1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Celebrate the real star of the Super Bowl: pizza

Jan. 30, 2014

The weekend is finally here, and I’m more excited about it than usual because this Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday! Who cares if the half-time performer is Bruno Mars? Who cares if it’s going to be freezing at the MetLife Stadium? Who actually cares if the Seahawks or the Broncos win? Not me, because I don’t even like football. But I love Super Bowl Sunday, because I love food — namely, pizza.

OPINION | COLUMNS

SOTU addresses students’ needs

Jan. 30, 2014

During Tuesday’s State of the Union address, I was proud to hear our president talk about the issues that matter to Americans, especially those that impact us as students. From the skyrocketing cost of college to the importance of raising the minimum wage, the vision the president laid out last night is distinctly American: infused with the optimism and pragmatism that has always kept our nation moving forward.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Netflix: Why net neutrality matters

Jan. 30, 2014

They say that when we landed on the moon, the scientists who got us there used computers with less processing power than what’s in an iPhone. This implies that everyone who has a computer today has an opportunity to do something awesome. It also implies they’re probably wasting that opportunity, consuming massive quantities of porn or binge watching series on Netflix — or a weird combination of the two.

METRO | POLITICS

Darts & Laurels 1/30/14

Jan. 30, 2014

Well, yesterday sucked.

Chris Walker (second from left) looks on during Florida’s win against Tennessee on Saturday in the O’Connell Center.

NEWS | CAMPUS

NCAA clears Walker after weeks of waiting

By LANDON WATNICK< | Jan. 29, 2014

Chris Walker has finally been freed.

Olivia Janowicz hits the ball during Florida’s 4-0 win against Harvard on Sunday at the Ring Tennis Complex. Janowicz won her first match on the No. 1 court on Wednesday, defeating UCF’s Josephine Haraldson in straight sets.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Senior leads UF to home sweep against UCF

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Jan. 29, 2014

After a tough outing on the No. 1 court against Harvard on Sunday, Olivia Janowicz proved she is worthy of the top spot on Wednesday.

METRO

Florida python invasion slithers into virtual world

By Ashley Kobza | Jan. 29, 2014

Python invasion has spread from the Everglades to the virtual world.

NEWS | CAMPUS

US government sues background-check service company

By Beatrice Dupuy | Jan. 29, 2014

UF uses a background-checking service whose parent company’s government screening unit is being sued by the U.S. government.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Legal Services relocating amidst Reitz construction

By Alyssa Aguero | Jan. 29, 2014

UF’s Student Legal Services will be temporarily relocated near Carleton Auditorium due to construction in the Reitz Union.

Amanda Butler calls a play during Florida’s 68-62 loss against Georgia on Jan. 19 in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators look to win rebounding battle against evenly matched Tide

By GORDON STREISAND< | Jan. 29, 2014

The surging Crimson Tide is rolling into the O’Connell Center tonight.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

New SG party runs with nacho average platform: Bring tacos back

By Hanna Marcus | Jan. 29, 2014

The Declaration of Independence guarantees Americans the rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” but this election season at UF, a new student party is adding the pursuit of tacos to that list.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Junior returning from injury after decorated 2013 campaign

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Jan. 29, 2014

A dislocated arm and torn labrum knocked Marquis Dendy out of competition last year, and the junior underwent surgery in September 2013.

A peacock roams around the Sante Fe College Teaching Zoo on Wednesday afternoon. The zoo used heat lamps and space heaters to help the animals combat the lower temperatures.

METRO

Santa Fe zoo animals stay warm during cold weather

By EMILY COCHRANE< | Jan. 29, 2014

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo has some cool cats — and lemurs and peacocks and other animals coping with the recent freezing temperatures.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF scores high for education quality, value

By Lynna Lawrence | Jan. 29, 2014

UF was deemed one of the best academic bang-for-your-buck schools in the country by the Princeton Review and Kiplinger.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF engineering students dance, draw in mandatory class

By Amanda Kastrinos | Jan. 29, 2014

This semester’s collaborative class between industrial and systems engineering and the fine arts department may be the last of its kind.

METRO

New hookah product has students blowing Monkey O’s

By Griffin Horvath | Jan. 29, 2014

A new smoke-ring device could soon change the dynamic of hookah culture in Gainesville.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Dance Marathon at UF to host superhero 5K

By Shannon Sapourn | Jan. 29, 2014

Pint-sized, caped crusaders will dash through campus on Sunday, and it’s all for the kids.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Food insecurity plaguing students nationwide, locally at Santa Fe College

By Nicole Giaquinto | Jan. 29, 2014

While many college students fear the dreaded Freshman 15, others are more concerned about how they are going to scrape up enough money to pay for their next meal.

A group of UF students hikes in the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, located near Israel’s Dead Sea, during a Birthright trip in May. UF Hillel takes Jewish students on the free, 10-day trip in the winter and summer.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Jewish UF students react to change in Birthright eligibility

By Bridget Anderson | Jan. 29, 2014

Taglit-Birthright Israel, the free, 10-day heritage trip to Israel for young, Jewish adults, recently made changes to its eligibility requirements that will now allow more people to apply.

OPINION | COLUMNS

UF gun policies promote campus security

Jan. 29, 2014

If you haven’t heard about it yet, UF is being sued by a gun-rights group for not allowing on-campus residents to keep guns in their dorm rooms.

El Caimán