Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO | POLITICS

Reader urges students to vote independent

By Sterling Davenport | Sep. 23, 2010

I try not to get too involved in Student Government politics; it makes your head spin after awhile. But after reading Wednesday’s letters, I have to ask the question: Why are the current SG officials (i.e., the Unite Party via longtime Student Sen. Matt Michel and Unite operative Dana Summerstein) so threatened by the up-and-coming reformers?

METRO

Service group seeks help

By Ali Robertson | Sep. 23, 2010

Frantzie Saint Juste listened patiently as one student after another gave the same response — too much homework, not enough time. Another day at the Boys & Girls Club of Alachua County, another day understaffed.

METRO

Man charged with stabbing rottweiller

By Lidia Dinkova | Sep. 23, 2010

A 58-year-old Gainesville man was arrested and charged with one count of animal cruelty Wednesday for allegedly stabbing a neighbor’s rottweiller about 16 times with a pocketknife.

METRO

Fast-paced event to promote ideas

By Taylor Dixon | Sep. 22, 2010

Deriving its name from the Japanese term for the sound of “chitchat,” PechaKucha Night is back again for a second gathering.

METRO | POLITICS

Student Government, county push local voting for students

By GEORGE PAPPAS | Sep. 22, 2010

UF students won’t see Alachua County issues when they look at the general election ballot on Nov. 2 unless they’ve designated it as their legal place of residence.

METRO

Santa Fe College students, parents sample schools

By Jenna Hostetler | Sep. 22, 2010

More than 1,500 students and parents filed into the Santa Fe College gym Wednesday night, swinging white bags filled with college information and scanning the booths for something interesting.

METRO | POLITICS

Machen, Biden discuss funding at White House

By Joey Flechas | Sep. 21, 2010

When UF President Bernie Machen got the opportunity to explain UF’s use of federal stimulus money at the White House, he talked about staying healthy in old age.

METRO

Loans to help African businesses

By Alli Langley | Sep. 21, 2010

Instead of taking out loans, some students will be giving them beginning this semester.

METRO

Locals react to bill’s defeat

By Erin Rauch | Sep. 21, 2010

Legislation to end “don’t ask, don’t tell” failed in the Senate on Tuesday.

METRO

Freshman charged with sexual battery

Sep. 20, 2010

An 18-year-old UF freshman was arrested Sunday evening and charged with sexually assaulting three girls after they’d fallen asleep at an off-campus party.

METRO | POLITICS

Bernie Machen to meet Joe Biden

By Joey Flechas | Sep. 20, 2010

UF President Bernie Machen will join five other university presidents at the White House Tuesday to sit at a roundtable meeting with Vice President Joe Biden to discuss the use of stimulus funds for research programs.

METRO | BUSINESS

Students’ business plans could net cash from mtvU

By Laura Hampson | Sep. 20, 2010

MtvU and the New York Stock Exchange are offering $25,000 to college students with an original, socially conscious, innovative and potentially profitable business proposal that uses social media to market the business.

METRO

App to benefit charity

By Mina Radman | Sep. 19, 2010

UF alumni Cameron MacMillan and Joey Sasvari plan to transform charity work, one iPhone at a time.

METRO

Paynes Prairie to remove bison

By Meredith Rutland | Sep. 19, 2010

Most of the American bison, Spanish cracker horses and shrub cattle that roam Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park will be removed by Dec. 31.

METRO

Downtown Latino Festival draws 2000

By MEG WAGNER | Sep. 19, 2010

Colorful flags of Latin countries hung from the Bo Diddley Community Plaza’s stage, and the scent of empanadas frying in deep skillets of oil attracted hungry passers-by Saturday afternoon.

METRO

State, county poverty levels above national rate

By Jolie Shapiro | Sep. 19, 2010

Newly released statistics show one out of seven Americans are now living below the poverty line, and the poverty rate in Alachua County and Florida are even higher than the national average.

METRO

Students get dirty for Gator Plunge

By Shaneece Dixon | Sep. 19, 2010

More than 500 students got their hands dirty Saturday during Gator Plunge, a student-organized community service event that took place all over Gainesville.

METRO

Kids left in hot car at grocery store

By Meredith Rutland | Sep. 16, 2010

A 46-year-old Gainesville woman was being held on a $30,000 bond Thursday for leaving three children in a locked car with no air conditioning.

METRO

Reptile shop makes pet-buying an interactive experience

By Jenna Hostetler | Sep. 16, 2010

A young boy loudly announced what most had already noticed at Hogtown Reptile Shop Saturday afternoon. “It got out of the cage!” The subject of concern, a 5-foot iguana, sat on top of a cage and lazily stared back at the finger pointing in its direction. The owners smiled and explained that it didn’t need a cage.

METRO

Airport adds direct flights between Gainesville, Miami

By Josh Isom | Sep. 16, 2010

Starting Oct. 1, Gainesville Regional Airport will offer two direct, round-trip flights to Miami, Fla., courtesy of American Airlines.