University Student Government reporter Sofia Garcia is a first-year journalism and political science double major at UF and serving as the student government reporter for Fall 2026. This is her first semester at The Alligator. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, playing video games, or connecting with her friends and family back home in Miami.
Vision Party swept all 50 Student Government on- and off-campus Senate seats after the two-day Fall election. Wednesday’s results mark the first time Vision faced another party at the polls in over a year, having run largely unopposed last cycle.
The Hope Party will make its debut in this week’s Student Government elections, replacing the previous Change and Watch Parties as Vision Party’s competitors. Students will vote to elect 50 senators to on- and off-campus seats Sept. 29 and 30. Vision, which ran unopposed last Fall, has candidates running for all seats, and only nine seats are contested.
After being retired six years ago for its possible connection to racist imagery, the “Gator Bait” cheer was revived this season to mixed reactions when UF announced its origin was unrelated.
The lettuce-eating competition returned to UF’s campus for the second time after seven months, crowning one victorious “lettuce head” with the prized “Head of Lettuce” tiara.
Students and Gainesville residents gathered outside the Gainesville Police Department on Thursday to protest a recent policy requiring officers to report individuals suspected to be living in the U.S. without citizenship, permanent resident status or a valid visa.
Officers and representatives from UF and the Florida Department of Transportation hosted a pop-up event Monday on a sidewalk bordering the university’s campus, with colorful signage and free supplies for bicyclists.
Hundreds of students gathered Friday evening for the Black Student Assembly’s welcome event, “The Gallery.” Hosted inside and outside the University Auditorium by the Black Student Union, the event primarily served as a coming together for organizations serving UF’s Black student body through service, culture and interest groups.
The Senate Chamber in the Reitz Union sprang back to life Aug. 25, packed with Student Government representatives returning to the chamber for the first time since Spring. After laying out plans for elections and bidding farewell to its longest-serving senator, SG prepared for the coming months, prioritizing campus-wide health, safety and inter-organizational collaboration. Meanwhile, students look for more opportunities to interact with the chamber and its members.
After temporarily suspending campus operations following an incident where a Krishna box truck struck a student, Krishna Lunch’s presence on UF campus has been permanently banned, according to UF spokesperson Cynthia Roldán.
Student Sen. Joshua Yaciuk, a Vision party representative for off-campus students, announced his resignation at the chamber’s first Tuesday meeting of the semester, effectively ending his career as its longest-serving member.
Solutions by The State News
