News - The Independent Florida Alligator

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.

Pictured is the Santa Fe College clock tower.

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.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Gator Party announces its executive ticket

By Carolina Ilvento | Jan. 27, 2021

Current Senate President Cooper Brown is running for Student Body President, with Faith Maniti for Vice President and Giovanna Mompremier for Treasurer.

Photo of Sophia Lambert [Courtesy of Lubavitch Chabad UF Jewish Student Center]

NEWS | CAMPUS

In honor of Sophia Lambert: Tell your friends and family you love them

By Abigail Hasebroock | Jan. 25, 2021

“Do good, and say ‘I love you,’” is the phrase echoing through the UF community in honor of Sophia Lambert, a first-year UF theatre and psychology major who died Jan.16 after a fatal crash on West University Avenue that sent five others to the hospital. She was 18 years old.

Photo of Maggie Paxton [Courtesy of Lisa Paxton]

NEWS | CAMPUS

Her light will never dim: remembering Margaret Paxton

By Juliana Ferrie | Jan. 25, 2021

Paxton will be remembered for her encouraging nature and selflessness, her mother, Lisa Paxton, said. Her favorite saying was, “Progress over perfection.”

NEWS

Gainesville Officials respond to fatal crash with traffic enforcement programs

By Anna Wilder and Jack Prator | Jan. 25, 2021

Gainesville Police implemented Gator STEP, while the city commission passed a traffic safety plan that includes creating a task force to provide short-term safety solutions on University Avenue, including a speed limit reduction, barriers and flashing lights at intersections.

NEWS

More than 200 Alachua County Republicans left the party since the week of U.S. Capitol attack

By Lianna Hubbard , Corbin Bolies and Kevin Maher | Jan. 25, 2021

For Alachua County, the weeks following the insurrection marked the largest departure from the Republican Party in the past year, pointing to an uncertain future for the party following the Trump presidency and the start of Joe Biden’s presidency.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF encourages new recharge days for Spring 2021 semester

By Sofia Echeverry | Jan. 25, 2021

After canceling Spring Break, UF administration is urging faculty to suspend classes and exams for two days this semester to avoid student burnout.

Two UF nursing students carrying out newborn assessment in one of the new simulation rooms at the College of Nursing. [Courtesy of Jesse Jones]

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF College of Nursing upgrades learning lab to high-fidelity simulation

By Manny Rea | Jan. 22, 2021

The renovated Thomas M. and Irene B. Kirbo Innovation and Learning Laboratory opened in January. It now has seven simulation rooms for training.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

SG and Brown Center of Leadership and Service conduct donation drive for MLK Day

By Carolina Ilvento | Jan. 22, 2021

Students are encouraged to donate items such as masks, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and toiletries through Feb. 1 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

NEWS

Gainesville Police create traffic enforcement program Gator STEP

By Anna Wilder | Jan. 22, 2021

After two UF students died from car crashes in less than two months, the Gainesville Police Department announced its traffic safety program Gator STEP.

Broc Bohne, 19, UF biology freshman, walks past a Papa John’s and Wendy’s in the J. Wayne Reitz Union food court on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF students announce boycott against Aramark

By Juliana Ferrie | Jan. 22, 2021

Four organizations are boycotting Aramark, UF's official food provider, because of its use of prison labor.

NEWS

Alachua County detention officer arrested

By Anna Wilder | Jan. 19, 2021

The officer was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.

NEWS | SFC

Santa Fe College COVID-19 update

By Juliana Ferrie | Jan. 19, 2021

511 Santa Fe College students and 44 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March. The college is not making students test routinely.

Students exit UF's Southwest Rec Center on a Sunday night.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

How UF’s gyms are handling COVID-19

By J.P. Oprison | Jan. 19, 2021

To accommodate more students this Spring, UF gyms are increasing capacity restrictions. Students will also have to be cleared for campus to enter the gym, certain areas are closed and students will have to log attendance for contact tracing purposes.

Julian Cruz, 20, applied physiology and kinesiology junior walks into the UF Transportation and Parking Services office on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. He was applying for a parking decal for the UF Health Shands Hospital parking lot.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF students express frustration over parking restrictions

By Abigail Hasebroock | Jan. 19, 2021

UF’s parking ticket payment revenue is approximately $1.4 million, but this year’s is projected to be less than half at about $500,000. Despite the expected decrease in funds, TAPS has not increased parking citations for monetary gain.

Velvet Yates, director of distance learning for the UF Classics Department, begins class in an empty classroom on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. She said the university requires her to teach in the classroom even if no students show up. "It's absurd," Yates said. "I've been teaching online classes for 15 years. I know how to teach online classes, and this isn't it."

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF instructors speak out about week one of in-person teaching

By Sofia Echeverry | Jan. 19, 2021

Some instructors found the transition to in-person classes on top of preparing their usual material to be added pressure during an already-stressful time. Others are happy to be back in the classroom.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Levin College of Law namesake dies of COVID-19

By Abigail Hasebroock | Jan. 19, 2021

Fredric Levin was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, under a roof that housed him and his five brothers. He met his wife, Marilyn, during his time at UF, and after raising four children together and 51 years of marriage, she passed away in 2011, according to the Levin Papantonio Rafferty Law Firm.

Ashley Sturgill, 19, Santa Fe biology sophomore, swings on the Albert "Ray" Massey Park swing-set in Gainesville on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021.

NEWS

Massey Park reopens for residents after baseball field and park improvements complete

By Michelle Holder | Jan. 18, 2021

Gainesville residents can now take their kids out to the ball field to play at the newly improved and renovated Albert “Ray” Massey Park.