January 9, 2019

Page 1

www.alligator.org

We Inform. You Decide.

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 44

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2019 Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

Not officially associated with the University of Florida

Voting rights restored for felons in Alachua County ABOUT 50 PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE AT THE ALACHUA COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE. By Karina Elwood Alligator Staff Writer

Daniel Reese never got to vote. About seven years ago, he lost his right to. Reese, a 31-year-old High Springs resident, was convicted in his early twenties for aggravated stalking, which he said he attributes to mental health issues. “I was worried about partying and having fun and doing all the other normal kid stuff. So I never got to vote,” Reese said at the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office. “People can grow and change.” Tuesday marked the day about 1.4 million felons in Florida could start registering to vote again after Amendment 4 passed in November. Reese gained that right back and

joined about 50 other new voters who registered at the elections office, said TJ Pyche, the elections office spokesperson. Those 50 may not all be felons. The amendment restores the rights of felons who completed their sentencing, excluding those convicted of murder or felony sexual offenses, Pyche said. Florida voters approved the amendment with 64.5 percent last November, according to the Florida Division of Elections. Tequila McKnight, a 42-year-old Gainesville resident and felon, has not voted since 2007. She said she registered to get her voice back, especially on topics about her children’s schooling. “I want to vote so bad. I didn’t realize back when I was younger how important voting was,” she said. “I’m an everyday person. I need to vote. I’m not a bad person, I just made a bad decision.” @karina_elwood kelwood@alligator.org

Students can 3D print metal in Infinity Hall THE DEVICE IS ONE OF A COUPLE HUNDRED INSTALLED ACROSS THE WORLD. By Kelly Hayes Alligator Staff Writer

UF students can now use a $200,000 printer to create projects in stainless steel. The first and only 3D metal printer in Florida opened for use Monday in the UF Infinity Fab Lab in Infinity Hall, lab director Juan Griego said. The printer, made by Markforged, a 3D printing company, uses medicalgrade stainless steel to create everything from medical tools to jewelry. “It’s really leading edge, anyone that comes to visit will be one of the first folks to have a metal-printed part,” Griego said. UF bought the printer using an award from a UF student inventors program. It costs $15 to $30 for students to print smaller items and can

cost more than $100 for larger items, Griego said. There are under 200 of these devices available worldwide, Griego said. UF is one of the first institutions to have access to this type of printer and offers the lowest cost nationwide. The first time Jenny McCloskey, a 22-year-old UF art junior, used a 3D printer was to create a plastic model of a brain ventricle, a cavity within the brain, for a health class. She said printing creations in stainless steel would give a new edge to her future projects. “I was very skeptical of 3D printers since I was used to traditional methods of sculpture,” she said. “After I took a class on it, it definitely changed my mind.”

Gators men’s basketball needs an attitude adjustment

Coach Mike White emphasized an increase in intensity and aggression for his team as it prepares to play Arkansas. See what he had to say, pg. 14.

@kellyrhayes khayes@alligator.org

Chris King / Alligator Staff

Harry Jones, a 61-year-old Alachua County resident and felon, registers to vote Tuesday at the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections office. Jones, who has been out of prison for 13 years, had his right to vote restored after Amendment 4 passed in the 2018 midterm election. Tuesday was the first day Amendment 4 was put into effect, and about 50 registered to vote in person, said TJ Pyche, the elections office spokesperson.

Police arrest man accused of shooting at November concert THE GPD SWAT TEAM DEACTIVATED AFTER THE SHOOTING. By Katherine Wallace-Fernandez and Josephine Fuller Alligator Staff Writers

Gainesville Police arrested an event coordinator for attempted murder on Jan. 2 in connection to a November rap concert shooting. Gainesville Police’s SWAT team deactivated after the shooting. Jonathan Corey Smith, a 46-year-old Gainesville man known as “Jock Smooth,” was accused of shooting a promoter he was working with in the chest, according to a sworn complaint said. Smith and the promoter were working on the Boosie Badazz concert on Nov. 4 at the Heart of the City Hookah Lounge, at 1221 E University Ave., police said. The two argued about money during the show. After the concert, the other promoter went into the hookah lounge, police said. At 1:31 a.m., Smith began shooting at the

What’s coming up this year

Here’s what 2019 will bring in UF’s Student Government, Gainesville City Commission and UF administration, pg. 5.

From UF students to app developers

These UF alumni want to help students save money, pg. 4.

promoter and continued firing after the man fell to the floor, the complaint said. The promoter was shot once in the chest and was then taken to a hospital. Police said the man was released from the hospital Smith the next day. Smith remains in the Alachua County Jail on a $1.25 million bond. Days after the concert, the local police union criticized how the department handled the shooting. Four officers resigned from the SWAT team after the union sent a letter to the city manager and Gainesville Police. On Nov. 19, GPD Chief Tony Jones wrote a letter to Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell asking for the sheriff’s office’s SWAT team to handle all calls and search warrants until Tuesday. GPD will continue to request the use of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team until March 25, Chief Inspector Jorge Campos

FOLLOW US ONLINE FOR UPDATES @FloridaAlligator @TheAlligator_ @TheAlligator

SEE GPD, PAGE 4


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