News | Campus - The Independent Florida Alligator

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

BROCKHAMPTON and Deb Never kick off the start of Fall with a sold-out concert

By Allessandra Inzinna | Aug. 25, 2021

BROCKHAMPTON and Deb Never's Aug. 23 performance had a crowd of about 6,000 UF students who erupted in cheers as they took the stage. Upon entry, students passed through metal detectors, showed staff their mobile tickets and gave their student IDs to swipe and check their “cleared for campus” status.

United Faculty of Florida and UF Graduate Assistants United members gathered at Tigert Hall on Friday, August 20, 2021 to protest the lack of COVID-19 precautions in place for the upcoming fall semester at UF . UFF and UF-GAU brought a list of four demands to the protest: 

Three weeks of online classes as soon as possible to allow time for students to get vaccinated
Vaccines required and twice weekly testing for those with exemptions
Mask mandate for all indoor activities and large outdoor activities
Honest and detailed COVID-19 statistics, including daily updates

Several speakers talked during the protest, including Gainesville City Commissioner David Arreola, Alachua County Education Association President Carmen Ward, UF professors and graduate assistants.

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UF faculty and staff demand vaccine and mask mandates from university leadership

By Camila Pereira , Christian Casale and Max Taylor | Aug. 23, 2021

UF faculty and staff gathered at the steps of Tigert Hall Aug. 20 to protest the university's COVID-19 policies and demand change as the Fall semester approaches.

Jose Alvarez, center, and siblings David and Ismelda Alvarez, left and right, celebrate Jose’s graduation from the University of Florida in front of the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

A first-generation UF student paves the way for a triple Gator legacy

By Elena Barrera | Aug. 20, 2021

Four years after receiving his first degree as a Gator, Jose Alvarez now watches his youngest sibling, David Alvarez, 18, start his journey at the university that opened so many doors when he was a student.

Signage posted by the University of Florida advertising Gator Dining meal plans on the third floor of the Reitz Union at UF’s Gainesville campus on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF students discuss meal plan options

By Juliana Ferrie | Aug. 16, 2021

At UF, Gator Dining Services offers several different meal plans students can choose from.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

How to Navigate UF’s Parking System

By Eve Thompson | Aug. 16, 2021

Here’s a guide for how to appeal a citation, what to do when impounded and where to park on campus to avoid hefty citation costs.

Mary Parker, the University of Florida’s new vice president for enrollment management and associate provost, poses for a portrait in her Criser Hall office on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2021.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Mary Parker is UF’s new vice president for enrollment management and associate provost

By Antonia LaRocca | Aug. 16, 2021

With over two decades of experience in enrollment services and higher education, Mary Parker said she is ready to start at UF in her new position by building relationships with the university’s community.

Graphic by Ashley Hicks. Photo by Houston Harwood.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Dear freshman: Welcome to UF

By Isabella Douglas | Aug. 16, 2021

On Aug. 23, classes will begin at UF with freshmen scrambling to figure out the bus system and seniors heading to their favorite coffee shops before their first lecture. Heading into the new school year, some UF seniors offered advice to freshmen unsure of what to expect with college life.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Just transferred? Welcome to the Gator Nation

By Camila Pereira | Aug. 16, 2021

Although the transition can be nerve-racking, all UF students — whether admitted traditionally or non-traditionally — are an essential part of the Gator nation and encouraged to take every opportunity to succeed in the university.

Santa Fe College's Blount Center expansion, now under construction, located at 530 West University Avenue in Gainesville on Monday, July 12, 2021.

NEWS | SFC

Santa Fe College’s new Blount Hall set to open Spring 2022

By Antonia LaRocca | Aug. 10, 2021

Santa Fe College’s new Blount Hall is set to open to students in Spring 2022. The three-story building’s exterior is scheduled to be completed by September.

Willard Kesling (second from left), a UF choral professor and music director and conductor for the ShabbaTones Jewish choir, leads the baritone section of the ShabbaTones in a choir practice on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. "I will not let art, not let culture die," Kesling said, before the group began their first in-person choir practice since the COVID-19 pandemic halted performances in early 2020.

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ShabbaTones returns with first in-person rehearsal since the start of the pandemic

By Camila Pereira | Aug. 3, 2021

ShabbaTones, a nonprofit Jewish chorus in Gainesville, had its first live, in-person rehearsal at UF Hillel on Wednesday after a 16-month long intermission due to the pandemic.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF residence halls are most prominent locations for sexual assault on campus

By Camila Pereira and Eve Thompson | July 30, 2021

Out of the university’s 98 rape reports since 2015, more than 46% happened in or near residence halls and facilities, according to data from the UF’s Crime Log, a record of campus crimes reported to UF Police Department and Campus Security Authorities.

A group of Hare Krishnas gathered outside the Krishna House at 214 NW 14th Street in Gainesville on Thursday, July 29, 2021. The Gainesville community is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Krishna Lunch at UF this weekend.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Krishna Lunch celebrates its 50th anniversary

By Juliana Ferrie | July 30, 2021

Thursday marked the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Srila Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, at UF. His 1971 address, which took place in the Plaza of the Americas, inspired the Krishna Lunch known by UF students and the Gainesville community today.

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UF students win national competition with a sustainable fashion idea

By Savannah Alday | July 30, 2021

A team of students from UF's College of Health and Human Performance won a competition featuring a sustainable fashion exposition.

The UF Health Orthopaedics ans Sports Medicine Institute, located at 3450 SW Hull Road on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. The building, which houses comprehensive rehabilitation services, is one of many UF College of Medicine ventures operating under the new department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, the college’s first new clinical department in 30 years.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF College of Medicine launches new clinical department

By Juliana Ferrie | July 28, 2021

The department of PM&R became UF College of Medicine’s first new clinical department — a group of researchers, administrators and clinicians who support each other to achieve a specific mission — in 30 years. However, its journey began in September 2014, Dr. Kevin Vincent, the founding chair, said.

NEWS | SFC

Santa Fe College COVID-19 update: Seven positive cases were reported last week

By Antonia LaRocca | July 28, 2021

Santa Fe College reported seven positive COVID-19 cases between July 20 and Monday. Three were student cases, and four were employee cases.

(From left to right) Paul Tash, Chairman and CEO of the Times Publishing Company, Tampa Bay Times Executive Editor Mark Katches, UF journalism professors and Times reporters Kathleen McGrory and Neil Bedi, and former Deputy Editor of Investigations Adam Playford cheer on McGrory and Bedi as they are announced as the winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting on June 11, with the McGrory family pet beagle, Susan, sitting on the couch.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF’s media prominence rises to No.4 as faculty experts speak on international platforms

By Camila Pereira | July 28, 2021

In the past two years, UF’s faculty has been called upon to share their expertise on a variety of current events and topics on respected media outlets such as NPR and the Washington Post. Major topics faculty members have contributed to include COVID-19’s impact on life expectancy, the virus’ Delta variant, the humanitarian crisis and protests in Cuba and this year’s hurricane season.

Dr. Leon Haley Jr., the CEO of UF Health Jacksonville and Dean of UF College of Medicine — Jacksonville. Dr. Haley Jr. died Saturday during a watercraft accident.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

Dr. Leon Haley Jr., CEO of UF Health Jacksonville, dies in a watercraft accident

By Juliana Ferrie | July 26, 2021

Dr. Leon Haley Jr., the CEO of UF Health Jacksonville and dean of UF College of Medicine - Jacksonville, died in an accident Saturday in South Florida.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Keeping students committed: UF admissions to focus on retaining admitted students

By Eve Thompson | July 26, 2021

UF’s melt rate, the rate of students who rescind their commitment to the college, is 2-3%, according to Tammy Aagard, associate vice president for enrollment management — a number significantly lower than the national average of 10-20%. Aagard also said UF’s melt rate has been similarly low in previous years.

Few students are seen wandering around UF’s campus on August 31, 2020, in Gainesville Fla., due to the social distancing guidelines and mask requirements set in place. However, the Campus Connector and RTS buses still operate with frequent trips across campus.

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UF welcomes first Ph.D. plant breeding program, first in Florida

By Isabella Douglas | July 26, 2021

UF will welcome its first class of Ph.D. plant breeding students Fall. The new program is one of six in the country and the only one in Florida.

University of Florida Disability Resource Center located at Reid Hall on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. The DRC provides services to students with physical, learning, sensory or psychological disabilities.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

July amplifies the voices of the disabled community

By Jasper Wittig | July 23, 2021

July brings the disabled community together to reflect on common experiences and celebrate differences as the month commemorates the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990.