1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Tell someone you love them today

Feb. 13, 2017

Valentine’s Day gets a lot of backlash nowadays. And you know, some of it is warranted. Why are we reducing love to pink hearts, stuffed bears, dozens of roses and expensive restaurants? Why do we compare what we give our signicant others to what our friends give theirs and vice versa? Somehow, Valentine’s Day has ingrained itself in our culture; it was a day for class parties in elementary school, awkward dances in middle school, embarrassing singing telegrams in high school, television specials, dinner deals, sales on candy, and so on. It’s as if we try to cram all this obsession with romance into one day.

OPINION | COLUMNS

‘La La Land’: Music is wonderful, but you can't equate it to the writing process

Feb. 13, 2017

I’ve spent the past two weeks reading and rereading the stories in Samuel P. Garvey’s “The Tales of Captain Albert Alexander,” as well as examining the scribbles and equations in the margins of its pages. Professor Bishop says the drawings aren’t his, and I think he’s right. The handwriting isn’t his, but the designs, drawings and system specifications outlined in the writing all seem to be pointing toward me — or another automaton just like me.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Cultures and acceptance make America great

Feb. 13, 2017

I have lived in France and Ivory Coast, two countries targeted by IS and al-Qaida in 2016. I grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, the most dangerous city in the world. Yet I have never felt as unsafe as I did last week when I listened to a class debate in which students gave incredibly offensive speeches.

Alfredo Perez hits a backhand during Florida's 4-2 against UCLA on Feb. 5, 2017, at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida takes ‘L’ at No. 1 Virginia, looks to bounce back at ITA Indoors

By Mark Stine | Feb. 12, 2017

The UF men’s tennis team travelled to Virginia looking for its third straight win over a top-10 opponent and first victory over Virginia under coach Bryan Shelton.

UF's Anna Danilina returns a ball during Florida's 6-1 win over USF on Jan. 27, 2016, at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators advance to National Indoor Finals after blanking No. 6 Georgia

By Spencer Thompson | Feb. 12, 2017

After only 10 minutes had passed in the match, Florida fans at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center became silent.

Amanda Lorenz bats during Florida's doubleheader sweep of Jacksonville on Feb. 17, 2016, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Softball sweeps opening tourney

By Skyler Lebron | Feb. 12, 2017

For the fourth consecutive year, the Florida Gators softball team started the year with an undefeated record at the USF-Wilson Demarini Tournament in Tampa.

UF freshman Grant Holloway jumps at the Hokie Invitational men's long jump final on Jan. 21, 2017.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Florida track improving, post many personal bests at Tyson Invitational

By Daniel Smithson | Feb. 12, 2017

Mike Holloway’s answer was simple.

UF guard Delicia Washington looks to pass during Florida's 84-75 loss to Ole Miss on Feb. 6, 2017, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Despite swollen eye, Washington leads UF women's hoops to victory

By Dylan Dixon | Feb. 12, 2017

Sunday wasn’t supposed to be easy for freshman guard Delicia Washington.

Jim McElwain looks on during Florida's 54-16 loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 3, 2016, in Atlanta.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Football fans: Don’t expect SEC championship appearance

By Matt Brannon | Feb. 12, 2017

Some students and fans have welcomed coach Jim McElwain as God’s gift to football since he won his first Gators game in 2015.

UF coach Mike White speaks with guard Canyon Barry during Florida's 71-62 win against Texas A&M on Feb. 11, 2017, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

White, Florida men's basketball team peaking at the proper time

By IAN COHEN | Feb. 12, 2017

Mike White was smiling.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Students petitioning to save UF’s Einstein Bros. from closing down

By Jimena Tavel | Feb. 12, 2017

Alexis Brocious’ petition started as a joke, but then more than 300 people signed it.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF admits less than 40 percent of applicants for Class of 2021

By Romy Ellenbogen | Feb. 12, 2017

UF admitted 13,214 students to start in Summer and Fall, UF spokesperson Steve Orlando wrote in an email. The university received more than 34,000 applications this year. In 2016, 42.5 percent were admitted from about 32,000 applicants, and 44 percent were admitted for the class of 2019.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

SG committee fails code revisions to legalize remote online voting

By Romy Ellenbogen | Feb. 12, 2017

The Student Government Judiciary Committee failed a proposal Sunday to remove language in SG codes stating remote online voting is unconstitutional.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Drunk driver kills UF student, injures two others at bus stop, police say

By Martin Vassolo | Feb. 12, 2017

A UF student was killed and two others were injured Saturday night after a drunk driver hit them at a bus stop, police said.

METRO | POLITICS

Police patrols increased following racist epithets left on UF classroom whiteboards

By Jimena Tavel | Feb. 12, 2017

University Police increased patrols near UF’s Anderson Hall after racist messages were found scrawled on a classroom’s whiteboard Friday.

NEWS | CAMPUS

After roach sightings, UF student planning dining hall boycott

By Jimena Tavel | Feb. 12, 2017

As Rachel Tanchak reached out to grab some Cinnamon Toast Crunch for breakfast Saturday in UF’s Gator Corner Dining Center, a cockroach crawled under the cereal bin.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville officials hope to spark discussions on race

By Sophia Rose | Feb. 12, 2017

UF professor Patricia Hilliard-Nunn told a group of about 130 Saturday that a discussion on race needs to cover institutional racism in the U.S.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Through organization, UF students strive to help refugees

By Michael Smith | Feb. 12, 2017

UF students Hali McKinley Lester and Sandra Vizer saw headlines about the refugee crises in Syria and Iraq, and they knew they wanted to help.

Cpl. Duane E. Dewey, 81, addresses a small crowd gathered at the American Legion Haisley Lynch Post 16 in Gainesville in March 2013. Dewey was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1953 after his service in Panmunjom, Korea.

METRO

Road renamed to honor local Marine

By Randi Ziegler | Feb. 12, 2017

When a live grenade landed near his squadron, Cpl. Duane Dewey thought on his feet, shoving the grenade into his pocket to spare his fellow Marines.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Don’t let celebrity opinions distract from real issues

Feb. 12, 2017

Nowadays it’s increasingly common for celebrities and entertainers to take a public stance on politics. With the ability to air their thoughts and opinions on social media with a few clicks, everyone is mostly aware of what celebrities have to say. It’s an interesting phenomenon.

El Caimán