1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Florida Senators Jason Pizzo, Tina Polsky talk political activism with UF students

By Zoey Thomas | Nov. 3, 2023

Florida Sen. Jason Pizzo considers himself the “biggest no-bulls—t person in the Florida state legislature.” He’s spent the past two weeks on the road to prove it. A group of 30 UF students gathered in the Reitz Student Union Friday for a meet-and-greet coordinated between Pizzo and UF College Democrats.

Running back Montrell Johnson rumbles through the defense in the Gators’ 43-20 loss against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators look to get back on track against Arkansas

By Luke Adragna | Nov. 3, 2023

After a miserable 43-20 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs, the Florida Gators (5-3, 3-2 SEC) have the opportunity to clinch bowl eligibility with a win against the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-6, 0-5 SEC) Saturday at home.

Sophomore guard Denzel Aberdeen dunks the ball over the head of UF head coach Todd Golden in the Gators' Orange & Blue scrimmage on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball get ready for season in Orange & Blue Scrimmage

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 3, 2023

The Florida Gators men’s basketball gave fans their first look at the team in the team’s Orange & Blue scrimmage Thursday night. The event consisted of a scrimmage, a 3-point contest and a dunk contest. The night was highlighted by sophomore guard Denzel Aberdeen. He won the dunk contest and followed his victory with a dunk over the head of head coach Todd Golden.

Graduate student guard Julian Rishwain attempts a layup during the Florida Gators men's basketball open practice on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Analysis: What can Julian Rishwain bring to the Gators?

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 3, 2023

The Gators received uplifting news when graduate student guard Julian Rishwain announced he’ll be ready to play the Gators’ season opener against Loyola Maryland, he said Thursday night. So what exactly does Rishwain bring to the Gators’ rotation?

Ben Sasse stands at the inauguration ceremony in the University Auditorium on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

Ben Sasse’s inauguration as UF’s 13th president

By Aidan Bush , Garrett Shanley and Isabella Douglas | Nov. 2, 2023

UF President Ben Sasse is set to be formally inaugurated as UF’s 13th president at 3 p.m. Thursday in the University Auditorium.

Austin Simmons flipped his commitment to Ole Miss Saturday, June 17, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida linebacker Shemar James out for season with knee injury

By Luke Adragna | Nov. 1, 2023

Florida Gators sophomore linebacker Shemar James underwent season-ending knee surgery Tuesday and will sit out the remainder of the 2023 season, Florida head coach Billy Napier confirmed Wednesday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida linebacker Shemar James out for season with knee injury

By Luke Adragna | Nov. 1, 2023

Florida Gators sophomore linebacker Shemar James underwent season-ending knee surgery Tuesday and will sit out the remainder of the 2023 season, Florida head coach Billy Napier confirmed Wednesday.

Florida redshirt freshman Matthew Kress putts the ball in the VyStar Credit Union Gators Invitational Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida concludes Fall schedule at East Lake Cup

By Max Tucker | Nov. 1, 2023

The Florida Gators Men’s Golf team came up just short in match play against Florida State and Georgia Tech at the East Lake Cup in Atlanta, Georgia. The Gators made it to the consolation finals on the last day of the event.

Oct. 28, 2023, a crowd of costumed people amassed for the annual independent Queer the Fest. The “Mutant Disco” theme brought a slew of colorful glittery outfits and creative face makeup.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Gainesville celebrates Queer the Fest

By Bonny Matejowsky | Oct. 31, 2023

While packs of people flocked to Gainesville to celebrate Fest, a multi-day music festival spread across several venues, an exuberant audience emerged in the Civic Media Center’s courtyard, eager to rock out in a unique and inclusive space.

Senior diver Skip Donald begins his dive during the Gators' meet against the Georgia Bulldogs on Friday, October 27, 2023, at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center Natatorium in Gainesville, Florida.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators take their first double-sweep of the season

By Lacey Rogers | Oct. 31, 2023

The Gators swim and dive teams took on the Georgia Bulldogs at home Friday. Florida’s No. 3 men’s and No. 7 women’s teams walked away with their first sweep of the season after taking down Georgia’s No. 13 men’s and No. 9 women’s teams, 175-125 and 183-117, respectively.

The first room of the Crimson Carnival is titled, “The Carnival Grounds.” Photo courtesy of Andrew Long, taken April 14, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Student-run haunt creates chaos at UF’s Flavet Field

By Jared Teitel | Oct. 31, 2023

All Hallow’s Eve marked just one nerve-racking night full of flashing lights and ear-piercing screams at UF.

Freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson III runs the ball for the touchdown in the Gators' 43-20 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

COLUMN: Florida loses big to Georgia on field, closing gap in recruiting

By Jackson Reyes | Oct. 31, 2023

Although Florida lost by more than 20 points to the Bulldogs for the third season in a row, UF head coach Billy Napier is working to close the gap where it matters the most — recruiting.

NEWS

Please do not tell Jews what antisemitism is

By Norman J.W. Goda | Oct. 31, 2023

Pro-Hamas activists insist that their cause is not antisemitic. Rather it is “anti-Zionist,” “anti-colonialist” and a fight for “human rights.” Certain people, the activists say — three guesses which people — “weaponize” the charge of antisemitism in order to “silence” the activists’ concerns.

Transcript

METRO

Gainesville mayor presents Key to the City to punk rocker Laura Jane Grace

By Zoey Thomas | Oct. 30, 2023

The Fest, one of the world’s largest punk-rock music festivals, kicked off its 2023 festivities in an unexpected location. Festival goers clustered in the Gainesville City Hall courtyard instead of a strobe-lit stage, listening to Mayor Harvey Ward rather than moshing to Gorilla Biscuits.

Redshirt senior defender Daviana Vaka dribbles the ball down the field in the Gators' 0-0 tie with the South Carolina Gamecocks on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2023.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Megan Hinnenkamp and Daviana Vaka earn All-SEC honors for Florida soccer

By Austin Stirling | Oct. 30, 2023

With the 2023 women’s college soccer regular season officially wrapped up, two Gators took home prestigious SEC honors following impressive seasons.

Freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson III runs with the ball past a Georgia defender in the Gators’ 43-20 loss against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators show signs of promise amid humbling defeat to No. 1 Georgia

By Topher Adams | Oct. 30, 2023

UF couldn’t compete with Georgia — and has now lost the last three to the rival Bulldogs. Even in a blowout loss, however, Florida head coach Billy Napier’s program continues to build and show glimpses of a future where the Gators can once again rival their northern neighbors.

Momo, a 3-year-old black cat, sits perched on Anais Naoumoff’s windowsill in Gainesville on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. The name Momo is Japanese for “peach.”

THE AVENUE

‘Black Cat Bias’: The superstition behind black cats’ bad reputation

By Valentina Sarmiento | Oct. 30, 2023

Few animals evoke stronger symbolism than the black cat. Sleek and opaque, these superstitious felines can’t help being associated with the occult. The misconceptions surrounding black cats, however sensational, have material implications.

Florida senior John DuBois lines up a putt in at the Vystar Credit Union Gators Invitational Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

John DuBois: From substitute to men’s golf national champion

By Max Tucker | Oct. 30, 2023

Fifth-year senior John DuBois appeared in the lineup only three times his freshman year. In his senior season a year ago, he stood on the 18th hole of the national championship semi-final and made a putt that kept his team’s hopes for a title alive.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Are you ready for it? Taylor Swift course hits UF Honors Program

By Bonny Matejowsky | Oct. 30, 2023

Ten seconds. That’s about how long it took for the 15 spots in Musical Storytelling With Taylor Swift and Other Iconic Female Artists to fill when the UF Honors Program opened its early registration Oct. 24.

Couple chooses their favorite pumpkin from Southwest United Methodist Church’s pumpkin patch in Gainesville on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.

METRO

Pumpkins are a Gainesville church’s best friend

By Alissa Gary | Oct. 30, 2023

For several Alachua County churches, including this one, the month of October signals the beginning of one of the most anticipated fundraisers of the year: pumpkin patches. Across the country, Christian churches, particularly of the Methodist denomination, use the fall season as an opportunity to raise money by selling pumpkins

El Caimán