1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

ENTERPRISE | POLITICS

Biden v. Trump: A local examination of the presidential ‘lesser of two evils’ debate

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | Mar. 18, 2024

In light of the quickly approaching election season, UF students, professors and Gainesville residents have begun examining the impacts of political polarization and weighing the most likely presidential candidates to emerge from the primaries: President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Florida’s primary election is slated for March 19, with 22 others remaining nationwide before the finalization of which Republican and Democrat candidates will advance to the November general election.

Florida baseball head coach Kevin O'Sullivan takes a mound visit during the Gators' win over Columbia University on Saturday, February 24, 2024.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida comes together in baseball series finale against Texas A&M

By Luke Adragna | Mar. 17, 2024

Fresh off a College World Series run that saw the Gators finish one game shy of the championship title, the differentiating quality in play has been apparent at times this season.

Gators men's tennis freshman Jeremy Jin shows emotion after a point in Florida's win over the University of Central Florida on Monday, February 19, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators men’s tennis falls to the Crimson Tide

By Chandler Hawkes | Mar. 17, 2024

On Sunday afternoon, the No. 25 Florida Gators men’s tennis team (8-8, 2-4 SEC) lost its fourth-straight conference match 5-2 to the No. 24 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-8, 2-3 SEC). The back-and-forth match featured four three-set singles matches where the Crimson Tide locked in and took three to help push them over the finish line.

Florida junior left-handed pitcher Jac Caglianone strides to the plate during his outing against the Texas A&M Aggies on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Caglianone deals, Florida baseball wins SEC opening series

By Luke Adragna | Mar. 17, 2024

The Florida baseball team defeated Texas A&M to earn its first SEC series victory behind a stellar outing from Jac Caglianone and eighth inning home run from Tyler Shelnut.

Florida redshirt freshman Matthew Kress swings his club during the Southeastern Conference Championships Thursday, April 20, 2023. / Photo by Leslie White

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida men’s golf brings home its fifth win of the season at the Schenkel Invitational

By Hannah Getman | Mar. 17, 2024

Bell led the charge for UF from the opening round. He struggled at the start with a bogey on hole two but quickly turned it around with two birdies and an eagle on his next seven holes.

Sophomore center Micah Handlogten dunks the ball in the Gators' 93-73 win against the Loyola Greyhounds on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida falls to Auburn in SEC Championship

By Max Tucker | Mar. 17, 2024

After Florida men’s basketball center Micah Handlogten was stretched off the court early in the game, UF was unable to come out with a win against Auburn in the SEC Championship.

Gators women's tennis sophomore Rachel Gailis goes for a forehand shot in the women's tennis team's match against Baylor on Saturday, January 20, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators women’s tennis cruise to home victory over Alabama

By Max Bernstein | Mar. 17, 2024

The No. 16 Gators women’s tennis team dominated No. 17 Alabama 4-0, Sunday.

Gators softball sophomore catcher Jocelyn Erickson in her swinging motion during the team's 10-0 win over the Indiana Hoosiers on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball cruises past Indiana 10-0

By Hailey Hurst | Mar. 17, 2024

The Gators softball team eased past the Indiana Hoosiers 10-0 Sunday.

Florida head baseball coach Kevin O'Sullivan exits a mound visit in the baseball team's loss to the St. John's Red Storm on Friday, February 16, 2024.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators’ bats go dormant in loss to Texas A&M

By Luke Adragna | Mar. 16, 2024

No. 8 Florida (11-7, 1-1 SEC) failed to score after the third inning and lost to the No. 4 Texas A&M Aggies (18-1, 1-1 SEC) 10-6 Saturday night at Condron Family Ballpark.

Florida sophomore Denzel Aberdeen makes a dunk against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Tuesday, March 5. Photo by Ryan Friedenberg

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

No quit, no surrender, Gators advance to SEC Championship with win over Texas A&M

By Max Tucker | Mar. 16, 2024

The guard splashed home a 3-point shot from the left corner which was the icing on the cake for what was his best performance in his collegiate career. His play led UF and ultimately was the difference in ending the Aggies shot at an SEC title.

Florida attacker Liz Harrison fights for a draw control during the Gators' 14-13 loss to the Terrapins Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

No. 13 Florida lacrosse dominates Mercer

By Lacey Rogers | Mar. 16, 2024

UF senior attacker Liz Harrison marked her 300th career draw control in the first quarter. She had 15 draw controls in the two quarters she played.

Gators men's basketball graduate student guard Zyon Pullin drives to the basket during the Florida Gators men's basketball game against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Photo by Ryan Friedenberg

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators dominate Alabama to advance to SEC Tournament Semifinals

By Max Tucker | Mar. 16, 2024

The Gators men’s basketball team took down the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals, Friday. Florida advanced to the semifinals for the second time in five years.

Florida gymnastics celebrates senior night Friday, March 15, 2024.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

No. 4 Gators dominate in final meet of regular season

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Mar. 15, 2024

The No. 4 Florida Gators gymnastics team (17-1, 6-1 SEC) defeated Iowa State, Long Island University and No. 18 North Carolina State with a score of 197.900 Friday evening in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in its last regular season meet.

Gators baseball shortstop and left fielder Tyler Shelnut celebrate Shelton's home run at home plate in Florida's loss to St. John's on Friday, February 16, 2024.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators baseball defeats Texas A&M in SEC opener

By Luke Adragna | Mar. 15, 2024

Florida baseball opened SEC play with a victory against the No. 4 Texas A&M Aggies. Jac Caglianone hit two of the Gators' five home runs.

Tenders, one of UF’s campus cats, gazes upward as she sits on a table in the Tolbert Area.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Beloved UF cat Tenders returns home after brief campus ‘cat-napping’

By Bonny Matejowsky | Mar. 15, 2024

Tenders, the famed brown and white tabby who takes shelter at the UF Tolbert Area, returned home safe after being found four miles away at Cabana Bay apartments Thursday. At 1:56 p.m. Thursday, she was retrieved by Emma Van Riper, a 21-year-old UF political science junior; Eden Kershner, a 20-year-old UF materials science and engineering sophomore; and Dr. Tina Tallon, a UF College of the Arts professor.

Florida softball huddles up during the Gators' 8-7 win over Georgia Saturday, April 15, 2023.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball crushes Mercer, earns 19th run-rule win

By Hailey Hurst | Mar. 15, 2024

The Gators softball team crushed the Mercer Bears 10-2 Friday, earning its 19th run-rule victory of the season.

Adam Steinberg will be the eleventh UF men’s tennis head coach in program history.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators men’s tennis drops third straight conference match

By Chandler Hawkes | Mar. 15, 2024

The Gators men's tennis team fell 4-1 to Auburn, losing its third straight conference match.

During the Gators women's tennis match against Baylor University on Saturday, January 20, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators women’s tennis secures second-straight conference victory against No. 13 Auburn

By Max Bernstein | Mar. 15, 2024

The No. 16 Gators women’s tennis team defeated the No. 13 Auburn Tigers 4-1, Friday

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville assistant principal arrested on suspicion of child neglect

By Aidan Bush | Mar. 15, 2024

The assistant principal of St. Patrick Interparish School was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of ignoring a teacher’s inappropriate behavior toward a student and lying about it to law enforcement.

METRO

All four members of GRU Authority Board to resign

By Ella Thompson | Mar. 15, 2024

All four current members of the GRU Authority Board submitted resignation letters over a lawsuit filed by Gainesville Residents United, a nonprofit organization aiming to bring awareness to the board’s takeover.

El Caimán