The horrifying terrorist acts of Hamas took the lives of nearly 700 Israeli civilians Saturday, the most amount of Jews killed in one day since the Holocaust. My thoughts and prayers go out to every single Israeli, Jewish person or any family member who has mourned a loss these past weeks. Now imagine 75 years of that loss.
What it means to be Jewish transformed for me on Monday. At 8:55 p.m. in Turlington Plaza, a loud noise ruptured the silence of prayer. On Monday, identifying as a Jew meant running as fast as I could without realizing the road was shredding the soles of my feet because my Birkenstocks were pulled out from under me in the mass exodus
I was born to immigrant parents in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Continents away from my roots, my parents placed me in a local Islamic school to teach me the fundamentals of my religion and language. It wasn’t until the third grade that they realized my learning would benefit from a secular education. That’s where a rift in my identity began to open.
College life — the long-awaited chapter in our lives supposed to be filled with newfound freedom, unforgettable memories and endless opportunities. It's the moment we've all been waiting for since childhood, right? What happens when dreams don't quite match reality?
“What the hell is Pizza Party?” Being a new political party, we are accustomed to hearing this… However, instead of discouraging us, it only reinforces our belief that Pizza Party is exactly what this campus needs!
Vision Party, a novel political party, embodies the spirit of breaking free from the traditional dichotomy. Vision is composed of former members from both political parties who grew tired of political polarization and Senate gridlock.
Change Party’s story has always been as an underdog. From the caucus’ origins in Fall 2021 to our first-ever majority in the Student Senate two years later, we are ready to continue delivering for you. Yes, *you*!
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 2024 Presidential campaign has been fraught with problems since its very beginning. From an online campaign announcement that failed disastrously to a complete loss of ground in national polling numbers, DeSantis’ grip on his second-place poll rank is slipping.
In the vibrant palette of American multiculturalism, my experience stands as a testament to the beauty of diversity, the profoundness of heritage, and the challenges and joys of dancing between two distinct worlds.
Today, as a Hispanic student living in Gainesville, my life consists of pseudo-religious as well as biweekly visits to Mi Apa and Flaco’s. However, despite the ease and comfort evoked by Hispanic fast food, nothing beats la comida casera.
The Hispanic community faces a unique and complex challenge: the art of code-switching. This linguistic duality allows us to navigate a world where cultural identity, professional advancement and social integration come together.
The Student Health Psychiatry has moved from the Counseling and Wellness Center to the new Student Health Care Center. Placing mental health resources and physical health resources in the same building seems to be a silent win.
In his State of the University Address, UF President Ben Sasse said something that should concern every student who receives Bright Futures or other financial aid: “We lose money on every student.” In my view, this is not a tragic boon like Sasse is implying. A public service, which I view a public university as a type of, should not be run with profit in mind.
Despite the attacks on unions from Florida's legislature, Graduate Assistants United has achieved a historic win for our members. As a certified labor union, we have the legal authority to bargain with our employer over our Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Understanding all of Florida’s legislation is overwhelming; bills pass during a short period and it seems there is too much to keep up with. However, it is crucial to know how legislation is currently impacting Floridians. A few notable policy areas for the 2023 legislative session include abortion, gender-affirming care and immigration.
The legislation written about in this article, all hot-button issues, serve to 1) protect and defend the most innocent and vulnerable; 2) afford eligible American citizens unfettered access to a constitutional privilege; and 3) stave off the smuggling of drugs, humans and the resulting violence occurring at the U.S. southern crossings. In truth, we should all like to see legislation advance across the states, in one form or another.
UF College Republicans hosted Christian preacher Derek Paul as the speaker for their first meeting of the semester Sept. 6. Paul identifies himself as an “ex-gay” who overcame his same-sex attraction through the Christian faith. As a queer woman who was once religious, a lot of emotions and thoughts came up at the prospect of writing about his speech. I was angry, confused and asked myself a lot of questions.
We call ourselves an AI university. The artificial intelligence page of the UF website claims we are on the brink of a fourth digital revolution. The page — singularly focused on our AI policy and research — highlights specific uses of the technology. The highlights given should be an example of how the president can reshape his communications. The information is there, he just needs to communicate it.
Effective July 1, the Florida Legislature passed SB 256 — a bill specifically intended to limit the power of educators labor unions in the state. Among other things, the bill requires educators unions like GAU to obtain and maintain 60% membership.
This past week the City of Gainesville, along with many other cities and counties across the coastal south, dealt with the effects of Hurricane Idalia. Gainesville and Alachua County were fortunate to miss the worst of the storm, but the sound of chainsaws could be heard across the city as fallen trees and limbs were cleared from roads, lawns and, yes, homes.
Solutions by The State News
