1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

The fictitious timeline of Labor Day

By Ian Rowe | Aug. 29, 2012

1882: Gender-neutral historical figure Toni Labor sought to free the American worker from the shackles of the American work-week that, at its inception, continued for 365 days in a row. Tasks included, but were not limited to, beating rocks together and collecting goat and human sacrifices as offerings to the evil dragon who oversaw production atop Mt. Drudgery. Americans refered to the dragon as “Grover.” Toni Labor succeeded in slaying the dragon with a cardboard sign that read: “Seriously Grover, my feet are killing me,” and Americans celebrated by cooking the dragon over a fire. The Labor Day barbeque tradition was born.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF’s International Center cuts Peace Corps program, office

By Michael Scott Davidson | Aug. 29, 2012

It’s not often that a college program ranked No. 2 in the nation cuts its recruiting staff without planning to replace it.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Experiences in college solidify belief in equality

Aug. 29, 2012

As returning Gators know — and freshmen are soon to discover — UF is probably a much more open and safe environment for the LGBT community than the environment they experienced in high school.

THE AVENUE | NIGHTLIFE

The freshman's guide to going out

By Jessica Kegu | Aug. 29, 2012

If you’re a freshman, the weekday grind of repetitive conversation, handshaking and awkward smiling has left your face, hands and brain a little numb. Then the weekend arrives. You have a glorious Saturday or Sunday ahead of you filled with sleeping, Internet surfing and movie watching on a Netflix account that you probably don’t pay for. However, the problem then arises that you don’t know anything about anything because you’re a freshman — duh. You will probably find yourself weighing one of these general options and, if so, here are some tips to go along with them:

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Study shows gay slurs have long-term effects

By Kelly Price | Aug. 29, 2012

When Emily Conwell walks on Turlington Plaza, she slips on a pair of earphones. She doesn’t want to hear the passing students say “that’s so gay” or “no homo.”

UF computer science and engineering senior Bryan Dubno, 22, the creator of UFmobile, uses the free iPhone app on campus. The app includes an interactive campus map to help students find their classes.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Student creates UFmobile iPhone app as campus resource

By Vonecia Carswell | Aug. 29, 2012

Bryan Dubno overheard more than sandwich orders while standing in the Reitz Union Subway line Sunday. He stood between two UF students who were talking about one of his cherished inventions: the UFmobile iPhone app.

Adam Samei, 18, started a Super PAC to learn more about political organizations and to one-up an acquaintance.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF freshman owns Super PAC

By Webb | Aug. 29, 2012

The 18-year-old political science and international affairs student said he’s the second-youngest person to own a Super PAC, a type of political organization that can raise unlimited funds to promote its agenda.

THE AVENUE | SEX

Craigslist > missed connections

By Jessica Kegu | Aug. 29, 2012

If there is a w4w posting you have hit a rare gem of a personal ad. The elusive w4w posting is rare because lesbians don’t care nearly as much about the Internet as straight guys do (for porn), straight women do (for Pinterest) or gay guys do (for porn and Craigslist missed connections). Now take a shot like a man.

United States' Ryan Lochte after his relay team's silver medal win in the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay final men's relay at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The CW network said the swimmer will make a cameo appearance on the drama series "90210." Lochte will play a guest at a resort visited by characters Naomi, played by AnnaLynne McCord, and Max, played by Josh Zuckerman. The "90210" episode with Lochte will air 9 p.m. EDT Monday, Oct. 29

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Under Troy’s leadership, Lochte swims to Olympic history

By KATIE AGOSTIN | Aug. 28, 2012

At the 2012 London Olympics, coach Gregg Troy led the U.S. men’s swimming team to 16 medals, six of which came from athletes Troy coached at Florida.

Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Brent Pease, gives instructions during open practice Aug. 18.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Bowling Green to face unusual foe

By JOSH JURNOVOY | Aug. 28, 2012

Bowling Green is not familiar with the Southeastern Conference.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Freshmen filling void left by Santos-Lamb

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Aug. 28, 2012

With Noami Santos-Lamb hobbling on crutches, Florida’s freshmen have given the team a leg to stand on.

Mack Brown (33) runs a drill during open practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Chemistry with wideouts not affected by QB battle

By JOSH JURNOVOY | Aug. 28, 2012

While the Florida coaching staff still has not settled on a starting quarterback, all parties involved in the decision feel good about the eventual starter’s rapport with the wide receiving corps.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Gators will silence doubters in 2012

By ADAM PINCUS | Aug. 28, 2012

To most, Florida looks like a Gator Bowl bid waiting to happen.

Jeff Driskel (6) and Jacoby Brissett (12) watch over open practice Aug. 18 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF quarterback rotation not ‘sustainable’

By JOE MORGAN | Aug. 28, 2012

Florida coach Will Muschamp believes the Gators can win with two quarterbacks. Beyond this weekend, offensive coordinator Brent Pease is not so certain.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Annual RecSports event showcases sports, services

By Brandon Shenk | Aug. 28, 2012

UF’s Department of Recreational Sports will host its annual RecSports Extravaganza from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at the Southwest Recreation Center on Hull Road.

METRO

Nonprofit organization will turn empty lot into garden

By Katherine Hahn | Aug. 28, 2012

St. Francis House, a shelter and soup kitchen, is raising money to transform the lot into a community garden to grow one ton of produce. The Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers Inc. intends to plant 10 55-foot rows of produce in the privately owned lot, said Travis Mitchell, a coordinator for the nonprofit’s food projects.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Man arrested after escaping from work-release program

By Chris Alcantara | Aug. 28, 2012

Gainesville Police charged David Wesley Harteis, 25, of 13402 NE 34th Way, with escaping from authorities, according to a GPD arrest report. He returned to the Santa Fe Work Release Center on Tuesday morning.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Listen and Learn: National tragedies aren’t the norm

Aug. 28, 2012

We try to find patterns where there are none. Patterns help us make sense of our environment and surroundings.

Supervisor of Elections Stephen Davis presented his contingency plan for the Student Government election Oct. 2 and Oct. 3.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Student Senate presents election contingency plan

By Samantha Shavell | Aug. 28, 2012

In the event of an emergency, Supervisor of Elections Stephen Davis will enact his backup plan, which resembles former Supervisor of Elections Toni Megna’s plan from Spring, according to Alligator archives.

A larger-than-life-size puppet bearing Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s likeness is marched through the streets of Ybor City in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Student media get rare opportunities at convention

By Meredith Rutland | Aug. 28, 2012

UF students joined thousands of media members in Tampa this week to report on protests and Mitt Romney’s official nomination as the Republican presidential candidate. The students sacrificed their classes to be errand-runners for the press world’s elite.

El Caimán