News | Campus - The Independent Florida Alligator

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

A look inside UF residence halls

By Alligator Staff report | June 29, 2021

Many students’ first foray outside their family home takes them straight to their freshman year college dorm. UF has 26 residence halls for students to choose from. The Alligator interviewed current and former residents of each hall to discover the good and bad in each. Room layouts are an artist’s interpretation based on courtesy photos of the residence halls.

The front entrance of Southwest Recreation Center.

NEWS | CAMPUS

MTV welcome to my gym, Southwest Recreation Center

By Michael Hull | June 28, 2021

A look inside UF’s largest gym

The Student Recreation & Fitness Center on Friday, June 18, 2021.

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The classic UF gym: Student Recreation & Fitness Center

By Joseph Henry | June 28, 2021

The oldest student fitness center on campus can be found in the shadow of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

George A. Smathers Libraries provide a welcoming community to foster student success

By Makiya Seminera | June 28, 2021

Although each of the six Smathers library branches collaborate with one another, they also enjoy participating in healthy competition — mostly brought about by UF students who have pledged their allegiance to one of the libraries.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Get to know UF through your Student Government representatives

By Carolina Ilvento | June 28, 2021

Cooper Brown, Faith Maniti and Giovanna Mompremier welcome Class of 2025 with insight on Student Government and campus life

UF health education senior Tala Rizkallah, 21, and UF communication sciences and disorders senior Michelle Saade, 21, check out health-oriented pins at the GatorWell table at the Freshman 15 Wellness Fair on the Plaza of the Americas on Wednesday afternoon.

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GatorWell and the CWC help UF community with mental health

By Isabella Douglas | June 28, 2021

UF provides free counseling, coaching, testing and crisis support among many services on campus. Students may reach out to the CWC for licensed counseling support focused on helping individuals work through mental health concerns and GatorWell for wellness and health coaching with an expertise in behavior change.

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.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Homesickness is part of the college experience. Here’s how to deal with it.

By Jake Reyes | June 28, 2021

Going off to college can mean leaving things behind, including family, friends and pets, which may lead to homesickness, but former and current students have advice about how to have an enjoyable college experience

The Gainesville community is hosting a variety of different events to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Pride Month: The long road for LGBTQ+ equity and inclusion at UF

By Juliana Ferrie and Makiya Seminera | June 26, 2021

All of the different components of LGBTQ+ advocacy at UF have cleared the path for the future change sought after this Pride Month. However, reckoning with UF’s troublesome past with the LGBTQ+ community presents a continual challenge for the students of today.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF Health hosts transgender health talk in honor of Pride Month

By Alexandra Harris | June 26, 2021

In honor of Pride Month, UF Health hosted a webinar about transgender health Tuesday. With 121 attendees, Dr. Tudeen, physician and assistant professor at UF Health Family Medicine Main Street Clinic, and Dr. Sarah Virk, plastic surgeon and assistant professor in the UF Department of Surgery, spoke about transgender issues, hormone therapy, surgical procedures and more during an informative presentation and Q&A.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Iconic ‘The Office’ duo, will speak to students Wednesday

By Isabella Douglas | June 26, 2021

The free event is hosted by Accent Speakers Bureau in partnership with Student Government Productions and Student Activities and Involvement, which are student government agencies funded by student fees. Accent will pay Greater Talent Network, LLC $70,000 to perform at UF. The event was announced Monday on Facebook, and will host the duo in a 45-minute moderated conversation.

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Santa Fe College celebrates Pride Month through virtual activities and events

By Antonia LaRocca | June 26, 2021

The college provides support for the LGBTQ+ community through its Pride Month events and activities from its LGBTQ+ Resource Center and Student Life.

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Santa Fe College COVID-19 update: One student COVID-19 positive case was reported last week

By Antonia LaRocca | June 24, 2021

Santa Fe College reported one positive student COVID-19 case between June 15 and Monday. The college’s total number of reported positive cases since March 2020 is now 762.

UF and FSU students part of the Global Medical Brigade in Panama in 2019.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF Global Brigades chapters makes lasting impact on international communities

By Camila Pereira | June 18, 2021

As international travel came to a halt with COVID-19, the humanitarian nonprofit organization, Global Brigades created TeleBrigades to allow students to still work virtually with these communities in need through a multi-week program.

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Innovation Gators: Students share original solutions during Innovation Academy’s Summer A showcase

By Antonia LaRocca | June 16, 2021

UF students show off their skills during Innovation Academy’s Summer A showcase by presenting their innovative solutions to support health and wellness for Florida community members.

NEWS | SFC

Santa Fe College COVID-19 update: Four positive cases were reported

By Antonia LaRocca | June 16, 2021

Santa Fe College reported four positive student COVID-19 cases between June 2 and Monday, and one student who tested positive may have been on-site while carrying the virus.

The UF Board of Trustees discusses capital projects inside the Emerson Alumni Hall on Thursday, March 18, 2021.

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UF faculty union wins paid parental and medical leave in new contract

By Eve Thompson | June 11, 2021

This year, the union bargaining team won paid parental and medical leave, new promotion guidelines for non-tenure track faculty and a clearly defined way to report conflicts of interest and outside activities, among other updates.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s gubernatorial candidacy throws UF Law Board of Trustees seat into question

By Makiya Seminera | June 11, 2021

Although Fried’s road to the governor’s mansion will prove a formidable task, the prospect of her potential election has prompted UF Law to consider the future of her appointment to the Board of Trustees.

Lisa Armour, Santa Fe College's new interim provost, stands in the Rock Cycle Garden at Santa Fe College's northwest campus on Tuesday, June 8, 2021.

NEWS | SFC

Lisa Armour is Santa Fe College’s new interim provost

By Antonia LaRocca | June 9, 2021

Santa Fe College’s new interim provost, Lisa Armour, has worked at Santa Fe College for 10 years.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF approves historical marker recognizing first Black students

By Joseph Oprison | June 9, 2021

The new marker will be in the courtyard near Bryan Hall — a high traffic area near the center of campus and previous home of the College of Law, where the first Black UF student attended class.

The street sign for West University Avenue along the UF campus on Sunday, June 6, 2021. The Newell Gateway, one of two gateways to be constructed, will be implemented at the intersection of Newell Drive and West University Avenue as part of an effort to create an auto-free zone at the core of campus.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF plans to create an auto-free zone on campus

By Camila Pereira | June 7, 2021

To accomplish the long-term goal of increasing traffic safety, the university will implement an 86-acre bicycle and pedestrian zone in the heart of campus. This project includes the construction of the Newell and Northeast Gateway projects, which will incorporate more pedestrian access into campus and a connection from UF to the city, respectively.