets star ranking

By Claudia Stantzyk-Guzek | July 2, 2014

UF’s astronomy observatory was recently ranked fourth in a list of the top 25 college observatories in the nation on CollegeRank.net.

NEWS | CAMPUS

LSAT possibly waived for 10 percent of law school admits

By Rebecca Kravetz | July 2, 2014

Students looking to apply to law school may no longer need to take the LSAT starting in August.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF student helps US Special Olympics soccer team win second

By Aldo Araujo | July 2, 2014

They may not be playing in the FIFA World Cup, but the Special Olympics Unified soccer team came, saw and conquered at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Supreme Court birth control decision divides Gainesville residents

By Griffin Horvath | June 30, 2014

Gainesville residents are split on a recent decision from the U.S. Supreme Court that exempts birth control options from mandated business health insurance coverage.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Miss UF dethroned as Miss Florida, loses to FSU student

By Riana Melendez | June 30, 2014

Miss UF walked off the Miss Florida pageant stage on June 21 with a crown and a smile that could light up a room, but after five days, the crown was no longer hers.

UF’s new virtual tour app, called the University of Florida Tour, caters to prospective students, parents and alumni.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF app provides option to tour campus without leaving home

By Lindsey Cook-Saucier | June 30, 2014

UF is now offering a virtual alternative to a Cicerone-led tour.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF student charged with public masturbation arrested for domestic battery

By Kyle Follansbee | June 19, 2014

A UF student, who was also arrested for public masturbation early last week, was found arguing with his now ex-girlfriend.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Senate: Student Supreme Court and Honor Code administration approved

By Alex Harris | June 18, 2014

This week’s brief Senate meeting appointed next year’s Student Supreme Court and Student Honor Code administration.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Great White Shark population better than ever on West Coast, expert says

By Hannah Fell | June 18, 2014

A 2011 study said the great white shark population was endangered, but UF shark expert George Burgess and a team of researchers didn’t think those conclusions added up.