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VOLUME 114 ISSUE 54
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2020 Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida
Not officially associated with the University of Florida
How an SG party fell apart in 9 days MOST OF PROGRESSIVE PARTY’S CANDIDATES DROPPED THURSDAY By Chasity Maynard Alligator Staff Writer
Just nine days after Progressive Party registered to run in a UF Student Government executive and Senate race, the party formed on progressive political values in SG crumbled. On Jan. 21, Progressive officially registered with Student Government as the first official political third party on campus since Spring 2018. But by Thursday night, two of their executive ticket candidates and many party members hoping to run for Senate resigned. And the party’s founder Alfredo Ortiz — who introduced himself on Facebook as a candidate for Student Body president with Progressive — might not even be eligible to run under his own party now, according to UF Student Government election codes. There are no candidates running for Senate with Progressive, said Brandon Reis, a former Progressive candidate and the de facto president of the party’s dissolution board. In order for a political party to stay in the running, the party must have at least six people running for Senate or candidates on a ticket together vying for Student Body president, vice-president and treasurer. SG election codes state that any party that doesn’t meet these qualifications will be disqualified from the election. But how did Progressive Party — the first legitimate third party since Challenge Party in Spring 2018 — get to this point? The Alligator has compiled a timeline of key events over the last two weeks that led to these resignations. Here’s how the newly formed party dismantled.
Friday, Jan. 24 SEE SG, PAGE 4
SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT UF tops FSU at College Matchday Story description finish with comma, pg# The No. 2 Gators beat the No. 21 Seminoles by a score of 4-1 on Saturday, pg. 11
Laura San Juan // Alligator Staff
Izzy Dusek, a 19-year-old University of Tennessee, Knoxville political science freshman, and Connor Shelander, a 19-year-old University of Tennessee, Knoxville mechanical engineering sophomore, practice before they compete during the 54th annual Green Gator Division Two Senior Mix Epee. Both were excited to compete in Florida.
Spoken word and black excellence: Remembering Denise Griffiths Her optimism and morality lives on in friends and family By Hannah Phillips Alligator Staff Writer
Denise Griffiths, a UF English language and literature senior, died Wednesday after succumbing to brain and spinal injuries. She was 21. Griffiths was a spoken word poet and aspiring rapper. She wrote about being a black woman in America, her agency over her body and her desire to be seen and appreciated. Though she wasn’t able to produce the
mixtape she promised friends and family, Griffith’s writing lives on as a testament to her talent and compassion. Griffiths’ grandmother, Cynthia Gainey, keeps videos on her phone of Griffiths performing. In one, she recites a poem she wrote about police brutality and violence against black people. “I’m hurting for my people. I’m tired of hashtags,” she said. “Tensions building up while the justice system lags. If we all unite, imagine the lives we could save – in the land
of the free and the home of the brave.” About a month and a half before she died, Griffiths told her grandmother she registered to be an organ donor, Gainey said. Gainey was surprised and upset, and she asked why. “She stood right there and looked back at me,” Gainey said, pointing to the middle of her living room. “She says, ‘Granny, if I can help somebody while I’m no longer here, I’m supposed to do that.’”
SEE GRIFFITHS, PAGE 3
UF stops student and employee trips to China UF CANCELS STUDY ABROAD TRIPS TO CHINA IN THE WAKE OF CORONAVIRUS By Meghan McGlone Alligator Staff Writer
UF announced Friday it will not approve or reimburse future student and employee trips to China until further notice due to the coronavirus.
The email also said any faculty and staff who had plans to visit China in coming weeks have canceled their plans. Several people who were registered with the UF International Center for trips to China had their trips canceled, said UF spokesperson Steve Orlando. Orlando said he does not know how many trips in total were canceled, because not all students register with the International Center. Mabel Cardec, a spokesperson for the International Center,
How UF students are campaigning
declined to comment on the trip cancellations. She said the International Center acts in accordance with UF’s statements. “Like every other university and hospital in the country, we are taking all appropriate precautions and continuously engaged in important conversations to ensure the health and safety of the university community,” according to UF’s statement. It is not known if or when some of the trips to China will be re-
UF students have started presidential candidate groups, pg. 6
scheduled. There are currently no students in China, Orlando said. Any trips planned for China outside of the International Center after Friday will have to be paid out of pocket, and they will not be reimbursed. Orlando said he is not sure if trips planned before Friday will be reimbursed. “I’m certain the International Center will work out some other kinds of arrangements for them,” he said.
SEE CHINA, PAGE 3
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Hustle and bus-tle
Gainesville’s self-driving bus is testing again , pg. 6
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