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UF graduates stand and sing along to Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" during the 2021 graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 1, 2021. (Photo by Makiya Seminera)

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UF graduates attend first in-person commencement ceremonies since 2019

By Makiya Seminera and Isabella Douglas | May 10, 2021

From April 29 to May 3, around 10,000 students registered to graduate in the Spring 2021 graduation ceremonies — the first in-person graduation ceremonies since since December 2019. Of the 10,000 students registered, about 3,000 were graduates from spring, summer and fall of 2020 who returned to UF’s campus to attend in-person commencement ceremonies the following weekend.

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Here’s what you missed in Student Government this Spring

By Carolina Ilvento and Grace Stoler | May 10, 2021

Throughout Spring, Senate passed a total of 19 bills — 11 of which were resolutions, which by definition are an expression of the Senate’s sentiments on behalf of the Student Body. No bills enabling direct change were passed.

Photo courtesy of the department of public relations

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Former UF public relations professor Kathleen Kelly dies at 77

By Camila Pereira | May 10, 2021

Kelly, who was a former UF public relations professor and advisor for mass communication Ph.D. students, died April 28 in her St. Augustine condo at 77.

Photograph of Nicole Stedman. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Stedman)

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Nicole Stedman takes on new position as Dean of UF’s Graduate School

By Isabella Douglas | May 10, 2021

Nicole Stedman, soon-to-be associate provost and dean of UF’s Graduate School, will be responsible for understanding the current issues the Graduate School faces and administer communication between the university and graduate students. She was chosen for the role over two other finalists.

Alexander McCollum, 19, a Santa Fe Associate of Arts graduate stands through the sunroof of a white limousine with his hand holding a paper scroll raised in the air in celebration during Santa Fe College’s Drive-Thru Grad Walk ceremony on Thursday, April 29, 2021.

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Santa Fe College graduates attend drive-thru graduation by motorcycle, limousine and decorated cars

By Antonia LaRocca | May 7, 2021

During the event, graduates exited their vehicles to walk across the stage. They could remove their face masks for photos once on the stage.

Photo of Newell Drive with Century Tower and Marston Science Library visible in the view

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UF employees tried to deal with their health. They say their bosses stood in the way

By Corbin Bolies | Apr. 23, 2021

The Alligator found three cases of current and former UF employees with medical issues facing alleged resistance from their supervisors since 2019. These employees, who were not tenured, faced two propositions: medical leave or unemployment.

A lone man is seen walking through Turlington Plaza at UF in Gainesville, Fla., on August 31, 2020. The plaza, which is usually filled with people, remained relatively bare on the first day of fall classes.

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UF’s class 2025 grows in size while its diversity numbers stagnate

By Alexander Lugo | Apr. 23, 2021

While the number of UF admits keeps growing, Black, Hispanic and Native American admits saw subtle decreases this year.

Two people hand out sticks of incense during the funeral of Bach Lien Tong Duong on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. Duong was a volunteer who taught Vietnamese at UF before an official position was created and played a significant role in creating the annual Pho fundraiser for the Vietnamese Student Organization before she passed away.

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Prominent UF and Gainesville figure Bach Lien Tong Duong dies at 72

By Juliana Ferrie and Michelle Holder | Apr. 23, 2021

She found herself halfway across the world from her home country in Gainesville where she left a lasting impact on the UF and Gainesville community through her unending service of education and teaching.

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Limited tours and online Preview present challenges for incoming students

By J.P. Oprison | Apr. 21, 2021

With campus tours at reduced capacity and new student Preview, which helps students transition to UF with tours and advising, held online, UF class of 2025 students are worried about how well they can get to know their new college.

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SG passes resolution calling UF to commit to 100% renewable energy

By Carolina Ilvento | Apr. 21, 2021

In 2018, Gainesville committed to have all its energy provided entirely by renewable sources by 2045. The resolution follows four other Florida universities that have passed resolutions like this, such as FSU, UCF, USF and UWF.

Pictured is the Santa Fe College clock tower.

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Santa Fe College COVID-19 update: 15 students and employees tested positive last week

By Juliana Ferrie | Apr. 21, 2021

The college’s total number of reported positive cases since last March is now 747, according to a report provided by Santa Fe spokesperson Jay Anderson. There are 12,469 students enrolled at the college this semester.

Frank Daldine, 19, a UF mechanical engineering sophomore (left) receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, April 5, 2021. Monday was the first day COVID-19 vaccines were made widely available to UF students.

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UF students reflect on Spring and the future of Fall

By Abigail Hasebroock | Apr. 19, 2021

As UF’s Spring semester comes to a close, students reflect on how the pandemic allowed for the opportunity to gain new abilities and navigate through HyFlex classes. They also look ahead to Fall — with some feeling apprehensive about UF’s decision to return to full, normal operations and others eager to step foot back on campus.

Screenshot of the event poster on UF Accent Speakers Bureau Facebook page.

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Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy discusses brand success and controversies

By Manny Rea | Apr. 19, 2021

Portnoy, the last speaker in the UF Accent Speakers Bureau’s Spring lineup, joined moderator Ted Spiker, the journalism department chair, over Zoom to discuss his latest ventures.

A person wearing a UF sweatshirt rides past a construction site on Museum Road across from the Reitz Union on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Chasity Maynard)

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UF set to build new honors residential complex

By Alexander Lugo | Apr. 16, 2021

The Gator Residential Complex, an undergraduate dormitory for honors students, will replace the Broward Outdoor Recreational Complex in 2022. UF officials don’t know when demolition will start. The complex behind Broward Hall contains tennis courts, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, a skate park, a roller hockey rink and a pool.

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‘Like a treasure trove’: reviving indigenous voices through oral history

By Sofia Echeverry | Apr. 16, 2021

UF is among seven universities — and the only one east of the Mississippi — that will receive a total of $1.36 million from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to launch a Native American oral history revitalization project to make indigenous oral histories more accessible.

Tenders, one of UF’s campus cats, gazes upward as she sits on a table in the Tolbert Area.

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UF campus cat garners attention from students

By Abigail Hasebroock | Apr. 16, 2021

Tenders, the campus cat, reels UF students in with her loveable personality and undeniable charm. She is one of many cats who occupies UF’s campus and garners attention through online posts.

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What students should know about their UFL emails before graduating

By J.P. Oprison | Apr. 14, 2021

Graduating seniors’ email accounts expire one year after graduation. At that point, all data attached to the account will be deleted, Saira Hasnain, UFIT spokesperson and senior director, wrote in an email. Any student discounts registered with a UFL email will expire.

Edward Ke Sun, 30, a PhD candidate for architectural history, theory and criticism at UF, colors a sign that reads “UF Don’t Tear Down Maguire & UVS Village” on Friday, April 9, 2021. Sun protesting to raise awareness about UF’s plan to demolish three out of the five graduate student housing complexes in Gainesville.

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Fuchs promises replacement graduate living, students demand more information

By Carolina Ilvento | Apr. 14, 2021

Fuchs said both Maguire Village and University Village South need to be demolished due to irreparable damage in the buildings, and the campus plans are likely to continue. He hopes to replace those buildings with an “equal number of apartment units.”

News

Santa Fe College COVID-19 update: 13 students reported testing positive in the last two weeks

By Juliana Ferrie | Apr. 14, 2021

The college’s total number of reported positive cases since last March has now reached 732, according to reports provided by Santa Fe spokesperson Jay Anderson. There are 12,469 students enrolled this semester.

The multi-colored glass of the UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital shines as the sun reflects off the panes on September 25, 2020. The pediatric staff provide care in more than 20 specialties including pediatric hematology-oncology.

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Dancing “For The Kids” during a pandemic: UF’s Dance Marathon raises over $2.2 million

By Sofia Echeverry | Apr. 12, 2021

The 26-hour-and-12-minute event — meant to simulate the 26.2 miles of a marathon — was the culmination of a yearlong effort to collect funds for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.