News | Campus - The Independent Florida Alligator

House Bill 7, dubbed the “Stop WOKE Act” by Gov. Ron Desantis, went into effect July 1, 2022.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

‘A political weapon’: UF community left divided on how to navigate Florida’s new ‘Stop WOKE’ Act

By Peyton Harris | Aug. 29, 2022

House Bill 7, dubbed the “Stop WOKE Act” by Gov. Ron Desantis, went into effect July 1, 2022. The law is an expansion on Florida Statute Section 760.10, now including language that prohibits certain material from being taught at universities in the Florida State University System.

The bat houses at UF Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. UF is moving the bats from a house that is collapsing to a newer one.

NEWS | CAMPUS

After five years of waiting, UF bats finally start moving into their new home

By Siena Duncan | Aug. 27, 2022

Bat house three is occupied as of Thursday morning, meaning that a summer of work enticing them inside for a UF team made up of conservationists, biologists and construction workers has finally paid off.

Screenshot of Josh Richards announcement on UF Accent Speakers and UF Student Government page.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Accent Speakers Bureau reschedules Josh Richards for first Fall speaking event

By Anushka Dakshit | Aug. 26, 2022

Accent Speakers Bureau rescheduled TikTok star Josh Richards to do the first Fall show September 8 at 7 p.m. at the University Auditorium, according to an announcement Thursday.

Screenshot of Flo Rida announcement on UF Homecoming and Gator Growl's Instagram page.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Flo Rida, Olivia O’Brien to perform at UF’s Gator Growl 2022

By Alissa Gary | Aug. 26, 2022

UF Homecoming and Gator Growl announced Friday headlining artist, Flo Rida, and opener, Olivia O’Brien, will perform at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Oct. 7.

As the lights dimmed in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, the ground shook with students rising from their seats and introductory music reverberating through mega speakers attached to the ceiling. From the stage, a white fluorescent streak of light emerged through the smoke, crossing to point into the crowd. Then, from the wings, the long-awaited star of the night emerged.
“Oh man, University of Florida, what’s poppin’?” Joey Bada$$ yelled into his microphone, kicking off his set for the night as well as the start of the Fall semester.
Joey Bada$$ and Jean Deaux took to the stage to play a UF student-only concert at the O’Connell Center Wednesday night.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

‘What’s poppin’?’: Rain, technical issues didn’t stop Joey Bada$$ and Jean Deaux’s first day of school performance

By Alissa Gary | Aug. 25, 2022

Joey Bada$$ and Jean Deaux took to the stage to play a UF student-only concert at the O’Connell Center Wednesday night.

Newell Hall will house SweetBerries' newest location. The opening date will be announced this week.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Local Gainesville favorites SweetBerries and Opus Coffee arrive to new campus locations

By Claire Grunewald | Aug. 24, 2022

SweetBerries' newest location can be found at UF Newell Hall, replacing another campus favorite, Au Bon Pain. Another popular Gainesville eatery, Opus Coffee, has also arrived on campus at Norman Hall.

UF houses many different perspectives and political groups on its campus, these views become more prevalent with the upcoming primaries.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Housing, academic freedom, abortion: What issues matter most to UF students this election cycle?

By Siena Duncan | Aug. 22, 2022

Several student groups have geared up to throw their support behind candidates who come out of the primaries victorious. Due to internal policies, most groups don’t endorse partisan state-level candidates early in an election cycle to avoid putting stock behind a candidate that might not make it through to the next stage.

About 50 graduate students marched from the Reitz Union to Tigert Hall Tuesday to protest the proposed increase to graduate assistants' wages.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Graduate Assistants United agrees to new stipend minimum — the first raise in five years

By Siena Duncan | Aug. 21, 2022

UF Graduate Assistants United announced its agreement with the university Thursday regarding a final minimum stipend offer, which is the equivalent of a yearly salary that some graduate assistants depend on for their main source of income.

Screenshot of event as seen from SGP Music & Entertainment Facebook page.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Joey Bada$$, Jean Deaux to perform at UF first day of school concert

By Alissa Gary | Aug. 18, 2022

In the first SGP sponsored concert of the year, Joey Bada$$ and Jean Deaux will perform Aug. 24 at the O’Connell Center. Tickets are free for UF students and will be available at Gate 1 of the O’Connell Center starting Aug. 19.

Mark Law was terminated from his position as UF Honors director Monday.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF Board of Trustees fires longtime Honors Program director allegedly with no reasoning

By Christian Casale | Aug. 15, 2022

The director of UF Honors Program was fired Monday. He said he wasn’t given an explanation by the Board of Trustees.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Innovation Academy’s Catalyst Summer B brings young, innovative minds together

By Kyle Bumpers | Aug. 5, 2022

Faculty and alumni from the program’s last decade went to the event to see 28 groups of students’ solutions to the question: How might we effectively engage residents in a 21st century live/work/play community?

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Thespians bear brunt of thinning SG funds

By Sandra McDonald | Aug. 1, 2022

The Florida Players did everything right, she said, but they still lost funding.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF receives $3 million for new civic center

By Lindsay Schindler | Aug. 1, 2022

The Council on Public University Reform requested UF be granted $3 million by the state to fund the Hamilton Center for Classical and Civil Education.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith walks across the stage at the University Auditorium Wednesday, July 27, 2022.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Stephen A. Smith encourages UF students to be authentic, competitive

By Sandra McDonald and Kyle Bumpers | July 29, 2022

On Wednesday night, sports analyst Stephen A. Smith spoke to over 300 UF students for an ACCENT Speaker’s Bureau event.

Graduates students are allowed to park with a green decal and students living in family housing are allowed to park with a brown decal as pictured Sunday, July 24, 2022.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF details new virtual parking decal

By Christian Casale | July 25, 2022

UF students will be ticketed for parking violations via a virtual system linked to license plate readers starting next month.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Judiciary chairman exonerated from abuse of power charges, senator will face poor conduct censure

By Sandra McDonald | July 25, 2022

The Student Government Senate Rules & Ethics Committee voted unanimously to exonerate one senator and recommend censure for a second.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Student Senate passes resolution for 24-hour morning-after pill vending machines, blocks 24-hour Marston funding

By Sandra McDonald | July 22, 2022

The UF Student Government Senate passed a resolution approving 24-hour access to morning-after pills via vending machines around campus and failed an amendment that would restore 24-hour access to Marston Science Library.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Stephen A. Smith to speak at UF

By Sandra McDonald | July 18, 2022

Stephen A. Smith, a prominent sports journalist and TV personality, will speak at UF July 27 at 7 p.m.

Students walk through Turlington Plaza in between classes on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Monday marked the beginning of the Fall semester at UF.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF’s Turlington Plaza: crossroads for current and former students

By Kyle Bumpers | July 18, 2022

Turlington, the heartbeat of campus, continues to beat through the century constantly to get to class, libraries or restaurants

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

SG Senate Judiciary committee blocks transparency bills, censure hearings rescheduled

By Sandra McDonald | July 18, 2022

The committee blocked half of the 35 proposed bills brought before them this Summer from reaching the Senate floor.