News - The Independent Florida Alligator

NEWS | CAMPUS

National Forgiveness Day to focus on mental health

By Michaela Steakley | Oct. 15, 2015

Rachel Hofer always wanted to understand mental illness.

Amani Flood, a 19-year-old UF digital arts and sciences sophomore, untangles a bunch of black balloons on the Plaza of the Americas on Oct. 15, 2015. Each of the 24 balloons represented 500,000 displaced Syrians in the refugee crisis. "We want to make an impact to get more refugees in the United States," said Flood, who helped collect student signatures on a petition to open the U.S. to Syrian refugees.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Arab Students’ Association petitions to help refugees

By Hunter Williamson | Oct. 15, 2015

Twenty-four black balloons swayed in the wind on Thursday.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Civil rights activist to speak at UF on voting

By Kylie Widseth | Oct. 15, 2015

Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia) is the last surviving member of the Big Six civil rights activists.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF students meet grad-school admissions officers

By Molly Donovan | Oct. 15, 2015

More than 130 tables lined the walls of the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom on Thursday morning as students chatted with graduate-school admissions officers.

Jim Obergefell smiles after retelling his experience in the federal marriage equality court case Obergefell v. Hodges to an audience in the university auditorium on Oct. 14, 2015. Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the case, remembered ignoring the dissenting opinion when the Supreme Court ruled in his favor.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Lead plaintiff in marriage case speaks

By Alexandra Fernandez | Oct. 14, 2015

Jim Obergefell didn’t fall in love at first sight, but instead on the third.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Student Government discusses budget raise

By Caitlin Ostroff | Oct. 14, 2015

The UF Student Government fee committee met Wednesday to discuss raising student activity and service fees.

NEWS | SFC

SFC Senate strikes down resolution supporting concealed carry

By Hunter Williamson | Oct. 14, 2015

Santa Fe College Student Senate struck down a resolution Wednesday evening that supported concealed carry on Florida college and university campuses.

NEWS | CAMPUS

University Police investigate student death, no foul play suspected

By EMILY COCHRANE< | Oct. 14, 2015

University Police is investigating the death of a UF student that occurred in North Hall on Wednesday morning.

Sitting on a wooden bed of screws and rubber bands, UF anthropology junior Van Truong, 20, scans over an incomplete 6 foot by 8 foot Mona Lisa art piece at the Pop-Up Culture event on the Plaza of the Americas on Oct. 14, 2015. Truong, who helped put the event together, opened her project to all students at the event to gather “inspiration from other people who approach art and life differently.”

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF students explore alternative art

By Monica Andrade | Oct. 14, 2015

On Erika Feazell’s way to class, color caught her eye.

Valentina Lopez-Diaz gets made-up before modeling a Shama Boutique saree in Asian Kaleidoscope Month's "Immortal" Fashion Show. "I've always wanted to model, but I'm petite," the 19-year-old UF marketing sophomore said. She had modeled commercially before and decided to try out for the show after hearing it was open to models of all races and sizes.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Students strut their stuff for Asian Kaleidoscope Month

By Taylor Park | Oct. 14, 2015

Students strutted down a catwalk, draped in embroidered fabrics, clothed in skater styles and wrapped in sunny colors Wednesday night.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF reminds students earlier to be respectful for Halloween

By Alexandra Fernandez | Oct. 13, 2015

UF is reminding students to be mindful of their Halloween costume choices.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Career Resource Center hosts first virtual fair

By Lamia Chowdhury | Oct. 13, 2015

UF students will flood CareerEco’s online booths in hopes of finding their future graduate school Thursday.

Jeena Kar, a 22-year-old UF arts in medicine graduate student, practices her henna drawings on Natalie Bonilla, a 21-year-old UF health sciences student, in the University Auditorium. Kar will donate her skills and time on campus to help three Dance Marathon captains. She will charge $5 for her designs with proceeds going towards Dance Marathon, a 26.2-hour event benefiting the patients of UF Health Shands Children's Hospital.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF student will donate to Dance Marathon teams with $5 henna designs

By Caitlin Ostroff | Oct. 13, 2015

UF student Jeena Kar will use henna to decorate students’ hands with flowers, swirls and Greek letters.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Research Roundup 10/14/2015

Oct. 13, 2015

UF research team finds a way to control pests in wheat

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UF Student Senate discusses renovation of Norman Hall

By Caitlin Ostroff | Oct. 13, 2015

The need to renovate Norman Hall and the discontinuation of UF’s TapShield app were discussed at Tuesday night’s UF Student Government meeting.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF nursing expands to Jacksonville

By Ebony Joseph | Oct. 13, 2015

Students living in Jacksonville can now be part of UF’s accelerated nursing program without traveling to Gainesville.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF club brings Gainesville entrepreneurs to speak about startups

By Sara Perlman | Oct. 13, 2015

UF students can pitch their business ideas to Gainesville entrepreneurs today.

John Kammer, 66, teaches students the basics of judo Oct. 13, 2015, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during Asian Kaleidoscope Month’s Throwdown event. Kammer has been teaching judo for 43 years. He instructed students on basic techniques of striking, clinch-fighting and breaking grips.

NEWS | CAMPUS

From young grasshoppers to judo masters

By Daniela Bulla | Oct. 13, 2015

Outside the stadium Tuesday night, Evan Forman flipped through the air and landed on his back.

From left: Custom Quality Scaffold builders Bryson Swails, Dan Yunk and Chuck Griffith set up to work on the double archway at Heavener Hall. Three secular quotations will be added to the archway to supplement the Bible verse already inscribed on it.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Heavener Hall gets three new quotes and a plaque

By Caitlin Ostroff | Oct. 12, 2015

A battle over the separation of church and a state university has finally been settled.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF conducts survey about black student experience and needs

By Caitlin Ostroff | Oct. 12, 2015

UF wants to know if black students feel comfortable on campus.