Jan. 24, 2020

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VOLUME 114 ISSUE 50

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2020 Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

Not officially associated with the University of Florida

Ranking schools doesn’t close achievement gap in Alachua County, experts say

CH LUN H WIT TE H LOC

EAST GAINESVILLE SCHOOLS RANK LOWER AND FACE CLOSURE BY THE STATE

By Hannah Phillips Alligator Staff Writer

Nushrat Nur // Alligator Staff

Ryan Lochte, 12-time Olympic medalist and American competitive swimmer, serves food at Grace Marketplace, a homeless resource center in Gainesville, Wednesday morning.

Gator, Inspire announce executive tickets THEY ANNOUNCED WITHIN HOURS OF EACH OTHER

By Chasity Maynard Alligator Staff Writer

As presidential campaign ads plow across social media feeds and commercial breaks, students must consider six more candidates. Gator Party and In-

spire Party announced their executive tickets Thursday.

Trevor Pope will run as Student Body president, Lauredan Official as Student Body vice president and Jessica Jesurajan as Student Body treasurer in Gator Party’s first executive ticket since their creation in Fall. Pope and Jesurajan were previously Impact Party senators.

These tickets follow a semes-

Florida welcomes LSU to Gainesville SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT Story description finish with comma, pg# for a top-10 bout UF and LSU are meeting for the 24th straight time with both teams ranked in the top 10, pg. 10

ter of controversy surrounding Student Government, including an impeachment resolution of the current Impact-affiliated Student Body President. Matthew Diaz co-filed the impeachment resolution with four other Inspire senators.

Inspire announced Diaz is running as Student Body president, Emily Hyden as Student Body vice president and Matthew Barocas as Student Body

treasurer in a Facebook post Thursday evening.

Gator Party announced its ticket at Gator Walk Thursday afternoon. Family, friends and party members gathered around an orange and white balloon arch for the announcement, some sporting “HOPE IN T POPE” T-shirts.

“Really our motto and a lot of the reason why I’m running

Money matters In 1999, the Florida legislature passed the A+ Plan for Education, which gave way to the A through F grading system for schools. Test-based accountability was meant to track and improve public education by offering incentives to higher-scoring schools, said Jackie Johnson, the spokeswoman for Alachua County Public Schools.

The consequences of this plan are becoming more evident 21 years later. School grades are used

SEE EXEC, PAGE 3

How do Latinx students feel about politics?

They can be pretty divided on it, pg. 5

Lawton M. Chiles Elementary was an A-graded school — until it wasn’t.

In 2011, parents received a letter from thenprincipal Judy Black explaining that Chiles failed to meet its progress goals for the year. Its state-assigned grade, based on student performance on standardized tests, dropped to a B. The final lines of the letter point an accusatory finger.

“Black, economically disadvantaged students need to make improvements in reading and math,” according to the letter.

A parent who received the letter said she was appalled. She still keeps a copy of it today.

“My black child didn’t make your grade go down,” she said. “When you say stuff like that, it just reinforces what a lot of wealthier parents already think.”

She pulled her son from Chiles soon after receiving the letter. She is currently a public school teacher in Alachua County and spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution from school authorities.

The problem expressed in the Chiles letter isn’t exclusive to Alachua County. All over Florida, school grades indicate that the success gap is growing between white and black students — the Florida public school grading system isn’t working to close that gap, experts say.

The Alligator reached out to the Florida Senate for comment, but they did not respond before publication.

SEE GRADES, PAGE 4

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Want to nap in Library West?

A new committee could help with that , pg. 6

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2 ALLIGATOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2020

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WHAT’S HAPPENING? FRIDAY Playlist at the Pointe Where: Celebration Pointe When: 7-9 p.m.

What: Playlist at the Pointe is a music event that offers an eclectic mix of music from numerous genres, such as country, rock, soul and more. Listen to guitarist David Feder and grab a bite at one of Celebration Pointe’s many restaurants.

Lone Star Spirits Opening Night Where: The Hippodrome, located at 25 SE Second Place When: 8-10 p.m.

What: Opening night for Lone Star Spirits in a collaboration between the Hippodrome and freeFall Theatre, play that the Huffington Post calls "an abundance of humor, warmth and wisdom."

Annual White Party at Simon’s Where: Simon’s, located at 8 S. Main St. When: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

What: Vida Social Productions’ Annual White Party moves to Simon’s Nightclub for 2020.

At this annual World Peace awareness party, there will be free well drinks for people wearing white. Presale tickets are at $8 for the first 200 people. Music will be provided

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Lunar New Year Where: Stage 7 Karaoke, located at 4110 SW 34th St. When: 7 p.m.

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SATURDAY Amazing Pollinators Exhibit Opening Day Where: The Florida Museum of Natural History, located at 3215 Hull Road When: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

What: Amazing Pollinators is a new exhibit at the Florida Museum of Natural History that features 48 game-style missions. Exhibit goers can become pollinators like bats, bees, beetles and butterflies to play parlor games with a twist, such as ecosystem Jenga and invasive species shuffleboard.

The exhibit’s centerpiece is a colorful maze filled with different habitats from around the world. Exhibit admission is $8 for adults, $7 for Florida residents and $5.50 for ages 3-17. Museum members and UF students with a valid Gator 1 card receive free admission.

Wild and Scenic Film Festival 2020 Where: Swamp Head Brewery, located at 3650 SW 42nd Ave. When: 5 p.m-10 p.m.

What: The Wild and Scenic Film Festival will showcase 14 screened films that focus on adventure and environmental showcases of the Earth’s beauty. The event, sponsored by the Florida Trail Association, will also feature live music, guest speakers, raffle items, beverages and food. Tickets are free for attendees 10 and younger, $12 pre-paid or $15 at the door for general admission and $10 pre-paid or $12 at the door for students, seniors, veterans and active FTA members.

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alligator.org/calendar Blackfoot Gypsies, Candlelight Cassia and Caleb Edens Where: The High Dive, located at 210 SW Second Ave. When: 9:30 p.m.

What: The Blackfoot Gypsies are a rock quartet with energy and soul from Nashville, Tennessee. Special guests include Candlelight Cassia and Caleb Edens. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

Must be 18 or older unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. $3 cover for anyone under 21.

Sunshine State Book Festival Where: The Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall, located at 3000 NW 83rd St. When: 5-7 p.m.

What: The Sunshine State Book Festival, produced by the Writers Alliance of Gainesville, showcases 75 area authors, as well as hourly author talks and free book drawings. There is also a "Children's Corner" for storytelling and activities.

SUNDAY Puppy Yoga Where: Flow Space, located at 117 NW 16th Ave. When: 2-3:45 p.m.

What: This class at Flow Space is a normal yoga class that includes 12-week old Labrador Retriever future guide-dog puppies. No prior yoga experience is necessary for the event. The event costs $20 for members and will be $25 pre-register and $30 at the door for guests. The event is presented by UF Puppy Club and proceeds from the event will go toward Walkathon, the Southeastern Guide Dogs’ annual fundraiser.

Clothing Swap and Short Environmental Videos Where: The Repurpose Project, located at 1920 NE 23rd Ave. When: 3 p.m-5 p.m.

What: The Repurpose Project’s “Zero Waste Week” features a clothing swap and a showing of several short environmental videos. Local experts on environmental topics will lead discussions and answer questions.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2020 ALLIGATOR 3

This is Gator Party’s irst executive ticket since they were created in Fall EXEC, from pg. 1 and coming back into the world of Student Government... is just to instill hope,” Pope said.

Pope, a first-year UF Law student, said he wants to lead by example by crossing the aisle this semester. Pope was Student Government’s allocations chair, he’s a Cicerone and involved in the Freshman Leadership Council.

Diaz has served in the Senate for two terms Inspire Party, is the vice President of Volunteers for International Student Affairs and on the board of Together UF, a coalition of the big nine organizations.

Diaz said he sees a divide between SG and the students, and he wants to mend it.

“It’s increasing Student Government accountability, pushing for more inclusivity… and making sure that we’re transparent,” he said. “Making sure that when there is mistakes or when there’s stuff that the Student Body doesn’t like it’s addressed, and it’s talked about in an open dialogue.”

Official, who serves as the Leadership and Service Cabinet chair and is a member of the Black Student Union said he wants to talk to students and encourage them to use their freedom.

“I really want to hear the students’ ideas, because I don’t like the idea of putting my own notions too far ahead of the Student Body’s,” he said.

Hyden led the Blue Light Protest in Fall, which resulted in four blue lights on campus. She said she wants to continue to make campus safer and to listen to the concerns of all students.

“My goals are to voice the concerns of students, all students of all backgrounds, and do that through my cabinet as the vice president to represent the Student Body better as a whole and make campus safer for students and just more accessible for everyone,” the international studies junior said. @chasitymaynard0 cmaynard@alligator.org

Courtesy to The Alligator

Left: Gator Party’s executive candidates Trevor Pope, Lauredan Official and Jessica Jesurajan.

Right: Inspire Party’s executive candidates Matthew Diaz, Emily Hyden and Matthew Barocas.

Number of Latinx Students at UF almost doubled in the last decade LATINX STUDENTS AT UF WENT FROM 5,748 IN 2006 TO 10,716 IN 2018

By Christopher S. Cann Alligator Staff Writer

More Latinx students are enrolled in universities than ever before in the United States, including UF. According to a comprehensive data analysis by the National Center for Education Statistics, more Latinx students have graduated from universities this decade than any previous one.

The number of Hispanic and Latinx students has increased from 11.16 percent in 2006 to 19.11 percent in 2018, according to the annual Fall cohort headcount. The next enrollment and demographics update is set to arrive in February.

Steve Orlando, a UF spokesman, said in an email since 2006 the percentage of Hispanic and Latinx stu-

dents has been steadily trending upward.

UF’s class of 2023 broke records and set new standards with their test scores and GPAs. Hispanic and Latinx students make up 19 percent of the class.

The number of UF undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees awarded to Latinx students in the 2007-2008 school year was 1,505.

That number has since jumped to 2,606 for the 2017-2018 school year.

Nationally, Latinx graduation rates have increased by 70 percent over the past decade. Enrollment numbers between the ages of 18-24 increased from 27 percent in 2017.

More Latinx people in college earned a college degree from 2005 to 2017.

Karina Fernandez, a 22-year-old UF international studies senior, is a co-fundraising chair of the Hispanic Student Association. She says HSA is a cultural safe space for her.

“It reminds me of home,” she said.

Fernandez has seen HSA grow over her time at UF. With the newly rebuilt La Casita on University Avenue, she anticipates that HSA will continue to gain traction among Latinx students on campus.

“As an almost UF graduate of Hispanic descent, it feels empowering to know that the Latinx community on campus has nearly doubled in the last decade,” she said. “I think it adds to the increasing diversity on campus and will hopefully make way for greater minority representation at UF and in the real world.”

La Casita, UF’s Institute of Hispanic-Latino Cultures, recently moved from a room in the Reitz Union to a brand new two-story building as a part of a $9.9 million project funded by the UF Capital Investment Trust Fund.

La Casita recently hosted its first class on Latinx studies in early January, which was taught by Nicholas Vargas, a UF professor. The class focuses on issues related to Latinx cul-

tural identity and provides students with greater knowledge of how Latinx people have contributed to the foundation of the United States.

Camila Peralta, a 19-year-old UF anthropology freshman, loves the increasing diversity that comes along with an increase in Hispanic students attending UF. Her parents went to local technical schools, and their experiences are not easily relatable to most college experiences today, she said. When Peralta received her admission to UF, her parents were overjoyed.

“The whole reason their families came to America was so that my parents and their children could go to college,” she said.

As a second-generation immigrant, Peralta says she can see her parents’ sacrifice for her success and opportunity.

“I’ve seen my dad cry twice and that was when my grandpa died and when I got into UF,” she said.

Peralta is happy to know more

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and more Latinx students can enroll in great schools, not just at UF but globally, and hopefully make their parents as proud as she made her own.

“I think it helps to know that there are things like HSA, La Casita and other cultural groups on campus that I can relate to,” she said. “Overall, I’d say interacting with other Latin students whether in clubs or in class is what really makes me feel connected.” @chrstophercann ccann@alligator.org Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled 2008: 12.10 percent 2018: 19.11 percent Hispanic/Latinx graduates 2007-2008: 1,505 students 2017-2018: 2,606 students

4 ALLIGATOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2020

Higher grade schools get a bonus GRADES, from pg. 1 to determine how much and what kind of funding a school receives, but Johnson said this doesn’t take challenges disadvantaged students face into account.

“There have been many concerned that it’s an overly simplistic way of reflecting what’s going on in a school,” she said. “A lot of things affect a child’s behavior on a standardized test.”

Schools that earn an A grade also earn an “A+ bonus,” a supplemental pot of money that may go to the salary of a school’s teachers and other school staff. It can additionally be used to purchase new resources like textbooks and computers, Johnson said.

Of Alachua County’s 20 public elementary schools, four earned A’s and three earned D’s in 2019. Three of the A schools, located exclusively in West Gainesville, were given bonuses. The D schools, located exclusively in East Gainesville, weren’t.

Low-performing schools do receive money elsewhere. Title I is an initiative that provides economically disadvantaged schools with more funding to support supplemental staff and longer instruction time.

But these resources aren’t enough to close the gap, said Carmen Ward, the president of the Alachua County Education Association.

Many of the schools earning the A+ bonus are already afforded more resources than lower-graded schools by virtue of their location, she said.

“Everything comes back to funding,” she said.

Schools in West Gainesville benefit from active parent-teacher associations and newer facilities than schools in East Gainesville due to the socioeconomic makeup of families zoned for those schools, Ward said.

The PTA at Kimball Wiles Elementary School raises enough money to supply teachers with $200-$500 grants each year, she said.

The Westwood Middle School PTA is currently fundraising to purchase a 3D printer worth $723, according to a fundraising website.

“It’s disgusting,” Ward said. “Every student in the state should have the same experience and resources, no matter their ZIP code.”

Racial barriers Most of Alachua County’s low-grade schools are located in East Gainesville. Data from the Florida Department of Education shows these schools have students with more economic disadvantages and disabilities, as well as more non-native English speakers, compared to schools in West Gainesville.

These factors are barriers to student success, Johnson said.

“It’s like asking us to start a race,” said Valerie Freeman, the county’s equity director.

“Except one of us is missing a leg.”

The percentage of economically disadvantaged students at Idylwild and Lake Forest Elementary Schools in East Gainesville was 100 percent in the 2018-19 school year, according to state data. That same percentage at Hidden Oak and Meadowbrook in West Gainesville was around 33 percent.

Idylwild and Lake Forest are currently D graded schools. Hidden Oak and Meadowbrook are both graded A. A majority of the students who attend Alachua’s disproportionately disadvantaged schools such as Idylwild, Lake Forest and Joseph Williams Elementary Schools are black, according to data from the Florida Department of Education.

Grades aren’t good indicators of a school’s value, said the teacher who withdrew her son from Lawton M. Chiles Elementary, a highperforming school. The success gap is exacerbated by racial discrimination at schools of all grades.

Within the first week of school, her son was recommended for lower-level reading classes, she said. These would take place while other students attend extracurricular classes like art and recess.

“I said, ‘No, we’re not doing that,’” she said. “‘The boy can read. Give him more time.’”

Later in the year, her son was tested again.

This test revealed he was gifted and in need of a more advanced curriculum. She said that his teacher didn’t want to give him a chance to excel, which is common for black boys in school.

“White boy Tommy walks in the classroom jumping up and down, and it’s OK. The

teacher doesn’t say anything,” she said. “But James, on the other hand, comes in, and he’s jumping up and down and suddenly there’s a problem.”

County solutions Alachua County launched an equity initiative in 2018 to bridge the success gap between East and West Gainesville schools by improving grades. The initiative encourages equitybased teacher training and looks to hire more literacy and math coaches for low-income schools.

Freeman said the standardized tests used to calculate school grades don’t take into account each student’s unique circumstances.

“Our job is to level the playing field as much as possible for all students,” she said.

This means connecting parents who never completed high school with College Board recruiters. It means providing students with laptops, so they can do their homework and training staff on how to engage low-attending students, she said.

Changing teachers’ mindsets and mode of operation is an important part of this process, Freeman said. There is now a greater emphasis on cultural sensitivity and delivering curriculum in a way that is understood by all students, regardless of their background.

“Just because we thought it was the right way before doesn’t mean it’s the right way for every student,” she said.

The teacher who pulled her son out of Lawton M. Chiles Elementary said having

teachers understand the cultural differences of their students goes a long way. But the hardest part is getting teachers to have those conversations.

“Immediately, a teacher feels attacked,” she said. “Or they’ll say, ‘I didn’t come into education to hurt anyone.’ Right. No one did.

But some of the things you do unknowingly are hurting children.”

Freeman said equity will take time, but it’s necessary for student success. She said she won’t be complacent, even when the quantitative data shows they’ve reached their goals.

“Equity work can be a fad,” Freeman said.

“My job is to make sure that we don’t back off.

This is the right thing to do.” @haphillips96 hphillips@alligator.org

How the public school grading system works Every school year, students in grades three through 10 take Florida Standard Assessments in subjects like language arts, math and science. The scores they earn are used to calculate an overall grade for the entire school that can range from an A to an F. A-rated schools earn extra money from the state, while D and F-rated schools face threats of closure.

Hannah Phillips // Alligator Staff

The map shows the Alachua County public elementary schools graded A in West Gainesville and D in East Gainesville in 2019. Westside schools earn a bonus from the state for earning two consecutive A’s. Eastside schools, which face unique academic challenges that contribute to their low scores, do not.

Wor ship Guide Jewish

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11:00 am Sundays Followed by food and fellowship 702 NW 38th St. Gainesville, FL www.gainesvillequakers.org

UF Hillel All are welcome!

Reform & Conservative Friday Evening Services: 6pm Free Shabbat Dinner: 7 pm Join us for services, dinner, or both 2020 W. University Ave. ufhillel.org @UFHillel

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Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Student Center Your home away from home Friday Night Live!

Services & Shabbat Dinner: 7:30 pm (Spring/Fall) 8:30 pm (Summer) 352-336-5877 2021 NW 5th Ave (5 blocks north of the stadium) www.JewishGator.com

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The EpiscoGators Welcome You! Sunday Worship: 5:30 pm followed by a free home cooked meal for students.

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Gators for Christ campus ministry college group meets at University City Church on Sundays at 9 a.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Practical application from God’s word, plus service projects, large group events, free meals and much more... (directions and events calendar at www.gatorsforchrist.org) For rides, please call: 352-514-8261

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2020 ALLIGATOR 5

UF Latinx students: United by culture, divided by politics THERE ARE ABOUT 10,500 HISPANIC/LATINX UF STUDENTS

By Samantha Chery Alligator Staff Writer

Alana Rush’s mother nicknamed her “Salmon” because she goes against the current.

Rush, a Latinx woman, believes minorities should be pro-immigration. But navigating immigration issues can be an upstream battle for salmon like Rush. Her sentiment isn’t shared by everyone in her family or community.

The 21-year-old political science senior and secretary of the UF Dominican Student Association is one of more than 10,500 Hispanic/Latino students at UF in Fall 2018. Like other students, Rush’s experiences and cultural background as a Latinx woman have shaped her beliefs.

But while UF Latinx students share a similar culture, they have yet to find common ground on their politics.

Hispanics are predicted to become the largest minority group

of eligible voters in the 2020 election, according to the Pew Research Center. With the presidential election quickly approaching and Republican President Donald Trump seeking reelection, the Latinx voter turnout in battleground Florida, and their polarized views on immigration, the economy and foreign policy have the potential to greatly influence the election’s outcome.

As a Democrat, Rush disagrees with Trump’s hard-line immigration policies.

“People come into countries because they’re seeking help,” she said. “They’re seeking resources to help them live better lives, to live the American dream, and I feel like he’s just trying to stop that from happening.”

Rush’s great-grandmother, along with her kids, fled the Dominican Republic in the 1950s because of dictator Rafael Trujillo. Although Rush is liberal, she’s noticed that older Puerto Rican Army and Navy veterans on the other side of her family align with conservative values.

Rush believes her family’s conservative views stem from their

military service and growing up in a U.S. commonwealth, which gave them a strong sense of patriotism toward the U.S. as opposed to the Dominican side of her family.

When discussing politics with other Latinx students, Rush said she was often shocked by their agreement with conservative values.

Jarrod Rodriguez, the president of UF Turning Point USA and the treasurer of UF College Republicans, feels that President Trump has effectively addressed the concerns of Republicans.

Rodriguez’s family fled Cuba during Fidel Castro’s communist regime. While living in the U.S, he said his family told him stories about the horrors of communism.

He said he wants to maintain the American values that helped his grandparents thrive was one of the main reasons why he became interested in politics.

He believes Trump has received unnecessary criticism from Democrats for doing what other presidents have done before, particularly with immigration and foreign policy in the Middle East.

“We’ve been conducting air-

Field and Fork pantry offering cooking classes THE CLASSES WILL BE OFFERED ONCE A MONTH.

By Lillian Colon Alligator Contributing Writer

Students will have a chance to experience meals from around the world without leaving Gainesville.

Jenny Duong and Robert Colon, in collaboration with the UF Field and Fork Pantry and the UF food science and human nutrition department, are hosting global kitchen cooking classes and demonstra-

tions. The first free class was held Wednesday.

Duong, 19-year-old UF food science sophomore, and Colon, a 26-year-old UF dietetics junior are interns in the department.

The two hope the classes will help students sharpen their cooking skills and reduce food insecurity by giving demonstrations on how to buy cheap, healthy food. It’ll also teach students how to prepare and cook meals.

The pantry’s goal is to decrease food insecurity by providing meals,

according to its website.

A study done by the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences showed that of 244 first-year students polled at UF, 21.7 percent were food insecure. Food insecurity is defined as lacking access to healthy or adequate food, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Students will have to sign up every month on a Google Doc on the Field and Fork Pantry’s website. Each class has a maximum of 30 students on a first-come, first-

strikes for years and in fact, the ‘king of all airstrikes,’ Obama never caught fire from Congress for conducting airstrikes in that region,” he said.

On the other hand, Harrison Riumbau, also Cuban, leans left and serves as the Latinx caucus chairman for the UF College Democrats.

Cuban Americans who weren’t born in Cuba were reported as 41 percent Republican, with 28 percent identifying as Democrats, 29 percent as registered independents and 2 percent with another party registration, according to a 2018 poll from Florida International University.

Riumbau, a 19-year-old UF political science and economics sophomore, said there’s “no possible way” Trump could be seen as supportive to the Latinx community.

“Any reach that Trump has shown to appeal to any Latinx group has only been ... for personal benefit or political benefit in terms of elections,” Riumbau said. “And any other remarks that aren’t in that fashion have only been diminishing and destructive.”

Jacqueline Vanegas agrees with

served basis. Students will receive an email either stating they are a participant or have been put on a waitlist.

Student chefs will showcase dishes from a different country every month, including Vietnam, India, Morocco and Mexico.

“We wanted to feature countries with fresh ingredients and a unique spice blend,” Colon said.

All of the preparations are vegetarian, and most are vegan, but participants have the option to tweak the recipes to add meat to their meals.

In Wednesday’s class on Vietnamese food, Jenna Hidalgo, a

Riumbau’s assertion.

Vanegas, a 19-year-old Colombian and a UF political science and history freshman, serves as the College Democrats’ Latinx caucus chairwoman. Growing up in South Florida among a large Latinx community, she witnessed those around her fear breing deported under the Trump administration.

She believes Trump has fostered division and xenophobia between Americans and immigrants by choosing to build a border wall.

“Colorism within the Latino community is not only prominent socially, but also politically,” Vanegas said.

“When you think of immigration, you think of more mestizo, dark-skinned Latinos, and you see discrimination more toward them, rather than those Latinos who are white and come from European descent.”

Despite polarizing views within the Latinx community, Vanegas believes Latinx people still share underlying moral principles.

“There’s always going to be a pride of being Latino,” Vanegas said.

“While there can be different political views, I think at the end of the day, we all want what’s best for us.” @SammyChery4276 schery@alligator.org

19-year-old UF criminology sophomore learned how to make spring rolls and pho, traditional Vietnamese dishes.

“I always go out of my way to find restaurants that serve pho,” Hidalgo said. “When I found out that the class was on making pho, I knew I had to go.”

Countries featured in the cooking classes Feb. 19 — India March 18 — Morocco April 15 — Mexico

6 ALLIGATOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2020

Former U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and author discuss division in American Politics THE DISCUSSION FOCUSED ON POLITICAL DIVISION IN THE U.S.

By Grethel Aguila Alligator Staff Writer

While some might say the “united” in United States appears to be diminishing, a former senator and award-winning author believe they know a solution to reclaim unity: compromise.

Former Sen. Bill Nelson and author Jon Meacham held a discussion on political division in the Library East Grand Ballroom Thursday morning. The discussion was part of UF’s Nelson Initiative on Ethics and Leadership, which is a series of seminars, classes and a fellowship program.

The event, which drew about 200 people, was sponsored by the Bob Graham Center for Public Service, George A. Smathers Libraries and Levin College of Law. The exchange focused on political division in the United States throughout history and how it can be addressed.

During the discussion, Meacham, a Pulitzer prize-winning writer, expressed political division is a systemic issue in the United States, and it’s one that isn’t quite

new to the current election cycle.

Meacham said Americans should work to combat that political divisiveness.

“The story we want told, I would argue, is one where we open our arms and didn’t clench our fists,” he said.

Americans point to the moments of grace and outreach when leaders bring people together, Meacham said. George W. Bush visiting a mosque in Washington after 9/11; Barack Obama singing Amazing Grace in Charleston; and George H.W. Bush resigning from the National Rifle Association after the Oklahoma City bombing were a few examples.

Nelson, who served as a U.S. Senator between 2001 and 2019, said when he first arrived in Washington he noticed that politicians would disagree with one another but still remain respectful.

Nelson said the environment in Washington is a lot more divisive and hostile.

“The idea of being ladies and gentlemen started to go out the window when politics took front and center to win the next election,” Nelson said.

Katherine McCall, a 20-year-old UF economics junior, said the discussion was a good reminder that now is not the worst

Grethel Aguila // Alligator Staff

Former U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and author Jon Meacham discuss political division in the United States throughout history on Thursday morning. point in history the United States has faced. It’s also not too different from other points in history.

“This moment is about us and how we are as a people rather than politicians,” McCall said.

When asked his advice to solve America’s division, Nelson told The Alligator he encourages voters to choose the candidate

who they believe can bring the country together.

“Respect and humility is essential for the art of compromise to make government work,” Nelson said. “Compromise is the oxygen of democracy.” @GrethelAguila gaguila@alligator.org

UF Smathers Libraries are taking study breaks to a whole new level THE SMATHERS LIBRARIES WELLNESS COMMITTEE IS ADDING NAP PODS AND EXERCISE EQUIPMENT

By Tristan Wood Alligator Contributing Writer

Courtesy to The Alligator

Beau, a UF Health volunteer and therapy dog, smiles while laying on the library floor.

Libraries are usually homes of research and schoolwork, but a new wellness committee hopes to bring new activities to the UF Smathers Libraries.

The Smathers Libraries Wellness Committee is bringing nap pods, pedal desks and other wellness technology to its libraries, said Melissa Rethlefsen, the associate dean of Health Science Center Libraries and Fackler director of health.

The committee was formed by George A. Smathers Libraries in December 2019. Rethlefsen said it will focus on library wellness initiatives this semester to reduce student stress and burnout.

“The primary objective of the wellness committee is to combat student burnout through mental

and physical health,” she said. “Students will see most of committee work this semester around midterms and finals.”

She said the committee’s short-term goal for student wellness is to combine individual library resources so Smathers Libraries will have uniform wellness events among all the libraries during testing weeks. These events include meditation sessions, therapy dog visits, yoga classes and crafts.

Its long-term goals include spreading wellness resources, like pedal desks and nap pods, to all Smathers libraries on campus.

The committee is also currently working on a survey for library staff to address their wellness needs, Rethlefsen said.

“The committee is supposed to serve the wellness needs of the students, faculty and our staff for whenever they enter our libraries,” she said.

Another committee was formed in Fall 2017 for the Health Science Center Library, but the new committee is focused on bringing these resources to Smathers

Libraries, said Ariel Pomputius, leader of the Health Science Center Library’s wellness committee and representative on the Smathers Committee.

She said the committee also received a grant to get portable treadmills to put underneath standing desks for students to walk and study, which is expected to arrive this Summer.

Wellness tools such as puzzles, wellness books, fish tanks, bike desks, under-desk pedal exercisers and nap pods were put in the Health Science Library in Fall 2017, Pomputius said.

The two nap pods at the Health Science Library are massage chairs with an egg-shaped dome that can be pulled over the chair to block out outside light. Once encased, users can put on supplied noise-canceling headphones that play meditative music, and the user selects the nap length and the music on the panel in the chair’s arm.

“With wellness tech, it is important to remember that everyone approaches wellness differently,” Pomputius said.

UF student remains in UF Shands Hospital after parking garage fall LOCAL COMMUNITY SHARES SUPPORT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

By Samia Lagmis Alligator Staff Writer

After suffering a dangerous fall from a downtown parking garage, a UF student remains bedridden in the UF Health Shands Hospital as his family, friends and community unite on his difficult path to recovery.

Mitchell Capps, a Theta Chi fraternity member and 22-year-old UF forest resources and conservation junior, fell from a parking garage located on the 100th block of SW Second St. on Jan. 17.

After nearly a week in the hospital, Capps’ condition appears to be improving. His father, Bryan Capps

Sr., said doctors were able to remove his breathing tube Thursday.

“He looks much more himself, and he started moving his eyes and responding to voices today,” Capps Sr. said Thursday evening. “So we’re just overjoyed.”

Following the incident, Capps suffered a serious brain injury, two broken femurs, a broken pelvis, a broken ankle, a broken elbow, broken fingers and broken bones in his face, according to Capps Sr.’s Facebook post.

Capps’ mother, Kim Vaglivielo Capps, shared an update on Facebook Wednesday and wrote her son is showing more brain activity, and his doctor appeared to be encouraged by his eye movements.

“Praise God! Your prayers are working! Please continue praying and sharing Mitchell’s story with

anyone who prays,” Vaglivielo Capps wrote. “We feel the love and support and it’s helping us to get through each day. We love you all.”

A GoFundMe page created Tuesday by Capps’ older brother, Bryan Capps Jr., has already raised $40,525 of the $50,000 goal listed as of Thursday. The money raised will help defray the costs of recovery and Capps’ eventual return to school, according to the fundraiser’s page.

Capps Jr. shared the most recent update on the fundraiser page Wednesday: “Mitch’s surgeries so far have been going as well as possible, and he’s starting to show signs of increased activity,” he wrote. “He’s a fighter on his own, but I know that his progress so far wouldn’t be possible without all of you behind him.”

The UF Forestry Club will hold a benefit concert for Capps at First

Magnitude Brewing Company Saturday from 6-10 p.m. and feature one of Capps’ favorite bands, Kamasutra.

Proceeds will go toward helping the Capps family, said Hope Miller, the president of the UF Forestry Club.

Miller, a friend and classmate of Capps, said Capps’ family, friends and Theta Chi fraternity brothers will attend the concert.

She describes Capps as always being “such a bright spot in everyone’s day.”

“He always has a smile or a joke,” Miller said. “I just felt moved to help the family out in any way I could.”

Capps’ fall was reported to police at 10 p.m. Jan. 17, said Jorge Campos, a spokesman for the Gainesville Police Department. While police could not confirm which floor he fell from, Capps Sr. wrote in a Facebook post Sunday that his son fell from the

fourth floor of the garage.

Although Capps didn’t have identification on him following the incident, he was identified to authorities by one of his best friends who happened to drive by and recognized him.

Authorities are still investigating the circumstances of Capps’ fall.

Capps Sr. said he feels grateful for the support his family has received from the community following his son’s incident.

“There’s people all over the country who’ve just come out of the woodwork, and I could not be more grateful,” Capps Sr. said. “We don’t deserve it. I feel like the luckiest man in the world.” @SLagmis slagmis@alligator.org

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2020 ALLIGATOR 7

Ryan Lochte serves lunch to homeless at Grace Marketplace THE OLYMPIC MEDALIST AND GATOR ALUMNUS MOVED BACK TO GAINESVILLE.

By Valentina Botero Alligator Staff Writer

Olympic medalist and Gator alumnus Ryan Lochte traded in his swimmer’s cap for a hairnet to serve meals at Grace Marketplace Wednesday morning.

Between his Olympic practices, he volunteered at Grace Marketplace’s Cafe 131, located at 3055 NE 28th Ave., as part of his recent partnership with the company Piñata, a rent membership payment service where users can log in, pay their monthly rent and get rewards such as free coffee, said Piñata President Dimitri Falk. He said he partnered with

Grace Marketplace, so in the future, it will buy a homeless person’s meal every time people pay rent.

Lochte moved back to Gainesville from Los Angeles with his wife and two children to prepare for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, he said.

“If I want to get another shot at the Olympics, I gotta go back to where my swimming career started, and it was here at the University of Florida,” Lochte said.

However, training more than 25 hours a week doesn’t discourage Lochte from giving back to the community.

Lochte is feeding the homeless to celebrate this partnership. Piñata will track the number of people who pay its rent through the app on their website and donate meals to Grace on a monthly ba-

sis, said Justis Mendez, the business developer for Piñata.

Lochte plans to return back to Grace to volunteer while he is in Gainesville and said that this opportunity he had to interact with the homeless and see them smile was fun and rewarding. He said he will show his 2-year-old son the pictures when he gets older so he can learn to give back to the community.

Despite Lochte’s scandal at the last Olympics in Rio, the company thought he was the perfect person to represent the idea of unlocking your truest potential and becoming the best you can be, Mendez said.

Jon DeCarmine, the executive director for Grace, said he is excited to partner up with Piñata and work with them to end homelessness.

CJC starts memorial fund in the name of UF alumni Edward Aschoff IT WILL HELP A SPORTS JOURNALISM STUDENT.

By Allessandra Inzinna Alligator Staff Writer

UF College of Journalism and Communications set up a memorial fund in honor of one of its former students who became an ESPN reporter upon graduation.

Edward Aschoff graduated from UF in 2008 and became a sports reporter for ESPN in 2011.

He died Christmas Eve from HLH syndrome, a complication of pneumonia and underlying non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system — the disease-fighting system throughout the body.

“One of the common themes that you saw from a lot of people who were posting about him was that he was always willing to help someone else, someone else starting in the business or someone who’s trying to navigate their career,” said Ted Spiker, the chair of the department of

journalism. “He was special, and he was a great writer.”

Spiker said it has not yet been decided how the money will be used. However, the donations Aschoff might help students interested in sports journalism and media in some way.

Joseph Lara, a 23-year-old UF journalism junior specializing in sports and media, said he was shocked to hear about the loss of an alumnus in such a tight-knit program and is grateful for the fund.

“Setting up a fund like that, you’re going to remember his name, you’re going to remember his story,” Lara said. “And that’s something that’s going to be carried on as a legacy here at UF.”

@ainzinna ainzinna@alligator.org

Nushrat Nur // Alligator Staff

Ryan Lochte, 12-time Olympic medalist and American competitive swimmer, serves food at Grace Marketplace, a homeless resource center in Gainesville, Wednesday morning.

Piñata’s partnership with Grace is long-term, and its goal is to help the homeless find temporary work and teach them computer skills, Mendez said.

“Anything that might help in-

By Grethel Aguila Alligator Staff Writer

Pizza profits are a step toward ending homelessness in Gainesville.

On Tuesday, Satchel’s Pizza announced that it will award $12,000 to Grace Marketplace, a homeless shelter joint-funded by the City of Gainesville and Alachua County Commissions. Grace has provided assistance and emergency shelter to the homeless in Alachua County since 2014.

The City Commission passed a motion in September to increase funding for Grace Mar-

@lvbotero_ vbotero@alligator.org

Anita Hill discussion has students debating on Clarence Thomas teaching at UF Law ABOUT 30 PEOPLE ATTENDED AND ONLY FOUR WERE MALE

By Anna Wilder Alligator Staff Writer

More than an hour of discussion was not enough time to talk about what survivors wanted to say.

The UF Women’s Student Association and UF Law Believes Survivors discussed victim blaming Wednesday night, specifically discussing Anita Hill’s testimony.

UF Levin College of Law declined to comment when asked why Clarence Thomas was coming to teach despite the controversy.

In October 1991, Hill had a three-day hearing where she accused Thomas of sexually harassing her before he was appointed to the Supreme Court, according to the New York Times. He denied her claims and called the hearings a “hightech lynching.”

The UF law invited Thomas to teach at UF next week. The event was aimed to bring people together to discuss victim blaming and Hills’ testimony because students felt the university did not care about sexual harassment, said Ana Shaw, a 19-year-old exploratory sophomore and assistant program director for the Women’s Student Association.

“It basically speaks the fact that a lot of times this university seems to be overlooking the issues of sexual assault and harassment on campus,”

Shaw said.

Jose Pinski, a 20-year-old biology sophomore, was at the event and said he agreed with their perspective and was interested in understanding a woman’s viewpoint on these topics.

Thomas has been coming to UF law to teach courses on property and is going to be teaching a course on religious clauses. However, since the #MeToo movement, students were surprised when he was welcomed back onto campus.

Jarrod Rodriguez, a 20-year-old political science junior, said he is happy Thomas is teaching at UF law.

“It’s a great opportunity for UF students to hear from someone from the Supreme Court,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the allegations Hill made against Thomas are no longer really relevant, and they were just accusations. Thomas has proven to have made himself a respected member of the Supreme Court, he said.

Some students may not believe it’s a big deal that Thomas is teaching because he’s taught at UF before, but times are changing, said Dalia Figueredo, a 23-year-old UF law student from UF Law Believes Survivors said.

“We knew that there was probably no chance that he was going to be uninvited,” she said. “But keeping that in mind, we said okay, we’re not going to make it easy for them.”

Satchel’s Pizza donates to Grace Marketplace THE $12,000 DONATION WILL BENEFIT THE HOMELESS.

spire other folks to come out to be a part of the solution is valuable to us,” DeCarmine said.

ketplace following the county’s decision to reduce funding. Dignity Village, the homeless encampment surrounding Grace, remains open despite the city’s plans to close it by Jan. 1.

Many of its residents turn to Grace for services.

Grace Marketplace is a project that has reduced homelessness by 36 percent in Alachua County since it opened six years ago. This year, it plans to move 500 people into housing, said Jon DeCarmine, the executive director of Grace Marketplace.

Because of its need for a box truck, Grace received the Satch Capital grant, which supports local nonprofits by funding specific projects like what Grace accomplishes, according to Satchel’s website.

Due to the lack of transportation, Grace has been limited in the amount of donated food

and furniture it has been able to accept, DeCarmine said. Since it opened, the shelter has relied on volunteers with pickup trucks and a passenger van for transportation.

DeCarmine said purchasing a box truck will expand Grace’s ability to receive donations. It will also help transport items, given that the organization moves nearly one person into permanent housing each day.

“It’s one thing to help someone sign a lease, and it’s a completely different thing to fill that apartment with furniture so that it becomes a home,” DeCarmine said.

Grace has not yet received the check from the grant, he said. But once it does, it will purchase a box truck within three to four weeks.

The Satch Capital grant is supported by Satchel’s Pizza’s $1.50 ATM fee, which gener-

@anna_wilderr awilder@alligator.org ates $2,000 every month, said the restaurant’s owner Satchel Raye.

The restaurant is cash-only, and its ATM raises about $25,000 in fees annually to fund this grant and other smaller ones.

“If we had VISA and Mastercard, we would not see any of that money,” Raye said.

Local 501(c)(3) charitable organizations are eligible for the Satch Capital grant, he said.

A grant committee meets annually to discuss the proposals and choose a charity. Grace was chosen because of its need for a box truck.

“It’s really hard to figure out which is the most ‘deserving’,” Raye said. “A lot of times it boils down to who seems to need it the most or do the most.”

@GrethelAguila gaguila@alligator.org

How to Place a Classified Ad: Online: w/ major credit card at www.alligator.org/classifieds

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St. Francis House is a homeless shelter located in downtown Gainesville.

Our mission is to empower families with children to transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency by providing case management, housing, food, training and educational resources in a secure environment.

If interested in volunteering please contact the volunteer coordinator at 352-378- 9079 ext 317 or sfhcoor@stfrancis.cfcoxmail.com St Francis House depends on monetary support from individual donors and community businesses in order to provide meals to the homeless and the hungry.

To make a donation by mail, please send checks payable to St. Francis House P.O. Box 12491 Gainesville Fl 32604 or our website at

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This newspaper assumes no responsibility for injury or loss arising from contacts made through advertising. We suggest that any reader who responds to advertising use caution and investigate the sincerity of the advertiser before giving out personal information or arranging meetings or investing money.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2020 ALLIGATOR 9 from office after he was impeached by the House?

2. TELEVISION: What is Richie's last name in the 1970 -80s series "Happy Days"?

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1. U.S. STATES: Which two states share no borders with any other U.S. state?

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1.©LITERATURE: WhatSynd., is the motto 2020 King Features Inc. of “The Three Musketeers” in the 19th century novel?

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3. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: New York City is divided into how many boroughs?

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GYMNASTICS

Florida hosts LSU in titanic, top-10 showdown

By Noah Ram Sports Writer

Alligator File Photo

Alyssa Baumann posted a season-high 9.925 in the floor exercise against Missouri.

This is a meet over a year in the making.

It has been in the making since Jan. 18, 2019.

On that day last year, the Florida gymnastics team went into Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and got that monkey, or “Tiger,” off its back and shocked LSU. It was its first win over the Tigers since 2014 and it ended their 35-meet home win streak.

Now, tonight, we get the rematch.

The Gators will host the Tigers on Friday night in their biggest SEC meet of the season. It will be held at the O’Connell Center and begins at 7:15 p.m.

This meet looks to be another chapter in this rivalry involving two of the most successful programs in the country. Florida and LSU have made three of the last four Super Sixes. The meet on Friday will be the 24th-consecutive the teams will meet with both ranked in the top 10.

These two teams have played each other incredibly close. Of their 22 meetings since 2013, 17 have been decided by less than half a point.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

“It’s been a very close rivalry over the last couple years,” coach Jenny Rowland said.

No. 2 Florida will be looking to bounce back from a less-than-stellar performance last week in a win over No. 19 Missouri in Columbia. Despite the 196.85-195.60 win, UF (2-0) really didn’t get it going until the third rotation.

“It was a situation last week we are not used to,” Rowland said. “They had an ice storm come through and it was a small crowd so the energy level was not up, and we just started a little too tight.”

Although the score may have been lower than expected, there were still some positives to take away from the meet.

Sophomore Nya Reed equaled her career-high of 9.875 to win the vault title for the secondstraight week, and sophomore Trinity Thomas won her second beam (9.925) and floor (9.95) title in a row.

UF’s depth continues to be arguably the most impressive tool it has. Coach Rowland is able to roll out different lineups in each event every week and see the same top-flight results.

“There is definitely a lot more depth this year than we’ve had in the past,” junior Alyssa Baumann said. “I think it really pushes the team more, because we are competing for lineup spots each meet.”

For example, Baumann performed on the vault two weeks ago against Arkansas, but was replaced

by Skaggs last week, who then proceeded to notch the second-highest score on the team (9.800).

No. 8 LSU comes to Gainesville with a 3-0 record. It has already faced SEC foes, No. 8 Georgia and No. 20 Auburn. Freshman Kiya Johnson won the SEC Freshman of the week for her performance against Auburn, scoring a 39.60 in the all-around category. The Tigers are coming off a second-place finish at last year’s NCAA Championship, their best finish in school history.

“This team really thrives on being able to compete and show off in front of Gator nation," Rowland said. "And having LSU on top of that really just amplifies everything.” @Noah_ram1 nram@alligator.org

Cup of Joe

Keys for UF vs. No. 1 Baylor A case of missing identity plagues the Gators

By Evan Lepak and Brendan Farrell Sports Writers

The Gators men’s basketball team welcomes No. 1 Baylor to the O’Dome on Saturday in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, making this the third season in a row that Florida has faced the top team in the country. UF has also never won a regular-season matchup against a No. 1 team, losing its last 13 attempts.

Two of our basketball writers, Evan Lepak and Brendan Farrell, each have one aspect to keep an eye on in UF's game against the Bears.

UF will need to disrupt Baylor’s offensive efficiency Baylor and Florida are very similar teams on paper, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

According to KenPom, both squads share comparable numbers in offensive efficiency and tempo.

The Bears are 25th and 290th, respectively in those categories, and because of this, they rarely turn the ball over. The team is averaging 11.9 per game, which is secondbest in the Big 12.

In order for the Gators to win Saturday’s game, their defense will need to be active and disruptive.

Initially, the team will have plenty of energy thanks to the expected

sell-out crowd at the O’Connell Center, so it’ll be important for Florida to get off to a positive start by controlling the pace of play early.

Another key part of the game on Saturday will be on the glass.

Baylor has a long and athletic frontcourt highlighted by 6-foot-9 forward Freddie Gillespie who averages 9.4 boards per game, good for third in the Big 12.

UF big men Kerry Blackshear Jr. and Omar Payne have the height to compete with him, but will that translate under the basket?

On Tuesday, LSU bullied the Gators down low, out-rebounding UF 38-28 and corralling an eyeopening 15 offensive rebounds.

Payne and Blackshear Jr. combined for just nine rebounds, while LSU’s top rebounders (Darius Days and Marlon Taylor) had 19 total.

The Bears are ranked seventh, according to KenPom, in offensive rebounding percentage, and they average 39 total rebounds per game, which is second in the Big 12 behind only West Virginia.

It’s clear that the painted area of the court on Saturday will play a key role in the difference between a Florida win and a Florida loss. @evanmplepak elepak@alligator.org

SEE MEN'S BASKETBALL, PAGE 12

Former Gators women's basketball guard Sarah Lowe will be honored as UF's SEC Legend at the conference tournament in March.

H

a game and 99th with 11.17 offensive aving an identity as a team in boards per contest. the game of basketball is everyAnd despite these unimpressive stathing. tistics, the Gators still find themselves Specializing in a certain area 12-6 — a position that I don’t think of the game because of personthey’d be in if it weren’t for their imnel or coaching creates a solid foundapressive personnel. tion for a championship-caliber team.

This team was ranked No. 6 on the Except the problem that I have seen Joseph Salvador Twitter: jsalvadorsports AP’s preseason poll for a reason: its roswith this Florida men’s basketball squad jsalvador@alligator.org ter. is they don’t have one.

A roster that features a 6-foot-5 point UF has been all over the stat sheet guard in Andrew Nembhard looking to build off a this season and not exactly in a good way.

In both wins and losses, the Gators have had a rookie campaign that featured a game-winner in the myriad of different performances that I find unset- SEC Tournament.

Then at the wings there is guard Noah Locke, tling.

Defense has been a specialty for Mike White- who is shooting a team-best 41 percent from becoached teams in the past, and this season, Florida yond the arc along with an uber-athletic forward in has allowed 66 points a game, good enough for the Keyontae Johnson.

Not to mention the SEC Preseason Player of the 93rd-ranked defense in the nation.

Yet on Saturday, the Gators locked down then- Year and leading scorer Kerry Blackshear Jr. Florida’s incoming freshmen certainly played a No. 4 Auburn, allowing 47 points. But they surrenrole in its generous preseason placement, as well. dered 91 to Missouri just a week prior.

Guards Tre Mann and Scottie Lewis both joined So, they’re not a team that will consistently make the Gators as five-star recruits in 2019 to round out you work for baskets. the team’s depth.

Is this an offensive team that plays fast-paced?

Much has been made of Lewis. A fun (and deadNope.

Its adjusted tempo is 290th in the country, accord- ly) drinking game would be to watch this team play ing to KenPom, and the Gators average 74 points per and take a shot every time a broadcaster mentions Lewis’ athleticism, defensive prowess or his admitgame, good enough for 110th in the nation.

Florida managed to put up 82 points against LSU tedly impressive kick-ups.

Despite all this talent, the team frankly isn’t elite on Tuesday, just the fifth time this season it has in any particular area. I am of the mindset that a reached that total.

How about the boards? Are the Gators a rough team needs some part of its game to take pride in.

There also doesn’t seem to be a clear-cut leader and tumble team that’ll crash the glass and outwork who demands the ball in crunch time. you?

I see you’re getting the trend here.

Florida is 91st in the country at 37.8 rebounds SEE COLUMN, PAGE 12

Florida baseball pegged for another top-10 ranking The Gators are No. 10 in the USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll. Eight of UF's opponents also appeared in the Top 25, five of which are among the top nine teams.

Follow us for updates

For updates on UF athletics, follow us on Twitter at @alligatorSports or online at www.alligator.org/sports

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2020 ALLIGATOR 11

SWIMMING

UF hosts Auburn for seniors’ final lap

By Ainslie Lee Sports Writer

On Saturday afternoon, 24 of Florida’s swimmers and divers will jump into the O’Dome Natatorium water in their final dual meet as Gators when the Auburn Tigers come to town.

The No. 9-ranked men’s team (6-1, 1-1 SEC) will recognize 11 seniors while the eighth-ranked women’s team (10-0, 2-0 SEC) will celebrate 13 seniors of its own.

For the men, their opponent comes into Gainesville unranked with a record of 5-1 (2-0 in SEC). The Tigers are led by Davis Edwards and Owen Upchurch who are both finding success as of late.

During home win against GardnerWebb on Jan. 17, Edwards, a freshman, won the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:34.04. Meanwhile, Upchurch found victories in both the 100 and 200 freestyle.

In the orange and blue, the men’s team has stepped away from competition with its last meet having been Dec. 7 at the Toyota U.S. Open where it saw three of its swimmers bring hardware back to

Gainesville.

Kieran Smith nabbed a silver medal during the open with his swim in the 400 freestyle, while Clark Beach (200 back) and Robert Finke (1,650 free) each managed to grab bronze. Finke’s 1,650 free (14:47.51) leads the SEC by four full seconds.

“It’s going to be a great feeling getting back into the water and competing in a dual meet again,” men’s coach Anthony Nesty said. “It’s been a while...We look forward to some tough competition from Auburn.”

For the women, Auburn (4-1, 1-1 in SEC) visits the O’Connell Center as the No. 14 team in the country.

The Tigers’ Julie Meynen contributes to Auburn’s sprint efforts with a time of 47.73 seconds in the 100 freestyle. Meynen’s time currently sits as the third-best in the SEC. However, the Gators’ and the Tigers’ two distance swimmers will likely bring the most attention come Saturday.

While Florida’s distance swims are led

by Leah Braswell, who leads the SEC in the 1,000 free (9:34.47) and the 1,650 free

(15:47.85), Auburn’s Emily Hetzer touches the wall soon thereafter.

Hetzer’s leading times this season are 9:43.67 in the 1,000 free and 16:09.24 in the 1,650.

Additionally, in the diving pool, Auburn’s Alison Maillard has received conference-wide attention all year long and has picked up three SEC Diver of the Week recognitions this season. Maillard also holds the top score in the SEC for the 1-meter and 3-meter with scores of 326.55 and 347.55, respectively.

However, Florida’s Ashley McCool’s best score on the 3-meter is just 2.77 points under Maillard, making the battle on the boards an interesting one for the women.

Saturday’s dual-meet has drawn the attention of the SEC Network, which will broadcast the meet live.

Action will get underway at 11 a.m. on Saturday, and the Gators will honor the 2010 women’s national championship team during the second break of the meet.

Gators on TV Weekend Schedule Gymnastics vs. No. 8 LSU 7:15 p.m. Friday: ESPN2 Men’s and women’s swimming and diving vs. No. 14 Auburn 11 a.m. Saturday: SEC Network Women's basketball vs. No. 21 Arkansas 3 p.m. Sunday: SEC Network+ Men’s tennis vs. USF 11 a.m.

Saturday: Livestream on Floridagators.com Women’s tennis vs. Oklahoma 11 a.m. Saturday: Livestream on Floridagators.com Men’s basketball vs. No. 1 Baylor 8 p.m. Saturday: ESPN

@AinsliesTwoBits alee@alligator.org

TRACK

Florida throwers set to compete in Hokie Invitational

By Declan Walsh Sports Writer

Three Florida throwers will make the trip up to Blacksburg, Virginia, to participate in the Hokie Invitational, the third event of the indoor season.

Beginning on Friday, the meet will feature 55 events showcasing athletes from 14 different schools across two days.

The first and only Gator in action on Friday is senior Amara Wiggan, who is competing in the women’s weight throw at 7 p.m. She won first place in that same competition just two weeks earlier in the

Orange and Purple Elite Invitational at Clemson, as her 19.03m mark bested the competition by more than 1.5m and saw her fall just short of her personal record.

That 19.03m mark places Wiggan at the top of her field for tomorrow’s event, but Virginia Tech’s Emma Thor and Pavla Kuklova have earned similar scores, throwing 18.85m and 18.95m, respectively.

Connor Bandel is the next Gator to compete, he’ll throw at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the men’s shot put.

The redshirt junior is coming off of a similarly impressive performance in Clemson, as he threw 19.29m, breaking his in-

door PR and seeing him climb to seventh all-time among UF indoor shot put throwers. The Michigan native appears to be a favorite to score consecutive victories in the men’s shot-put, but may face stiff competition from talented Virginia Tech sophomore Tyson Jones.

The final Gator slated to compete in the Invitational is Thea Jensen. The freshman impressed in her first collegiate performance at the Orange and Purple Invitational. Jensen registered a 15.25m throw, finishing in third and losing out to former Gator Lloydricia Cameron.

Despite having just one meet under her

belt, Jensen had posted a better PR in the shot put than all but three of her competitors this weekend, meaning another strong performance is on the cards.

The Gators will be in action next weekend, as well, as they travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to take part in the Razorback Invitational.

@dawalsh_UF dwalsh@alligator.org

MEN’S TENNIS

Gators hold ITA Regional Kick-Off Weekend at home

By Zachary Huber Sports Writer

Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff

Duarte Vale (above) and Josh Goodger are 2-0 this season in doubles play.

The Gators men’s tennis team is poised to return to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship in Madison, Wisconsin, for the fourth-straight year.

It starts its journey to Wisconsin when Florida hosts the 12th-annual ITA Kickoff Weekend.

UF will welcome USF, Temple and Fresno State to Gainesville to compete in a single-elimination regional.

The No. 1-seeded Gators are slated to open against No. 4 seed Temple Saturday at 2 p.m. at Linder Stadium.

This will be the fourth year in a row and the 11th occurrence overall Florida has hosted the ITA Kickoff Weekend.

On Wednesday, the SEC released its Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Gators were picked as the favorite by the league’s coaches to win the SEC title for the second-consecutive year. Florida racked up 155 points with Texas A&M in second (139) and Georgia and South Carolina tied for third (120).

Last year, Florida knocked off FAU 4-1 on Jan. 27 for the right to compete in the 2019 National Team Indoors in Chicago.

The opening round will start Saturday when No. 2 seed USF takes on No. 3 seed Fresno State at 11 a.m. The losers will square off in a consolation match at 10 a.m. on Sunday followed by the championship match at 2 p.m.

UF enters the ITA Kickoff weekend 4-1 on the year after dominating UCF 6-1 and Stetson 7-0 last weekend.

Florida has yet to drop a doubles point this season. They hold a 10-1 mark in dual doubles action. The duos of Will Grant and Johannes Ingildsen (3-1), Oliver Crawford and Sam Riffice (2-0) and Duarte Vale and Josh Goodger (2-0) have carried UF in doubles action.

The Gators have been steady in singles, winning 23 out of 30 matches. They are led by Duarte Vale (4-1) and freshman Blaise Bicknell (4-0). Riffice, Goodger, Ingildsen, Crawford, Andy Andrade and Lukas Greif, who each have tallied two wins.

USF (3-0) comes into town undefeated.

Its best player, No. 121 Chase Ferguson, is undefeated with three wins along with four other Bulls.

The Bulls doubles duos have been strong, failing to lose a doubles point all season (6-1).

Florida previously faced USF on Jan. 28, 2018, when they dominated the Bulls 4-0.

Fresno State is the defending Mountain West Conference champion and are coming off a solid fall tournament season and are led by reigning conference player of the year, Zdenek Derkas, who sits at No. 124 in the ITA rankings.

Finally, the Temple Owls will be playing their first match. They finished last season with a 16-7 record going 3-1 in American Athletic Conference play. Florida and Temple will play their first match in their programs’ respective histories.

@zacharyahuber zhuber@alligator.org

12 ALLIGATOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2020

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Smith looks to rebound from offensive struggles vs. Arkansas

By Bryan Matamoros

mance from their floor general on Sunday in order to claim a road victory against No. 21 Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena.

With Smith’s projected backcourt partner — redshirt junior guard Danielle Rainey — tearing her ACL in a closed-door scrimmage less than two weeks before the season opener, Smith has elevated her production on the offensive side of the ball.

Her 7.1 points per game in her sophomore season led to a total of 221 points in 31 contests. She’s already surpassed that mark this year, registering 245 points in 19 appearances.

The redshirt junior racked up 237 of those points in the first 17 games, but she’s only managed eight in the last two.

Sports Writer

Guard Kiara Smith has not been herself as of late, and it’s hurting Florida’s women’s basketball team.

UF’s primary ball handler averages 12.9 points per game and makes field goals at a 41.6-percent clip, but she hasn’t come close to those numbers in her last two showings.

Smith was held to just four points in each of UF’s double-digit losses to then-No. 24 Tennessee and then-No. 12 Texas A&M on a combined 3-of-15 shooting from the floor.

The Gators will need a bounce-back perfor-

Smith’s height put her at a disadvantage in UF’s 78-50 loss against the Volunteers last Thursday. Every player in Tennessee’s starting five measured 6 foot or taller, and it used that length to lock down Smith, who stands at 5-foot-10.

Just two of her 10 field-goal attempts found the bottom of the net, as the Volunteers clogged the paint and forced Smith into a handful of difficult shots.

The same thing happened over the weekend when the Aggies ran away with a 27-point victory over the Gators.

Smith missed four out of her five shots, with her only bucket coming at the 1:11 mark of the third quarter when she knocked down a

Baylor is 16 -1 MEN'S BASKETBALL, from pg. 10 Bearing down on defense

Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff

Kerry Blackshear Jr.'s 8.7 rebounds per game leads the team.

UF has been inconsistent COLUMN, from pg. 10 At the end of the day, basketball teams will only go as far as

their best player takes them, and even with Blackshear Jr.’s impressive season, I don’t think he’s a player who you can give the ball

Baylor’s defense comes into Gainesville allowing the sixth-fewest points per game in the country at 58.5.

The Bears have allowed an opponent to score at least 65 points four times all season, and Oklahoma State is the only one to hit 60 points in Baylor’s last seven games.

BU’s biggest test of the season came two weeks ago in its road tilt against No. 3 Kansas. The Bears had never won a game in Allen Fieldhouse in program history, but they came away with a dominant 67-55 victory. Baylor’s defense, which ranks 19th in the nation in field-goal percentage (.380), held a strong Kansas offense below 40 percent from the field and forced 14

to and say, “Take me there.”

The grad transfer is leading the team in scoring (14.8) and rebounding (8.7), but is still falling short of his preseason and NBA Draft lottery expectations (whether those expectations are fair is a different story).

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@bryan_2712 bmatamoros@alligator.org

turnovers.

The Gators have faced four teams currently in the top 30 by KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency and have an even 2-2 record in those games. However, the wins came against Xavier (No. 29) and Auburn (No. 30), while Florida was blown out by two top-20 teams in Florida State (No. 18) and Butler (No. 19).

Baylor is ranked fourth in that metric, making this UF’s biggest test offensively by far. The Gators’ offense, while ugly at times, has been mostly effective this season, ranking 25th in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom. Florida comes into this matchup in its best offensive form of the season, producing at least 70 points in each of its last seven games and 12 of its last 15. But points won’t come easy against Baylor, and an early deficit will be hard to recover from, even on its home court.

Don’t get me wrong, I think this team is on an upward trend, and I think there is far too much talent for it to remain out of the Top 25 for much longer.

But unless it finds out what kind of team it is, elite teams like its Saturday opponent, No. 1 Bay-

THE

18 & UP

three-pointer. Her other point came at the freethrow line.

Texas A&M did not allow Smith to attack the basket and score at the rim, one of her calling cards this season. Whenever she approached the paint, the defense collapsed on her to prevent a clear path to the cup.

Sunday’s conference showdown against Arkansas poses a good opportunity for Smith to find that early-season groove that’s been missing from her game over the past week.

@Bfarrell727 bfarrell@alligator.org

lor, will make quick work of the Gators come March.

@JSalvadorSports jsalvador@alligator.org

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RDAY ATUSPECIALS SNIGHT

SUNDAY

$3 $3 $4 $4

$3 $3 $3 $4 $4 $4

7 pm - 12 am

Cocktails on Tap Tequila Shots Fireball Shots Swamphead Drafts

LIVE DJ 9 pm - Close

1728 West University Avenue

FUN DAY ALL DAY

Green Tea Shots Lemon Drops Pork Rinds Double Wells Torts & Salsa First Mag Pints