1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

ENTERPRISE | POLITICS

Abortion care providers, advocates navigate statewide restrictions

By Valentina Sandoval | Sep. 18, 2023

The Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments Sept. 8 for the landmark case Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida v. State of Florida, which challenges the 15-week ban on abortion in Florida’s House Bill 5. Local and statewide reproductive health providers and advocacy organizations are leading efforts to offer women abortion care resources in the face of uncertainty.

A Sweetwater apartment building is under construction on University Avenue in Gainesville on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Sweetwater apartments delay move-in, students left homeless

By Melanie Pena and Vivienne Serret | Sep. 18, 2023

Sarina Phipps lives with a quarter of her belongings at the Holiday Inn. When the rush of game day weekends arrives, and the hotel becomes overbooked, she quickly gathers a small bag of everything she owns and stays at a friend’s place.

Comedian Ben Wasserman dances with a grimly veiled John Freeman in the show’s closing moments on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 at Cypress & Grove Brewing Co.

THE AVENUE

Comedian brings death jokes, grief show to Gainesville

By Bea Lunardini | Sep. 18, 2023

Wasserman is the creator and star of his “Live After Death” comedy show, a spectacle of dancing, spinning a “wheel of vulnerability” and Wasserman’s highlight: the crowd work.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

UF loses Top 5 ranking

By Garrett Shanley | Sep. 17, 2023

UF fell from No. 5 to No. 6 among national public universities, according to U.S News & World Report Best College rankings released Sept. 17. The drop follows U.S. News’ sweeping changes to its ranking criteria, which it described in a press release as the “most significant methodological change in the rankings’ history.”

Graduate student outside hitter Anna Dixon hits the ball in the Gators' 3-2 loss against the Wisconsin Badgers Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

No. 3 Gators fall to the No. 1 Badgers in strenuous fight

By Krisha Sanghavi and Alyssa Britton-Harr | Sep. 17, 2023

The sound of 10,323 Florida fans chanting “Let’s Go Gators” echoed through the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Sunday afternoon as the No. 3 Florida Gators (8-1) fell 3-2 to the No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers (9-0). The number set a new record for the most attended volleyball game in UF program history.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission votes to implement downtown entertainment district, open-container alcohol ordinance

By Kat Tran | Sep. 17, 2023

The City Commission voted 4-3 Thursday to reinstate the open-container alcohol ordinance, which prohibits public consumption of alcoholic beverages. In addition to the first ordinance, which will bring back open container restrictions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City Commission voted 6-1 to create an entertainment district for downtown Gainesville.

Florida redshirt freshman Matthew Kress putts the ball in the VyStar Credit Union Gators Invitational Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators finish ninth in first Fall tournament

By Max Tucker | Sep. 17, 2023

The Florida Gators Men’s Golf team had their first tournament of the 2023-24 season this weekend. The team hit the road to travel to Olympia Fields Country Club in Chicago for the Fighting Illini Invitational. UF finished the tournament ninth out of 15 teams that competed.

Sophomore cornerback Devin Moore returns his first career interception in the Florida Gators' 29-16 win against the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida suffocates Volunteers in upset rivalry win

By Topher Adams | Sep. 16, 2023

The Florida Gators (2-1, 1-0 SEC) defeated the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers (2-1, 0-1 SEC) 29-16 Saturday night in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. UF used a 20-point second quarter to race to an insurmountable first-half lead and secure head coach Billy Napier’s first win over a rival.

Florida Gators alternate white football helmet.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson III out for the remainder of Tennessee game

By Jackson Reyes | Sep. 16, 2023

Gators freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson III will miss the remainder of Florida's game against the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers.

Sophomore running back Trevor Etienne runs the ball in the Gators' 49-7 win against the McNeese State Cowboys Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Know Your Enemy: Tennessee Volunteers

By Jackson Reyes | Sep. 16, 2023

I sat down with Caleb Jarreau, the sports editor at The Daily Beacon, the independent student newspaper at the University of Tennessee, to break down the matchup.

The Gators volleyball team celebrates in Florida's 3-0 win against the Winthrop Eagles Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

No. 3 Florida seeks upset against No. 1 Wisconsin

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Sep. 16, 2023

The No. 3 Florida Gators (8-0) will look to take down the No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers (8-0) Sunday at home in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Both teams come to the match unbeaten. Florida has only dropped seven sets and Wisconsin has only been defeated in six so far into the 2023 season.

Sophomore forward Lauren McCloskey prepares to pass the ball in the Gators' 8-0 win against the Stetson Hatters Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida fails to get back on track, drops first game of SEC play

By Austin Stirling | Sep. 15, 2023

The Florida Gators (4-2-2, 0-1 SEC) fell to the Missouri Tigers (5-1-2, 1-0 SEC) Friday night at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The Gators set a new record high in attendance for this first match of SEC play with 1,283 fans.

Cravings Campus Kitchen adorns indoor and outdoor seating as it sits on Fletcher Drive.

NEWS | CAMPUS

New campus dining hall holds mock opening in preparation for official opening date

By Jared Teitel | Sep. 15, 2023

Sitting directly next to Student Recreation and Fitness Center at 244 Fletcher Drive, a new dining hall on UF property might just become the go-to for post-workout grub as students and staff scurry to the nearest spot to satisfy their hunger.

Junior running back Montrell Johnson Jr. celebrates after he scored a rushing touchdown in the Gators' 49-7 win against the McNeese State Cowboys Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators seek first signature win of 2023 against rivals Tennessee

By Luke Adragna | Sep. 15, 2023

The Volunteers (2-0) are the first Southeastern Conference opponent the Florida Gators (1-1) will play this season and are undefeated entering the weekend matchup. Tennessee hasn’t defeated Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, though, since 2003.

ENTERPRISE | POLITICS

Hamilton Center hosts political thinkers for event

By Sophia Bailly | Sep. 15, 2023

The public event ‘Truth-Seeking and Democracy’ was co-sponsored by the African American Studies Program and Bob Graham Center for Civil Service. The speakers, Cornel West and Robert George, are known for their close friendship and widely different political ideologies.

Redshirt senior Allison Wilson points to the sky after she finished first for the Florida Gators in the Mountain Dew Invitational at Mark Bostick Golf Course Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators Cross Country open their season with a top-3 finish for the men and women

By Isabella Morales | Sep. 15, 2023

After a two week hold on the season, Florida Gators running made their Fall 2023 debut on their home course at the Mountain Dew Invitational. Fifteen total colleges competed with all 15 competing on the men’s side and 14 on the women’s. This totaled to 178 runners in the men’s 7800 meter race and 139 in the women’s 3 mile, with Florida’s men’s team finishing in 3rd and the women’s in 1st.

Attendees watch the naming of Ada Rosenson Dorfeld Plaza outside of the Norman Hall College of Education on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS

College of Education unveils Ada Rosenson Dorfeld Plaza

By Megan Howard | Sep. 15, 2023

The event, originally scheduled for Aug. 29, honored UF College of Education bachelor’s and master’s graduate Ada Dorfeld who is also a significant donor to the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholarship. Dorfeld died in March before she could see the unveiling of the plaza.

A Florida bag at Mark Bostick Golf Club in Gainesville, Florida. UF took home the hardware with a 21-under-par team performance at the Fighting Irish Classic.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Luke Poulter — son of pro golfer Ian Poulter — to make collegiate debut at Fighting Illini Invitational

By Max Tucker | Sep. 15, 2023

Friday will be Luke Poulter’s opportunity to embark on his own journey as he tees off for the first time as a Florida Gator.

The Hippodrome Theatre, located at 25 SE 2nd Place, will open its doors on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 for “Murder For Two,” one of the first in-person performances since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

‘Welcome to your cinema’: The Hippodrome Theatre celebrated its cinema’s reopening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday

By Alexandra Burns | Sep. 15, 2023

The Hippodrome Theatre — located at 25 SE 2nd Place — celebrated Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate its cinema’s reopening after its first major renovation since 1981.

Redshirt freshman lineman Caleb Banks (88) and redshirt sophomore linebacker Scooby Williams (17) celebrate a defensive play in the Gators’ 49-7 win against the McNeese State Cowboys Saturday, Sept. 9 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Young Gators defenders make the most of their playtime

By Jackson Reyes | Sep. 14, 2023

Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Jamari Lyons and redshirt sophomore linebacker Scooby Williams made their presence known in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Saturday.

El Caimán