1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Amendment Showdown

By Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 27, 2010

We see you’ve made it through your near booklet of a sample ballot, filling in the bubbles for the best candidates (in black ink because apparently blue is just not acceptable) as we work our way through the endorsements of major political candidates. But you still have local races, judges to not reappoint (read: Charles T. Canady) and lots of amendments to bravely work your way through. Luckily, we’re not going to abandon you in the wake of a mind-numbing panic of legalese. Stay with us as we present you with your very own and possibly very first This-Looks-A-Lot-Like-Darts-&-Laurels-But-It’s-Really-Not edition of Amendment Showdown.

THE AVENUE | FASHION

Tricks to look like a treat

By ALLISON BANKO | Oct. 27, 2010

Sure, you’ve been going buck wild in all of autumn’s glory: breathing in sweet smells of cinnamon, indulging in candy corn, busting out the pumpkin spice candles. You may think you’ve got the fall feel down, but does your wardrobe?

OPINION | COLUMNS

US legal system fundamentally flawed

By Nate Rushing | Oct. 27, 2010

Pamela Raymond is a former nurse who lives in the quaint city of Morristown, Vt. And according to the state, Raymond is a murderer.

NEWS

Correction

Oct. 27, 2010

Wednesday’s story on the Alachua County School Board forum discussed charter schools. For clarification, charter schools are independent, non-profit schools but are funded by the public.

NEWS | CAMPUS

‘Sex on the lawn’ event offers food, free condoms, sex ed

By Mina Radman | Oct. 27, 2010

Three blindfolded students raced to open condoms and place them on plastic model penises while others guessed how many condoms were in a jar Wednesday.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Professor loses 10 years of racism research to burglars

By Jon Silman | Oct. 27, 2010

Marilyn M. Thomas-Houston has spent the past 10 years studying racism in Nova Scotia — but now all of her research is gone.

NEWS | CAMPUS

IFAS gets $2.9 million to study strawberries

By Gennaro Scibelli | Oct. 27, 2010

The grant will help the multi-state research team, led by UF plant pathologist Natalia Peres, find better ways to fight fruit rot that plagues the strawberries in Florida fields and refrigerators every year.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Meet the Zombie Beatles: Bands we want to resurrect

By Jessica Poitevien | Oct. 27, 2010

Let's take a trip down music's memory lane, back to a time when there was no such thing as Auto-Tune or "Glee" or Ke$ha. We had our one-hit wonders (anyone heard from Haddaway lately?) and our boy bands that produced a few albums then disappeared (B2K ring a bell?).

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Get lost: Gainesville corn maze celebrates Halloween

By Melinda Cartensen | Oct. 27, 2010

All is still and quiet at Rogers Farm but for a faint breeze and the soft, muffled clucks of a few chickens behind barbed wire.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Trick-or treating with the Avenue

Oct. 27, 2010

We’re not in denial: We know we’re a little past our trick-or-treating prime. We know we can no longer strap on a pair of rabbit ears and faux-furball tail without being called a few choice words. We know we’re not getting any candy this year unless we march our non-bunny-costumed selves over to Walgreens (most likely on Nov. 1, when all that cavity-causing goodness goes on sale).

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Rainey could see time at RB

Oct. 26, 2010

Chris Rainey could see a lot of touches out of the backfield Saturday against Georgia, but he needs earn playing time first.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Senate meeting heats up over bill about bills

By Lidia Dinkova | Oct. 26, 2010

In a heated debate Tuesday night, Student Senators passed a bill that allows only for bills passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee to be heard in Senate meetings.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF travel ban to Haiti applies to undergrads

By Joey Flechas | Oct. 26, 2010

A cholera outbreak in Haiti has prompted UF to restrict undergraduate travel to the recovering country.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Blakely commits to UF

By TOM GREEN | Oct. 26, 2010

BRADENTON — After keeping his college choice a secret from the public for six days, Mike Blakely wasted no time making his decision known Tuesday morning.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Hogwarts party draws 600 Harry Potter fans

By Max Reed | Oct. 26, 2010

Students made a trip to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on Tuesday night.

NEWS | SFC

Santa Fe rallies for buses

By Alexandria Ugarte | Oct. 26, 2010

The legislation would allow all Florida colleges to add a small transportation fee to each credit hour for students.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Rainey’s situation handled correctly

Oct. 26, 2010

Chris Rainey will probably see the field Saturday. That’s not a guarantee. Don’t take it to the bank. Like anything related to the UF football team, fans won’t actually know until the game starts.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Local seniors strut stuff in dance classes

By Hannah Winston | Oct. 26, 2010

After running five marathons, including the New York Marathon at the age of 62, John Brown’s knees gave out. Now, at 80, he dances.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Revised practice schedule allows Gators to heal injuries

By MATT WATTS< | Oct. 26, 2010

A new practice schedule allowed the Gators to take some extra time off this week, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

UF takes on South Carolina in front of national audience

By MATT RUBIN< | Oct. 26, 2010

Being one of the best in college volleyball will earn a team extra attention — especially if that team is atop the rankings.

El Caimán