News - The Independent Florida Alligator

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 UF ADMINISTRATION

DeSantis grant allows UF undergraduates to be paid to intern in K-5 classrooms

By Zoey Thomas | Jan. 16

Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $5 million Dec. 13 among 10 Florida public universities to develop pre-bachelor’s apprenticeship programs. UF received about $1.3 million from the grant, which was the latest effort in DeSantis’ Pathways to Career Opportunities investment to strengthen Florida’s teacher pipeline.

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by NBC News, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Can DeSantis waiving Jewish student transfer requirements be called affirmative action?

By Zoey Thomas | Jan. 16

DeSantis announced in his State of the State address Jan. 9 Florida universities will waive certain transfer requirements, including credit hours and application deadlines, for out-of-state students experiencing antisemitism or other religious discrimination on their campuses.

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.

FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks after being sworn in to begin his second term during an inauguration ceremony outside the Old Capitol on Jan. 3, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

DeSantis orders Florida universities to waive certain transfer requirements for Jewish students

By Zoey Thomas | Jan. 10

Gov. Ron DeSantis directed Florida universities to waive application requirements for Jewish transfer students fearing antisemitism Tuesday.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UF Student Senate elects new leadership

By Annie Wang | Jan. 10

Four Vision Party candidates were elected to UF Student Senate leadership during a Tuesday night meeting.

Republican U.S. Sen Ben Sasse, of Nebraska, applauds President Kent Fuchs at the Board of Trustees meeting to discuss his candidacy at Emerson Alumni Hall Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF President Ben Sasse names Scott Angle permanent UF provost

By Zoey Thomas | Jan. 9

UF President Ben Sasse announced Scott Angle as provost in an email to faculty and community members Tuesday morning. Angle was one of 14 UF faculty members to serve on the committee, which also brought in outside consultation from the Isaacson, Miller research firm.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF faculty banned from recruiting Chinese, Iranian students under new Florida law

By Zoey Thomas | Jan. 8

The Florida law bans “partnerships,” including recruitment programs, between state universities and any non-U.S. citizen living in a foreign country of concern — including China, Iran, Venezuela, Russia, Cuba, Syria and North Korea. It was passed in May and went into effect Dec. 1. The UF dean’s office and upper administration has interpreted the law to mean faculty cannot offer any assistantship or fellowship to students in these countries for the 2024-2025 academic year.

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.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

UF employees charged with aggravated child abuse after locking kids in cages

Dec. 13

Two UF biological scientists were arrested Dec. 8 with charges of aggravated child abuse and child neglect.

NEWS | CAMPUS

New UF one-credit course ‘What is Israel?’ debuting Spring

By Molly Seghi | Dec. 4, 2023

Starting the Spring 2024 semester, the Bud Shorstein Center for Jewish Studies will offer a new one-credit course on Israel titled “What is Israel?”

NEWS | CAMPUS

Hamilton Center: Emphasizing apolitical position following controversial foundation

By Sophia Bailly and Alissa Gary | Dec. 4, 2023

The Hamilton Center began with $3 million from the state after The Council on Public University Reform — a conservative think tank — lobbied to begin a civic education center at UF. A deliberative back-and-forth between UF leaders and the state ensued — a process that deviated from the typical creation of an academic unit at UF.

Matthew Lindsay and Connor Nugent perform as Santa Claus and Perry the Mouse for the Holiday Santa Fe show on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023.

NEWS | SFC

‘Holiday at Santa Fe’ brings winter cheer to Santa Fe College

By Bailey Diem | Dec. 3, 2023

Gainesville residents of all ages filled the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall Dec. 2, learning about animals and summoning snow alongside Santa Claus, Frosty and Perry the Mouse.

Felix Wilson, the vice president, of Trane’s Southwest and West U.S., presents UF the Trane Energy Efficient Leader Award to Curtis Reynolds, UF’s vice president for business affairs; Eddie Daniels, the assistant vice president for business services; and David Kratzer, a former UF vice president for Student Affairs. The award recognizes the efficient and sustainable approach to the renovation of the Reitz Union.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

Top UF official departs for private Christian university

By Garrett Shanley | Nov. 29, 2023

Curtis Reynolds, UF’s vice president of business affairs, announced his resignation in a news release Wednesday morning. His departure comes after a series of shakeups in top level leadership at the university since President Ben Sasse took office in February.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Jewish student center vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti

By Garrett Shanley | Nov. 27, 2023

The Chabad UF Jewish Student Center was vandalized early Friday morning with “anti-Semitic graffiti and hateful slurs,” according to a Chabad UF press release.

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.

Around 60 protestors gather on the corner of University Avenue and 13th Street in support of Palestine on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF pro-Palestinian organization likely to win lawsuit against shutdown order, legal experts say

By Garrett Shanley | Nov. 20, 2023

A UF pro-Palestinian student group could see a future victory in a courtroom against top Florida education officials after it cited First Amendment rights against a statewide order calling for the deactivation of its group.

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

NEWS | CAMPUS

Pro-Palestinian student group sues UF, DeSantis administration over shutdown order

By Garrett Shanley | Nov. 17, 2023

A pro-Palestinian student group sued UF and state officials Thursday to block the Gov. Ron DeSantis administration’s order to shut the group down.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Faculty Senate resolves shared governance proposal, discusses construction of unisex bathrooms

By Bailey Diem | Nov. 17, 2023

The UF Faculty Senate discussed recent bathroom legislation, resolved the shared governance proposal and proposed the closure of several degree programs Nov. 16.

Statues of the Calusa Indians sit inside a hut as part of the “South Florida Peoples and Their Environment” exhibit at the Florida Museum of Natural History on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Florida Museums work toward Native American repatriation

By Jinelle Vazquez | Nov. 13, 2023

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 requires institutions receiving federal funds, like UF, to return ancestors and sacred objects to federally recognized tribes. The museum has recently reinforced its commitment to NAGPRA by resuming its initiative to return ancestral remains and planning renovations for a 20-year-old exhibit on indigenous history.