1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

A billboard near the intersection of Northwest 13th Street and Northwest 53rd Avenue promoting Texas A&M University caught the attention of media outlets nationwide. A Texas A&M spokesman said the university isn’t responsible for the billboard.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Mystery billboard precedes first Gators-Aggies game

By Chris Alcantara | Sep. 4, 2012

The advertisement, north of the intersection at Northwest 13th Street and Northwest 53rd Avenue, read, “Howdy Gainesville: You’ve been annexed by Aggie Nation. The Best Academics & Cleanest Program in the SEC. WHOOP! Real Football. Real Tradition.” It caught the attention of several national media outlets, including USA Today, ESPN and Yahoo! Sports.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF’s honors program changes requirements for completion

By Cara Chiaramonte | Sep. 4, 2012

In the past, honors students were required to take four honors courses and participate in an internship, research, community service or study abroad. Students entering the honors college after Summer B 2012 will be required to graduate with honors from their college and earn at least 14 points for participating in both academic and enrichment activities.

METRO

4 Rivers Smokehouse brings Central Florida flavor to town

By Kelcee Griffis | Sep. 4, 2012

Gainesville barbecue lovers will soon have the flavor of Central Florida at their fingertips when 4 Rivers Smokehouse opens its doors on Archer Road

Veritaserum is the truth serum featured in the Harry Potter series. Students at UF can explore the magic of science and medicine at the Harry Potter’s World exhibit in the Health Science Center Library beginning Thursday.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Harry Potter-themed exhibit opens Thursday

By Noeila Trujillo | Sep. 4, 2012

UF’s main Health Science Center Library will host the grand opening of “Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine” on Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on its first floor. The event is free and open to the public.

NEWS | CAMPUS

University continues to receive research funding in economy

By Laura Hogan Alligator Contributing Writer | Sep. 4, 2012

Despite the economic downturn, the university’s 16 colleges received a total of 5,441 awards from the federal government, private organizations and industries, according to Joseph Kays, director of research communications.

Ziva Recek (9) spikes the ball over the net against Florida Gulf Coast University, Aug. 25, 2012, at the O'Connell Center. Recek took a team-high 40 swings Friday night against LIU-Brooklyn.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Recek named SEC Freshman of the Week

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Sep. 4, 2012

After a pair of losses, the Gators found their silver lining.

Caleb Sturgis, boots a field goal during Saturday's win against Bowling Green University at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Gators looking to overcome red zone struggles in 2012

By JOE MORGAN | Sep. 4, 2012

For last year’s Gators, the final 20 yards proved the toughest.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Belly dancing classes return

By Jennifer Cole | Sep. 4, 2012

RecSports first offered belly dancing during the 2010-2011 academic year, but the class wasn’t renewed last year due to a scheduling conflict with instructor Paige Rechtman, a 27-year-old mental health counseling graduate student.

Sophomore Taylor Unroe digs the volleyball during a game in 2011. Hesitation on defense hurt the Gators against top-ten opponents in Texas and Stanford at the NIKE Big Four Classic last weekend, she said.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida looking for better defense from back-row players

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Sep. 3, 2012

Mary Wise has no doubt that her team can attack the ball. But the Gators’ defense is full of question marks.

Tessa Andujar (15) moves the ball past Ashleigh Shim (9) during Sundays win against Florida International University at James G. Pressly Stadium.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Gators' soccer attack finding its groove

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN | Sep. 3, 2012

After facing two in-state rivals early in the season and scoring only one goal, Florida’s offense came alive on Sunday against Florida International, scoring three goals on 24 shots.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Column: UF football will win with ground game

By JOE MORGAN | Sep. 3, 2012

Florida coach Will Muschamp named Jeff Driskel the starting quarterback on Monday, but that doesn’t mean much.

Mack Brown (33) runs a drill during open practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Gators looking for backup running back behind Mike Gillislee

By GREG LUCA | Sep. 3, 2012

Mike Gillislee showed he has what it takes to be a workhorse in Saturday’s season opener. Now he has to prove he can hold up through a 12-game season.

Dennis Kane, 37, known as “the Turlington dancer,” has been trespassed from UF’s campus for three years. He is appealing the charges.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Turlington Dancer banned from UF

By Kelly Price | Sep. 3, 2012

On Aug. 24, Dennis Kane — also known as “the Turlington dancer” — said he woke up “a little more edgy” than usual.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Opening-game ejections fewer than last year

By Chris Alcantara | Sep. 3, 2012

As thousands of fans battled the heat to catch the first game of the 2012 Florida Gators football season, University Police and Gainesville Police officers had their share of stadium ejections and arrests.

Joel McHale performs at Gator Growl 2011 in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Gator Growl 2012 will take place at 7 p.m. on Nov. 9.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Josh Turner to perform at Gator Growl

By Julia Glum Alligator Staff Writer | Sep. 3, 2012

Country musician Josh Turner will play Gator Growl 2012, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov. 9 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF utilizes multiple platforms to alert community

By Katherine Hahn | Sep. 3, 2012

A study released last week by mStoner and Slover Linett Strategies found that many colleges aren’t fully utilizing social media — especially when there’s a crisis happening, according to more than half of the 1,187 respondents.

Angel Gabrial, left, a teacher for the UF club Objects in Motion, gives Jason Winfrey, 7, some tips on juggling during a Labor Day festival at the Bo Diddley Community Plaza on Sunday night.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Labor Daze festival serves working class

By Webb | Sep. 3, 2012

Visitors could hear the laughter before they saw the 25-foot-tall climbing wall towering over the downtown plaza.

OPINION | COLUMNS

B---h Bad: How rappers start national discussions

Sep. 3, 2012

Language is a funny thing.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Financial aid: the gift that keeps on giving

Sep. 3, 2012

Every UF student’s favorite email is the one stating, “Financial Aid has been disbursed to your account.” Many of the social networking updates I read last weekend relayed the excitement of finally receiving these funds.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF film class brings games to community

By Kathryn Varn | Sep. 3, 2012

Gainesville residents laughed hard, clapped hard and sometimes gasped hard over the crackle of projectors Sunday night to watch “The Gong Show,” a collection of short films that showcased UF’s Curation as Production class.

El Caimán