1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: College classrooms are no place for clowning around

Aug. 31, 2015

In K-12 education, the trope of the class clown was an all-too-real one. Students, whether due to crippling insecurity or a genuine need to have their (misguided) voice heard, would interrupt the teacher and shove their sense of humor down the throats of the rest of the class. Everyone has done it at one point or another, but it was the egregious offenders who were dubbed the "class clown."

OPINION | COLUMNS

Greek life is more than just its stereotypes

Aug. 31, 2015

With the beginning of the Fall semester comes a myriad of UF activities, but perhaps the most discussed is rush. Whether it’s news coverage, Snapchat stories or traffic halting hordes of impeccably dressed girls, you simply can’t escape it. Consequently, the criticisms of Greek life seem to reach a fever pitch this time of the year.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida football looking to establish new identity

By GRAHAM HACK | Aug. 31, 2015

After eight long, tortuous months, football is back at last.

Antonio Morrison attempts a tackle during Florida's 38-20 win against Georgia on Nov. 1, 2014.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators release depth chart for season opener

By GRAHAM HALL | Aug. 31, 2015

The Gators unveiled their depth chart on Monday for Saturday’s season opener against New Mexico State, and the biggest revelation came with the announcement that senior Antonio Morrison is healthy and will start at middle linebacker.

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 encouraging strong character, team mentality

By Ryan Summers | Aug. 31, 2015

Coach Becky Burleigh and the Florida soccer team are focused on the conditional relationships following a victory over the No. 1 team in the nation.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Mediocre Advice: Balling on the court and in bed

Aug. 31, 2015

Happy Tuesday, gang! What a week it’s been. After last week’s column, some of you may have wondered: "Why mediocre advice? Why would anybody listen to you?" Well, in a world where people still religiously eat Olive Garden, listen to Fall Out Boy, watch MTV and read Buzzfeed to find out if their boyfriend is cheating on them, it seems as though mediocrity is still in.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The ideals of the Confederacy remain lost cause

Aug. 31, 2015

Common wisdom holds for one to be true to thy self. If you’re a self-described Southerner, odds are good you might still be licking your wounds from the flogging the north dished out 150 years ago.

Jimmy Clark (1734) runs at the Mountain Dew Invitational on Sept. 14 in Gainesville.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

Florida cross country prepared to lead with youth

By Ethan Bauer | Aug. 31, 2015

Underclassmen runners played a big part in Florida’s women’s cross country team last season, and it appears this year that very well may be the case again.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Previewing Florida’s opponent: The New Mexico State Aggies

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Aug. 31, 2015

The Florida football team opens its season against New Mexico State Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Here’s what you need to know about UF’s first opponent, the Aggies.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Gator Growl brings 3 performers, tickets expected to sell out

By Ansley Pentz | Aug. 31, 2015

In 2012, there was one artist at Gator Growl, and for the next two years, there were two.

Maria Parsons, a Gainesville resident, protests at the corner of Northwest 39th Avenue and Northwest 97th Boulevard on Aug. 30, 2015. Her gas mask and gloves symbolize the pollution she said the biomass plant causes.

METRO

Gainesville residents protest biomass plant

By Hunter Williamson | Aug. 30, 2015

On Saturday morning, former Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan arrived at the Best Western Gateway Grand Hotel to receive an award for her work in public office.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF seeks remedies for email problems

By Alexandra Fernandez | Aug. 30, 2015

Students trying to access their UF webmail accounts from the Outlook mobile app will receive an email saying their access has been denied.

Bridget Anderson, a 22-year-old UF graduate, stands on the World War I Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, during her bike trip across the country. Another UF alum, 25-year-old Patrick Wanninkhof, died during the trip in a car accident when he and Anderson were hit by a distracted driver.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF alumna recovers after bike accident, remembers friend

By Alexandra Fernandez | Aug. 30, 2015

Admiring a sunrise splashed across the Oklahoma sky is the last thing Bridget Anderson remembers before she nearly died.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Local man arrested for driving into church utility pole

By Giuseppe Sabella | Aug. 30, 2015

Gainesville Police arrested a local man early Sunday after he reportedly drove into a pole at St. Augustine Catholic Church.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Police arrest men for taxi robbery, driver held at gun point

By Giuseppe Sabella | Aug. 30, 2015

Gainesville Police arrested three men Friday evening after they reportedly robbed a taxi driver at gunpoint.

The Sigma Kappa house sits at 1108 E. Panhellenic Drive on Sunday. The 11,000-square-foot house is scheduled for demolition and will be rebuilt more than twice its original size.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Sigma Kappa to demolish old house, new one to be built in its place

By Caitlin Ostroff | Aug. 30, 2015

Members of one of Sorority Row’s oldest houses are getting an upgrade.

METRO

Thrift 5 closes, Gator Stompin’ will still continue

By Briana Erickson | Aug. 30, 2015

Outside Thrift 5 on Main Street, students struggled to lift antique furniture, wooden chairs and old couches into trucks and cars parked on the street.