1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Caitlyn Jenner detractors need to step up

June 3, 2015

Vanity Fair’s public unveiling of Caitlyn Jenner post-operation Monday ignited a cultural debate that has since remained on the tips of most Americans’ tongues. The attention, coverage and dialogue dedicated to Jenner’s decision to pursue her transition has been extraordinary, especially when one considers how fragmented American society has become in the Internet age.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts and Laurels: Tales of trans and Gates

June 3, 2015

Good day, Gainesville. We hope you’ve somehow managed to stay dry during Gainesville’s temperamental weather as of late. In any event, it’s another week, another Thursday and another edition of Darts and Laurels.

George Hecht, coordinator of museum operations at the Florida Museum of Natural History, speaks to an audience about Sue, the largest and most well-preserved T-rex skeleton ever found, in the museum Jan. 24.

METRO

Sue the dinosaur breaks the record for museum visitors

By Luisa Guaracao | June 3, 2015

Sue has done it again. The 12-foot-tall Tyrannosaurus rex has smashed the visitation numbers of the Florida Museum of Natural History for the second time in 13 years.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville Police are searching for the suspect involved in a motel fight early Wednesday

June 3, 2015

Officers responded to a call regarding an argument between two people at Motel 6, located at 4000 SW 40th Blvd., Gainesville Police Detective Matthew Goeckel wrote in an email. After investigating the incident, police came to the conclusion that the fight was over drug money.

Devin Wheeler, an owner of Second Chance Reptile Sanctuary, holds a 16 foot Burmese python at the Waldo Farmers and Flea Market on Sunday. Wheeler started the sanctuary with Mitra Snyder to provide a home to reptiles that wouldn’t be able to survive in the wild.

METRO

Reptiles find new home in sanctuary

By Elise Engle | June 3, 2015

A neon-green poster board reading “Snakeman Live!” was propped up near center stage at the Waldo Farmers and Flea Market.

Coach Tim Walton was more than happy to empty his bench in Florida's 19-3 win over Florida A&M on Wednesday. “I think overall the main priority is to get everybody at-bats and to keep our timing right," he said.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball falls to Michigan, forcing winner-take-all game 3 for WCWS title

By Patrick Pinak | June 2, 2015

Haylie Wagner wasn’t ready to go home.

Florida's Lauren Haeger celebrates on the way home after hitting a home run in the first inning during the NCAA Women's College World Series Championship against Michigan in Oklahoma City, Monday.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida downs Michigan in first game of Women’s College World Series

By Patrick Pinak | June 1, 2015

On softball’s biggest stage, Florida leaned on the nation’s best player — Lauren Haeger.

UF's JJ Schwarz rounds third base during Florida's 12-5 win against South Carolina on April 11, 2015 at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

UF looking to stay hot heading into Super Regional matchup with FSU

By IAN COHEN | June 1, 2015

Only two players on Florida’s roster have been where the Gators are going this weekend, a testament to how difficult it is to still be playing baseball in early June.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF softball coach Tim Walton looking to make history

By Luis Torres | June 1, 2015

The Florida softball team is on the cusp of making history.

Ryan Orr swings during Day 1 of the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Feb. 14, 2015, at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida squanders early lead at NCAA Men’s Golf Championship

By Ryan Summers | June 1, 2015

The opening round for the Florida men’s golf team at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship Friday in Bradenton had them tied for sixth place.

Ryan Schnulle races during the final day of the Florida Relays on April 4 at the Percy Beard Track

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Florida qualifies 23 athletes for NCAA Outdoor Championships

By Kyle Brutman | June 1, 2015

Following a successful weekend at the NCAA East Preliminaries in Jacksonville, the No. 1/6 Florida men’s and women’s track and field qualified 23 athletes and landed itself 25 event entries for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Patricia Garces speaks to her son, Matias Garces, in Spanish in the living room of their mobile home. The Garceses came to the U.S. in 2000 on tourist visas; when their visas expired they became one of the millions of undocumented families living in the country.

NEWS | FEATURES

The silent struggles of a migrant in the U.S.

By Hunter Williamson | June 1, 2015

Matias Garces’ fingers dance across the fretboard as his guitar cries out, singing the song of a man who lost it all.

Anthophora plumipes a close relative to Anthophora abrupta or "Miner Bees"

METRO

Beekeepers buzz about new strategy to help save honey bees

By Dana Hatchett | June 1, 2015

President Barack Obama and his administration are buzzing about a new plan to help increase the population of honey bees and other pollinators in the U.S.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Bridge-building team wins national contest

By Luisa Guaracao | June 1, 2015

After a year of work, the UF Eckhoff Steel Bridge Team built its way to the top.

NEWS | FEATURES

Knowledge about interior of Mars is InSight

By Kyle Bennett | June 1, 2015

A first-of-its-kind mission to study the interior of the planet Mars is set to launch in 2016, and a UF professor is playing a critical role in the planning process.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Man attempts carjacking, kidnapping

By Melissa Mihm | June 1, 2015

A local man prevented another man from stealing a car with two children inside Saturday afternoon.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Overhead projectors becoming obsolete, but still in use

By Melissa Gomez | June 1, 2015

Over the last few decades, classroom overhead projectors have slowly been going out of style.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

95 percent of airport security fails at security

June 1, 2015

Don’t read this editorial if you enjoy the illusion of airport security being effective.

Alex Faedo pitches during Florida's 2-1 win against Florida Atlantic in the Gainesville Regional of the NCAA Tournament on May 31, 2015, at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida advances to Super Regionals

By IAN COHEN | May 31, 2015

For the first time in three years, Florida advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals.

Nicole DeWitt bats during UF's 2-1 win against UNF on April 1, 2015, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Freshman’s walk-off hit catapults Gators to championship series of WCWS

By Luis Torres | May 31, 2015

Freshman Nicole DeWitt didn’t get her chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.

El Caimán