News - The Independent Florida Alligator

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Florida’s cell-grown meat ban leaves UF researchers divided

By Zoey Thomas | Mar. 4

Called “cultivated meat” by researchers and “lab-grown meat” by critics, the alternative protein is developed directly from animal cells. Scientists collect tissue samples from live animals without killing them. Then, they allow the cells to multiply and mature in a lab before processing them into a food product.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

UF eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion offices

By Alissa Gary | Mar. 1

UF fired 13 full-time diversity, equity and inclusion positions and ended 15 administrative appointments for faculty Friday. It also eliminated the office of the Chief Diversity Officer and ended DEI contracts with outside vendors, according to a Friday memo.

A mostly deserted evening along Newell Drive at the University of Florida’s Gainesville campus on Tuesday, July 22, 2021. The upcoming fall semester will see tens of thousands of students return to Gainesville, although an increase in the number of delta variant COVID-19 infections raises concerns about viral spread among unvaccinated people.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF jumps to no. 2 spot for number of Fulbright scholars

By Sydney Johnson | Feb. 29

If a poet, athlete, music enthusiast and novice ping pong player were gathered into a room, it may seem like they wouldn't have much in common.

Malachowsky Hall stands on Museum Road on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Email reprimanding napping students at Malachowsky Hall brings backlash

By Delia Rose Sauer | Feb. 29

On Feb. 7, around 50 students received an email whose first line read, “We appreciate how hard our faculty and students work, but it’s Malachowsky Hall, not Malachowsky Hotel.”

Student Body Treasurer-elect Saketh Damera reacts to a Vision Party victory in the Spring 2024 UF Student Government election at the Reitz Union on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Vision Party wins Spring 2024 executive ticket, majority Senate seats

By Alligator Staff report | Feb. 28

Vision Party swept the executive ticket of the Spring 2024 Student Government election, electing John Brinkman as student body president. Laura Thomas and Saketh Damera, both from Vision, will serve as vice president and treasurer.

A student attends the second day of voting for the UF Student Government election at Heavener Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Students await results of Spring 2024 Student Government elections

By Alligator Staff report | Feb. 28

Students had the opportunity to vote for student body president, student body vice president and student body treasurer, along with 50 Senate seats. Tuesday brought out 6,740 student votes, Supervisor of Elections Ethan Halle said. Total votes and results will be announced in the Reitz Union Wednesday night.

Students attend the first day of voting for the UF Student Government election at the Reitz Union on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Over 6,700 students vote in first day of Student Government elections

By Alligator Staff report | Feb. 27

Students gathered Tuesday at polling locations across campus to cast their ballots for the Student Government executive ticket and 50 Student Senate seats. Tuesday brought out 6,740 student votes, Supervisor of Elections Ethan Halle said. It’s about 1,000 votes fewer than the first day of Spring 2023 elections, which brought out 7,619 students.

Florida Gators cheerleader Waleed Aref tosses Amrynne Hill during the team's practice on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

The men behind the megaphones

By Zoey Thomas | Feb. 26

The UF cheerleading team currently has 13 men and 24 women, divided into a combination of male-female stunt pairs and all-girl groups. The athletes spent most of the two-hour practice preparing for next month’s cheer tryout, during which they’ll do their best to recruit talented newcomers — and show up themselves to re-earn their spots on the team. But tryouts will be less competitive for some than others.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Spring Student Government elections: A voter’s guide

By Annie Wang | Feb. 26

On Feb. 27 and 28, UF students will vote for 50 Student Senate seats and the positions of student body president, vice president and treasurer in the Spring 2024 Student Government elections.

Attendees gather at a vigil for Ukraine on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Ukrainian Student Association hosts candlelight vigil two years after Russian invasion

By Tanya Fedak | Feb. 25

Hosted by the Ukrainian Student Association, the event commemorated the second anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. It also honored the 10-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Crimea.

Members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity exchange words of encouragement before their performance for the UFFISS Stroll Off competition at Depot Park on Feb. 17, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF Kappa Alpha Psi celebrates Black community, culture despite arrest at step show

By Madilyn Gemme | Feb. 23

The winner of the Florida Invitational Step Show’s Stroll Off competition, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, is focusing on its community and celebrating Black culture — despite an arrest that occurred at the event last weekend.

Plaques are seen representing the National Pan-Hellenic Council on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

The UF Divine Nine celebrates Black History Month

By Annie Wang | Feb. 19

The Divine Nine promote academic excellence for African American students on predominantly white campuses. It also provides them with a space to address pertinent issues within the Black community, said Ammir Thomas, vice president of Theta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

The UF Family Medicine building located in East Gainesville on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Health receives $500,000 grant for East Gainesville mobile food pharmacy

By Zoey Thomas | Feb. 19

The UF Health chief culture officer, formerly the chief diversity officer, won a $500,000 grant from the Florida Blue Foundation to combat food and health insecurity in East Gainesville.

Two bikes chained to the rack outside of Marston Science Library on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF students struggle with higher bike theft rates

By Annie Wang | Feb. 15

In 2023, the UF Police Department had 122 cases of registered bike theft. That’s 60% higher than the previous year, which saw 76 thefts. The numbers for registered cases in the preceding years were 76 in 2022, 84 in 2021, 130 in 2020 and 104 in 2019, even with the effects of COVID-19.

Students and faculty in the African American Studies conference room on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF students, faculty help transcribe 8,731 pages for Frederick Douglass Day

By Molly Seghi | Feb. 14

February 14th has been internationally branded as a day of love. But to many Americans, the day is recognized as the chosen birthday of Frederick Douglass, which celebrates the work and activism of the historical Black trailblazer.

Britney Deas at Levin College of Law on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UF Supreme Court appoints its first Black woman as chief justice

By Delia Rose Sauer | Feb. 12

Britney Deas couldn’t keep her smile hidden as she opened her email. An unassuming email, something she thought was about administration, was actually announcing one of the biggest achievements in her career: becoming the first Black woman to be chief justice of the UF Supreme Court.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF students find community through Black organizations

By Sara-James Ranta | Feb. 12

Black UF students form strong bonds through diverse campus organizations at the predominantly white university.

Members of the UF Progressive Black Men organization tabling in Turlington Plaza on Friday, Feb 9, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Male students are outnumbered at UF. Why are Black males outnumbered most of all?

By Zoey Thomas | Feb. 12

David Canton, UF director of African American studies, calls it the “eyeball test.”

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

Former UF Senate candidate caught stealing a pro-Palestinian sign in Turlington Plaza

By Annie Wang | Feb. 9

A UF student was barred from campus for stealing a pro-Palestinian sign from a protester in Turlington Plaza.

Protesters stand outside the Reitz Union Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

Protesters removed from Reitz Union during Israeli speaker event

By Sara-James Ranta | Feb. 7

The UF Police Department removed three pro-Palestinian demonstrators from the Reitz Union Tuesday evening after they argued with a pro-Israel speaker inside.