1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: It’s not the end of meat as we know it and we feel fine

Oct. 26, 2015

The World Health Organization announced Monday it had classified processed meats as a cancer hazard. The WHO reached this conclusion after the International Agency for Research on Cancer conducted an exhaustive study of pre-existing literature on the subject. Processed meats — which include bacon (sorry, America), sausage and ham — have been labeled under the "Group 1" classification by the IARC, meaning they are established carcinogens. Under these standards, processed meats occupy a comfortable position alongside cigarettes, alcohol and, most tantalizingly, asbestos.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Democratic Republic of the Congo: violence, hip-hop

Oct. 26, 2015

The Democratic Republic of the Congo: a country we tend to think of so little that many would struggle to identify it on a map. Many Americans remain unaware of the political corruption and militia violence that ravages the lives of Congolese civilians and refugees residing in the DRC. (Do not fret: I only just learned all this while producing this piece.)

OPINION | COLUMNS

Life lessons learned from flip phones

Oct. 26, 2015

It was an impressive run. Several weeks ago, my iPhone 4S remained uncased, unbent and unbroken. Hubris and the want for less cumbersome technology in my pocket drove my decision to abandon the armor that was my OtterBox. It was inevitable, then, that my iPhone’s demise would arrive with irony. Having survived the many boredom-induced lobs, flips and saturnalias, it would ultimately meet its screen-shattering end by dropping just a foot from the edge of the nightstand.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Going back home: the reality check

Oct. 26, 2015

Coming back home after living somewhat independently in our college-town bubble has always been an interesting, if not perplexing, experience for me.

METRO

Gainesville residents go batty: More attend Florida Bat Festival

By Natalia Arteaga | Oct. 25, 2015

Tabitha Danson’s two children saw bats for the first time on Saturday at the Lubee Bat Conservancy.

METRO

The Wild, Wild Startup: Local entrepreneurs battle for ‘top-gun’ title

By Jenna Kline | Oct. 25, 2015

Gainesville entrepreneurs may don their cowboy boots to pitch their startup ideas.

Abhishek Taiwade, an 18-year-old UF microbiology freshman, died on Oct. 14, 2015. He was memorialized Oct. 23, 2015, in the Baughman Center.

NEWS | CAMPUS

‘Shanti’: UF student’s family, friends seek peace and honor life

By Giuseppe Sabella | Oct. 25, 2015

They honored Abhishek Taiwade, and they hoped he found peace.

Karrie Ford, 27, protests against the Florida bear hunt at the Stop the Bear Hunt Rally at the intersection of Main Street and University Avenue on Oct. 23, 2015. "The number of bears in Florida versus the number of hunting permits sold just doesn't make sense," she said.

METRO

Bear hunt ends after two days

By Alyssa Fisher | Oct. 25, 2015

The hunt was on — and then closed the second day.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Online cancels Pearson Education contract

By Alexandra Fernandez | Oct. 25, 2015

UF Online will terminate its contract with the publishing and assessment service Pearson Education.

Honey, a 6-year-old golden retriever lab mix, wags her tail as owner Kendall Nettles gets ready to walk the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5k on Oct. 24, 2015. The 22-year-old Santa Fe early childhood education senior said it was important to support those with breast cancer and those who had lost their lives.

METRO

More than 3,400 walk to raise money

By Danielle Veenstra | Oct. 25, 2015

For Mary Kathryn Nugent, December 2007 holds tragic memories.

Holly Buss, 9, and Heather Buss, 11, pet Slinky, an almost 2-year-old miniature pinscher and rat terrier mix at the Paws on Parole event on Oct. 24, 2015. Their family was considering adopting the rescue dog, who would be the household’s first.

METRO

Paws on Parole dogs have their first outing

By Sara Marino | Oct. 25, 2015

MaryBeth Head didn’t want to adopt a dog on Saturday.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF students hang out, invade plaza with hammocks

By Nicole LaReau | Oct. 25, 2015

Students will hang out in trees today.

METRO

Ragtime begins national tour at the Phillips Center

By Gabrielle Newman | Oct. 25, 2015

Eleven days before their first performance, the actors arrived at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: Even on the dance floor, we’re all wallflowers now

Oct. 25, 2015

In 2006’s "Whoo! Alright – Yeah… Uh Huh," Luke Jenner, singer of the now-defunct dance-punk band The Rapture, bemoaned the state of club culture: "People don’t dance no more (what!)/They just stand there like this (uh huh)/They cross their arms and stare you down and drink and moan and diss (that’s right!)." If Mr. Jenner were to write this song today, we can’t help but think the refrain would be a little less cheeky and a lot more critical.

Tom Webber, the collections manager of bird specimens, shows off a variety of bird skins while discussing the museum’s methods for cataloging and collecting thousands of bird species on Oct. 23, 2015, at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Florida Museum of Natural History digitizes collections

By Martin Vassolo | Oct. 25, 2015

Down a narrow passageway in Dickinson Hall, the thick vertebras of a baleen whale sit beside its 6-foot-long skull. In another room, about 33,000 bird specimens and field notes nestle together in drawers.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Allies will always be critical in the fight for equality

Oct. 25, 2015

It is easy to feel detached and uninvolved in issues involving discrimination if you’re not in one of the communities affected. However, everyone has a part to play in these issues. The definition of an ally is just that: standing by a community that you are not a part of and working to support them regardless. Allies are necessary for change, no matter the issue, and they can make a sizable difference.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Georgetown professor talks queers, ethnic drag

Oct. 25, 2015

Katrin Sieg is a professor of German and European studies at Georgetown University. She has published three books on 20th-century German theater and performance, which explore nationality, race and gender.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Presidential debates deserve more credit

Oct. 25, 2015

While many Americans are aware baseball season is ending, football season is reaching a sort of midway point and hockey season is just starting, the nation does not seem to fully appreciate that we are currently in the thick of the presidential debate season. The nation has watched three debates — two Republican and one Democratic — and is mentally preparing itself for another Republican debate Wednesday.

Maria Torres hits the ball during the SunTrust Gator Women's Golf Invitational on March 15.

NEWS

Florida women’s golf team in first place after first round in Texas

Oct. 25, 2015

The last time No. 20 Florida played in the Alamo Invitation in 2013, Maria Torres was just a freshman. But the Puerto Rico native, showed poised during the tournament and tied for 24th at 1-over par.

UF outside hitter Ziva Recek swings for a kill during Florida's 3-0 win against Texas A&M on Oct. 9, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida volleyball sweeps Missouri

By Brian Lee | Oct. 25, 2015

In a clash between two of the Southeastern Conference’s elite, Florida turned in one of its most impressive performances of the season.

El Caimán