1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF settles $19.9 million Department of Justice investigation

By Alexandra Fernandez | Nov. 22, 2015

UF paid the U.S. government about $19.9 million Friday.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

One arrested, 25 ejected at Saturday’s football game

By Giuseppe Sabella | Nov. 22, 2015

University Police arrested a UF student during Saturday’s football game after police said he tried to escape arrest after trying to stop police from taking his friend to Emergency Medical Services.

Paloma Mendez, a UF Spanish senior, swings at a Donald Trump-shaped piñata created by visiting artist Ana Trevino at the Civic Media Center on Nov. 21, 2015. There were about 25 people attending.

METRO

Organization offers Trump piñata hits to raise money

By Jessica Rodriguez | Nov. 22, 2015

Melanie O’Rourke took a few steps back before she hit Donald Trump’s body with a stick.

METRO

Gainesville remembers transgender lives

By Martin Vassolo | Nov. 22, 2015

In a chapel on Friday, every person received a slip of paper.

METRO

Friends, families remember lost loved ones at vigil

By Brooke Baitinger | Nov. 22, 2015

Beneath Saturday’s gloomy clouds, the path was lit by plastic candles.

UF wide receiver Antonio Callaway is tackled by FAU punter Dalton Schomp during a punt return in Florida's 20-14 overtime win against Florida Atlantic on Nov. 21, 2015, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Antonio Callaway giving life to Gators offense

By GRAHAM HACK | Nov. 22, 2015

While the rest of his team’s energy level was comparable to that of dead seafood, as coach Jim McElwain put it, wide receiver Antonio Callaway was quite alive on Saturday.

Florida forward Dorian Finney-Smith (10) shoots against Kentucky center Dakari Johnson (44) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarter final round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 13, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida men’s basketball handed first loss of the season

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Nov. 22, 2015

In its second game of a weekend back-to-back, Florida faced its first ranked team of the season and was unable to keep up.

David Bocarando, a 22-year-old Big O Amusements employee, runs the Jitterbug ride at the Ohana Candy Cane Festival on Nov. 21, 2015. All profits from the festival went towards 100 Thanksgiving dinners for families in need.

METRO

Helping homeless children, one carnival at a time

By Danielle Veenstra | Nov. 22, 2015

Gerri Gerthe borrowed against her home to fund a festival.

UF soccer coach Becky Burleigh puts her arm around defender Rachelle Smith (81) following Florida's 3-2 win against Florida State on Aug. 30, 2015, at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

UF soccer falls in Round of 16 to Duke

By Kyle Brutman | Nov. 22, 2015

Following Florida’s 2-1 loss to Duke in the third round of the NCAA tournament Sunday, coach Becky Burleigh opened her post-game press conference admitting that in her 21 years at UF, the final loss still hurts the most.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: The Great American Stupid — Donald Trump makes us sick

Nov. 22, 2015

For the duration of this semester, we in editorial have intentionally sidestepped any discussion of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. We’d say it’s the journalistic equivalent of ignoring the elephant in the room, but it’s been more akin to trying to cover your eyes and ears while the girl from "The Exorcist" vomits all over you and your surroundings, punctuating her invasive illness with proud recitals of racist rhetoric, stomach-churning stupidity and blatant pandering.

OPINION | COLUMNS

A refresher on the 2016 presidential candidates

Nov. 22, 2015

Politics is a rough-and-tumble business. More than that, it’s also confusing. But rest assured, dear reader, this columnist is the one-stop shop for all of your political questions and quandaries. So without delay, let’s clarify some political points your Politico friend keeps on talking about:

Rhamat Alhassan swings for a kill attempt during Florida's 3-0 win against Texas A&M on Oct. 9, 2015, in the O'Connell Center

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators volleyball collapses against Texas A&M

By Brian Lee | Nov. 22, 2015

In the final Southeastern Conference match of the season, the Gators volleyball team turned in one of its most disappointing performances.

MULTIMEDIA | GALLERY

Rejecting refugees is un-American

Nov. 22, 2015

n the past week, 30 governors from both parties have decided they will not accept Syrian refugees. Legally, it’s unclear if this is possible because governors are not responsible for immigration policy, and this has been further muddled by Congress’ passing of a bill further slowing the bureaucratic process of admitting refugees. The act of voicing this anti-immigrant rhetoric feeds into the hands of Daesh and lets it have power.

Freshman Caeleb Dressel jumps into the pool at the start of the 200-yard breaststroke event during Day 3 of the 2014 Pinch A Penny Invitational

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

UF swimming and diving sees success at Buckeye Invitational

By Lauren Staff | Nov. 22, 2015

Florida’s swimming and diving teams are starting to hit their stride as their Fall schedule comes to a close.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Let’s all try a little harder in school

Nov. 22, 2015

I remember the first time I went to UF in the winter of my senior year in high school. The red brick looked almost authentically collegiate Gothic. I remember the feeling of life beginning, one I tried to recapture during Preview weekend while driving in the snow-white blur of rain on I-75. I laughed at the billboards erected by the autochthons of my new home, who apparently still feared they might be aborted, performatively reading Schopenhauer in the stadium.