News - The Independent Florida Alligator

Senior Jo Dragotta (14) steals the ball from Caroline Brown (25) of Tennessee on Friday at James G. Pressly Stadium. The Gators defeated the Volunteers 2-1.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Senior midfielder brings composure, stability to Gators

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN | Sep. 25, 2012

Jo Dragotta was doing her best to keep her mind clear.

Student Body President Tj Villamil holds an iPad with an image of Christian Aguilar, an 18-year-old missing UF student, at the Student Senate meeting Tuesday night.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Students sit in Student Senate meeting protesting referendum

By Samantha Shavell | Sep. 25, 2012

About 10 people attended the Student Senate meeting in support of a referendum that asks students if they want to rename the Reitz Union after Virgil Hawkins, an African-American man who was denied entrance to UF in 1949.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Scientist gets grant to study worms

By Melissa Harvard | Sep. 25, 2012

Akito Kawahara, an assistant curator at the McGuire Center of Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the Florida Museum of Natural History, received the one-year grant to do field research in Central America to investigate the tobacco hornworm and relatives.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF grads launch businesses online

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Sep. 25, 2012

Despite the daunting nature of starting a business, two UF alumnae have taken the plunge to create their own startups. One launched her business this month, and another is celebrating one year running a successful website.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF choir first North American group to attend international festival

By Rosa Llamo | Sep. 25, 2012

Chamber singers in the Concert Choir will headline the 17th annual Encuentro Coral de Musica Colombiana in Buga, Colombia, from Oct. 16 to Oct. 21. The noncompetitive international choral festival will feature about 25 choirs from six countries — and UF’s is the first North American choir to be invited.

Sophomore quarterback back Jeff Driskel escapes the pass rush during Florida's 38-0 win against Kentucky on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Rally: Does this season’s 4-0 start mean more than last year’s?

By GREG LUCA | Sep. 25, 2012

Joe: When the sun rises in Gainesville this Saturday, everything will be a little bit brighter.

Volunteers searching for Christian Aguilar, who has been missing since Thursday evening, return to their cars after an unsuccessful trek into the woods near Cabana Beach apartments Monday afternoon. Pedro Bravo, who police identified as a person of interest, was arrested Monday afternoon in connection with the disappearance.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Search for missing UF student continues

By Chris Alcantara | Sep. 25, 2012

Diego Aguilar, 43, and the volunteers were part of dozens of friends and family who searched the woods near Cabana Beach Apartments and State Road 121 on Monday for Christian Aguilar.

Students stand on Museum Road outside Beaty Towers on Monday night after they evacuated due to a fire alarm caused by a stove fire on the sixth floor of Beaty East.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Late-night fire in Beaty Towers leads to student evacuation

By Chris Alcantara | Sep. 24, 2012

A small kitchen fire on a stove led to students living in Beaty Towers being evacuated late Monday night.

Junior defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd limps off the field during a game against Kentucky at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday. Floyd was one of several Florida players who suffered injuries during the conference game.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF football dealing with injuries heading into bye week

By ADAM PINCUS | Sep. 24, 2012

Muschamp introduced the catch phrase “Man down, man up” after Florida’s game against Texas A&M, and the words have never been more relevant.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Healthy locals volunteer as patients for med school students

By Alex M. Sanchez | Sep. 24, 2012

The Harrell Professional Development Assessment Center, part of the UF College of Medicine, uses standardized patients to let medical students practice everything from reading vital signs to performing prostate exams.

Florida head coach Will Muschamp exchanges words with a referee during a game against Kentucky at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday. Although the Gators defeated the Wildcats 38-0, Muschamp said on Monday that Florida has room for improvement.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Column: Despite rout, Gators not perfect

By JOSH JURNOVOY | Sep. 24, 2012

Will Muschamp isn’t putting much stock in the Gators’ latest win, and neither should you.

Sport management sophomore Joe DaSilva, 19, helps Rolanda Charles, 18, get registered to vote on Monday afternoon.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Mass voter registration event today

By Korrie Francis | Sep. 24, 2012

The Bob Graham Center for Public Service, with the help of other civic-minded students, is attempting to change that today, National Voter Registration Day. The center will host its Swing the State: Voter Registration Roundup event from noon to 5 p.m. at the Pugh Hall Ocora.

Junior wide receiver Andre Debose returns a kick off against Tennessee at Kyle Field on Sept. 15, 2010. Debose was pushed into a window during a brawl Saturday night.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Debose mostly absent due to struggles with consistency

By JOE MORGAN | Sep. 24, 2012

Andre Debose has disappeared.

Havana Solaun (19) moves past Tennessee midfielder Alison Clarke (11) at James G. Pressly Stadium.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Sophomore midfielder stepping up on offense for Gators

By LANDON WATNICK | Sep. 24, 2012

By nature, Havana Solaun is a calm person.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Florida freshmen make strong first impression in singles

Sep. 24, 2012

Entering last weekend, Allie Will was the last UF freshman to win her first three singles matches, doing so in 2009.

Hallie Peterson, 19, returned $2,655 in cash and checks she found in a parking lot. Peterson is working her way through college and said keeping the money didn’t feel right.

NEWS | SFC

Santa Fe College student finds, turns in missing $2,655

By Emily Padgett | Sep. 24, 2012

A pile of damp checks and cash sat on the ground on the parking lot. Hallie Peterson, a 19-year-old Santa Fe College nursing sophomore, scooped up the $2,655 bundle Sept. 18 and immediately started looking for its owners.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Diabetes patients capture disease in five photographs

By Allison McDaniel | Sep. 24, 2012

Some UF researchers have challenged diabetes patients to sum up their disease in five snapshots.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF International Center to host Study Abroad Fair

By Tatila Brock | Sep. 24, 2012

The UF International Center will host its Fall Study Abroad Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday on the Reitz Union Colonnade.

Second-year printmaking graduate student Jessica Normington, 26, works on an installation for GRADhaus. The installation represents neurons working inside her head.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Master of Fine Arts students get new studio space

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Sep. 24, 2012

The new Graduate Research for Art Development studios, also known as GRADhaus studios, will officially open to the public at 7:30 p.m. Friday during Artwalk Gainesville. GRADhaus, which will be open for visitors at least once a semester, will be christened with a champagne toast.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Speakers debate drugs

By Andrea Carroz | Sep. 24, 2012

The University Auditorium was filled with attendees for Accent Speakers’ Bureau “The Great Weed Debate: Heads vs. Feds” event. The debate featured veteran Drug Enforcement Administration agent Bob Stutman and High Times editor Steve Hager.