1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson III dives toward the end zone in the Gators' 39-36 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Napier finds silver lining in Gators’ Arkansas loss

By Krisha Sanghavi | Nov. 8, 2023

Disappointment flooded Ben Hill Griffin Stadium as the Florida Gators suffered a 39-36 loss against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Arkansas snapped a six-game losing streak and clinched its first-ever victory in the Swamp to halt the Gators’ undefeated season at home. Although fans found the loss a tough pill to swallow, Florida head coach Billy Napier found silver linings in the performance.

OPINION | COLUMNS

A look into the opening of Malachowsky Hall: Laughter, discussions and tough questions

By Ronin Lupien | Nov. 8, 2023

A student invitee describes the Malachowsky Hall opening.

Sophomore guard Riley Kugel goes up for a layup during the Florida Gators' 93-73 win against the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Analysis: The Riley Kugel experience is must-watch basketball

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 7, 2023

Sophomore guard Riley Kugel has been highly regarded as a potential breakout player heading into his second season in Gainesville and was named to the Coaches’ Preseason First-Team All-SEC team. He’s already proving why he was tabbed to the list as he scored 23 points, grabbed six steals and dished four assists in UF’s 93-73 season-opening win against Loyola Maryland.

Mexican graduate students at the UF IFAS horticultural sciences lab built the ofrenda pictured at Fifield Hall to celebrate Dia de los Muertos Nov. 1, 2023.

SPANISH

Mexican PhD students at UF create an ofrenda to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos

By Eluney Gonzalez | Nov. 7, 2023

Making an ofrenda [offering], like the one built by Mexican graduate students at the UF IFAS horticultural sciences lab, is a tradition typical of Dia de Los Muertos, celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2. The offering was erected Oct. 30 and remained through Nov. 2.

Sophomore guard Riley Kugel rises up to dunk the ball in the Gators' 93-73 win against the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators dismantle Greyhounds in season opener despite offensive struggles

By Brandon Hernandez | Nov. 6, 2023

The Florida Gators (1-0) pounded the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds (0-1) 93-73 in their season opener at home in the Exactech Arena. The Gators shot 58.1% from the field, 50% from the free throw line and held LMU to shoot at a 45.8% clip.

Senior guard Leilani Correa takes a jump shot in the Gators' 82-65 win against the North Florida Ospreys.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators use big second half to take down North Florida in season opener

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 6, 2023

The Florida Gators (1-0) took down the North Florida Ospreys (0-1) 82-65 in their season opener Monday in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The Gators continually found space down low and scored 54 points in the paint.

Florida head coach Todd Golden coaches the Gators' during a practice the day before their Southeastern Conference tournament game Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Preview into Florida’s season opener opponent Loyola Maryland

By Brandon Hernandez | Nov. 6, 2023

Any underdog team can go into enemy territory and grab a win in the world of college basketball. Especially when no team has played a minute on the court for the 2023-2024 season. In the case of the Florida Gators men’s basketball team, they’ll look to avoid this going into their season opener against the underdog Loyola Maryland Greyhounds — an opponent they’ve never faced.

Ashley Hays, an 18-year-old employee, sorts clothing at Flashbacks Recycled Fashion on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023.

THE AVENUE | FASHION

The early 2000s are back in closets

By Bea Lunardini | Nov. 6, 2023

The early 2000s are some of the most controversial years in fashion. Regardless of negative opinions, though, the fashion staples of the era are some of the biggest trends for fashion today.

Redshirt junior quarterback Graham Mertz is embraced by his teammates in the Gators’ 39-36 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Hogs run wild, create questions for rest of Florida’s season

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 6, 2023

The Gators have now dropped their last two games and face a gauntlet the rest of the way in search of clinching bowl eligibility. While one loss is more excusable as it came against the No. 1 team in the country — the Georgia Bulldogs Oct. 28 — the other spells questions for Florida the rest of the way out.

Student volunteers make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at Sigma Phi Epsilon on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

One sandwich at a time: Student-led nonprofit A Reason To Give supports Gainesville homeless population

By Alexandra Burns | Nov. 6, 2023

Gathering every Sunday morning, the UF student-run nonprofit A Reason To Give has worked to serve the Gainesville homeless community for over seven years, making more than 150 bagged lunches a week and collaborating with a variety of Gainesville organizations and homeless shelters.

Redshirt senior Allison Wilson points to the sky after she finished first for the Florida Gators in the Mountain Dew Invitational at Mark Bostick Golf Course on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Transfer Allison Wilson shares her journey overcoming injury

By Hailey Hurst | Nov. 6, 2023

Florida transfer and redshirt senior Allison Wilson gave it her all in the world of cross country since her days as an Alabama distance runner. Wilson came face-to-face with her injuries and the decision to put a pause on her running career during the 2021 season.

The Alachua County Tax Collector stands on University Avenue on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023.

SPANISH

La oficina del recaudador de impuestos presenta un dispositivo de traducción para una comunicación más clara

By Nicole Beltran | Nov. 6, 2023

Pocketalk fue instalado en las tres oficinas de recaudaciu00f3n en Alachua en Septiembre. El dispositivo es parecido a un celular y requiere que la persona le hable en su idioma, para que el dispositivo lo traduzca.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Tax Collector’s office introduces translation device for clearer communication

By Nicole Beltran | Nov. 6, 2023

Pocketalk was installed into Alachua County’s three tax collector locations in September. The two-way translation device, resembling a cell phone, requires the user to speak into the device, which then translates speech verbally.

Thaddeus Bastian stands near UF Small Animal Hospital distributing The Homeless Voice, a newspaper about homelessness issues on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023.

METRO

Homeless vendors sell newspapers to Gainesville drivers

By Zoey Thomas | Nov. 6, 2023

Every day, COSAC shelter residents are driven to one of several major Florida cities — including Tallahassee, Orlando and Tampa. From 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., the vendors stand at major intersections offering newspapers to drivers in exchange for donations. Gainesville was the most recent addition to Homeless Voice’s roster.

NEWS | CAMPUS

AI initiative incentivises creation of UF AI courses

By Megan Howard | Nov. 6, 2023

The UF registrar has over 200 courses in its database denoted as AI courses, said David Reed, the associate provost for strategic initiatives and inaugural director for the Artificial Intelligence Academic Initiative Center (AI2).

Algae at Fanning Spring on the Suwannee River. Photo by John Moran.

ENVIRONMENT | ENTERPRISE

Activists and officials fear irreversible damage to Alachua County’s Springs

By Kylie Williams | Nov. 6, 2023

Dozens of springs are nestled in or near Alachua County, serving as a valued resource and a recreational draw. However, Florida’s springs have been a battleground for decades. Activists, local and state government officials, corporations and citizens often disagree on the extent to which the springs should be protected.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Newest Alachua County sheriff speaks out on staffing shortages

By Sophia Bailly | Nov. 6, 2023

New Alachua County Sheriff Emery Gainey has spent his first month combatting staff shortages and advocating for increased funding from the state and county.

Ben Sasse delivers his inauguration speech at the University Auditorium on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Sasse shares his vision for UF’s future at presidential inauguration

By Garrett Shanley | Nov. 6, 2023

After nine months on the job, UF President Ben Sasse was officially inaugurated as the university’s 13th president.

Malachowsky Hall stands on Museum Road on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF celebrates Malachowsky Hall’s grand opening

By Garrett Shanley | Nov. 6, 2023

University leaders, including UF President Ben Sasse and Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini, gathered outside the $150 million building Nov. 3 under an overcast sky and drizzling rain with its namesake, UF alumnus and Software Company NVIDIA co-founder Chris Malachowsky, for a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Running the rat race

By Mia Orris | Nov. 6, 2023

These days it feels like I’m hardly doing enough. School, work, extracurriculars, internships, even juggling friends, family and romantic interests — no matter how much I add to my plate, I can’t shake the feeling of needing to do more.

El Caimán