News | Campus Student Life - The Independent Florida Alligator

Springs Residential Complex on Jan. 5, 2024.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

In single-gender dorms, UF transgender students often feel out-of-place

By Sara-James Ranta | Jan. 22

With a prominent LGBTQ+ community at UF, including the UF Pride Student Union and the UF LGBTQ+ Alumni Association, gendered housing can be a difficult experience for many students on campus. Out of 26 residence halls on campus, UF only has one gender neutral housing option — the Lavender Living Learning Community, located in Springs Residential Complex, hopes to create a more inclusive and diverse housing experience.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

‘It's just kind of odd eating in a tent’: UF students react to makeshift dining hall

By Zoey Thomas | Jan. 22

Students’ first impressions of the temporary dining hall included “eating in the trenches,” “an interesting experience” and “kind of cute” since its opening Jan. 6. The climate-controlled Norman Field structure will serve UF students while The Eatery at Broward Hall undergoes a full renovation.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF, SF students share concerns over school shootings

By Emma Parker and Sara-James Ranta | Jan. 16

In the past two years, the areas surrounding Gainesville campuses saw both the Thanksgiving weekend shooting and the shootings at The Crossing. Both UF and Santa Fe College received hoax school shooting threat calls in 2023 as well. Both UF and Santa Fe College students have concerns about campus safety.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Books, naps and games: UF libraries are for more than just studying

By Annie Wang | Jan. 15

The start of every semester brings about a new wave of academic goals and resolutions, with students scrambling to find the best tips and tricks for productivity. While there’s no doubt that building healthy study habits is important, finding the perfect space to implement those habits is just as important.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF graduate assistants celebrate approval of historic raise

By Delia Rose Sauer | Jan. 7

After months of bargaining, UF Graduate Assistants United saw the fruits of its labor after the university Board of Trustees approved Article 10 of GAU’s collective bargaining agreement. Article 10 states graduate assistants on nine-month appointments will be paid $19,200, while those on 12-month appointments will receive a minimum of $25,600.

Traditionally a meat- and dairy-heavy holiday dinner, Thanksgiving is handled differently by students with vegan and vegetarian diets.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Giving thanks from afar: Why some UF students are not heading home for the holidays

By Jared Teitel | Nov. 20, 2023

Whether thousands of miles apart from their hometown or swarmed with studying for final exams, circumstances of all sorts are keeping many from their family dining tables this week.

Levy Rozman reviews previous chess matches on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Gator Chess Club hosts Gotham Chess lecture

By Megan Howard | Nov. 12, 2023

On Saturday, the Gator Chess Club hosted international master of chess and online content creator Levy Rozman, known online as Gotham Chess, while he promoted his new book.

Student volunteers make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at Sigma Phi Epsilon on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

One sandwich at a time: Student-led nonprofit A Reason To Give supports Gainesville homeless population

By Alexandra Burns | Nov. 6, 2023

Gathering every Sunday morning, the UF student-run nonprofit A Reason To Give has worked to serve the Gainesville homeless community for over seven years, making more than 150 bagged lunches a week and collaborating with a variety of Gainesville organizations and homeless shelters.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Florida Senators Jason Pizzo, Tina Polsky talk political activism with UF students

By Zoey Thomas | Nov. 3, 2023

Florida Sen. Jason Pizzo considers himself the “biggest no-bulls—t person in the Florida state legislature.” He’s spent the past two weeks on the road to prove it. A group of 30 UF students gathered in the Reitz Student Union Friday for a meet-and-greet coordinated between Pizzo and UF College Democrats.

UF students and Gainesville community members gathered Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023 for a walkout and vigil.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Gainesville pro-Palestinian groups lead march through UF campus

By Zoey Thomas | Oct. 25, 2023

A day after Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered Florida universities to deactivate pro-Palestinian student groups, a crowd of over 250 people rallied on UF’s campus with Palestinian flags draped over their shoulders and drawn onto cardboard signs.

Archive photo of former UF President John Lombardi speaking to the Hispanic Student Association at the Reitz Union.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Looking back at UF’s Hispanic, Latino history

By Garrett Shanley and Melanie Pena | Oct. 16, 2023

In 1951, a total of 101 Hispanic and Latino students attended UF. More than half a century later, over 9,000 Hispanic and Latinos attend UF — making up more than one-fifth of the student population.

Majd Afaghani, attends UF SJP’s discussion in Turlington wearing a Palestine kufiyyeh neck scarf on Thursday Oct. 12, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Campus organizations host educational discussion on Palestine’s current events

By Nicole Beltran | Oct. 12, 2023

A crowd of around 100 UF students lingered inside and around a Turlington classroom — guarded by several police officers — for “Day of Resistance,” an informational lecture hosted by three UF organizations Thursday evening on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

A Sweetwater apartment building is under construction on University Avenue in Gainesville on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Sweetwater apartments delay move-in, students left homeless

By Melanie Pena and Vivienne Serret | Sep. 18, 2023

Sarina Phipps lives with a quarter of her belongings at the Holiday Inn. When the rush of game day weekends arrives, and the hotel becomes overbooked, she quickly gathers a small bag of everything she owns and stays at a friend’s place.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Navigating freshmen fall: UF’s mental, emotional resources for students

By Megan Howard | Sep. 11, 2023

There are many resources available to freshmen students to help them adjust to college life. Resources for freshmen include the CWC, resident assistants and student organizations.

Midtown bars are seen on University Avenue in Gainesville on Monday, Aug. 21, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Hurricane parties: How students celebrate storm days

By Megan Howard | Sep. 3, 2023

Many students who grew up in Florida know that an incoming hurricane almost always grants days off from school. Now that UF students live in their own spaces, they opt to throw “hurricane parties” to pass time.

Don Toliver performs at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville on Wendesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Don Toliver lights up the stage at first day of school concert

By Vivienne Serret | Aug. 24, 2023

UF Student Government Productions kicked off its first event of the Fall by hosting Don Toliver alongside Kaliii in a sold-out show Aug. 23 at the O'Connell Center.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Florida Supreme Court hears dispute about UF’s 2020 COVID-19 shutdown

By Sally Brown | Aug. 7, 2023

The Florida Supreme Court will review a case about UF returning fees paid to the university during the COVID-19 shutdown to students.

Signage giving a brief description of the Timucua tribe is seen near the Levin College of Law on Saturday, July 29, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF’s efforts to preserve Native American history remain despite implications from new legislation

By Jinelle Vazquez | July 31, 2023

The new law prompts some worry from the UF community about the future of Native American history at the university, while others believe their efforts to preserve the history will last.

The UF Center for Latin American Studies is housed in Grinter Hall seen at 1523 Union Rd. on Sunday, July 30, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

State education bill casts mixed opinions within UF Latin and Indigenous studies

By Nicole Beltran | July 31, 2023

Florida’s abundant history of instruction on Latin American and Indigenous culture may face censorship, potentially undermining the historical importance of the subjects.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Florida’s new bathroom law prompts concern from UF students

By Garrett Shanley | July 31, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 1521 into law in May, and it became effective July 1. The bill, also known as the Safety in Private Spaces Act, introduces penalties for people using a public restroom or changing facility not aligned with their sex assigned at birth.