News - The Independent Florida Alligator

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UF Senate debate rescinding of procedural budgetary bill

By Amanda Friedman | Jan. 25, 2023

On the docket: a resolution to make discriminatory acts an official violation of the Orange Book Conduct Codes, an amendment to remove gendered language from the UF Student Body Constitution and a revision to the 300 Codes, which outline the rules of the legislative branch, to turn Town Hall events into moderated forums, all passed without debate.

Nine members of the UF wildlife ecology and conservation department’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Committee wrote a letter criticizing the guidelines and called upon the UF community to advocate for transgender healthcare access for children.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

UF transgender community reacts to gender-affirming care audit

By Amanda Friedman | Jan. 23, 2023

DeSantis administration's memo requests the number of encounters for gender confirmation treatment starting from Jan. 1, 2018. This includes how many first-time patients sought treatment and the facilities to which they were referred, as well as the number of patients diagnosed with gender identity disorders and at which stage of treatment they were diagnosed.

NEWS | SFC

Santa Fe College’s charter school recruits prospective county parents

By Kennedy Mason | Jan. 22, 2023

SFC’s Academy of Science and Technology, a new charter school initiative that will be run inside of the college’s northwest campus at 3000 NW 83 St, will offer students starting in ninth grade an associate’s of science degree in addition to a high school diploma. At a Thursday night meeting, prospective parents learned more about programs and application processes.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

‘Swifties’ unite under UF Taylor Swift Society

By Sophia Bailly | Jan. 19, 2023

The new Taylor Swift Society welcomes fans across campus to share their love for the 33-year-old American singer-songwriter. The club’s founder, Dalia Dooley, a 19-year-old UF history sophomore, came up with the idea in the Fall.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UF student senators split on Marston Library 24/7 announcement

By Amanda Friedman | Jan. 18, 2023

Jan. 17 Senate meeting addressed an amendment that would remove gendered language from the Constitution, a resolution to recognize and promote the Spread Cream Cheese Not Hate Campaign event combatting antisemitism and a revision to the 300 Codes, which outline the rules of the legislative branch, to change Town Hall events from open to moderated forums, all passed without debate.

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

DeSantis administration mandates audit of Florida universities’ gender-affirming care

By Alissa Gary | Jan. 18, 2023

A new request from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office has landed at Florida universities’ doorsteps, this time concerning procedures and services dealing with gender-affirming care on campus.

UF historian and task force member Carl Van Ness responds to a question from a student panel at a roundtable discussion on African American and Native American History at Smathers Library Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF legacy of racism at forefront of task force report

By Alissa Gary | Jan. 18, 2023

A Jan. 17 panel reviewed the Presidential Task Force on African American and Native American History’s report detailing new research and recounting a more complete version of UF’s history concerning African Americans and Native Americans.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF reported spending $5 million, less than 1% of budget, on diversity initiatives

By Alissa Gary | Jan. 18, 2023

UF reported over $5 million in total funding for diversity, equity and inclusion and critical race theory initiatives — projected as approximately 0.14% of its annual budget, according to a state-mandated audit released to The Alligator Jan. 18.

Iman Zawahry was president of Islam on Campus during 9/11. Now, Zawahry teaches media production, management and technology at UF’s College of Journalism and Communications.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF lecturer’s film ‘Americanish’ acquired by Sony Pictures

By Amanda Friedman | Jan. 17, 2023

“Americanish,” Zawahry's directorial debut feature film, premiered in 2021 and has recently been acquired by Sony Pictures International Productions. Zawahry received the news that the deal went through in an email when she was on UF campus, she said.

Bruce Capin strokes Kuwa, one of the three cougars living in the sanctuary at his home, Monday evening after bringing her some grass to eat. Capin said he has had the sanctuary for 20 years and that he takes in cougars that were mistreated or neglected so that they can live out the rest of their lives.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Bruce Capin, longtime UF fencing coach, dies at 60

By Sophia Bailly | Jan. 17, 2023

Bruce Capin, UF's fencing coach, died Nov. 28 at the age of 60.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Honors Program forms committee to seek new director

By Halima Attah | Jan. 17, 2023

The UF Honors Program has officially begun a search for the replacement of former director Mark Law, who Provost Joe Glover fired in August.

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 Science Library is back at 24/7 hours

By Amanda Friedman and Alissa Gary | Jan. 17, 2023

While the library used to operate on a 24-hour schedule, the COVID-19 pandemic paused those hours indefinitely, leaving many students wondering whether they would return. Newell Hall has been the only 24-hour study space for students since Fall 2021.

Fine Arts Senator of the Change Caucus Cassie Urbenz asks a question during the UF Student Senate Q&A session about student organizational funding Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Student organizations’ leaders criticize funding model

By Amanda Friedman | Jan. 13, 2023

The Ad Hoc Committee was formed to provide a platform for representatives of student organizations to express their concerns and ask committee members about the funding process.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF reinstates vehicle-restricted area on campus

By Claire Grunewald | Jan. 13, 2023

The vehicle-restricted zones went into effect Monday. It will include parts of Stadium Road, Newell Drive, Union Road and Buckman Drive.

FILE - President Joe Biden speaks about student loan debt relief at Delaware State University, Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

NEWS | CAMPUS

Biden Administration proceeds with new student-debt repayment plan

By Naomi Volcy | Jan. 11, 2023

Under the administration’s new plan, monthly payments on loans would cap at 5% of the borrower’s income for borrowers who earn more than $30,000 a year. Unpaid interest wouldn’t be added to the borrower’s remaining balance as long as they pay their monthly payments.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Cabinet for non-traditional students recaps Fall initiatives at first Spring meeting

By Amanda Friedman | Jan. 11, 2023

The meeting recapped the work of the Transition Cabinet, which aids non-traditional students in their transition to UF, and announced an upcoming forum of the Student Funding Ad Hoc Committee, which will address funding concerns.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Change Caucus resubmits controversial online voting bill

By Amanda Friedman | Jan. 10, 2023

The Online Voting Constitutional Amendment, authored by Sen. Oscar Santiago Perez (Change-District D) and Sen. Jonathan C. Stephens (Change-District D), would provide all UF students with a secure, online and remote voting option for SG elections. If passed in the Senate, the amendment would be on the Spring election ballot for students to vote on.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Remembering John Wright — former UF journalism dean, professor

By Naomi Volcy | Jan. 9, 2023

Wright, a former dean and professor, died Dec. 31 at 73. When his passing was announced by UF’s journalism school Jan. 2, the article circulated across the college’s social media accounts. UF faculty and alumni flooded the comments with their condolences, kind words and fond memories of Wright.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Library West partially reopens after water damage

By Sophia Bailly | Jan. 9, 2023

Library West closed Dec. 26 after 60,000 gallons of water leaked into the building. The library will partially open Monday, Jan. 9.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Florida Museum of Natural History to rehouse nearly 200,000 jars of preserved animals

By Halima Attah | Jan. 9, 2023

Located next to the museum’s exhibit hall, the new facility will serve as a hallmark of the Florida Museum’s departments of ichthyology (involving fish), herpetology (involving amphibians and reptiles) and invertebrate zoology. It will house the wet collections that have propelled student researchers’ work, with more than 23,000 square feet of laboratory spaces, concentrated shelving systems and offices.