1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

It’s time for Florida to end cash bail

Feb. 8, 2018

In our current system, the rich who are arrested quickly post bail, but those who are poor can spend extended periods of time in jail without a conviction. Our justice system must understand, while the punishment should fit the crime, cash bail disproportionately impacts poorer people, making it inherently unfair. In other words: It’s time for Florida to end cash bail.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Water conservation must be taken seriously

Feb. 8, 2018

In “The Wealth of Nations” from 1776, Adam Smith wrote, “nothing is more useful than water.” As much as the father of modern economics believed in a free market, that invisible hand occasionally reached for a glass of water like any other.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Recent YouTube drama is a sign it’s time to change

Feb. 8, 2018

In 2005, YouTube was born into existence and would forever change the digital world as we know it. Even though that was only 13 years ago, the internet was still in its infancy. As the first of its kind, YouTube has transformed from a time-killing rabbit hole, filled with cat videos and people “failing,” to a legitimate medium of creation and a source of entertainment poised to surpass traditional television.

Freshens, located on the ground floor of the Reitz Union .

NEWS | CAMPUS

Freshens is leaving the Reitz Union. This is what’s coming in.

By Stephanie Gonzalez | Feb. 8, 2018

More vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free options are coming to campus in April.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Student Government engineering candidates hold debate, talk funding

By Christina Morales | Feb. 8, 2018

Engineering Senate candidates answered questions from students they hope to represent at Thursday’s debate.

Elise Mills, 18, a first year biology student learns about the Challenge Party platform which includes subsidizing private tutoring and lower the cost of online classes.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Student Government parties prepare for Spring elections

By Christina Morales | Feb. 8, 2018

Student Government political parties met with students to come up with campaign platform ideas Thursday.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GPD: UF student arrested for sexual battery

By Robert Lewis | Feb. 8, 2018

A UF student was arrested Tuesday for sexual battery more than a year after the incident, Gainesville Police said.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man convicted of sex trafficking

By Meryl Kornfield | Feb. 8, 2018

A Gainesville man was convicted Wednesday of sex trafficking by force and promoting prostitution, the Department of Justice said.

Guard Funda Nakkasoglu led the Gators in scoring with 43 points through the first two games. She's the only UF player shooting over 50.0 percent from the field (57.1).

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women’s basketball crumbles in turnover-ridden blowout to Miss. State

By Justin Ahlum | Feb. 8, 2018

With under a minute to go in the third quarter and the game well out of reach, Mississippi State’s Zion Campbell drove through the lane. Her layup went off the glass and through the bottom of the net, giving the Bulldogs a 36-point lead and doubling Florida’s total points in the process.

Guard Delicia Washington released her potential game-winning layup too late as time expired in regulation. Florida went to overtime with Northwestern and lost, 83-74.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Delicia Washington, Gators women’s basketball team hopes to continue growth against No. 2 Mississippi State

By Morgan McMullen | Feb. 7, 2018

Delicia Washington plays like a cheetah on a sugar rush.

Pelicans F/C Anthony Davis was nearly the only unanimous pick by the alligatorSports NBA Awards Selection Panel. He's predicted to be the NBA Defensive Player of the Year by three-fourths of the panel.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Two trade deadline hypotheticals that could alter the course of the NBA

By Andrew Huang | Feb. 7, 2018

With the 2018 NBA trade deadline coming today at 3 p.m., I’ve come up with a couple of trades I think could push potential title contenders over the edge.

After accruing the nation's No. 14 ranking, coach Dan Mullen and the Gators could see immediate impacts from four of it's top incoming freshmen.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Four Florida football signees likely to make an impact in 2018

By Ethan Bauer | Feb. 7, 2018

Four Florida football signees likely to make an impact in 2018

Dan Mullen added six more recruits Wednesday to round out his first signing class as the Gators' head coach. “I’m excited about the athleticism that we’ve brought in today and the flexibility those guys have,” he said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

National Signing Day Recap: UF adds six recruits to roster on Wednesday, bringing freshman class total to 19 players

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 7, 2018

After adding 13 players to it’s roster on Dec. 20 during the first ever early signing period, Florida football coach Dan Mullen tacked on six more recruits to his 2018 signing class on Wednesday.

Senior Josie Kuhlman lost the third and deciding set in the clinching match for Oklahoma State Wednesday night.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Josie Kuhlman unable to finish off third-set lead in ‘heartbreaking’ collapse for Florida women’s tennis team

By River Wells | Feb. 7, 2018

Senior women’s tennis player Josie Kuhlman couldn’t help but feel confident.

Junior Lofton, a Christian preacher, talks to a group of pro-Israeli protesters and students. Lofton, 73, has been preaching to students for 32 years as of April 2014 and typically visits Turlington Plaza three days a week.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Free speech on campus bill moves through Florida Senate

By Jessica Giles | Feb. 7, 2018

Free speech on campus wouldn’t be restricted to the Plaza of the Americas and Turlington Plaza if a Florida Senate bill, which was approved by the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, is signed into law.

William Hataway, a 19-year-old biochemistry freshman shared with the Impact Party how he wants to see greater speed in renovations to restaurants such as Subway, considering inexpensive dining options are limited.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Students tell Student Government parties they want vegan options, representation for African Americans

By Christina Morales | Feb. 7, 2018

On the third day of generating platforms, UF Student Government political parties spoke to students who were interested in learning more before the election.

A model of what the five-floor international center may look like.

METRO

City considers building an international center across the street from UF

By Christina Morales | Feb. 7, 2018

To reach across cultural barriers in businesses, a proposed seven-floor international center may be built across the street from UF.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF’s Innovation Hub has launched an initiative for women entrepreneurs

By Christina Morales | Feb. 7, 2018

Starting March 1, a space at UF’s Innovation Hub will house only female-run businesses.

Originally built as P. K. Yonge K-12 Laboratory School in 1932, Norman Hall currently houses the UF College of Education.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Norman Hall is being renovated. Here’s what’s being added.

By McKenna Beery | Feb. 7, 2018

Erin Mistry’s back always aches after sitting in old Norman Hall’s “ancient” plastic chairs for three-hour long classes.

METRO

Clerk of the Court creates 'juror donation program' to benefit local nonprofits

By Kristen Altus | Feb. 7, 2018

J.K. “Jess” Irby saw the troubles of domestic violence as a young assistant state attorney. Years later as Alachua County’s Clerk of the Court, he wanted to find a way to help those victims.

El Caimán