On my first day of class, I even woke up two hours early to make sure I made it on time.
After UF “broke up” with former President Ben Sasse, a de facto checklist was collectively made.
or Hoyle, progress wasn’t measured in points or reps. Instead, she ran a quieter, far less measurable race — one guided by presence and trust in where her path was leading.
Political engagement among young people has fractured into two exhausting extremes, both of which push students toward disengagement.
Here are what I would call the “blind spots” of the Hamilton School.
I’ve previously been an editor and reporter for The Alligator, but this semester I will take on a different role: a columnist.
I’m a junior exchange student from Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. I arrived in Gainesville a few days ago, and I’ll be writing in this recurring column about what the move actually feels like, from culture shock and logistics to the small stuff people don’t warn you about.
The University Police Department states its mission is "to preserve a safe, secure campus environment where diverse social, cultural and academic values are allowed to develop and prosper." But UF's continued cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement directly undermines these stated values.
This seems to be an effort to breed intellectual diversity, ensuring departments and colleges are filled with many differing opinions and ideologies.
I’m India Houghton, a Gator athlete on the women’s tennis team and your freshly minted Alligator sports columnist.
Despite the countless initiatives, services and even new grocery stores appearing in Gainesville, food insecurity is back on the rise as of late 2025, with local food shelters such as Deeper Purpose Community Food Ministries reporting an increase from 10 to 40 phone calls per day directed toward food assistance.
I’ve lived in Florida for my entire life. Since 2012, my family has lived in the same home on the outskirts of Orlando. Drives that once took 40 minutes now stretch into an hour or more, a result of rapid population growth and unchecked development in a state unprepared to absorb it.
Recent controversy surrounding Grok — the artificial intelligence chatbot created by Elon Musk’s company xAI and integrated into the social media platform X — demonstrates how free speech can be stretched beyond recognition.
Navigating crowds, nightlife and student social life.
If students want to see tangible changes during their time at UF, they need to start paying closer attention to state and local races that directly affect campus life.
By challenging ourselves to be proactive and take supportive steps, we can help keep UF safe, secure and welcoming for everyone.
To The Alligator: Thanks for giving my college years a purpose. I’m honored to be part of this paper’s legacy.
My time with The Independent Florida Alligator was defined by love and laughter.
I swore I wouldn’t come back to The Alligator.
Solutions by The State News
