1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Dear Mr. President, we deserve better

May 17, 2017

We wouldn’t exactly call it a surprise that President Donald Trump is a less than trustworthy commander in chief. His entire campaign leading up to his victory was filled with verbal falsehoods that spewed out of his mouth like pellets out of a revolver. Within a few months of his campaign, lying appeared to be second nature to the giant Cheeto vying for control of our country.

METRO

Days for Girls opens sewing center in Gainesville

By Catie Wegman | May 17, 2017

A center dedicated to sewing reusable feminine products for women in developing countries will open in Gainesville today.

METRO | BUSINESS

Local Burger King reopens for 60th anniversary

By Adam Turner | May 17, 2017

Sixty years ago, Burger King founders James “Jim” McLamore and David Edgerton visited one of their Gainesville stores on 13th Street.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Video game-influenced band to perform at High Dive

By Isabelle Resnick | May 17, 2017

In 2004, two musicians were playing video games when they had the idea to produce a new kind of musical performance art. Bit Brigade will be taking nerd culture to new heights at High Dive today at 8 p.m.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Please support the fight against global poverty

May 17, 2017

I am interning for an organization that helps alleviate global poverty called The Borgen Project. The project, according to their website, “is an innovative, national campaign that works with U.S. leaders to improve their response to the global poverty crisis.” Or, in other words, it is probably the opposite of what you’re imagining. Typical poverty relief groups are “boots on the ground” types of organizations that directly improve the living conditions of communities through physical projects, such as building wells, buildings, etc. However, The Borgen Project focuses on directly alleviating global poverty by lobbying representatives in government to vote on policies that would increase the budget for financial aid.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Local hip-hop/rap artist Rezza to headline High Dive show

By Natalie Rao | May 17, 2017

From Tom Petty to Less Than Jake, many an artist have gone from humble Gainesville beginnings to international fame. While massive tours and sold-out crowds may be the norm for these musicians nowadays, each and every one of them got their start in the local scene, opening for larger acts within their genre and slowly but surely gaining a fanbase.

Mia Caceres-Nielsen, 17, dancing at the Glorya Kaufman Dance Studio at The Juilliard School in New York City.

METRO

Teen from Gainesville ballet company accepted to Juilliard

By Eman Elshahawy | May 17, 2017

A teenage dancer who has logged hundreds of hours dancing in Gainesville was presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: The Juilliard School.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF starts volunteer website to connect the community

By Victoria Pavlock | May 17, 2017

For more than 10 years, UF has raised $1 million for local charities across Alachua County.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Finding the best playoff team to bandwagon

May 17, 2017

If you’re like the average sports fan, any leagues' playoffs are a confusing time for you. As more teams fall throughout the postseason, you find yourself not really caring about many of the matchups. Either your team has already been eliminated from the chase for this year’s championship, or you couldn’t care less about who wins. In case you find yourself in this position, I’m about to tell you exactly who you should be rooting on for the rest of this year’s NBA playoffs.

Sam Horsfield completes his follow-through during round two of the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Feb. 21, 2016 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators gain some ground, but still behind in NCAA Regionals

By Justin Ahlum | May 16, 2017

The No. 5 Florida men’s golf team sat in fifth place in the NCAA Regional at the end of round one on Monday. Today, the Gators bounced back and gained two positions in the leaderboard, moving into third place at the end of two rounds at Kampen Golf Course in West Lafayette, Indiana.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man shot in the face; a neighborhood on standby

By David Hoffman | May 16, 2017

Less than 200 yards away from an elementary school, a Gainesville man survived a gunshot wound to the face Tuesday.

Delanie Gourley pitchers during Florida's 14-10 loss to LSU on March 14, 2015, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | FEATURES

California Glove: Gourley pitches from coast to coast

By Cassie Amundson | May 16, 2017

Along the west coast of the United States, there’s a range of large, clay-colored cliffs that sit face-to-face with the waves of the Pacific Ocean.

Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) and guard Stephen Curry celebrate during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on May 14, 2017, at Oracle Arena.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: The NBA playoffs have become boring as hell

By Dylan Dixon | May 16, 2017

I’ve always hated the WWE.

Mollie Stevens (17) and Sammi Burgess (2) embrace during Florida's 15-8 win against Denver on March 25, 2017, at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

A look back on the 2017 Florida lacrosse season

By Jake Dreilinger | May 16, 2017

The Florida lacrosse team’s season came to an end on Sunday following a heartbreaking loss to USC – a team it beat earlier in the season – in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Gordon Neale crouches during round two of the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Feb. 21, 2016, at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida sits in fifth after Round One of NCAA Regionals

By Justin Ahlum | May 16, 2017

With high expectations and the No. 1 seed in the region, all eyes were on the Gators as they began round one of the NCAA Regional at Kampen Golf Course in West Lafayette, Indiana. When Monday’s action concluded, Florida sat in a tie for fifth place after shooting a combined 4-over par.

Morgan Montaudo poses with Biscotti. She volunteered in October to raise him as a service dog for someone else who needs him.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF student graduates alongside service dog

By Natalie Calvo | May 15, 2017

On April 30, 23-year-old Morgan Montaudo walked across the stage of the O’Connell Center — a proud UF graduate. At the end of the Summer, her dog Biscotti will graduate, too.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Tag yourself, I’m literally just trying

May 15, 2017

As 2017 nears its half birthday, it is only fair for people to reach a progress report-type summary of successes and failures. Society collectively established 2016 as a bad year, even though life as a whole is a photo of us with a radial blur filter. The only ones who truly decide this fate of perpetual misfortune are us.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Record enrollment for Summer A and C terms

By Catie Wegman | May 15, 2017

UF’s Summer A and Summer C sessions kicked off with a record number of students enrolled: 26,703.

On Friday night, through the use of postcards, 32 women with pre-existing health conditions told their stories to protest the American Health Care Act.

METRO

In fight against AHCA bill, women send senators postcards

By Catie Wegman | May 15, 2017

At a local brewery Friday night, Kristen Reaver wrote postcards to Florida senators explaining how the American Health Care Act could affect her, if passed by the Senate.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Are we inching closer to World War III?

May 15, 2017

There are few things more terrifying than the unknown of a nuclear war. The simple press of a button could wipe out entire countries — entire continents.

El Caimán