News - The Independent Florida Alligator

Julia Tiplea, a 19-year-old marine science sophomore, hands out "UF stands with MSD" T-shirts to fundraise for her group's trip to Washington for the national "March for Our Lives" event Saturday.

NEWS | FEATURES

'Come back stronger'

By Romy Ellenbogen | Mar. 22, 2018

Julia Tiplea knows grief.

Students and other passengers walk toward a RedCoach bus to begin boarding Thursday afternoon at the Commuter Lot as UF will begin its Spring Break this upcoming week.

NEWS | FEATURES

RedCoach incident raises questions on bus companies' protocols

By Jessica Giles | Mar. 1, 2018

As Halle Berliant watched her bus creep farther away from the Tampa airport on her phone’s map, the knot in her stomach tightened.

David DiMauro, a 22-year-old UF biology senior, ascends the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand during Summer 2017. He will guide a hike up five mountains over Spring Break.

NEWS | FEATURES

Six UF students plan to climb five peaks this spring break

By Elliott Nasby | Mar. 1, 2018

Three days. Five mountains. Six pairs of burning thighs and toned calves.

Rupert Heard, 55, gives a tour of his camp fit for three. As camp leader, he manages his group’s finances and stocks up on daily supplies.

NEWS | FEATURES

An unexpected leader

By Elliott Nasby | Feb. 22, 2018

Rupert Heard used to sleep with a knife by his side.

[FILE PHOTO] 35-year-old Lilliemarie Gore leads students of Idylwild Elementary School through a series of math exercises. Mrs. Gore was awarded the title of "2017-2018 Alachua County Teacher of the Year" earlier this month.

NEWS | FEATURES

‘Night and Day’: Schools still struggle with achievement gap

By David Hoffman | Feb. 15, 2018

THE RESOURCES

Richard Doan and his classmates wait to be escorted out of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School by a SWAT team, following a school shooting that left at least 17 dead.

NEWS | FEATURES

UF community struggles to cope after shooting at Broward County high school

By Paige Fry | Feb. 14, 2018

Richard Doan didn’t think much of the blare of the fire alarm when it went off Wednesday afternoon.

In this frame grab from video provided by WPLG-TV, emergency personnel wheel an injured person from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., following a shooting there on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. (WPLG-TV via AP)

NEWS | NATIONAL

Broward County high school shooter in custody; at least 17 victims, authorities say

By Meryl Kornfield and Paige Fry | Feb. 14, 2018

UPDATE 6:40 p.m.: The Associated Press reported at least 17 people are dead after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Christian Aguilar, Carlos Aguilar, Alex Aguilar and Claudia Aguilar pose for a photo on Alex's 15th birthday.

NEWS | FEATURES

‘I want to finish out what he started’: UF student carries on brother’s legacy

By Jessica Giles | Feb. 11, 2018

Alex Aguilar still remembers how his older brother Christian’s eyes gleamed when he first toured UF in April 2012.

Callie is one of several stray cats that have been regularly fed and cared for by Gainesville natives over the years. This group of felines regularly wander the streets and sewers of the University of Florida and gather behind the Counseling and Wellness Center everyday to be fed.

NEWS | FEATURES

Mama Kitty’s legacy: A look at stray cats around the city

By Amanda Rosa | Feb. 8, 2018

When Libby Rowell started feeding Mama Kitty in 1997, she never expected to bury the stray in her backyard nearly 15 years later.

From left: Ian Green, Janae Moodie and Revel Lubin. The three black student candidates are running for student body president in a three-party race.

NEWS | FEATURES

Bigger than Us: Three black UF students vie for president

By David Hoffman | Feb. 1, 2018

Pamela Bingham had never been called the N-word in her life — until her freshman year at UF.

Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow speaks with media on UF's Plaza of the Americas in September 2014.

NEWS

Missed Tim Tebow’s HGTV appearance? Here’s what happened.

By Katherine Jones | Jan. 31, 2018

Former Gators quarterback Tim Tebow appeared on HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” to help a family make their home wheelchair-friendly.

NEWS | FEATURES

Living and loving with HIV: A UF alumna tells her story

By Elliott Nasby | Jan. 28, 2018

The first time Jessica Grobman told anyone about her medical secret was in sixth grade when she shared it with her middle-school best friend.

NEWS | FEATURES

‘Privacy, not conﬁdentiality’: reporting sexual assault at UF

By Romy Ellenbogen | Jan. 27, 2018

When the knock on her door came, Avnee Mistry was prepared.

NEWS | FEATURES

Friends, family remember UF College of Medicine resident’s kindness, intelligence

By Robert Lewis | Jan. 23, 2018

Sey Hee Park, a double Gator, was integral to the College of Medicine, colleagues said.

Omar Lopez, a lead scientific systems developer with the UF Center for Biotechnology Research, is enrolled in UF’s Employee Education Program, which allows full-time employees to take up to six credit hours tuition-free. Lopez, 25, hopes to get his associates degree by the end of the year.

NEWS | FEATURES

Back to school: At UF, a job can come with an education

By David Hoffman | Jan. 11, 2018

For the ﬁrst time in more than 30 years, Colette Cimino is a college student again.

NEWS | FEATURES

‘Dancing for the King’: A UF student honored

By Christina Morales | Jan. 7, 2018

Lisa Ly's passion for dancing started when she was 5.

Pamela Smith, a volunteer with Women’s March Gainesville, said that on Sunday afternoon, the group received an inquiry explaining that someone driving down 34th street had seen a single man defacing the mural.

NEWS | FEATURES

The Most Read Stories of 2017

By Alligator Staff of 2017 | Dec. 30, 2017

1. Unlikely friendship forms out of Richard Spencer event Jimena Tavel, Staff Writer

NEWS | FEATURES

‘You’re not the person I expected’: A look at UF’s gender gaps

By Katelyn Newberg and Romy Ellenbogen | Dec. 4, 2017

About 15 years ago, nursing student Michael Bumbach put on his scrubs, washed his hands and walked into an open-brain surgery performed by a doctor — another man.

UF dance professor Richard Rose and his former dance student, Lynn Forney, pose for a photo in the 2000-2001 school year, when she was still a UF student. The 40-year-old said one of her proudest moments was when Rose hugged her after she won the most outstanding senior award in the UF School of Theatre and Dance.

NEWS | FEATURES

‘He was like a magnet’: a UF professor honored

By Christina Morales | Nov. 26, 2017

Richard Rose was a chameleon onstage.

Ian Burns, 20, saw the Fairy Pools tourist attraction in Scotland on May 30. Burns, a UF mechanical engineering and music sophomore, took a six-week trip to Europe over the summer with his twin sisters, Caitlin and Devin, 23.

NEWS | FEATURES

‘He radiated wherever he went’: A UF student honored

By David Hoffman | Oct. 29, 2017

Ian Burns was a tenor.