1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

UF must lead on free speech and stand up for the First Amendment

Oct. 17, 2017

I have watched, with intense interest, the preparations and conversations that have surrounded the visit by Richard Spencer to UF’s campus in Gainesville. I have been a part of the conversations regarding UF President Kent Fuchs’ decisions and a supporter of how UF has placed the safety of the campus and Gainesville community at the forefront. Fuchs and his team have carefully balanced the absolute requirement for student safety with UF’s strong commitment to the freedom of speech.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The only way to confront the issue of social survival is through intellectuality

Oct. 17, 2017

It seems established in our common knowledge that comedy is tragedy plus time. This applies to what happened in Charlottesville, Virginia, as well as what is to come of Richard Spencer’s visit to UF on Thursday. The initial cancellation of Spencer’s event is not an attack on freedom of speech,but actually championing the matter.

THE AVENUE | NIGHTLIFE

Realm to host fourth annual Radioactive Circus Halloween

By Isabelle Resnick | Oct. 17, 2017

A local club owner is bringing the energy and scare factor of Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights two hours north to Gainesville — with a musical spin.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Weinstein scandal shows Hollywood is full of it

Oct. 17, 2017

By now, everyone has read about the accusations surrounding Hollywood film mogul Harvey Weinstein. His list of accusers has grown significantly over the last week, as dozens of women have now come out and accused him of sexual assault or rape.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Kindness won’t make Thursday go away, but it won’t hurt either

Oct. 17, 2017

Nobody wants to see their city at the end of a “pray for” hashtag. Nobody wants to see their home in a hurricane’s projected path. (Almost) nobody wants to see their university become a meeting point for a white supremacist and his supporters — but Thursday, UF will see exactly that.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

UF should have canceled classes for student safety

Oct. 17, 2017

As we are sure you are all painfully aware, Richard Spencer, a notorious white supremacist, will be coming to our campus to speak Thursday. While writing this editorial, we at the Alligator are feeling a bit conflicted. Should we be giving Spencer attention? Should people speak out in protest or ignore the hate? Does Spencer have a right to speak at all? We’ve watched as many newspaper editorial boards defended the First Amendment and Spencer’s right to speak. We’ve also heard from countless UF students and faculty members who don’t feel safe on their own campus this Thursday. To those who feel unsafe: We hear you. We struggle to find a world where free speech means it’s OK to encourage others to partake in racism with a violent past, present and future.

METRO

UF cultural groups to perform on Bo Diddley Plaza

By Dayaun Waiters | Oct. 17, 2017

Anyone on Bo Diddley Community Plaza on Friday will visit West Africa and Brazil.

METRO

Music venue to host Tom Petty tribute concert

By Jessica Giles | Oct. 17, 2017

Erica Penley found her first Tom Petty record in a thrift store when she was 16.

NEWS | CAMPUS

STEM researcher to Skype Egyptian classroom

By Olivia Sahnger | Oct. 17, 2017

Carey Minteer hopes to inspire a classroom of Egyptian students to become scientists.

METRO

Local church sells pumpkins for national carving contest

By Noelle Kough | Oct. 17, 2017

Michelle Belanger wants to win a pumpkin carving contest and donate the $10,000 prize to build a public, handicapped-accessible playground at Southwest Methodist United Church.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF leads state in funding from National Institutes of Health

By Sophie Feinberg | Oct. 17, 2017

UF researchers led the state in grant funding from the National Institutes of Health for 2017.

George “Fodder” O’Brien performs a mock exorcism of Richard Spencer to about 25 residents on Monday night at Maude’s Side Car Bar, located at 101 SE Second Place. The exorcism event was hosted by the absurdist mock church the Tabernacle of Hedonism to satirize Spencer’s appearance at UF on Thursday, church host Tom Miller said.

METRO

Tabernacle of Hedonism hosts Richard Spencer exorcism

By David Hoffman | Oct. 17, 2017

With a gray, beaded skull in his left hand, a percussion instrument made of fake goat toes in his right hand and mumbled versus of Tibetan throat singing, George “Fodder” O’Brien brought a mock exorcism of Richard Spencer to a chilling end Monday night.

The United States failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: After U.S. men’s soccer loss, it's important not to forget about the women’s team

By Jake Dreilinger | Oct. 16, 2017

The United States men’s soccer team lost to Trinidad and Tobago a week ago, knocking out any chance of the U.S. making the World Cup in Russia next year.

Senior Chase Perez-Blanco played the last regular-season match of his Gators career in UF's 7-0 victory over Alabama on Friday. “I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said. “It’s just been the best four years.”

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Men’s tennis finishes Day 4 in Atlanta; remains in contention for doubles title

By Mari Faiello | Oct. 16, 2017

A three-hour rain delay didn’t stop Florida’s men’s tennis team from winning matches on Monday.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GPD: Two women arrested for stealing at Walmart

By Catie Wegman | Oct. 16, 2017

Two Gainesville women were arrested Sunday afternoon after they attempted to steal 77 items from Walmart, Gainesville Police Department said.

Overcrowded afternoon parking at Keys Residential Complex at UF.

NEWS | CAMPUS

SG to meet with Transportation services for expanded scooter parking

By Taylor Sharpe | Oct. 16, 2017

Outside of Library West, some of UF’s 5,000 scooters stack on top of one another as students try to squeeze them into the lines outlining the parking area.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GPD: Two UF students arrested after destroying roommate's laptop

By Catie Wegman | Oct. 16, 2017

One of two UF students who stole and destroyed their roommate’s laptop in July turned himself in Sunday, Gainesville Police said.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Asian Food Festival celebrates 25th food festival

By Alexandra Regueiro | Oct. 16, 2017

Hundreds of students crowded into Gator Wesley to grab free Asian cuisine like bulgogi and kampoogi for the 25th annual food festival Monday night.

Sophomore Andy Zhang is tied for first heading into the final day of the NCAA Kissimmee Regional. He's at 8 under with freshman John Axelsen just behind him at 7 under.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Individual success 'not good enough' for UF men's golf team

By Tyler Nettuno | Oct. 16, 2017

When Florida opened its season at the Carpet Capital Invitational in Dalton, Georgia, over a month ago, it had one major underlying problem: a lack of well-rounded team play.

Junior Jessica Pascoe (middle) and senior Caitlin McQuilkin-Bell (right) compete in the Mountain Dew Invitational on Saturday at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in 2017 alongside former-Gator Lauren Perry.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

UF cross country runner Jessica Pascoe rises to the competition post-foot injury

By Alana Gomez | Oct. 16, 2017

Jessica Pascoe waited nine months to run with the Gators women’s cross country team again. This was abnormal for a UF runner, as they usually compete not only with cross country in the fall but the indoor and outdoor track and field in the spring as well. But when a tightness started to aggravate her foot, the Australia native knew she would not be able to make a return to the course anytime soon.

El Caimán