Jan. 27, 2020

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VOLUME 114 ISSUE 51

MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020 Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

Not officially associated with the University of Florida

UF monitoring coronavirus

LOWELL PRISON

SOME UF SPONSORED PROGRAMS MAY BE AFFECTED

By AJ Bafer Alligator Contributing Writer

UF students, faculty and staff received an email Friday about the deadly coronavirus outbreak with preventative information for students.

UF officials sent an email about the deadly coronavirus outbreak in the wake of several confirmed cases of the illness around the world.

UF spokesperson Steve Orlando said about 1,800 UF students are from China and may be traveling to and from these areas,

Lauren Witte // Alligator Staff

Rep. Dianne Hart talks to protesters on Sunday. The protesters are a part of the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls.

but the focus is on monitoring travel in general rather than China itself.

Orlando said he encourages students to register with the UF International Center if they plan to travel abroad so officials are aware of anyone traveling to affected areas.

“We want people to know that there are resources and information available that we want them to be aware of,” he said.

The email mentioned that some UF sponsored programs like study abroad may be affected in impacted areas, but Orlando said no decision has been made to alter them yet.

Coronavirus is the name of a group of viruses. It includes common cold viruses, said Dr. Ron Berry, the interim director of UF Student Health Care Center. He said the emerging cases are more serious because there is no current vaccination or cure.

The email lists prevention methods and possible symptoms from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The symptoms include fever, coughing and difficulty breathing, with extreme cases leading to respiratory illnesses, worsened by the current lack of treatment.

SEE CORONAVIRUS, PAGE 4

Kyle’s Files

Thanks for everything, Kobe SG attends Green Dot training

I

I find myself often ext’s a strange feeling when plaining to people my Lakers someone who has alfandom. Well, it’s the same ready been immortalized story as how my basketball dies. fandom began. It started with The record will reflect me staying up way too late to that Kobe Bryant will live watch West Coast basketball forever in Springfield, MasBy Kyle Wood games with my dad. sachusetts, in the Basketball Twitter: Kkylewood Kobe was captivating. And Hall of Fame, and at some kwood@alligator.org a shared passion for watching point soon, he will literally him play, watching the Lakbe carved into history in the form of a statue in front of the Staples ers and soon catching random basketball games brought my dad and me closer as Center.

But Kobe was supposed to be there to I began to prefer shooting a basketball celebrate those things with us. His funeral in my driveway to hitting off a tee in my wasn’t supposed to come before his Hall backyard. So thanks for that, Kobe.

Why? Because I could mimic Kobe’s of Fame coronation. The photos were supposed to be as vibrant as the man was. jab step and patented fadeaway, of course.

With basketball, passion became love; They weren’t supposed to be black and white as a way of letting those few who and that love became obsession. And Kobe’s legend escaped know that he is no there’s not a doubt in my mind that that’s the way Kobe would have wanted that longer with us.

He died Sunday in a helicopter crash seed to grow. His will to win inspired me along with his 13-year-old daughter Gi- to accomplish much less noble and notaanna and the world is a darker place. Not ble feats than hitting game-winners.

If Kobe can wake up at 4:30 a.m. to the basketball world, or Lakers Nation — the world is worse off without Kobe in it. train for four hours before the rest of the That’s right, Kobe. It takes a certain world has even clocked into work, then level of notoriety — whether via fame or I can finish this paper tonight, I told myinfamy — to ascend to international first- self. And that’s how the Mamba Mentality name basis. He cleared that bar a long seeped into my life, for better or worse. time ago.

SEE KOBE BRYANT, PAGE 11

White doesn’t mince words SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT Story description finish with comma, pg# after Baylor loss Sports writer Joseph Salvador breaks down coach Mike White’s postgame press conference, pg. 10

THERE WERE ABOUT 30 STUDENT GOVERNMENT OFFICALS

By Chasity Maynard Alligator Staff Writer

Student Government officials attended a four-hour Green Dot Gators Bystander Training Sunday in part of an effort to lessen rising sexual violence on campus.

The training, where about 30 SG senators and executive branch members participated in, was announced Jan. 7 at the first Senate meeting of the semester. This training was specifically for Student Government, but anyone with an active RecSports membership could sign up online, according to the website.

They were taught tactics for intervening in violent situations and preventing it.

Representatives from the UF Sexual Trauma Interpersonal Violence Education organization and SG advising helped

Can I have $50 million, please?

That’s just some of what UF is lobbying for, pg. 3

Otter parents: Are they ‘pup’ to the challenge?

Two otters made some babies quickly, zoo says, pg. 8

GatorWell health promotions specialist Megan Johnson lead these trainings, which are the second part of GatorWell’s four-phase plan to execute Green Dot Gators. The first step was to train faculty and staff.

Now, they’ve trained student influencers and leaders.

“The idea is that these students can help role model the positive bystander behaviors to shape and change our culture,” Johnson said.

The training included anonymously polling participants online on topics like powerbased violence, stalking and dating violence. Students used a code to log on and then answered questions about the presentation. The results posted on the board.

“There’s a certain power to knowing that in a room, and when we’re all answering anonymously, that the large majority of the room is actually affected by this problem, or at least in reach,” Gator Party vice presidential candidate Lauredan Official said. “And that’s

just super eye-opening.”

Phase three will offer training for the Student Body and incoming students, Johnson said.

Phase four will implement outreach programs that reinforce the lessons in “action events.”

The first action event will be in February.

Inspire Party Student Body candidate Matthew Diaz attended the training and helped promote the training alongside Sen. Tyler Kendrick and Internal Affairs Agency Head J.R. Molm.

“I really love the way that it was able to engage with people and encourage people to share their own experiences in a way that felt like a very safe space,” Diaz said. “That kind of activity-based learning makes people retain information a lot better.”

There are three more of these trainings this semester: Feb. 21, March 19 and March 27, according to the registration site. @chasitymaynard0 cmaynard@alligator.org

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2 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020

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Add it to the alligator’s online calendar:

alligator.org/calendar president and an old friend turned deadly enemy. A book signing will follow Watson’s presentation.

MONDAY

WEDNESDAY

Joe Knetsch Talks WWI and Florida Where: Alachua County Library Headquarters, located at 401 E. University Ave. When: 5:30 p.m.

What: Friends of the Library will bring American author and historian Joe Knetsch to discuss World War I and the Influenza Pandemic of 1917 and how it relates to Florida at the Headquarters Branch in Meeting Room A. This is a free event.

Santa Fe River Paddle Where: The Santa Fe River When: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

What: The Alachua Conservation Trust will host a paddle on the Santa Fe River to help inform residents about efforts to permanently protect the area. Space is limited, and participants need to pay $15.

The money will be donated to support the Santa Fe Springs Project. Event-goers are responsible for their own watercraft.

TUESDAY

THURSDAY

McCarthy Moment: The Johns Committee in Florida Where: Matheson History Museum, located at 513 E. University St. When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

What: McCarthy Moment: The Johns Committee in Florida is the first Matheson exhibition to focus on local LGBTQ+ history and will have its opening day Tuesday. The Johns Committee tried to uncover what it deemed “subversive activity” in Florida. The committee targeted the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, communists and people in the LGBTQ+ community.

The “McCarthy Moment” exhibition does contain sensitive information such as self-harm, sexual acts and persecution of the LGBTQ+ community. Museum staff is available if any visitor would like more information before entering the exhibition.

Science on Tap: Mosquitos Where: Cypress & Grove Brewing Co., located at 1001 NW Fourth St. When: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

What: The Florida Museum of Natural History and the UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute will host “Science on Tap: Mosquitoes” at Cypress & Grove Brewing Co. The free event will be led by Lawrence Reeves, an entomologist at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory. The event is part of the museum’s series, “Is Florida Trying to Kill Me?” Food and drinks can be purchased there.

“The Committee” with Author Sterling Branson Where: Matheson History Museum When: 7-8:30 p.m.

What: Author Sterling Branson brings “The Committee,” a novel set in Gainesville during the 1950s. The novel pits protagonist Tom Stall, a scholarly and ambitious man rising in his world of teaching and administration, against a colleague, a university

Catherine Russell Where: Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, located at 3201 Hull Road When: 7-10:30 p.m.

What: Catherine Russell is back after her show, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra: Big Band Holiday in 2017. Russel is known for her booming, brassy vocal power and "honeyed smoothness." Before launching her solo career, Russell was a backup singer and multi-instrumentalist with artists such as David Bowie, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper and Paul Simon. She draws inspiration from her mother Carline Ray, a jazz pioneer, and her father Luis Russel, a longtime bandleader for Louis Armstrong. Tickets are $50 for general admission and $10 for UF students.

FRIDAY Southern Culture on the Skids, Rick Ryan Band Where: The High Dive, located at 210 SW Second Ave. When: 7 p.m.

What: Southern Culture on the Skids has recorded and toured around the world since it started in 1983, and the current lineup, with Dave Hartman on drums, Mary Huff on bass and vocals and Rick Miller on guitar and vocals, has played together for more than 30 years. The band’s music has been featured in movies and TV, and their live shows are a testament to the therapeutic powers of footstomping, butt-shaking rock ’n’ roll. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 the day of the show. Event-goers must be over 18 unless accompanied by a legal guardian. There is a $3 fee charged at the door for everyone under 21.

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MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020 ALLIGATOR 3

Third protest at Lowell follows arrest of guard THE GUARD ALLEGEDLY PUT BLEACH IN AN INMATE’S CUP

By Allessandra Inzinna Alligator Staff Writer

A concrete sign on the front lawn of Lowell Correctional Institution reads, “We Never Walk Alone.” Across the street, former inmate Jordan Upchurch holds up a cardboard sign with that exact message scribbled across it.

Upchurch, who spent the majority of her 120-month sentence at Lowell Correctional Institute, said just as Lowell’s sign

Lauren Witte // Alligator Staff

Billie Laurin and Beth Dodd, both ex-inmates, participate in the protest against Lowell Correctional Institution on Sunday.

serves to represent the unity of their staff, hers symbolizes the solidarity of the inmates, both former and current.

“We’re not ever gonna go away,” Upchurch, 39, said.

Upchurch was one of nearly 80 protesters who gathered in front of Lowell Sunday afternoon to demonstrate against inmate abuse by correctional officers. Protesters, most of whom were former inmates, loved ones and prison reform activists, wore pink and blue T-shirts while carrying picket signs that displayed photos of inmates.

The Civic Media Center organized a carpool system to and from the prison, which lies 40 minutes south of Gainesville, tripling the number of Gainesville attendees from the last protest at Lowell, said Jordan Mazurek, a 28-year-old employee at the CMC. Mazurek organizes with groups such as the Campaign to Fight Toxic Prisons and the Gainesville Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee, both of which work to protect incarcerated people in Gainesville and beyond.

They said Sunday’s protest is one of the only prison demonstrations they have seen led by former inmates themselves.

“If you just go talk to the women that show up today… every single one of them has a different story of some level of abuse by the guards or really bad treatment,” Mazurek said.

This is the third protest at Lowell centered around inmate abuse and mistreatment by correctional officers.

Lowell is one of the largest women’s prisons in the country and has faced several allegations of abuse in recent years. Last year, four guards assaulted and left inmate Cheryl Weimar paralyzed. None of the guards were arrested for the assault.

As recently as Saturday, a Lowell prison guard was arrested on allegations of spraying bleach on an inmate’s food. Qualesha Williams, 28, reportedly set aside a cup sprayed with bleach for an inmate when the two got into a heated argument.

The Florida Department of Corrections emailed the following statement to The Alligator Sunday in response to questions about the protest and recent abuse allegations: “The Florida Department of Corrections takes all allegations of abuse or mistreatment of inmates seriously and encourages all inmates and staff to promptly report inappropriate or illegal

conduct,” the statement read. “The leadership at Lowell Correctional Institution has a track record of holding employees accountable for misconduct.”

Debra Bennett, the main organizer of the protest and a former Lowell inmate, drove to the protest in a white van with the words “NO MORE LOWELL C.I. BLEACH OR BUST!” painted in large red letters on the outside.

Bennett, 52, who spent five years inside Lowell, is in constant contact with inmates inside the prison. She said she receives dozens of messages a day from those inside Lowell using the app JPay, which allows inmates to communicate with those on the outside via kiosks or tablets in the prison.

Bennett said she remains in daily contact to keep tabs on what’s happening inside the prison.

“I probably get about 50 to 75 JPays a day,” Bennett said.

“They are our eyes.”

State Rep. Dianne Hart, who focuses much of her efforts on criminal justice reform, also joined protesters outside the prison Sunday.

In the last few months, Hart filed House Bill 189, which would let nonviolent or first-time offenders serve a minimum of 65 percent of their sentence instead of 85 percent, and House Bill 531, which focuses on improving the treatment of inmates.

Hart, who has visited Lowell six times to see the conditions herself, said she wanted to come and show her support for the women at the prison. ”I just wanted them to know that I stand with them and I am a voice for them,” Hart said.

Bennett said her movement against the abuse at Lowell is only growing. She plans to be in Tallahassee Feb. 5 for Lobby Day to support bills affecting inmate treatment and prison reform and anticipates another protest in the next 60 to 90 days.

“We’re getting bigger, we’re getting stronger, more people are aware,” Bennett said. “Our nation seems to be recognizing the different atrocities that are happening inside the prison.” @ainzinna ainzinna@alligator.org

UF lobbyists ask legislators for $50 million to achieve top five rank AN ADDITIONAL ALMOST $16 MILLION HAS BEEN REQUESTED

By Hannah Phillips Alligator Staff Writer

When Samantha Sexton was a UF political science freshman in 2007, it was UF’s goal to rank among the top 10 public universities, she said. Thirteen years later, she’s helping the university get there.

“At a certain point, it gets to be more and more difficult to climb the ranks,” said Sexton, UF’s director of government relations. “It’s like a diet. Once you get to the top, or the last few pounds, it’s really hard to make incremental changes.”

To reach this goal, Sexton is lobbying the Florida Department of Education for this year’s most ambitious request: $50 million.

The Florida legislative session began on Jan. 14, kicking off 60 days of lobbying at the state capital. If awarded, the money will help recruit world-class faculty and reduce classroom sizes to 16:1, Sexton said. This is the uni-

versity’s No. 1 legislative priority.

UF lobbyists are also hoping to earn funding for other projects, Sexton said. These projects are known as “moonshots,” initiatives that address socioeconomic issues like climate change.

“We are trying to solve the world’s most pressing challenges,” she said.

For instance, Sexton is lobbying the state’s education department for $1.1 million to fund UF’s iCoast. iCoast monitors water quality, tracks marine life interaction and detects tidal changes and algal blooms, she said.

The goal of the project is to create a map of the Florida coastline with real-time data that can impact industries like real estate and tourism. If won, the money will go toward hiring more staff and purchasing equipment like a $167,500 research vessel, according to the budget request.

UF’s College of Medicine in Jacksonville is requesting $300,000 from the Florida Department of Health to fund child abuse pediatrics fellowships, according to the budget request.

Douglas Bell, a lobbyist from the Metz, Husband & Daughton law firm, is representing the

pediatricians for this project. He said he would be disappointed if the funds were denied.

“There’s always a lot of pressure,” he said.

“We want to be successful for our clients. This one in particular — it’s important for children’s health.”

So far, responses from legislators and committee staff have been promising, he said. Still, Sexton said denied funding is always a possibility.

“Every year, we have priorities that are not funded, or underfunded,” Sexton said.

In those cases, UF seeks private funding and research grants, she said. If a project is a high priority, they’ll continue to lobby legislators for it the following year.

The total funding UF earns from the state has steadily increased over the years, according to a summary of state appropriations by the State University System of Florida. Since the 2009-2010 fiscal year, state appropriations have increased by 42 percent.

“We’re very thankful for the executive branch,” Sexton said. @haphillips96 hphillips@alligator.org

Appropriations Project Bills 2020 • UF is lobbying to fund teacher recruitment and class size reduction initiatives to rank among the top five public universities: $50 million • UF Lastinger Center is lobbying to fund Algebra Nation, a free online math resource for middle and high school students and teachers: $2.65 million • UF College of Dentistry is lobbying to fund supplemental payments for faculty dentists: $1,695,804 • UF Health is lobbying to fund research on Friedrich’s Ataxia, a genetic disorder for which there is no current treatment available: $850,000 • UF is lobbying to fund the Center for Application of Artificial Intelligence for the application and commercialization of AI: $3,880,688

Students react to Kobe Bryant’s death after helicopter crash NINE PEOPLE DIED IN THE CRASH, INCLUDING BRYANT’S 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER

By AJ Bafer Alligator Contributing Writer

NBA legend and All-Star Kobe Bryant died Sunday morning in a helicopter crash. He was 41 years old.

The retired Los Angeles Lakers player was flying over Calabasas, California, when fog and lowvisibility conditions caused the crash, killing nine people, including Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva criticized TMZ for breaking the news before the family was notified.

“It would be extremely disrespectful to understand that your loved ones perished and you learned about it from TMZ,” he said. “That is just wholly inappropriate. So we’re not going to be going there.

Josh Rios, a 19-year-old UF political science and economics freshman, said he was shocked when he heard about Bryant’s death. He said that Bryant embod-

Bryant and his late daughter Gianna

ied the toughness and tenacity it takes to be a human being.

“He transcended social life,” Rios said.

“Even people who don’t like basketball know the name Kobe Bryant.”

Jordan Levi, a 22-year-old UF chemistry and materials science senior, said he has always been a fan of Bryant for both the way he played basketball and the messages he tried to send to those watching the sport.

“He was a beast,” he said. “He used his abilities to profoundly impact the game of basketball for the better.”

4 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020

Flu outbreak’s impact at UF unknown THIS YEAR’S FLU SEASON COULD BE ONE OF THE WORST IN 40 YEARS

By TJ Tomkunas Alligator Contributing Writer

Jorge Gomez was on vacation in late December when he caught the flu. Gomez, a UF biology lab manager, wasn’t the only one.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this flu season has seen at least 15 million illnesses, 140,000 hospitalizations and 8,200 deaths caused by the flu.

Additionally, the CDC reported that as of Jan. 11, 48 states and one U.S. territory have reported widespread influenza activity.

Gomez said that he contracted the flu during the last week of December, and it lasted through the beginning of January. He and his family were camping in the mountains of North Carolina and Georgia when they started experiencing severe symptoms.

He said that during their trip, he and his family members, including

his 8-year-old daughter, had stomachaches, headaches and fevers reaching 102 degrees. This flu experience was the worst one that he could recall.

“Based on the timing and the incubation period, we actually probably got it here in Florida and brought it with us over there,” Gomez said.

Due to the timing of the illness, he did not fall behind on work and said he only missed two days during syllabus week. However, he is concerned for his students who may catch the flu later in the semester and how it will impact them.

“We have maybe 2,000 students in and out of the labs each day,” he said. “They come from all over the world and can bring whatever they may have had with them.”

Cisco Marcano, a 23-year-old UF history senior, also caught the flu at about the same time as Gomez.

“I didn’t want to see anyone or hear from anyone,” Marcano said.

“I didn’t leave the house unless it was to work out and try to sweat it out.”

Marcano also said that he had

Everyday actions to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, according to the UF email: • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people and stay at home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw the tissue away.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

similar symptoms to that of Gomez and was taking several flu and allergy medications.

While Marcano was not sick during the middle of the semester or during an exam week, he said that it has happened to him in the past and caused him to worry about his grades.

“You really don’t want to do anything, including studying,” he said. “All you are worried about is feeling better, and you can’t worry about your studies.”

Although there may appear to be signs of an epidemic nationwide, the severity of the outbreak on campus is unknown, said Cecilia Luna, a spokeswoman from the UF Student Health Care Center.

“We really have no way of knowing just how many people have the flu or have had the flu on campus,” she said.

Luna said one of the reasons why the healthcare center is unsure about the flu’s impact is because not every student is treated on campus.

While Luna and other staff at the health care center are always concerned about flu season, she said

that each season is unpredictable for a variety of reasons.

“Some years it will be the A strand, and the next it could be the B strand,” she said. “There is no way of knowing what strand will occur next season.”

Luna said there are multiple ways to be prepared and to fight it off. Getting enough sleep, maintaining a healthy diet and staying away from people you know are sick are some basic steps to take.

“The best advice I can give to students is to get vaccinated,” she said. “It is not too late into the flu season to get one, and they are covered by most students’ insurance.”

She also said that the vaccine offers several benefits, including protection from the flu and the weakening of severe symptoms. If a student’s insurance does not cover the shot, she said that the care center will cover the cost for them. Vaccine shots are available at the care center’s main building next to the Florida Gym.

Places in Gainesville to get a flu shot: CVS You can get a flu shot both at CVS and in CVS pharmacies inside of Target.

Publix The flu shot is available in any Publix with a pharmacy.

Walk-in clinics You can get a flu shot at CareSpot UrgentCare Midtown, Gainesville Archer and 43rd Street.

Health Department The vaccine is available at the Gainesville Family Planning Clinic and the Alachua Southwest Clinic.

UF Students can receive a flu shot at the Student Health Care Center free of cost.

There is no current vaccination or cure CORONAVIRUS, from pg. 1 The outbreak began in early December in Wuhan, China.

Those who have been in Wuhan in the past 14 days and are experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention immediately and not have contact with others, according to the CDC. Chinese officials closed ports to enter and leave Wuhan.

Dr. Berry said the new virus has never been seen in humans.

It was likely an animal virus that was transmitted to humans, according to the CDC. Dr. Berry said Gainesville residents are more likely to catch the cold and flu than the coronavirus.

He said updates will be given as necessary, and ongoing knowledge is being provided by the CDC, which has issued a level 3 health warning to avoid all nonessential travel to the Chinese Hubei Province, including Wuhan.

He said he is glad that UF has been proactive in releasing the preventative information for students to be aware of.

“We don’t want it to be an alarm,” Dr. Berry said. “There’s no expectation that we’ll be having this here.”

Nathan Denette // The Canadian Press via AP

People wear masks following the outbreak of a new virus as people arrive from the International terminal at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. A Toronto hospital said Saturday it has a confirmed case of the deadly virus from China, Canada’s first. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre said it is “caring for a patient who has a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China.”

MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020 ALLIGATOR 5

UF students react to possible travel ban PRESIDENT TRUMP PLANS TO ANNOUNCE THE EXPANSION MONDAY

By Samantha Chery and Grethel Aguila Alligator Staff Writers

Citizens from seven additional countries could now be restricted from entering the United States due to an expansion of President Donald Trump’s travel ban.

Countries that may be added include Belarus, Myanmar, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania, according to The Associated Press. Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela and North Korea were affected under the original ban in 2017.

The restrictions are meant to prevent potential terrorists from countries that do not properly vet travelers to the U.S., according to the Wall Street Journal.

The proposed countries will not be finalized until Trump’s official announcement on Monday, and the government has currently listed exceptions to obtain a visa or refugee status, The Associated Press reported. Applicants must have business ties or family in the U.S., which can be through a parent, spouse, child, sibling, son-in-law, daughter-in-law or fiancee.

However, some UF students worry about the negative impacts this government decision could have on their lives.

Mumtaz Abdulhussein, whose family is Tanzanian of Indian descent, said she is frustrated that Tanzania and Nigeria are included in the ban, but not Saudi Arabia. She said the administration simply doesn’t have the correct information.

“It’s a contradiction of who we are — how we choose the people we exclude and include,” the 20-year-old UF political science and economics junior said.

While Abdulhussein views the proposal from the perspective of her family background, Valentina Fandino, the president of Gators for Refugee Medical Relief, sees the proposal as a threat to refugees in the Middle East and Asia.

Although the Trump administration cites national security reasons to support the ban, Fandino said she believes there is underlying racism motivating it. She worries that immigrants from countries on the list will face additional discrimination.

“There’s absolutely no reason, in my opinion, for us to continually marginalize groups of people who are already facing extreme poverty,” the 22-year-old UF master of public health candidate said.

Gators for Refugee Medical Relief has helped refugees from Syria, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo by donating toys, medical supplies, and fundraising and tutoring kids in Jacksonville, according to its Facebook page.

Refugees from these countries face a number of obstacles when settling in the U.S., such as learning English and assimilating into American culture, often with little assistance from the government, Fandino said.

Fandino said based on conversations she’s had with refugees, she’s learned they could potentially be jailed or even killed for things they say in their home countries.

“We have to be honest and realize that all of these families and these people aren’t doing this out of choice,” Fandino said. “They really are doing it because they have no other options. There’s no other hope. And for us to turn our backs on them, it’s just un-American.” @SammyChery4276 @GrethelAguila schery@alligator.org gaguila@alligator.org

UF names first diversity, equity and inclusion librarian SHE STARTS WORKING AT GEORGE A. SMATHERS LIBRARIES IN EARLY FEBRUARY

By AJ Bafer Alligator Contributing Writer

UF will have its first diversity, equity and inclusion librarian at George A. Smathers Libraries.

Twanna Hodge said she will help the libraries dig deeper into diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and social justice.

Hodge said she will take over the libraries’ diversity committee as its liaison and start her position in early February. Her duties will include working on training and organizational development activities, doing presentations on personal bias and cultural humility and working with the human resources office to improve hiring and recruitment policies, she said.

She said she will look to support certain underrepresented groups and let the libraries know how they can better support them and their needs.

“There are things that they’re doing really well, but there are things that they could work on,” she said.

Hodge was selected largely based on her passion and approachability, said Brian Keith, associate dean of adminis-

GRU general manager pauses agreement with FPL THE MANAGER EMAILED CITY COMMISSIONERS ANNOUNCING THE PAUSE

By Grethel Aguila Alligator Staff Writer

Gainesville Regional Utilities is once again in the spotlight after it announced the pause of its plan with Florida Power & Light.

GRU general manager Edward Bielarski Jr. announced the tabling of its Generation Transition Plan in an email to city commissioners and

Utility Advisory Board members Friday night, as reported by The Gainesville Sun. The agreement is a proposed 30-year transition plan that includes a partnership with FPL, a power utility company that services more than 10 million Floridians. It would begin in 2022 and save GRU up to $400 million.

Bielarski brought the item to the January city commission meeting with urgency, but the commissioners unanimously voted to move the item to the Feb. 6 meeting.

In the email, Bielarski explained that he will not hold a previously scheduled public Q & A on Jan. 28 to discuss concerns with citizens or

bring the agreement to the Feb. 6 city meeting.

He told The Alligator Sunday that the plan was paused because FPL wants to increase the agreement’s tariff, which would increase the fee annually by $1.5 million for GRU. Bielarski said that his goal is to ensure that the price does not increase.

There is no agreement with FPL yet, and GRU needs to sit down and address the concerns with the proposed agreement, he said.

But everything depends on what changes FPL decides to make, he said.

“It’s not always pretty, but it’s what managers and leaders do in these circumstances to get

trative services and faculty affairs for George A. Smathers Libraries. He said he anticipates that Hodge will connect the libraries with important external dialogues and opHodge portunities.

Keith said the library faculty said hiring Hodge will bring organizational growth and change to the functions of the libraries.

“Twanna Hodge is a great hire,” Keith said. “I am confident she will do many great things at UF.” Despite her position, Hodge said she hopes there will be no need for jobs like hers in the future. She said diversity, equity and inclusion should be embedded into everything automatically as opposed to an afterthought.

“I think now more than ever, people understand that we all have biases,” she said. “We’re all a reflection of the society we grew up in.”

Hodge said she is excited to join the Gator family, and is glad UF has seen the need for a position like this.

She said she hopes to turn the page on tolerance and move toward complete acceptance.

“Diversity is our survival,” she said.

to the final and best product,” Bielarski said.

City Commissioner Helen Warren said the agreement would be a win-win for both GRU and FPL. She said the utility can increase its capacity while transitioning to green energy, given that FPL has increased its solar power production.

Warren believes that the GRU staff, engineers and finance employees are simply taking their time to confirm that the deal is beneficial to the Gainesville community.

“We want to make sure we do it right,” Warren said.

@GrethelAguila gaguila@alligator.org

6 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020

Otter pups born at Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo THERE ARE FIVE NEW BABIES

By Jessica Green Alligator Contributing Writer

For the first time in a decade, new otter pups were born at the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo. The zoo formally announced it on Jan. 16, and the five Asian

small-clawed pups were born on Nov. 25.

The pups’ parents were received within the last year, said Jonathan Miot, the zoo’s director and Santa Fe College associate professor.

The father, Duncan, came from Disney’s Animal Kingdom and their mother, Chitra, came from the Santa Barbara Zoo. Miot said it was surprising how quickly the pair mated.

“Just before Thanksgiving, zookeepers reported hearing tiny squeaks coming from

Duncan and Chitra’s den,” the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo wrote in a Facebook post.

The zoo used a camera trap to photograph the newborn pups outside of the den on Dec. 20.

Zookeepers are keeping their distance besides cleaning and supplying den materials, such as pine needles and blankets, Miot said.

The newborn otters are still not eating solid food, Miot said. The mother is receiving an increased diet to help provide nutrients for her and the nursing pups.

Miot said the zoo estimates it

will keep the otter pups for three to five years before they are placed at other zoos that are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums across the U.S. Taking care of the otters has been a great experience for the students, said Sierra Spears, a zoo animal technology senior at the college.

“We are super fortunate to be able to take care of them and observe as necessary,” Spears said.

“Moving forward it will be an incredible opportunity to have seven otters so they can learn and see them grow from start to end.”

Courtesy to The Alligator

A zookeeper takes a picture of a newborn Asian small-clawed otter pup.

Campaign for Hippodrome State Theatre raises $168,000 A GAINESVILLE NATIVE WILL MATCH DONATIONS FOR THE NEXT NINE YEARS wrote. “The campaign is designed

By Allessandra Inzinna Alligator Staff Writer

The Hippodrome State Theatre can finally revamp its “A Christmas Carol” costumes after receiving $168,000 from the Collier Challenge Campaign.

The campaign, which is meant to support local actors, programs, script royalties and the theater education department, finished its first year collecting donations for the Hippodrome, which a nonprofit theater located at 25 SE Second Place in downtown Gainesville. The campaign was created by Nathan Collier, a longtime supporter of the Hippodrome and the chairman of The Collier Companies, a real estate and investment company.

Collier, a Gainesville native, grew up attending shows at the theater.

“The Hipp was part of my youth,” Collier wrote in an email.

Campaign supporters pledged to give a set amount every year for the next nine years, which totaled to $84,000 this year. Collier said he pledged to match that amount every year for the next nine years, which brings the annual amount donated to about $168,000.

“One of the Hipp’s biggest challenges is a lack of steady funding, which leads to a continuous crisis mode funding,” Collier

to foster a long term commitment in the hearts and minds of Hipp supporters.”

The money will help the theater provide for anticipated plans such as expanding the education department for adults and children, said Julia Campitelli, the marketing coordinator for the theater.

“In recent years, funding for the arts has been steadily declining,” Campitelli said. “So this is just a great way for us to make sure we maintain funding and we are able to keep bringing great work to Gainesville.”

Hippodrome staff sent out letters, posted Facebook messages and talked to people in Gainesville to receive donations, Daenzer said.

The campaign started at the beginning of 2019 and ended on Dec. 31 with 197 supporters. The donations will help the theater a lot because the cost of one of its current shows is $87,000, said Nicole Daenzer, the managing director of the theater.

“We’re still thinking of possibilities and things that we can do,” Daenzer said.

@ainzinna ainzinna@alligator.org

Courtesy to The Alligator

A zookeeper holds a new Asian small-clawed otter pup at the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo.

Gainesville Regional Airport reaches new heights with passenger record THERE HAS BEEN A 17.18 PERCENT INCREASE SINCE 2018

By Valentina Botero Alligator Staff Writer

Gainesville Regional Airport reached new heights in passenger records and last year had more than 500,000 passengers travel through the airport for the first time since records began in 1961.

In 2019, the airport had exactly 558,246 passengers fly in and out of the airport an increase of slightly more than 17 percent in 2018. This increase then helps generate more revenue the airport administration can put back into projects like safety improvements such as runway lighting and they are also able to give employees more benefits they deserve, said Gainesville Regional Airport CEO Allan Penska.

The airport has more passengers because flying out of Gainesville costs less and is simpler to do than to travel out of other nearby cities, said Erin Porter, manager of marketing and public relations at the airport.

“We know people have a choice where they fly out of,” Porter said. “Chances are, the fare out of Gainesville is going to look higher, but when you add in the cost of getting to Orlando or Tampa, it just doesn’t make sense.”

Two new daily non-stop flights were added to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Penska said. TSA Precheck was also added for every flight, which has helped make security lines shorter, Penksa said.

Penksa expects there will be more passenger growth in 2020.

But he’s unsure if there will be additional airlines or flights add-

ed this year.

However, the airport’s administration will continue to meet with airlines to show them the airport’s passenger traffic and demographic data and consider the possibility of adding new flights the community wants, Penska said.

The airport also began construction of a 15,200-square-foot terminal expansion in November.

It should be finished by 2022 and will have more restaurants, lactation rooms and electronic charging stations, Penksa said.

“We couldn’t do the things that we’re doing without increased revenue that comes from additional passengers,” Penksa said. “The more the community supports us, the more we’re able to put back to the airport.” @lvbotero_ vbotero@alligator.org

MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020 ALLIGATOR 7

Downward Dog

On Sunday afternoon, Flow Space, a local yoga center, and the UF Puppy Club partnered together to host puppy yoga. The student organization supports Southeastern Guide Dogs. Southeastern Guide Dogs is a nonprofit that trains guide dogs for the visually impaired and veterans with disabilities at no cost.

Photo Story by Laura San Juan // Alligator Staff

Amy Guerra, a 22-year-old UF microbiology senior and president of the UF Puppy Club, picks up one of the playful puppies to put in front of the yoga class. She has raised three trainee puppies and said each has a unique personality. “We are currently trying to fundraise $5,000 for the upcoming walkathon fundraiser, so that is why we put together the puppy yoga, and these puppies also need socialization,” she said. The walkathon will be held on April 4 at the Tioga Town Center.

Mikayla Holder, 24, hugs a guide dog trainee at the yoga session Sunday afternoon. Holder is a physical therapy student at the University of St. Augustine.

On Sunday afternoon, multiple people attended the puppy yoga class at local yoga center Flow Space. The ages of the trainee guide puppies ranged from 12 weeks old to 1 year old.

“Doing puppy yoga is fun, relaxing and it’s a de-stressor that gave me an overall wonderful experience,” said Brenna Chadwick, who works for a medical software development company. “That really put my mood into a positive atmosphere.”

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BUY IT. SELL IT. FIND IT. 373-FIND MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020

Corrections and Cancellations: Cancellations: Call 373-FIND M-F, 8am - 4pm. No refunds or credits can be given. Alligator errors: Check your ad the FIRST day it runs. Call 373-FIND with any corrections before noon. THE ALLIGATOR IS ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRST DAY THE AD RUNS INCORRECTLY. Corrected ads will be extended one day. No refunds or credits can be given after placing the ad. Corrections called in after the first day will not be further compensated.

Customer error or changes: Changes must be made BEFORE NOON for the next day’s paper. There will be a $2.00 charge for minor changes.

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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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solution on pg. 9 Release Date: Saturday, Monday, January January27, 25,2020 2020

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

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ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

By Evan FrankKalish Virzi (c)2020 ©2020 Tribune TribuneContent ContentAgency, Agency, LLC LLC

01/24/20 01/25/20 01/27/20

01/25/20 01/27/20

MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020 ALLIGATOR 9

King Features Weekly Service

January 27, 2020

© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

1. Who was the last Oakland A's player before

5. Which player won the most Stanley Cups with-

Khris Davis in 2018 to lead the American League

out ever playing for the Montreal Canadiens?

in home runs for a season?

6. In 2019, the U.S. women's national soccer

2. How many times has a Tampa Bay Rays pitcher

team set a record for biggest margin of victory

won 20 -plus games in a season?

in a World Cup game (13 goals). Which country

3. Who scored the first rushing touchdown in Su-

had held the mark?

per Bowl history?

7. Of WBC heavyweight boxing champion Deon-

4. Name the last Division II men's college bas-

tay Wilder's 43 pro bouts, how many have ended

ketball player to be selected in the NBA Draft.

with Wilder recording a knockout?

1. Who was the last Oakland A’s answers below player before Khris Davis in 2018 to lead the American League in home runs for a season?

2. How many times has a Tampa Bay David L. Hoyt Rays pitcher by won 20-plus gamesR in a 1-27-20 1 3 2 season?

3. Who scored the first rushing 4 touchdown in Super Bowl history?

4. Name the last Division II men’s 5 college basketball player to be selected in the NBA Draft.

5. Which player won the most Stanley Cups without ever playing for the 6 Montreal Canadiens?

6. In 2019, the U.S. women’s national soccer team set a record for biggest margin of victory7 in a World Cup game (13 goals). Which country had held the mark?

ACROSS 7. Of WBC heavyweight boxing ANSWER CLUE champion 1.Deontay Wilder’s 43 pro P A S M P A Grassy plains bouts, how5. many have ended with D A N O M Wanderer 6. Famous, eminent TODEN Wilder recording a knockout?

RMONEO 7. James ____ Answers DOWN CLUE hit 52 homers to ANSWER 1. Mark McGwire HOOCPN 1. in Rain ____ lead the A.L. 1996.

2. Twice 2.—Souvenir David Price won 20 in M T O N M E E 3. Examiner 2012, and Blake Snell won 21 in 2018. LU EA AI DNRHTDO 4. Manage, tolerate 3. Green Bay’s Jim Taylor, in the state animal of ____ second quarter ofCLUE: SuperThe I inbear. isBowl the grizzly 1967.

4. Robert Whaley of Walsh UniverBONUS sity was selected with the 51st pick in Complete the crossword puzzle by looking at the clues and 2005.How to play unscrambling the answers. When the puzzle is complete, unscramble the circled letters to solve the BONUS. 5. Red Kelly won eight Stanley 2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC & Hoyt Designs. All Rights Reserved.

Cups, four with Detroit and four with Send comments to TCA - 160 N. Stetson, Chicago, Illinois 60601 or DLHoyt@HoytInteractiveMedia.com Toronto, between 1950 and 1967.

6. Germany won a World Cup match by 11 goals in 2007.

7. Wilder has recorded 41 knockouts on his way to a 42-0-1 record.

J UMB L E

TM

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solution below

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1. Mark McGwire hit 52 homers to lead the A.L. in 1996.

2. Twice -- David Price won 20 in 2012, and Blake Snell won 21 in 2018.

3. Green Bay's Jim Taylor, in the second quarter of Super Bowl I in 1967.

4. Robert Whaley of Walsh University was selected with the 51st pick in 2005.

5. Red Kelly won eight Stanley Cups, four with Detroit and four with Toronto, between 1950 and 1967.

6. Germany won a World Cup match by 11 goals in 2007.

7. Wilder has recorded 41 knockouts on his way to a 42-0-1 record.

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P U ZZ LE SO LU TI O N S This journey has always been about reaching your own other shore no matter what it is, and that dream continues.

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• In the Unitedbronze States,statue moreofbabies are born on Oct. 5 than on any other • It was Abraham Lincoln who signed day of the year.

If you do the math, you'll find that New Year's Eve is 9 into law the legislation that created the months and 5 Secret days before that.That very night, he was Service. assassinated.

••• Those suchI will things Thought for the •Day: "Showwho me astudy hero, and write you a tragedy." say that on the 13th of every month, -- F. Scott Fitzgerald triskaidekaphobia causes a loss of $83 million to American business due to (c) 2020 King Synd., Inc. absenteeism fromFeatures work and other disruptions.

• In the United States, more babies are born on Oct. 5 than on any other day of the year. If you do the math, you’ll find that New Year’s Eve is 9 months and 5 days before that. *** Thought for the Day: “Show me a hero, and I will write you a tragedy.”

— F. Scott Fitzgerald

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MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020 www.alligator.org/sports

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida handled by No. 21 Arkansas, drop fourth straight

By Graham Marsh Sports Writer

Eighteen points in five minutes.

When Florida’s women’s basketball team faced No. 21 Arkansas on the road Sunday, the Razorbacks concluded the first quarter on an 18-2 run. It put them up 26-13, and ultimately propelled Arkansas over the Gators at Bud Walton Arena 79-57.

It became obvious during that first-quarter spurt, but UF’s inability to keep up with Arkansas’ speed up and down the court killed any chances the Gators had of staying competitive in the game. Razorbacks guard A’Tyanna Gaulden consistently pushed the ball up the floor every time Florida missed a field goal or turned it over. She facilitated the Razorbacks’ track-style offense, leading the game with five assists in just 17 minutes of action.

“Offensively, we got some good looks, but they just didn’t go down,” coach Cam Newbauer said. “We kept fighting the whole way through, and I don’t think the score is indicative of that at all.”

Unsurprisingly, the best Gator throughout the contest was guard Lavender Briggs. She continued her impressive freshman campaign with 17 points, leading Florida in scoring as she often does.

However, the lack of scoring elsewhere hurt Florida.

Guard Kiara Smith was the only other Gator in double figures with 10, but it was at an inefficient clip as she was 4 for 13 from the field and 1 for 5 from behind the threepoint line.

Going into this game, a key ingredient for UF (11-9, 2-5 SEC) to steal a victory on the road was the inside game as

Arkansas does not have a player taller than 6-foot-3. Arkansas (16-4, 4-3 SEC) scores at a high volume, averaging 85.3 points per game heading into Sunday, but the bulk of that comes from guards like senior guard Alexis Tolefree, who averages 14.4 points per game.

That was no different against Florida, as three of its top four scorers were guards. The Razorbacks dominated the Gators in the paint, 44-28, but that was mostly due to unguarded fast-break points (25), not low-post scoring.

UF’s main inside presence, forward Zada Williams, finished the game with just four points, on three shots in 20 minutes of action.

It seemed that Florida tried to participate in the shootout with the Razorbacks, attempting one more three than they did with 21. However, the Gators only made half of what Arkansas did, as Florida shot 4 of 21 from beyond the arc to the Razorbacks' 8 of 20.

Florida also turned the ball over too often to avoid a track meet with speedy Arkansas. UF gave it up 16 times to Arkansas’ 14, but the Razorbacks are built for that type of turnover-heavy game. Arkansas converted the Gators’ turnovers into 22 points while Florida only converted its opportunities to six.

A Gators team that started the season 4-0 is now on a four-game losing streak, all in the SEC. “It’s been a tough stretch for us where we are in our schedule, and we just have to keep fighting,” Newbauer said. “We just have to believe, keep fighting and keep going.” @GrahamMarshUF gmarsh@alligator.org

MEN'S BASKETBALL

'Immaturity' costing UF

By Joseph Salvador Sports Writer

Florida’s loss to No. 1 Baylor on Saturday shouldn't have surprised most people. UF was an unranked team coming off of a loss, while the Bears came into Gainesville touting a 15-game winning streak.

After a double-digit defeat, it was clear that UF coach Mike White was disappointed in his team’s performance while praising Baylor’s talent.

It was a sullen and frank postgame press conference when White took the stage, and he had some eyeopening comments on his team’s performance.

“They got to be in the argument to be the best defense in the country.”

That’s certainly up for debate.

Baylor put on a clinic Saturday night on the defensive side of the ball and limited Florida to just 61 points, the lowest its scored since a game against UConn on Nov. 17 (59).

The Bears’ defensive dominance was led by forwards Mark Vital and Freddie Gillespie, who combined for 17 rebounds, 11 of which were on

MEN'S TENNIS

Gators win ITA Kick-Off Weekend at home

the offensive glass, two blocks and two steals.

By Zachary Huber

“Vital and Gillespie, to me, they’re both really strong and both have tremendous motors. They just go, go, go, go, go.”

Florida’s Andy Andrade was on the verge of clinching match point for Florida after winning a nail-biting tiebreaker.

He was up 5-1 in the second set against USF’s Antonio Muniz. It was Muniz’s turn to serve. He threw the ball up in the air, jumped and swung his racket to put the ball in play.

Andrade handled Muniz’s serve without issue. The ball bounced to Muniz, and he hit the ball back to Andrade’s half.

Muniz’s shot was long, and Andrade’s teammates swarmed him to celebrate.

His win on Court 4 sealed the 4-0 win over the USF Bulls and cemented UF’s fourth-straight trip to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Team Indoor Championship in Madison, Wisconsin.

Before Sunday’s win, No. 2 Florida (6-1) went against Temple (0-2).

Florida continued its success in doubles to start the match. It made quick work of the Owls, taking wins on Courts 1 and 2.

White praised Baylor’s frontcourt earlier in the week, saying they had an argument to be the best in the country.

The fifth-year UF coach would eventually move on from praise and began to question his team in more ways than one.

Florida started off the season struggling on the offensive side of the ball, but its defense was its calling card and carried them to a respectable record.

UF only reached 80 points once in its first 10 games and has reached that mark five times in its last 10 contests.

In those first 10 games, Florida only allowed opponents to score 70 points twice and have allowed teams to reach that clip four times in its last 10 games.

SEE MEN'S BASKETBALL, PAGE 12

Former Gators running back Lamical Perine was named Outstanding Player for the South Team in the Reese's Senior Bowl. He scored the game's first touchdown and had 59 total yards.

Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff

Guard Lavender Briggs scored a team-high 17 points in the road loss to Arkansas on Sunday.

Sports Writer

Johannes Ingildsen and Will Grant blanked Temple’s Paolo Cucalo and Louis Gorregues on Court 2, 6-0. Then, junior, No. 14, Oliver Crawford and sophomore, No. 4, Sam Riffice stayed flawless on the season by winning over Juan Araoz and Enzo Brida on Court 1.

In singles play, coach Bryan Shelton made the decision to sit one of his best players, Crawford (2-1), who is ranked No. 31 by the ITA in singles.

However, in the second set, three Gators fell behind. But it didn’t matter because Ingildsen, No. 71 Lukas Greif and junior Josh Goodger finished their matches in straight sets to seal UF’s place in the championship match (4-0).

The coaches of both teams decided to leave other matches unfinished because of the contested matches to be played Sunday.

On championship Sunday, the doubles point would not come as easily to the Gators.

The team got off to a rough start and fell behind early.

Crawford and Riffice on Court 1 and Duarte Vale and Goodger on Court 3 found themselves in a 2-1

Gators land commitment from five-star receiver Former Penn State wide receiver Justin Shorter announced his commitment to UF on Sunday. He was the No. 1 receiver in the 2018 class. Shorter is the third five-star transfer the Gators have landed under coach Dan Mullen.

deficit early.

But both duos would storm back and win the match to give UF the doubles point (6-4, 6-3).

Shelton said he was pleased with the way his doubles duos fought back after falling behind early.

“I think today was certainly a tough test because I thought South Florida came out and played great doubles,” he said. “We have put a lot of time into the doubles. I think it started back in the beginning of the fall season.”

During the fall season, Shelton said he made doubles a priority and credited the team for buying in.

Riffice would win over Jakub Wojcik on Court 2, 6-0, 6-3 to put UF up 2-0 overall.

On Court 3, No. 17 junior Vale defeated Pierre Luquet 6-2, 6-1.

Andrade finished off the Bulls when he beat Muniz 7-6, 6-1.

Next weekend, Florida will return to action on Saturday to take on FSU in Lake Nona, Florida, at 5 p.m.

Follow us for updates

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

@zacharyahuber zhuber@alligator.org

MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020 ALLIGATOR 11

GYMNASTICS

Depth has been the key for Florida so far this season

By Noah Ram Sports Writer

Alligator File Photo

Sophomore Trinity Thomas notched her first career 10 Friday night againstLSU.

TRACK

The Florida gymnastics team has already been through a tumultuous stretch to begin the season.

So far, the Gators have beaten three SEC opponents: Arkansas, Missouri and LSU. All three teams are currently ranked in the Road to Nationals Top 25, with Arkansas at No. 19, Missouri No. 20 and LSU No. 8.

Besides some hiccups early on in Missouri, No. 2 Florida has handled those opponents with ease. Against Arkansas, it won by its largest margin since 2017 and finished with the highest score ever (197.35) in a season-opener in program history. Against LSU, it ended with the highest score (198.375) of any team in the country so far this season. It was also the highest score of coach Jenny Rowland’s career.

There are numerous reasons

for UF’s topflight performance thus far. First, there’s sophomore Trinity Thomas’ remarkable play, capped off by the 10 she scored on uneven bars Friday against LSU. It’s also hard to ignore the surprise emergence of freshman Payton Richards, who, in just her third career meet, started in all four rotations.

But one could argue the biggest explanation for the Gators’ superb performance has been their depth.

Even before the season began, Rowland knew the deep roster would be an asset.

“I can’t say we’ve had this much depth since I’ve been here,” Rowland said before the meet against the Razorbacks.

“It’s a great problem to have and a conversation we’ve continuously had.”

Since that meet against the Hogs, Rowland has adjusted the lineups quite a bit.

She has rolled out a differ-

ent vault lineup each meet this season. Junior Alyssa Baumann started on the vault against Arkansas, but she scored a 9.175, so, against Mizzou, she was benched in favor of junior Megan Skaggs. In place of Baumann, Skaggs ended up scoring a 9.80, the second-highest score for UF in the vault that week.

However, she was replaced for LSU by Baumann once again, who rebounded and scored a 9.85.

Prior to the LSU meet, Baumann said the depth is a motivating factor for herself and her teammates.

“I think it has really pushed our team,” she said. “We are competing for lineup spots each week, and it’s just making everyone a little bit better.”

The depth also allows Rowland to make easy changes when gymnasts aren’t available. Sophomore Leah Clapper had started the first two meets on the beam,

but missed the meet versus the Tigers. Sophomore Sydney Johnson-Scharpf filled in for her and scored a 9.925, helping Florida finish with its best beam score (49.675) in program history.

Following the LSU meet, Rowland admitted she’s gotten some enjoyment out of the depth.

“I’m having just a little fun with these lineups,” Rowland said with a laugh. “I told Sydney after her beam routine that she did a great job and you go to trust the process sometimes.”

The squad’s deepness will have to continue to be an asset for UF the rest of the way. The next six meets for the Gators will be against teams ranked in the Top 25, led by home meets against No. 4 Denver on Feb. 7 and No. 5 Alabama on Feb. 21. @Noah_ram1 nram@alligator.org

Wiggan, Bandel take first place at Hokie Invitational

By Declan Walsh Sports Writer

Florida’s throwers continued its strong start to its indoor campaign as Amara Wiggan and Connor Bandel took first place at the Hokie Invitational in the women’s weight throw and the men’s shot put, respectively.

Wiggan was the only Gator competing on the first day in Blacksburg, Virginia, and she dominated the competition. Com-

ing off a similar performance at the Clemson Orange and Purple Elite Invitational two weeks earlier, her 20.06 meter mark this weekend bested all other throwers by more than a meter and a half.

Any one of the senior’s five eligible throws would have clinched the event. That 20.06m score now serves as her personal record in the weight throw. Wiggan will look to position herself among Gator greats going forward, nearing a top-10 ranking

among all-time Florida weight throwers. She now stands just 0.1m away from Merlyn Brown’s tenth place record.

Bandel had a career day in Blacksburg as well, winning his second consecutive meet with a 19.45m throw. Following a narrow victory at Clemson, he won decisively at the Hokie Invitational, defeating Virginia Tech’s Tyus Jones by nearly a meter.

Saturday’s event also increased his personal record by another 16 centimeters and estab-

lished himself among the nation’s elite shot putters. The redshirt junior has risen to 10th among active Division 1 shot putters along with being ranked third all-time at UF. Lastly, Thea Jensen had a strong weekend in the women’s shot put despite coming in third among attached throwers. The freshman demonstrated her inexperience, having four out of her six throws deemed ineligible.

But her 15.22m effort fell just 27 centimeters short of the winning

throw among attached participants, demonstrating the Dane’s potential.

The Gators travel to Arkansas next week to participate in the Razorback Invitational and look to build upon an impressive start to the season.

@dawalsh_UF dwalsh@alligator.org

Remembering the Mamba: Kobe KOBE BRYANT, from pg. 1 I was a fierce competitor in sports, even (and especially) before there was any talent there to back it up.

I was this way because I modeled my game, my mannerisms, my heart after Kobe’s. But I learned to love the work because Kobe did, and if it paid off for him then why not me?

I think that’s the most humanizing thing about Kobe. He was a gifted athlete, sure. But he broke down just how he got to be better than everyone else in interview after interview. He knew other players would be stronger, taller, quicker, but no one would outwork him. That’s a noble, sobering realization from one of the greatest to ever lace them up. He didn’t pretend to be born a basketball deity. He just worked his a** off to become one, and once he earned that distinction, he let you know it.

I never had the honor of seeing Kobe in person.

Twice I went to see the Lakers play in Miami in his two final years and twice I was the one wearing a No. 24 Bryant jersey while Kobe sat in street clothes on the bench.

On the way to the American Airlines Arena with my dad in 2015, I heard on the radio that he wasn’t going to play, and I was briefly crushed. This was months after he had penned his future-award-winning “Dear Basketball” retirement announcement, so I knew this was it.

My parents couldn’t believe he wasn’t playing, but I understood. He had banged up his body enough and

wanted to end the season and his career on his own terms. He couldn’t afford to play certain games and one of those happened to be my last chance to see him live. He knew his limits, even though to a casual observer it appeared he was bound by none.

But his “did not play” status did not stop me from waiting out by the Lakers bus with a horde of LA fans and basketball admirers alike. It took quite some time for Kobe to come out, but when he did, he was greeted by chants like I’ve never heard before. I joined in.

“Two more years! Two more years! MVP! MVP!” The feeling in that crowd that night was different.

The polarizing figure that Kobe was still brought fans together.

Kobe was just different. That’s the easiest way to encapsulate a man who moved on from living legend status to simply being a legend on Sunday. But it’s not enough.

Vanessa Bryant lost her husband and a daughter.

Kobe’s daughters lost their dad. And we all lost a role model, someone we felt like we knew through interviews, photos, videos and countless hours of game footage. And Kobe was robbed of the opportunity to continue his post-basketball life.

His less popular nickname, shadowed by Mamba, was Vino, the Italian word for wine, because Kobe, like wine, got better with age. Bryant will grow no older, but the memory of his 41 years on Earth will be immortalized by the millions of lives he touched.

Thanks for touching mine, Kobe.

AP Photo // Susan Sterner, File

Kobe Bryant, 17, jokes with the media as he holds his Los Angeles Lakers jersey during a news conference at The Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California.

12 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020

WOMEN'S TENNIS

Florida splits a pair of ITA Kickoff Weekend matches in North Carolina

By Myles Herbert Sports Writer

The No. 21-ranked Gators women’s tennis team traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina, this weekend as part of the ITA Kickoff Weekend. They are headed home 1-1, beating Oklahoma 4-3 on Saturday and losing to NC State 4-0 on Sunday.

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association hosts an annual tournament at

the beginning of the year to start the college tennis season and it can often be used as a spark to begin a campaign. This year’s tournament was the 12th rendition, with 26 events taking place around the country serving as a preliminary round before the finals in Chicago Feb. 7-10.

UF coach Roland Thornqvist and his team concluded their first match Saturday with an impressive 4-3 comeback victory against Oklahoma

in the opening round to show exactly why they are ranked in the Top 25.

Thornqvist was very satisfied with how his team performed in the first match and was especially excited to see how sophomore Marlee Zein, who secured the win for UF, was able to handle the pressure with confidence at such a high level.

“After a little disappointment in doubles, we looked really determined to bounce back in singles,"

UF was outrebounded 37 -26 MEN'S BASKETBALL, from pg. 10 Now, Florida’s main strength and primary weakness has become inverted and White articulated his frustration.

“There’s something to that for sure and I’ve always preached that, as long as I’ve really been in coaching, that there’s a tendency…we’re all human, when a ball is going in for us at a high level in basketball there’s a tendency to take a deep breath and relax and have the feeling that it’s all good. We’re in a good place.”

Baylor was not known for its offensive prowess, but for the Bears to shoot 9 for 19 from behind the arc is becoming a trend for Florida’s opponents.

On Jan. 11, Mizzou made 12 of its 19

three-point attempts and if that loss is included, Florida has allowed 69.8 points per game while its offense has improved to 71.6 points per contest in its last five games.

“Early in the season…our defensive numbers were a lot better than they are now. Our offensive numbers are much better right now than they were a month ago, we all know that. We’ve gotten a lot better offensively.”

White didn’t harp too long on his team’s scoring improvements or any positives for that matter.

He didn’t hold back when he began to criticize his team’s overall mentality up to this point in the season.

“We’re an immature team right now and from a mental toughness standpoint

Thornqvist said. “It was great for our entire team to watch her navigate the pressure of the third set and played fantastic tennis to win.”

This win against the Sooners set up Florida against No. 8 NC State; the host of the matches, who defeated their preliminary opponent, Rice, 4-2.

Sunday didn’t produce the same results for UF, however, not being

able to secure a single point on the second day, falling to the Wolfpack 4-0, with the closest game almost being won by senior Tsveta Dimitrova who ultimately fell in back to back sets 4-6.

Read the rest online at alligator.org/sports. @myles_herbert mherbert@alligator.org

we’re nowhere near what it takes to be a championship-level team.”

Again, this came on the heels of an unranked team losing by 11 points to the top team in the nation. White’s assessment of the team is harsh but fair given the expectation of this team, a team that held Baylor to shoot 29.6 percent in the second half and still lost.

“I hope everyone in our locker room is dissatisfied where we are.”

The Gators now find themselves with a 12-7 record after losing their second home game of the season. The team that was ranked No. 6 in the preseason still has more questions than answers right now.

Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff

@JSalvadorSports jsalvador@alligator.org

UF coach Mike White reamed his team's performance after Saturday night's loss to No. 1 Baylor.