News | Campus - The Independent Florida Alligator

Carla Collins, the first patient to receive a new $24,000 life-saving device, stands with her two sons, Brody, 8, and Chase, 18. Collins said she carries the gene for Long QT Syndrome, a life-threatening heart-rhythm condition, which causes fast heartbeats that can trigger fainting, seizures and sudden death. Both of her children will need to be tested for it as well.

NEWS | CAMPUS

‘Like having a guardian angel’: Woman becomes first to undergo heart implant surgery

By Kaylee Weber | Feb. 6, 2018

Carla Collins keeps her composure.

The Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Dec. 3, 2016.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Challenge Party announces efforts to rename O’Connell Center

By Christina Morales | Feb. 6, 2018

The Challenge Party is starting a petition to rename the O’Connell Center in a video announcement sent to The Alligator and posted on Facebook on Tuesday.

Students gather in Plaza of the Americas for UF’s Islam on Campus’ Islam Fair on Monday afternoon. The event featured free calligraphy, free, henna and free food, with the goal of educating students about Islam.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF’s Islam on Campus held event to break Muslim stereotypes

By Vivian Nguyen | Feb. 6, 2018

Alissa Adam learned the Arabic word, “Salam,” or “Peace” in English at an Islam Fair booth Monday.

An international team of scientists has mapped the evolutionary relationships between China’s 30,000 flowering plant species, uncovering a distinct regional pattern in biodiversity.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF researchers used plant DNA to help with China’s conservation efforts

By Christine Skofronick | Feb. 5, 2018

After nearly a decade of research, UF and Chinese botanists revealed the regions where China should focus plant conservation efforts.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Sixth Starbucks will open this month at UF College of Law

By Amanda Rosa | Feb. 5, 2018

Liandra Izquierdo will soon be able to order a grande green tea latte with soy milk and vanilla syrup in between law classes.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

SG judiciary committee unanimously fails two amendments

By Christina Morales | Feb. 4, 2018

The Student Government judiciary committee met Sunday and unanimously voted down two amendments and tabled a Senate bill.

Michael Gaither, a U.S. Army veteran suffering from multiple sclerosis, lays in bed with his service dog, Honey, by his side. Both are fighting terminal illnesses and need constant medical treatments.

NEWS | CAMPUS

‘She’s part of the family’: A veteran and his dog fight disease together

By Davio Rodriguez | Feb. 4, 2018

As Michael Gaither lay in his bed with a breathing mask strapped around his face, Honey nudged his limp hand.

NEWS | CAMPUS

‘Writing on the Wall’ takes on political climate

By Sabrina Conza | Feb. 4, 2018

As Joey McGinn and dozens of others pulled on different strings, a wall of colorful bricks and words tumbled down.

A mural dedicated to Gainesville native Tom Petty appeared on the 34th Street Wall in Gainesville, Florida following the death of the musician.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF will offer one-credit seminar on Tom Petty's life

By Elliott Nasby | Feb. 1, 2018

Thousands sing Tom Petty songs at Gator football games, and UF President Kent Fuchs and Fall graduates sang the lyrics, “I won’t back down” at commencement last December.

NEWS | CAMPUS

A UF art exhibit is allowing sexual assault survivors the chance to respond to 'what were you wearing?'

By Stephanie Gonzalez | Feb. 1, 2018

They were doubted, humiliated and victimized with the question, “what were you wearing?” Now, sexual assault survivors are responding.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF President Fuchs, state leaders urge Congress to protect Dreamers

By Jessica Giles | Feb. 1, 2018

Since September, Michell Hernandez has been counting down the days.

A rendition of Gamma Phi Beta's new house, located at 1251 SW 9th Ave., which will be completed in August. Construction on the $10.5 million house started in Fall 2017.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Here are the new Greek houses being built at UF

By Rachel Porter | Feb. 1, 2018

Nearly three years after being established at UF, Gamma Phi Beta will have its $10.5 million house completed in August.

Students present their first concept proposals for the cultural arts center to a group of architects. From left to right: Larry Scarpa, Architect, Los Angeles; Damien Blumetti, Architect, Sarasota; Germane Barnes, Architect, Miami; Frank Sparkman, Architect, Tennessee; Pietro Mendanca, UF Architecture; Greta Crispen, UF Architecture; Frank Moore, UF Construction Management.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Nineteen UF students may help design a new Sarasota building

By Will Clewis | Feb. 1, 2018

This Spring, a group of 19 UF seniors will be traveling about three hours south to take their midterm and final exams.

UF associate professor Paul Ortiz reads a few passages out of his new book to audience members at Third House Books & Coffee. Ortiz’s book “An African American and Latinx History of the United States” was officially released on Tuesday.

NEWS | CAMPUS

This UF professor focused on Africa and Latin America for his American history book

By McKenna Beery | Feb. 1, 2018

When UF associate professor Paul Ortiz told Haitian students their country was the first in the Caribbean to gain independence, they were “flabbergasted.”

The crowd claps along to Saint Motel's "My Type" at The Wetlands Music Festival, which was sponsored by Student Government Productions, on Sunday afternoon.

NEWS | CAMPUS

A$AP Ferg, Snakehips, Saint Motel performing at UF

By Meryl Kornfield | Feb. 1, 2018

Music acts A$AP Ferg, Snakehips and Saint Motel will perform at UF on Feb. 25.

Shir Ibgui, left, and Jamie Wilkinson, right, hold hands in the streets of New York City. The pair talks about their travels, food recommendations and wellness tips on their lifestyle blog, "NOTURAVG."

NEWS | CAMPUS

5,000 miles apart, two UF alumnae use lifestyle blog to keep in touch

By Jessica Giles | Feb. 1, 2018

When Shir Ibgui and Jamie Wilkinson met, the first thing Ibgui asked for wasn’t Wilkinson’s name or major, it was her shoe size.

Huda Aziz, Adeeba Ahmad and Maliha Khan post with "Hijab-a-Thon" signs after helping UF students Wednesday try on the headscarf.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Students of all religions wore hijabs to celebrate Islam Appreciation Month

By Irfan Kovankaya | Jan. 31, 2018

Soha Samla doesn’t typically wear her Islamic hijab, but she wrapped a tan one around herself Wednesday to feel closer to God for the day.

Speaker Lisa Rowe urges the crowd to be aware of their surroundings and report possible cases of human trafficking. Rowe is vice president of Selah Freedom, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of sexual abuse.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Human trafficking victims speak at UF

By Hanna Gibson | Jan. 31, 2018

At age 12, Jerome Elam took a bottle of sleeping pills and vodka, laid down in his mother’s rose garden and waited to die. A victim of human trafficking, Elam felt worthless and hopeless.

Citrus greening is a disease that reduces the production of citrus, with symptoms including yellowing of the leaves, dying of the trees or branches, abnormally tasting fruit and no fruiting. This 1-acre Citrus Under Protective Screen, a mesh screening, protects these 2.5-year-old mandarin trees by blocking out the Asian citrus psyllid, an insect that carries the bacteria that causes greening.

NEWS | CAMPUS

A disease is killing Florida's oranges. UF researchers received millions to stop it.

By Vivian Nguyen | Jan. 30, 2018

Ralph Chamberlain has seen a disease sweep over his citrus grove like a cancer.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Senators put away laptops and phones after student complaint

By Christina Morales | Jan. 30, 2018

About 70 Senators shut their laptops and turned off their cell phones at Tuesday night’s Senate meeting.