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Friday, May 16, 2025

El Caimán

Florida right-handed pitcher Ava Brown subbed in the fifth inning during the Gators’ 8-0 win over UIC, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.
SPORTS  |  SOFTBALL

Florida softball's new pitching staff finds early success

During the 2023 season, the Gators softball pitching staff struggled. The staff had a 3.69 ERA, and the team faltered in SEC play, in part due to the pitching. The Gators ranked second-to-last in the category, ahead of Kentucky. In June, the team decided to move on from former pitching coach Mike Bosch, who had been with the team since 2018. To replace Bosch, Florida went with Chelsey Dobbins. Dobbins had been with the University of North Carolina for the past eight years. This season under Dobbins, the staff has found success, recording a 0.48 ERA in the team’s first 17 games.


A man walks through the homeless encampment Southeast Fourth Place on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.
RACE AND EQUITY  |  ENTERPRISE

Gainesville homeless population struggles with encampment sweeps, lack of options

The attention around homelessness in Gainesville has heightened after recent sweeps on homeless encampments and city commission decisions to allocate 30 beds to GRACE Marketplace in the next 90 days, move $700,000 to homeless support services and prepare for the sale of the vacant Gainesville Fire Rescue station. House Bill 1365 aims to prevent city and county governments from allowing people to sleep in public. As the bill moves through the Florida Legislature, members of Gainesville’s homeless population, the city government and residents met Feb. 22 at a general policy meeting to discuss the city’s approach to these issues.


Florida Gators cheerleader Waleed Aref tosses Amrynne Hill during the team's practice on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024.
NEWS  |  CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

The men behind the megaphones

The UF cheerleading team currently has 13 men and 24 women, divided into a combination of male-female stunt pairs and all-girl groups. The athletes spent most of the two-hour practice preparing for next month’s cheer tryout, during which they’ll do their best to recruit talented newcomers — and show up themselves to re-earn their spots on the team. But tryouts will be less competitive for some than others.


METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF spearheads nationwide effort to combat retail theft

From Target to Topgolf, 85 of the nation’s largest retail stores rely on technology developed by the Gainesville-based Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) to deter shoplifting. The SaferPlaces Lab, a simulated storefront located at the UF Innovation Hub, is at the forefront of this nationwide initiative to protect retail shoppers financially and physically.


Bella Rootz pictured at the Hector Gallery on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Gainesville art scene pushes for more outreach to underserved communities

Arts and culture are present in Gainesville through museums, exhibits and music venues scattered around the city. Further developments like a cultural arts center in East Gainesville could continue catering to the expansion, providing people with a place to turn to for support. Community members are concerned more outreach needs to be done to fully immerse underserved communities into art outlets. There are opportunities for people to seek support through the arts, but the accessibility can vary.


THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

The 2024 leap year reveals local traditions, celebrations and superstitions

Jazzlyn Harrell eagerly punched her number into the keypad in her elementary school lunch line over 20 years ago. More satisfying than the lunch she was served, she savored the ‘Happy birthday’ message that lit up on the screen. Unlike her classmates, she would have to wait another four years to see it again. Harrell, now a 31-year-old Alachua County elementary school counselor, is a ‘leapling,’ a person born Feb. 29. For her, the date brings memories of both small delights and mild frustrations.


Opinions generic
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

The fight for representation: Why change Is needed now more than ever

There’s always more work to be done. This underlying belief has guided Change Party to serve the student body for eight semesters. This thought empowers us to author 200 bills when we are the minority in the Senate chamber. This is our conviction as we strive to put the power back into the hands of all students this election.


Opinions generic
OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Vision Party: Continuing down the path of success

From its creation this past Fall, Vision Party has made it its mission to ensure the voices of every student are heard. The very foundation of Vision is based on individuals from all backgrounds coming together to tackle the ineffective governance of other parties. 


Florida women’s basketball added a new coach to its staff Tuesday, as Jackie Moore was named assistant to the head coach.
SPORTS  |  WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators crushed by Bulldogs on the road

The Gators (14-12, 5-9 SEC) were defeated by the Bulldogs (12-15, 3-11 SEC) in a 76-60 loss, Sunday afternoon. Georgia took a 22-point lead into the halftime break and went on cruise control for the remainder of the game to swiftly leave Florida in the dust.


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