News - The Independent Florida Alligator

A collection of tombstone shaped signs and a banner calling for the end of in-person classes at the University of Florida was set-up on the corner of 13th Street and University Avenue on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UFF elevates concerned voices as UF’s re-opening plans rev on

By Alexander Lugo | Feb. 11, 2021

UFF held the meeting to lay out five demands aimed at university administration. The requests mainly center around in-person teaching and how it endangers faculty at a time when COVID-19 cases are still high, a more contagious variant of the disease is in town and students are still flocking to bars and clubs on the weekend.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Wednesday is the last day to request an absentee ballot for the Spring elections

By Carolina Ilvento | Feb. 10, 2021

Students who are not living in Gainesville or don’t feel comfortable voting in person can request an absentee ballot to be sent by mail by filling out a request form through the SG website.

Pictured is the Santa Fe College clock tower.

NEWS | SFC

Santa Fe College COVID-19 update: 19 students and employees tested positive last week

By Juliana Ferrie | Feb. 10, 2021

Santa Fe’s total reported positive cases is now 664. The college recorded its first student COVID-19 case March 8 and its first employee case the following day.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF’s online programs are among the best in the country

By Abigail Hasebroock | Feb. 9, 2021

The online bachelor’s program is available to more students than the roughly 4,000 who are currently enrolled. The courses offered are not exclusive to students only online but are available to traditional students who desire to take online classes.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

New UF class teaches students about the political, social context of whiteness

By J.P. Oprison | Feb. 9, 2021

UF professor Lance Gravlee created a class this semester called Whiteness in response to the racial injustice protests in 2020 over the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. He said the unequal impact of COVID-19 across racial lines also inspired him to create the class.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Tomorrow’s homework: UF launches new diversity, equity and inclusion training

By Sofia Echeverry | Feb. 6, 2021

The 40-minute training is recommended for all students, faculty and staff and covers topics such as discrimination, intersectionality, oppression, inclusion and identity. The course had a deadline of Jan. 31 for faculty. Students have until April 1.

Matt Raulerson, 20, a forest resources and conservation junior, walks on a path through the McCarty Woods Conservation Area on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. Raulerson expressed disappointment at the news that the conservation area has been approved as a possible future site for construction. "It's horrible," he said. "It would take away all the beauty of it. It's something I pass everyday I walk to class and it's something I love looking at."

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF students and faculty oppose proposal to build on the McCarty Woods conservation area

By Abigail Hasebroock | Feb. 5, 2021

In December, UF Board of Trustees approved a 2020-30 Campus Master Plan that marked 2 of the 2.9 acres of the McCarty Woods as a future construction site for research buildings. The decision has been met with opposition from UF students, faculty and staff who have banded together to prevent the implementation of the proposal.

NEWS | SFC

Santa Fe College COVID-19 update: 37 students and employees tested positive last week

By Juliana Ferrie | Feb. 5, 2021

Santa Fe’s total reported positive cases since March is now 643.

Graphic of David Dobrik, Cody Ko and Noel Miller

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Cody Ko, Noel Miller and David Dobrik distract students with humor

By Carolina Ilvento | Feb. 4, 2021

Accent Speakers Bureau hosted the trio in a free event to UF students and faculty over Zoom. During the show, they spoke about their experience with YouTube and what is to come in their futures.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Union and Change Parties merge into one

By Carolina Ilvento | Feb. 3, 2021

With the merging of the two minority parties on the last day of slating, there will be two candidates running for each executive position. Both Gator and Change announced their executive ticket candidates in the last week.

Photo of Santa Fe College commencement from Fall 2019 [Courtesy of Matt Stamey]

NEWS | SFC

Santa Fe College to hold virtual Spring graduation

By Juliana Ferrie | Feb. 3, 2021

The ceremonies are scheduled for April 29-30 on a website created specifically for the graduation, according to Santa Fe’s website.

Screenshot of the "A Night of YouTube" Accent speaker event on Facebook`

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UF will pay $120,000 to host Cody Ko, Noel Miller and David Dobrik to speak virtually

By Carolina Ilvento | Feb. 2, 2021

UF Accent Speakers Bureau will pay Youtube celebrities Cody Ko, Noel Miller and David Dobrik $120,000 total in student fees to speak virtually on Wednesday, according to event contracts.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Change Party announces its executive ticket

By Carolina Ilvento | Feb. 1, 2021

Change is the second party to announce its candidates, following Gator Party's announcement on Wednesday. Union Party’s plans are still unclear.

Photo of Charles Kibert [Courtesy of Patricia Kibert]

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Sustaining UF professor Charles Kibert’s legacy

By Sofia Echeverry | Feb. 1, 2021

Kibert was a Holland professor in the M.E. Rinker Sr. School of Construction Management and the director of the Powell Center for Construction and Environment.

Judge Stephan P. Mickle, the first African-American to get a bachelor’s degree from UF and the second to graduate from UF’s Levin College of Law, smiles as he receives a plaque from George Dawson, the law school’s interim dean, during a tree dedication ceremony in 2015. About 75 people attended the ceremony on the UF Law West Courtyard.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Remembering UF’s first Black undergraduate alumnus Judge Stephan Mickle

By Alan Halaly | Feb. 1, 2021

Mickle, the first Black student to earn an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida in 1965, died of cancer Jan. 26. He was 76.

GPD officer on a motorcycle stops at the intersection of Buckman Drive and West University Avenue, where a car crash involving a UF student took place two weeks ago.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Law enforcement, community leaders demonstrate traffic safety

By Jiselle Lee | Feb. 1, 2021

The operation, led by Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff's Office and University Police Department, focused on the education of poor driving behavior, such as violations of pedestrian right of way in crosswalks and running red lights.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UF Accent Speakers Bureau to host YouTube personalities Cody Ko, Noel Miller and David Dobrik

By Abigail Hasebroock | Jan. 29, 2021

YouTube personalities Cody Ko, Noel Miller and David Dobrik will speak Feb. 3 at 6 and 8 p.m. in a virtual event for UF students. Accent Speakers Bureau, a student-run organization funded by UF Student Government, announced its first Spring event Friday.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Student Government working to address traffic safety issues in and around campus

By Carolina Ilvento | Jan. 29, 2021

Senate unanimously passed three resolutions on traffic safety Tuesday, and Senator Zachery Utt (Murphree, Inspire) announced an update on his traffic safety course project. Student Body President Trevor Pope also said he plans to work with the Executive Branch to advocate for traffic safety.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Students can start registering for a seat in Senate Friday

By Carolina Ilvento | Jan. 29, 2021

Potential UF Senate candidates can start the qualifying and slating, or interviewing, processes to be on this semester's ballot Friday and can choose from several parties: Gator, Union or Change.

NEWS | SFC

Santa Fe College COVID-19 update: 21 students and employees tested positive last week

By Juliana Ferrie | Jan. 29, 2021

This brings the college’s total number of reported positive cases since March to 606.