1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

UF staff, students, and alumni share their opinions on who they want for the next University President.

NEWS | CAMPUS

‘Not a jerk would be lovely’: What do Gators want out of UF’s next president?

By Sofia Meyers and Shaine Davison | Jan. 21, 2025

The 15-member search committee charged with finding UF’s next president spent the beginning of the Spring semester in virtual listening sessions consulting with hundreds of students, faculty, staff and donors. Their goal: to identify what Gator Nation wants — and doesn’t want — in a successor to former President Ben Sasse.

The dual stages at Playground Music Festival at Heartwood Soundstage on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Twin indie-folk duo Lighthearted talks Playground and new single

By Juliana DeFilippo | Jan. 21, 2025

The 24-year-old identical twins are the founding members of the Athens, Georgia, based indie-folk duo Lighthearted, and they released their single “Borrowed” Jan. 3. Although they formed the band in 2019, the two have been playing music together since childhood.

UF Softball players Jocelyn Erickson and Rylee Holtorf grew up on the field together.

SPORTS | FEATURES

An invisible string: chalk, championships and chance

By Noah White | Jan. 21, 2025

Four years, 10 months, 11 days, 14 hours and 15 minutes (and counting). That’s how long it’s been since Jocelyn Erickson and Rylee Holtorf last took the field together for a record-affecting contest.

A crowd gathers for the MLK Day parade on University Avenue on Monday, January 20, 2025.

ENTERPRISE | POLITICS

Gainesville celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day

By Vivienne Serret | Jan. 21, 2025

While Alachua County residents celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President Donald Trump's return to the White House happened simultaneously.

Florida tennis player Henry Jefferson finishes a swing during a doubles match against North Florida on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024.

SPORTS | FEATURES

Gators neutralize Georgia Southern Eagles in first dual match of season

By Curan Ahern | Jan. 20, 2025

Florida Gators take care of business at home, defeating Georgia Southern 6-1.

UF Women's Tennis player Nikola Daubnerova sends a ball over the net during the Florida Invitational on Jan. 11, 2025. (Credit: Kade Sowers)

SPORTS | FEATURES

Florida women’s tennis starts duals play with a triumphant victory over UNF

By Jeffrey Serber | Jan. 19, 2025

The Florida Women’s Tennis team played its first dual match against the University of North Florida, cruising to a 5-2 victory to start the new era under Per Nilsson.

Liv McGill (23) drives to the basket during the first half against the Chicago State Cougars at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024.

SPORTS | BASKETBALL

Florida women’s basketball endures 23-point loss to No. 5 LSU

By Amanda Roman | Jan. 19, 2025

Florida women’s basketball fell to No.5 LSU in a 17 point loss, battling in front of their fourth-largest crowd and Shaquille O’Neal.

At the end of his set, EDM DJ Versus encourages house music fans to dance freely to the beat at Vivid Music Hall on Friday, January 17, 2025.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Now in style: The rise of house music

By Autumn Johnstone | Jan. 19, 2025

With a deafening bass and hues of neon colors dancing across the walls, Gainesville locals celebrated the end of syllabus week with a bang.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Playground Preshow highlights local indie artists at backyard show

By Juliana DeFilippo | Jan. 19, 2025

Playground Preshow took place Jan. 17, the night before the Playground Music + Arts Festival. Hosted by Swamp Records, Golden Ratio Booking and Indie Night live, the event featured four bands and brought in an audience of around 100 people. This is the event’s second year preceding Playground festival, Gainesville’s largest indie music festival. It highlights bands playing at Playground as well as other local groups.

Florida Ice Hockey Club celebrates its first National Championship win on Wednesday, March, 13, 2024.

SPORTS | FEATURES

Florida hockey rallies to win against Georgia Tech, clinches third place in Savannah Hockey Classic

By Daniela Ortiz | Jan. 18, 2025

Florida hockey completed the comeback against Georgia Tech in the Savannah Hockey Classic Saturday, securing third place in the tournament.

UF basketball player Walter Clayton Jr. (1) scores as the audience erupts during the game against the Texas Longhorns on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida.

SPORTS | BASKETBALL

No. 5 Gators show fight in bounce back home win over Texas

By Max Tucker | Jan. 18, 2025

Needing to bounce back after its first home loss in 16 games, the No. 5 Florida men’s basketball team responded. The Gators defeated the Texas Longhorns in their first ever SEC meeting at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on Saturday.

The Florida men's track and field team runs in the Pepsi Florida Relays, Friday, March 31, 2023.

SPORTS | FEATURES

McKiver’s world best highlights season openers for Gators track and field

By Paul Hof-Mahoney | Jan. 18, 2025

The Florida track and field team kicked off the indoor season with strong showings at meets in Texas and Gainesville. Jenoah McKiver led the way with a historic 600-yard race.

Penny Schwinn, previous UF cabinet member under Ben Sasse, is appointed as Donald Trump's U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

Trump taps former UF official for education role

By Garrett Shanley and Annie Wang | Jan. 18, 2025

Late Friday, Trump announced Schwinn, UF’s inaugural vice president for PK-12 and pre-bachelor's programs, as Deputy Secretary of Education — the second highest-ranking education official in the country.

In this Nov. 5, 2020 file photo, The Supreme Court is seen in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

ENTERPRISE | POLITICS

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the TikTok ban. What does it mean?

By Annie Wang | Jan. 18, 2025

As TikTok’s fate hangs in the balance, roughly 170 million users across the United States face the possibility of losing access to the app, which has become the focal point of a growing national security debate.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

How do UF students feel about the TikTok ban?

By Sabrina Castro | Jan. 18, 2025

On Friday, the United States Supreme Court upheld a controversial law banning TikTok, the popular social media app, leaving many students stunned and frustrated.

SPORTS | CLUBS AND INTRAMURALS

Florida hockey comeback attempt comes up short, falls to Tennessee

By Daniela Ortiz | Jan. 18, 2025

Florida hockey fell to Tennessee in the Savannah Hockey Classic Friday, marking UF’s third loss to the Vols this season.

Junior Sloane Blakely performs on the uneven bars in the Gators gymnastics' Hype Night on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023.

SPORTS | FEATURES

No. 7 Gators Gymnastics drop meet against No. 2 LSU

By Liana Handler | Jan. 17, 2025

The No. 2 LSU Tigers gymnastics team defeated No. 7 Florida with a score of 197.550 points to 197.450 points Friday evening in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

UF student Sam Ero hits the "Heisman pose" after winning first place at the DJ Lagway Look-Alike contest in Plaza of the Americas on Friday, January 17, 2025.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

DJ Lagway look-alike contest held on UF campus

By Joshua Stevens | Jan. 17, 2025

On Friday afternoon, dozens of UF students flocked to the Plaza of the Americas to bear witness to a student-run DJ Lagway look-alike contest.

Civil rights scholar Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries presents a lecture about Afrofuturism and Dr. King's Vision for America to UF students on Thursday, January 17, 2025.

NEWS | CAMPUS

‘A world where justice prevails’: Civil rights scholar Hasan Kwame Jeffries delivers UF’s 2025 MLK Lecture

By Pristine Thai | Jan. 17, 2025

Jeffries, an associate professor of history at The Ohio State University, delivered UF’s 2025 MLK Lecture Thursday evening to a crowd of roughly 100 students, faculty and community members at Pugh Hall.

Florida freshman Joshua Liendo competes in a swimming event.

SPORTS | FEATURES

Florida swim and dive dominates Texas A&M in SEC win

By Isabella Sanin | Jan. 17, 2025

Florida swim and dive sweeps Texas A&M with a powerful performance by both the men’s and women’s teams to resume SEC competition.

El Caimán