February 8, 2019

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VOLUME 113 ISSUE 56

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019 Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

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UF Fall commencement procedures change again FALL GRADUATES WILL BE INDIVIDUALLY RECOGNIZED

By Lakshmi Gomez Alligator Staff Writer

After only a third of graduates showed up to their Fall graduation, UF decided it had to make changes, again.

UF students graduating in Fall will once

again walk across the stage at the O’Connell Center and have their names read, said Stephanie McBride, UF’s director of commencements. The single university-wide commencement at the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium won’t be held for future Fall graduates.

There will be three bundled ceremonies for bachelor’s and master’s graduates from different colleges during this weekend.

The decision to make the changes came in part after about 530 guests and graduates

of last Fall’s commencement completed a survey about their experience, McBride said.

Some said they enjoyed the changes, but others noted a dislike for bearing the rainy weather in the open stadium and the feeling of a sparse crowd.

The decision was also motivated by numbers, she said. There are typically about 3,600 graduates in December and 8,500 graduates in May. The O’Connell Center seemed to be a better fit for the smaller Fall graduat-

ing class size.

These changes will not apply to the Spring commencements, which will follow the format started last Fall of having a universitywide ceremony in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium as well as college recognition ceremonies over the course of the weekend, McBride said.

Summer commencement will remain as it always has, with two ceremonies held at

SEE COMMENCEMENT, PAGE 3

UF Lung Transplant Program sets new Florida record

By Emily Kracht Alligator Contributing Writer

Nicole Needles / Alligator Staff

BREAKING DOWN HATE Rachel Marks, a 20-year-old UF political science and public relations sophomore, paints a cinder block Thursday afternoon on the Reitz Union North Lawn for the Writing on the Wall project. Each volunteer wrote a derogatory word on their respective block. The block will be used to build a wall meant to symbolize the oppression and mistreatment of others. The wall will be built Monday and torn down Friday following a ceremony. “They can overcome it through community, positivity and self-empowerment,” Marks said.

The UF Health Lung Transplant Program broke a Tampa hospital’s 2018 record for the number of lung transplants in a year.

After completing 70 transplants, UF has set the highest number of lung transplants completed in Florida within one year.

The previous record of 58 was set by Tampa General Hospital, said Dr. Satish Chandrashekaran, a transplant pulmonologist with UF Health.

Chandrashekaran said implementing a new team, starting with three new surgeons in 2014, and advancements in technology are the primary reasons they broke the record.

The UF Health program has a shorter wait time and lower mortality rate than any other program in Florida, Chandrashekaran said. The average wait time for the program has shortened to under three months. The program also willingly accepts older patients, which other programs in Florida are often wary to do.

Typically, UF Health performs anywhere from 30 to 40 lung transplants per year, Chandrashekaran said.

Dr. Ashwini Arjuna, a clinician in training in the Lung Transplant Program wrote in an email, “The strength of this program is that the whole team is a comprehensive unit which works very well together as a well oiled machine always working towards making patient care

SEE LUNG, PAGE 3

Alachua County Public Schools unsure of post-Common Core future NEW PROGRAM NOT YET DECIDED

By Josephine Fuller Alligator Staff Writer

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order to end Common

Core education, leaving Alachua County Public Schools unsure of what will replace it.

Until Common Core is replaced with a new program, nothing will change. Right now, there is no implementation date. The school board does not know how this

UF basketball visits top-ranked Tennessee on Saturday

Coach Mike White and the Gators will try and avoid three straight SEC losses in Knoxville, pg. 14

will affect the state-issued exams students currently take, said Jackie Johnson, the Alachua County Public Schools spokesperson.

The order states that by Jan. 1, 2020, Florida Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran must review Florida’s academic

Another TEDx

TEDxGainesville to have first show Saturday, pg. 8

standards and provide recommendations on how to eliminate Common Core and return to the basics of reading, writing and mathematics.

The training for teachers and textbooks that are used are based on Common Core teachings. Mov-

ing on to something else would require new training and textbooks, Johnson said.

The school board will not know how much this will cost until the new standards are developed and approved, Johnson

SEE COMMON CORE, PAGE 3

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Remembering a tragedy

Historian retells story of Rosewood Massacre, pg. 8

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2 ALLIGATOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

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Students must bring their Gator 1 Card. One guest per student is allowed. A Campus Movie Fest premiere, a “The Shawshank Redemption” escape room and movie trivia are some of this week’s activities. Crafts are “The Wizard of Oz”-themed and include a twister in a jar or wood-

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019 ALLIGATOR 3

Commencement changes follow graduates’ low ratings COMMENCEMENT, from pg. 1 the O’Connell Center, one for doctoral graduates and the other universitywide, McBride said.

UF changed the commencement procedures in Fall after nearly 50 years of the same routine following national news of at least three black students being shoved off stage last Spring by a marshal. They were seemingly rushed off for pausing on stage to perform a

celebratory dance, which was a historical multicultural fraternity ritual for some.

Anthony Rojas, a 23-year-old UF political science master’s student who led a campaign against the universitywide stadium graduation, said student pushback helped show administrators how important being individually recognized is.

“My heart breaks for the people who did not get this chance,” Rojas said. “I’m happy we can learn from

the mistake and see this was not the best way to go about it.”

UF continues to focus on their commitment to celebrating students for its accomplishment at graduation, said UF spokesperson Margot Winick.

“This seemed like the best way to honor the students and create a celebratory environment and atmosphere,” Winick said. @lakshmigomez_ lgomez@alligator.org

May 2018: At least three students are pushed off stage during Spring commencement.

September 2018: UF announces plans for new university-wide commencement ceremony.

September 2018: Students protest the new commencement change at Tigert Hall.

December 2018: One-third of graduates attend the university-wide commencement.

January 2019: UF decides to go back to the old graduation model for Fall commencements.

Lung reduction surgery helps transplants LUNGS, from pg. 1 better.”

A lung volume reduction surgery, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system and a lung perfusion system called XVIVO are some of the technologies that help maximize the efficiency of the donated lungs and the patient’s health. The XVIVO lung perfusion system allows doctors to ventilate a lung and determine if it can be used by a patient.

The extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system oxygenates the blood and acts as an exterior lung for the patient, helping patients stay alive while awaiting the transplant.

The average size of a donor’s lungs may be too large for a patient, making it hard to match patients them. But Chandrashekaran said the reduction surgery enables the program to reduce the volume of the lungs, meaning that more donated lungs can be used and more transplants can be done.

Chandrashekaran said this combination of technology is unique to UF and is part of what helped break the record.

Chandrashekaran hopes that reaching out to local communities and hospitals will bring more transplant patients who may not be able to receive treatment at other hospitals to UF Health.

“We’re trying to see how we can help more patients in the community, in the state and in the region,” Chandrashekaran said.

Costs for retaining teachers will vary COMMON CORE, from pg. 1 said. Companies that produce the textbooks and course materials also can’t begin making them until the replacement is found.

Costs for retraining teachers and buying new materials will vary based on how quickly the new system must be implemented, Johnson said.

“Will we have one year to

implement? Will it differ depending on the subject? We just don’t know at this point,” she said.

Robert Hyatt, the chairman of the Alachua County School Board, said this isn’t the first time the state has tried to move away from Common Core. In 2014, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test was eliminated and re-

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placed with the Florida Standards Assessments. The new test required the same curriculum, just under a different name, he said.

The program revolves around what goes on standardized tests, which can lead to a narrowing of what is taught, Hyatt said.

“It’d be interesting if we gave a test today on geography and compared it to a test we gave 30 years ago,” he said. “My guess is that

UF HEALTH LUNG TRANSPLANT PROGRAM BY THE NUMBERS

students from 30 years ago would have a better idea of national and global geography.”

Ester de Jong, a UF professor and director of the School of Teaching and Learning, agreed with Hyatt. The method of teaching the Common Core curriculum is the real issue, rather than Common Core itself, she said.

The current state law requires standardized assessments to be given every year. These tests are used to give schools a score which determines their funding,

56 transplants in 2017 44 transplants in 2016 37 transplants in 2015 12 transplants in 2014

de Jong said.

The teachings create highstake situations in which teachers spend their time teaching students to pass the test because of a fear that failing scores would reflect badly on the school, she said.

“This issue will not go away just by removing Common Core,” de Jong said. @JoFuller24 jfuller@alligator.org

4 ALLIGATOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

Man on horse tries to ride away from deputy HIS BOND IS SET AT $12,500

By Katherine Wallace-Fernandez Alligator Staff Writer

A man on horseback wasn’t able to escape a deputy Tuesday afternoon.

The deputy was notified of a trespasser at the Ashton Biological Preserve, at 22215 SW 119th Ave., at about 4:10 p.m., according to an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.

The trespasser, Scott Jameson Weltz, 51, of Archer, was accused of running a man over with his horse in November, the report said. The Weltz man, who works at the research center, filmed Weltz on his cellphone riding his horse toward him.

He jumped to the side and shoved the horse’s face away from him, the report said. The man said Weltz constantly rides his horse up to the

gates of the research center to call him names and told his dogs to attack him.

While a deputy drove to Weltz’s residence, which is near the center, he saw him riding his horse toward him on the 11900 block of Southwest 230th Street, the report said. The deputy parked and told Weltz to stop and get off his horse.

Weltz commanded his horse to go faster and rode past the deputy, the report said. The deputy followed in his patrol car, pulled alongside him and told him he was under arrest and to get off the horse.

Weltz then fled into the woods, the arrest report said. Deputies set up a perimeter and later arrested him.

The horse was safely returned to family in the area, ACSO spokesperson Art Forgey said.

He was charged with failing to obey law enforcement and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the report said.

Weltz remains in the Alachua County Jail in lieu of a $12,500 bond. @katwf98 kwallace-fernandez@alligator.org

Chris King / Alligator Staff

Changeville Sound Itawe Correa, the lead singer for the Grammy-nominated band Locos Por Juana, performs Thursday night on Bo Diddley Plaza. The performance was part of the Changeville festival, which takes place Thursday and today.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019 ALLIGATOR 5

UF students, activists come together to make change

By Kelly Hayes Alligator Staff Writer

Student and community activists criticized UF’s lack of action on environmental and mental health issues Wednesday night.

These topics of concern, alongside plans of action, were presented by students, faculty and residents at the first “UF Campus Coalition Teach-In.” The Alachua County Labor Coalition suggested starting the event to bring the Gainesville and UF communities together to coordinate their ideas, said Ashley Nguyen, a coalition coordinator.

About 50 members of the Gainesville community came out to the event in Turlington Hall. The event was followed by public discussion.

Gainesville mayoral candidate Jenn Powell attended the event and said she was interested in hearing about the university’s energy consumption to learn about getting UF’s main campus on the Gainesville Regional Utilities grid.

“I’m not a politician,” Powell said. “I’m an activist.”

The two-hour teach-in was the first of a potential monthly series held by the Alachua County Labor Coalition at the university, said Nguyen, a 20-year-old UF international studies and political science junior.

“My hopes, and that of the people presenting, is that more students will get involved in these issues,” Nguyen said. “And

Kelly Hayes / Alligator Staff

Jeremiah Tattersall, the lead organizer of the Alachua County Labor Coalition, presents the speakers at the first teach-in event held by ACLC at UF. pushing for the university to accommodate for these commands.”

The topic of UF’s energy consumption began with Wendell Porter, a UF assistant

research scientist of agricultural and biological engineering. He discussed how UF sources its energy and the environmental impact it has in Gainesville, expressing

concern for the lack of enforcement of its carbon neutrality position.

Porter was followed by Divest UF, a campus organization of students, faculty and community members who aim to challenge UF’s investment in fossil fuels. The organization is campaigning a Student Government resolution to cut all ties with fossil fuel companies within five years.

“The time is here to change how we get our power on campus,” Porter said.

The next topic presented was mental health on campus, starting with Zachariah Chou, a UF SG Murphree area senator and UF Student Body presidential candidate.

Chou presented a history of the Counseling and Wellness Center through archived The Alligator articles and discussed its fluctuations in funding.

Chou was followed by Othelia Jumapao, who spoke about mental health and diversity, and then the co-chairs of the Graduate Assistants United at UF, who advocated for mental health programs for graduate students.

“You also have to find a counselor that’s right for you,” Chou said. “You might as well do that at UF where it’s free.”

Cheyenne Cheng, a 21-year-old UF psychology senior, found the event to be a call to action and plans to attend monthly.

“It was not just to learn but how to progress,” Cheng said. @kellyrhayes khayes@alligator.org

Gainesville Department of Doing director submits resignation

By Taylor Girtman Alligator Staff Writer

Wendy Thomas has overseen “doing” in Gainesville for 2 1/2 years and brought virtual inspections and artificial intelligence to city planning.

Thomas, director of the Department of Doing, submitted her letter of resignation to Deborah Bowie, the interim city manager, on Feb. 1. She chose to leave for personal reasons, Thomas said.

She was the first director of the department, which oversees city planning and building, Thomas said.

This is the Thomas first resignation of a city director or manager since Anthony Lyons resigned as city manager on Dec. 11.

Andrew Persons, the senior

planner for the Department of Doing, will become interim director on March 2, said Chip Skinner, the city spokesperson.

In July, Thomas, 56, was diagnosed with breast cancer, so she wants to spend more time with her husband who serves at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.

Thomas began as director in September 2016 and said she couldn’t resist working in a department with “doing” in its name.

Under her leadership,

Gainesville became the first city in Florida to conduct virtual inspections of buildings and develop artificial intelligence with UF to review building plans, Thomas said.

These virtual improvements will lessen the department’s carbon footprint in the future.

Thomas said the building and planning teams worked separately before she came to the department. She made it her mission to bring them together.

In November, the department

proposed the gnvRISE program to create affordable housing in Gainesville. This project was met with mixed reviews in a November city commission meeting when the commission decided not approve the proposal.

“The work that we did around proposing an incentive-based affordable housing program is work that I am, in fact, very, very proud of,” Thomas said. @taylorgirtman tgirtman@alligator.org

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019 www.alligator.org/opinions

Editorial

The sun and the heat are finally back where they belong in the Sunshine State, and it’s time to get back to business as usual — days beside the pool. You grab your towel and slide your sunglasses onto your face, making your way down to the pool. You slip into one of the reclining chairs that line the outside of the pool and begin to relax.

Thoughts of midterms pushed firmly out of your head, the only thing on your mind is the shoreline that awaits you during Spring Break.

You let the sunlight sink into your skin, relaxing your muscles that grew tense over the past week. A loud splash ruins your moment of Zen as a mountain of water falls onto you. You quickly get to your feet, incredulous. You most certainly didn’t go to the pool to actually get wet. You huff and look at the culprits, two people who decided now would be a good time play with a beach ball.

Just as you’re about to say something, the beach ball comes flying at your face. With a smack, your head is knocked backward. ‘That’ll leave a mark’, you think. While still rubbing your cheek you pick up the heinous ball. You see large letters plastered across the front of it. You see now it makes sense; you were smacked in the face with…

Darts and Laurels

W

e’re starting out with a laurel this week for Richard Cole, the managing partner of Cole, Scott & Kissane in Miami, who gifted $20 million to UF’s Levin College of Law this week. The donation is in honor of his late father, Robert B. Cole. Both Richard and Robert are UF alumni. Cole said he hopes the donation will put an emphasis on health law, which will help the state with health issues it’s facing with a growing number of elderly residents. This is the college’s largest donation to date.

It’s the first full week of Black History Month. However, companies and politicians have had to offer apologies for racist acts. A dart goes to Gucci and Adidas, who both pulled products from recent releases after the products’ questionable implications. Gucci pulled an $890 sweater from its website after it was called out for its blackface imagery. The black-knit women’s balaclava was a part of Gucci’s fall-winter 2018 collection. It could be pulled over the lower half of the wearer’s face, featuring bright red lips around an open mouth, imagery often associated with blackface. Also, Adidas released an almost entirely white pair of sneakers that were meant to celebrate Black History Month. The sneakers received backlash for their questionable meaning toward Black History Month.

However, Gucci is not the only entity being accused of blackface. A growing wave of politicians are also being accused of it. A dart goes out to Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, Attorney General Mark Herring and Republican Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., for all being involved in cases of blackface. Blackface has been an issue for the past 200 years, but it’s about time people became educated on its harmful implications and give it a zero tolerance policy.

Finally, we would like to hand a laurel out to UF’s class of 2023, which is being announced Friday. About 14,800 students will be admitted out of the 42,000 students who applied. Admittance to UF continues to grow more competitive each year, with about 40,800 students applying in 2018 and about 34,000 applying in 2017. However, we’re excited to meet this new class and see the great things they’re going to accomplish at UF. Paige Fry EDITOR

Christina Morales MANAGING EDITOR

Amanda Rosa MANAGING EDITOR

Michaela Mulligan OPINIONS EDITOR

Column

The issue of immigration is back in the spot light

A

nyone who has ever dealt with the home.

U.S. immigration system is likely to laThe memes about 21 Savage are admittedly bel the process long, challenging and funny; however, they begin to distract us from sometimes discouraging. the main issue, which is people being taken And earlier this week, most music away from where they grew up. Abraham-Joand hip-hop fans saw firsthand how this broken seph’s situation feels similar to many Deferred system can affect real people.

Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients. DACA, Elijah Rawls She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, more widely an Obama-era program, allowed for undocuopinions@alligator.org known as 21 Savage, was detained by U.S. Immented immigrants who came in as children to migration and Customs Enforcement. According stay in the U.S. to ICE spokesman Bryan Cox, Abraham-Joseph In 2017, President Donald Trump effectively stayed unlawfully in the U.S. and has a felony conviction. ended the DACA program, no longer allowing for new apHis overstay in America resulted in an arrest in the Atlanta plications. As the program ended, there was no clear way area. He was also put into deportation proceedings. forward for individuals who once lived under its protective Charles H. Kuck, Abraham-Joseph’s current immigra- net. This situation has shed some much-needed light on our tion lawyer, said the rapper applied for a U.S. for a U visa immigration system. Those who might be unfamiliar with in 2017, which is a legal way for victims of crime to keep legal protections are getting a crash course in civics, while residency in the U.S. others who might be in a similar situation as AbrahamAccording to Kuck, Abraham-Joseph was born in Lon- Joseph can feel like their issues are being brought to light. don and moved to Atlanta, Georgia when he was 7. As the This week, social media has been an enormously efspokesperson for ICE confirmed Abraham-Joseph’s arrest, fective tool for spreading immigration awareness, but it it became clear he could face potential deportation, a fac- has also been a forum for hate. Many conservative outlets tor that is likely to impact his Feb. 27 performance at the praised ICE for detaining Abraham-Joseph, making their O’Connell Center. loyalty to the executive office apparent.

The news of Abraham-Joseph’s real hometown spread So, when people on Twitter try to be funny by claiming swiftly on Twitter. It made the rounds with all the major Abraham-Joseph is not really American, they’re unknownews outlets and quickly became the latest meme of the ingly pushing the broken rhetoric our current presidential new year. Initially, it was clear many of Abraham-Joseph’s administration subscribes to. Those who are in favor of fans felt betrayed by the rapper. They assumed just because keeping DACA as a part of our immigration system, and he had an English birth certificate, he was not truly from protecting children now and in the future, should show Atlanta. I disagree with this notion. Where you were born their support for those facing the very real possibilities of does not necessarily dictate where you are from. Where deportation. you grew up is where you became who you are. AbrahamJoseph spent the majority of his formative years on U.S. Elijah Rawls is a UF journalism senior. His column apsoil. Imagine going to elementary, middle and high school pears on Fridays. all in one country but still not being able to claim it as your

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Alligator.

The Alligator encourages comments from readers. Letters to the editor should not exceed 150 words (about one letter-sized page). They must be typed, double-spaced and must include the author’s name, classification and phone number. Names will be withheld if the writer shows just cause. We reserve the right to edit for length, grammar, style and libel. Send letters to opinions@alligator.org, bring them to 2700 SW 13th St., or send them to P.O. Box 14257, Gainesville, FL 32604-2257.

Columns of about 450 words about original topics and editorial cartoons are also welcome. Questions? Call 352-376-4458.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019 ALLIGATOR 7

Column

Show bingers beware: Spoiling is on the rise and it needs to stop

I

am a victim of a spoiler. ing the episode for everyone.

In an interview before I’ve heard the argument that the Screen Actors Guild spoilers improve the experience of Awards, Angela Bassett watching a show. The argument is and husband Courtney B. that good storytelling doesn’t need Vance revealed details about to rely on anticipation and suspense. the second “Black Panther” If a story is good, people are going to movie. The actors got too Anede Siffort enjoy it whether or not it’s spoiled. excited and decided to drop opinions@alligator.org However, good storytelling captures spoilers. Herein lies the issue: your attention from the beginning.

My unexpecting ears weren’t It moves you emotionally through prepared to hear this information. the character’s actions. If good storytellSpoiling a movie or TV show takes away ing doesn’t need to rely on anticipation and the excitement and overall pleasure in a suspense, then why listen, watch or read a story. I love the anticipation of watching story if you already know how it ends? something new. When you watch a new It’s the emotions that go along with the movie or read a new book, it’s like being in story that make a spoiler impactful. When line at an amusement park. You’re waiting a story is spoiled, you can’t produce the to get on the mysterious ride. You have no same authentic emotions you would’ve felt idea what is going to happen, but you’re if you hadn’t been spoiled. Consequently, ready for all the twists and turns that will you are no longer emotionally connected to come your way. Now, imagine someone in- the story. We need to give people the comtervening and telling you every important mon courtesy of allowing them to experidetail about this ride. All the mystery of ence something in a way that is personal the ride is gone. So you end disappointed: to them. you either leave the line, or stay and let Like many others, when I don’t know your nervous eat you alive. But in any sce- how a story will turn out, I appreciate it nario, the experience isn’t the same as it more. Next time you catch yourself about would have been if you’d been kept in the to spoil a story, check yourself. Make sure dark. This is what happens when a story to ask if everyone is up to date. If not, find is spoiled for you. You no longer have that ways to discuss the story without spoiling same excitement you started with because it. That also goes for social media. Before you know what the climax of the story is you post something that might be a spoiler, going to be. Like many, you may no longer make sure you include the word “spoiler” want to watch, listen or continue to read. before any information.

On the other hand, I can understand the noWhen the second “Black Panther” comes tion that spoilers are inevitable. Nowadays, out, I’m not going to be able to watch it whenever a new episode of a show comes with the same enthusiasm and joy as I did out, people feel the need to hide from the watching the first “Black Panther.” I sadly internet, especially social media. Other- won’t be able to experience the same shock wise, they have to scroll quickly past any value as everyone else. Learn from my expotential spoilers. I often find myself yell- perience. Be aware. Let’s all agree to be ing “I haven’t watched it yet” whenever my spoiler-free. friends start talking about the latest episode of “How to Get Away with Murder.” HowAnede Siffort is a UF journalism senior. ever, there’s always that one person in the Her column appears on Fridays. group that finds a weird happiness in spoil-

Letter to the Editor

A commentary on Impact's actions So there I was on Saturday afternoon, existing.

I stared at my phone and saw Impact Party has posted some sort of preplatform, featuring three of their “newest initiatives.” Uh... “dockless scooter sharing?” Interesting, tell me more. I look at the comments section where I see the Impact folks tagging their friends and pretending they are spearheading the most exciting initiative since sliced bread, fire or the polio vaccine.

Flashback to May 2018: A friend hits me up on Facebook saying, “Hey have you seen the bird scooter thing? I want to bring these things to campus.” He’s been in contact with the scooter company. He puts me in contact with the scooter company, Bird.

On June 2, a Gainesville Sun headline blares “Dockless scooters could roll in soon.” On June 5, I gave an informational presentation to the Senate about Bird scooters. After about a month of emails, I forwarded all the information I had to Impact-affiliated Student Body President Ian Green since I’m a nice guy and like to include people on projects. Bird had talked to Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS). I talked to TAPS. My friend and I talked to the Office of Sustainability.

Flash forward to Sept. 27. It’s the Gainesville Sun again and this time, the headline is “City gears up for dockless scooter launch.” In the article, Assistant City Manager Dan Hoffman tells the Gainesville Sun it’s not a matter of if but when.

Flash forward to this past Tuesday when I emailed the city to see if this really was an Impact initiative. The folks from the city were kind enough to loop in the Office of Sustainability and TAPS, who all clarified who actually has been working on the legal language for months and no, they did not mention Impact. At this point, they are in the final stages of their work and from there, it’s on to the City Commission and so on.

So how is this now one of “Impact Party’s three newest initiatives?” I didn’t think ownership of other people’s work worked like that. It seems that Impact just wanted to be able to say “We are the party that brought electric scooters to campus” even though most, if not all, of the work has been done by other entities. The next thing you know, Impact might put “the next time Kent Fuchs smiles” on their platform and then try to take credit the next time our Gator dad graces the world with his pearly whites.

But I think that’s what Impact does.

Remember the exciting news of increased Bright Futures funding? I’ve always been skeptical of Impact trying to lay claim to these sorts of things.

To investigate, I put in a public records request for all Student Government emails and documents mentioning Bright Futures and/or lobbying for expanded Bright Futures over the last five years. Now, I don’t want to make a claim as bold as to say Impact had little to nothing to do with all these Bright Futures improvements over the years. But, I'll let you decide for yourself.

Something of particular to note is on page 91 of the public records requests form, where “Summer Bright Futures” is listed as a “current effort/accomplishment.” For the record, I do not believe effort equates to accomplishment and I think that it’s a particularly problematic participation-medal-mindset that should not be rewarded.

A lack of culture, transparency and accountability in SG makes it easy for you to be treated like a fool, but it doesn’t have to be this way. You deserve better than “bread and circuses.”

Vote for people who will give you a fair shake when it comes to Student Government. Reg.Pol.Ad Zachariah Chou is a UF political science junior. He is currently running for Student Body president with Inspire Party.

Column

Krishna Lunch is the cure for a bad day and here's why you shouldn't miss out

T

he first article I ever published for The Independent Florida Alligator was a comedic piece about where to study around campus. One of the places I suggested going to was Plaza of the Americas, and I stand by this statement. It’s still where I eat and study most weekdays. I spend most of my waking hours on Plaza because Krishna Lunch has become a staple in my diet. No, seriously. I eat it all. the. time. And that’s saying something because I am an extraordinarily finicky eater.

If you asked me to describe Krishna Lunch, prepared and provided by the local group of Hare Krishnas, I would not know where to start. I could not do it justice if I tried. Eating Krishna Lunch is like receiving a warm hug on a cold, sad day or, more accurately, like tasting magic. Krishna Lunch brings heaven to you. I have truly never experienced something so ethereal, so perfect.

Krishna won’t cure your depression, but it

seeping up the dressing. It’s the at least can make your days a little perfect pasta-to-dressing ratio, bit better. which could never be achieved You may be thinking, “I’m a with spaghetti. picky eater. I won’t find anything About the term “full Krishna.”

I want to eat there.” Let me be the Some people prefer to keep their one to tell you you’re wrong. I am salad separate from the rest of the pickiest eater that has ever Hannah their food, only putting the allived, and you can still catch me Whitaker mond dressing on the lettuce. at Krishna every weekday. If I can opinions@alligator.org This is a grave mistake, and by love it, so can you. not drenching your noodles, poIt is Wednesday as I write this, which means it's Spaghetti Day. Or, should tatoes and rice in almond dressing, you are I say, Penne Day? I’m still working on the missing out on the finer things in life.

Let’s talk about the price of Krishna new title. I have heard a lot of complaints about the recent switch from spaghetti Lunch: It’s $5 for all you can eat deliciousto penne pasta, but I must say, this was a ness. Not a bad price for an all you can eat change for the better. I mean, Wednesday scenario. You can save money and still have has always been my favorite, but penne a great college experience by eating Krishna noodles are a refreshing change. Now, when for every meal all four years.

The environment of Plaza is also a great I go “full Krishna” and drench all of my food in the almond dressing, each noodle is per- mood-booster. No one is sad at Krishna fectly covered due to the divots in the penne Lunch. Maybe you were sad upon arrival,

but I promise you won’t be for much longer.

Failed a test? Eat Krishna. Just got dumped?

Eat Krishna. Just realized our government is spiraling out of control and the two-party system was a colossal failure and we’re all probably going to die from imminent climate change? Eat Krishna.

I don’t know what else to tell you. Just get yourself to Plaza, bring some Tupperware, and allow your mind and taste buds to be blown. Each day brings something new to the table, so you’re never bored. Did I mention there are also vegan options? Krishna Lunch is truly the best place for a picky eater. And it’s the perfect time to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather. You can read, study, nap, spend time with friends and eat a delicious meal – what’s not to love?

Hannah Whitaker is a UF English sophomore. Her column normally appears on Mondays.

8 ALLIGATOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

Historian tells story of the Rosewood Massacre

More than 100 African Americans were killed in the 1923 massacre

By Naomi Cruz Alligator Contributing Writer

An audience of about 85 gripped onto Lizzie Jenkins’ every word as she retold the history of Rosewood, Florida, a town where black residents were massacred in 1923.

The Matheson History Museum hosted Jenkins, an 80-yearold author and historian, to share research she has done on the Rosewood Massacre and tell her family’s personal accounts in celebration of Black History Month Thursday night.

In 1923, a white woman, Fannie Coleman Taylor, claimed that a black man assaulted her.

Her husband, James Taylor, assembled a mob that included Ku Klux Klan members. The mob went to Rosewood, a predominantly black town, and killed townspeople.

Jenkins talked about her aunt, Mahulda Carrier, who was one of the survivors of the massacre. She said Carrier’s husband was beaten by the mob and was almost shot before Sheriff Elias “Bob” Walker put him in a Gainesville prison.

She said the number of those killed is still unknown, but it could be more than 100.

Jenkins is also the founder of the Real Rosewood Founda-

tion Inc., which focuses on education and preservation of the history of the Rosewood Massacre, she said.

The foundation sold prints, T-shirts and Jenkins’ book, “Alachua County, Florida” a part of the Black America Series, she said. All proceeds went toward the foundation’s effort to create a museum of Rosewood’s history.

“You would never know anything about anybody if you don’t talk,” Jenkins said on the importance of sharing history.

The museum staff hosted Jenkins for the first time and wanted to have her because of her accomplishments, said Peggy Macdonald, the museum’s executive director. She said having Jenkins was important so others could learn about local history.

Rose Sintulaire, a 21-yearold UF family, youth and community sciences senior, said she went to learn about black history in the Gainesville area because she didn’t know much about it.

“It gave me a bit more perspective on Gainesville and the events that happened to African Americans that were living in the area and their history,” she said. “It was very interesting to hear a live perspective. It made it more real.”

THE 1923 ROSEWOOD MASSACRE

Samuel Thomas / Alligator Staff

Lizzie Jenkins, the author of the 1998 book “The Real Rosewood,” speaks Thursday to a crowd of about 85 people at the Matheson History Museum. Jenkins spoke about her aunt who was assaulted during the 1923 Rosewood Massacre as well as her own experiences with racism during the civil rights movement. “What happened to me,” Jenkins said, “I don’t want it to happen to anybody else.”

Fannie Coleman Taylor claimed to be assaulted by a black man who may have been hiding in Rosewood, Florida, which was a predominantly black area.

A telegraph was sent to Gainesville about Fannie Taylor’s allegations which caused the Ku Klux Klan to go to Rosewood and join in the massacre.

The amount of people killed in the massacre is still unknown, but believed to be more than 100, said Lizzie Jenkins, an 80-year-old author and historian.

Mental health to be discussed at first TEDxGainesville

By Abraham Hunt

Alligator Contributing Writer

Shaneequa Cannon wants inspiration to be born from her TEDxGainesville talk on Saturday.

“I want to live up to my kinetic potential and reach out to everyone and aid them to their own,” said Cannon, a 36-year-old author on her experience with sexual assault.

“This is the stage to do it.”

Cannon and nine other speakers will deliver similar messages at the inaugural TEDxGainesville event from 1-5 p.m. at the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention, at 811 S. Main St. The event will also include vendor tables before the talks and three performances during intermission.

TEDxGainesville is an independently organized part of the TED organization, which stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design. TEDxUF events have been running for 10 years.

Speakers will have 10 minutes to give a talk on an issue in their profession, said John Coffill, a TEDxGainesville spokesperson.

The issues will include mental illnesses and the dangers of not reaching one’s full potential.

The event is limited to 100 attendees and tickets have sold out, he said.

Aaron Ritter / Alligator Staff

Mary Alford, 57, speaks Wednesday during a dress rehearsal for TEDxGainesville: Courageous Conversations at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre. TEDxGainesville will perform at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Cade Museum for Creativity and Innovation, at 811 S. Main St. For the last four years Leadership Gainesville, a 10-month community leadership program, has been trying to bring TEDxGainesville but hasn’t because mem-

bers didn’t think it would fix city problems, Coffill said.

After a UF inequity report published in January 2018 showed that more than

40 percent of African American children live in poverty in Alachua County, current members of the group decided it was time to start TEDxGainesville, he said.

“How does Alachua County, University of Florida, Santa Fe College and our community have that much disparity,” Coffill said. “We have to start the conversation.”

The Leadership Gainesville Alumni Association and sponsors budgeted about $17,000 for the event, Coffill said. They are still looking for sponsors.

Heather Sarkis was among 200 other applicants that applied in December for TEDxGainesville.

After a month-long selection process — which involved sending written essays and presenting five-minute talks — run by Leadership Gainesville, Sarkis was one of the 10 selected to speak.

“The TED stage is a great platform to discuss how society treats mental illness,” said Sarkis, a 36-year-old psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

Coffill said if the Saturday event turns out to be a success, Leadership Gainesville wants to make it sustainable and have it in future years.

“This event will start the conversation in Gainesville, and it will break social norms for the better in our community,” Coffill said.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019 ALLIGATOR 9

Making It Rain Photos by Chris King Alligator Staff

Graham Woods, a 20-year-old UF information systems sophomore, competes in the third annual Purple Rain dodgeball tournament Thursday on Norman Field. The competition benefitted Peaceful Paths, a safe house for women.

T

he sun was out, but that didn’t stop the purple rain. Alpha Chi Omega hosted its third annual Purple Rain dodgeball tournament Thursday on Norman Field. Fifty-two teams of five people threw foam balls soaked in purple paint

until there was only one team standing in the men’s and women’s brackets. The men’s bracket had 33 teams and the women’s bracket had 19 teams, and more than 300 people participated in the event. All proceeds from the tournament went toward Peace-

Davis Rash, an 18-year-old UF computer engineering freshman, hurls a paintsoaked ball Thursday at an opponent during the third annual Purple Rain dodgeball tournament on Norman Field. Fifty-two teams of five competed in the bracket-style tournament hosted by Alpha Chi Omega.

ful Paths, a safe house for women who have been abused. Cilantro Tacos, a local Gainesville food truck, provided the competitors a chance to grab a bite to eat between matches.

A team collects itself Thursday during the Purple Rain dodgeball tournament on Norman Field. More than 300 people attended the event.

10 ALLIGATOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

School shooting’s criminal, civil cases slowly creep forward

By Curt Anderson and Terry Spencer Associated Press

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre resulted in criminal and civil court cases and the creation of a state investigative panel examining the shooting’s causes.

A look at where those stand: CRIMINAL CASE The murder case against 20-year-old Nikolas Cruz is moving slowly and could take years. Defense lawyers are gradually interviewing dozens of prosecution witnesses, and there have been several legal skirmishes over release of Cruz’s medical and school records and attempts to obtain evidence. No trial date has been set, even as prosecutors have pushed to start this year.

Cruz’s lawyers have repeatedly said he will plead guilty to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in return for a life prison sentence, but Broward County prosecutors want his guilt and ultimate fate decided by a local jury. They are seeking the death penalty. Meanwhile, Cruz also faces assault and other charges for allegedly attacking a corrections officer in jail.

CIVIL LAWSUITS The Parkland shooting spawned numerous lawsuits, including a negligence case brought by a victim’s family against sheriff’s deputy Scot Peterson for failing to confront the gunman. More than 100 notices of intent to sue have been filed against the Broward County school system, again for negligence and similar allegations that officials failed to protect students and staff.

Shooting survivors have sued in federal

court claiming their civil rights were violated. And survivors and victims’ families alike have sued Cruz, the family he was living with at the time of the shooting, three mental health agencies who evaluated Cruz and the maker of the AR-15 rifle used by the shooter. More lawsuits are likely.

MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION The 15-member commission issued a 458-page report in January after meeting periodically for nine months to investigate the massacre’s causes and examine how future school shootings can be prevented.

Its most controversial recommendation: Florida teachers who volunteer, pass background checks and undergo extensive training should be allowed to carry concealed handguns. The members argue that seconds count, and waiting for police to arrive al-

lows shooters time to kill more students.

Opponents include the Florida teachers union and the state PTA. They say teachers should not also be security guards, and putting more guns on campuses will make schools more dangerous, not less. The commission found numerous failures in the school system, in law enforcement and at Stoneman Douglas. Among them: failure of school officials statewide to examine and fix campus security shortfalls; poor training for Broward County sheriff’s deputies in confronting mass shooters; and failures by Stoneman Douglas security officers that allowed the shooter to enter the campus. The commission is composed of law enforcement, education and mental health professionals and the fathers of two children who were killed. The panel will continue periodic meetings for the next four years.

City Commission votes against pay raise for GRU general manager $19,222 HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY BUDGETED FOR THE INCREASE

By Karina Elwood Alligator Staff Writer

Four high-ranking city officials will not get raises despite getting about a $1,600 bonus last year.

The commission voted 4-3 to not give raises to Gainesville Regional Utilities General Manager Ed Bielarski, City Auditor Carlos Holt, City Attorney Nicolle Shal-

ley and City Clerk Omichele Gainey.

Commissioners Harvey Ward, Gigi Simmons, Adrian Hayes-Santos and Mayor Lauren Poe voted against the pay increase because they said it wouldn’t be fair when some city employees make less than a living wage, which is $15 an hour.

“There was a lot to be done and you performed on it,” Ward said to the city officials. “But I’m not convinced on the raises.”

Commissioners Helen Warren,

David Arreola and Gail Johnson voted to grant the raise.

Two percent raises for one year, which totaled $19,222, were budgeted, said Lisa Jefferson, director of human resources.

Before deciding whether to use the budgeted funds for the raise, the commissioners gave evaluations of the four city officials on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being unsatisfactory and 5 being outstanding. The scores from the commission were combined to get an average rating.

Interim City Manager Deborah Bowie and Equal Opportunities Director Teneeshia Marshall did not receive evaluations because they are new to their roles, Jefferson said.

Shalley had a 4.571 average rating. Bielarski and Holt received a 4 average rating. Gainey had a 3.86 average rating.

Hayes-Santos gave out the lowest scores, rating Bielarski, Holt and Gainey at 2. Ward gave all the officers a 5 rating.

Commissioner Helen War-

ren, who also gave all high ratings, said she thought the officers earned a raise.

“I feel like two percent is not a lot,” Warren said. “These individuals earned more than just a pat on the back.”

The city commission plans to discuss the evaluations of the six high-ranking city officials in more detail at their next meeting on Feb. 21. @karina_elwood kelwood@alligator.org

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Quality single family homes. Walk or bike to UF. www.ellieshouses.com 352-215-4991 or 352-215-4990 12-5-19-109-2 House for Rent - 2392 SW 2nd Ave Directly across from Law School 4BR/2BA DW, W/D hookups, cent A/C heat Only $1.695/month No application fee, most pets ok 352-371-3636 or rentals@efnproperties.com 2-27-19-75-2

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NEW CONDOS-WALK TO UF For Info on ALL Condos for Sale, Visit www.UFCONDOS.COM or Matt Price, University Realty, 352-281-3551 4-24-19-43-5

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Got a new couch?. Sell your old one in the Alligator Classifieds. Call 373-FIND (3463) to place your ad today.

BEDS - Brand Name, Brand NEW Pillowtop Mattress & Box Set: Twins $89, Fulls $100, Queens $120, Kings $200. Can Deliver 352377-9846. Gainesville Discount Furniture.

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In the market for a new set of wheels or just looking to add a second to that collection?

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●UF Surplus On-Line Auctions●

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Goats for Sale & Lease Horse Boarding - 7 miles to UF Charlie - 352-278-1925

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SAWMILLS from only $4397.00- MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship! FREE Info/DVD: www.

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Motorcycles, Mopeds Autos Wanted Help Wanted Services

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The American Cancer Society Road to Recovery Volunteers Needed!

VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED to transport cancer patients to treatment.

Flexible schedule.

Training and liability insurance provided.

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Wanted

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.

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

Stfrancishousegnv.org

CASH FOR CARS & TRUCKS Running or Not ★ Any Condition 352-259-2020

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All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise ‘’any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make limitation, or discrimination.’’ We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. • All employment opportunities advertised herein are subject to the laws which prohibit discrimination in employment (barring legal exceptions) because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, familial status, age, or any other covered status. • This newspaper assumes no responsibility for injury or loss arising from contacts made through the type of advertising that is know as “personal” or “connections” whether or not they actually appear under those classifications. We suggest that any reader who responds to that type of advertising use caution and investigate the sincerity of the advertiser before giving out personal information. • Although this newspaper uses great care in accepting or rejecting advertising according to its suitability, we cannot verify that all advertising claims or offers are completely valid in every case and, therefore, cannot assume any responsibility for any injury or loss arising from offers and acceptance of offers of goods and/or services through any advertising contained herein.

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Daytime Production Staff Wanted Designers and advertising students:

The Alligator needs part time day shift members for the print production department. Must have experience with Adobe Creative Suite for consideration.

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Apply at ctscribes.com 4-12-19-31-14 Oak Hall School is seeking energetic, creative, and enthusiastic individuals with a love for children to staff its summer camp program. For a complete listing of positions visit www.oakhall.org/about-ohs/employmentopportunities Interview process begins February 23rd.

2-22-19-12-14 Wanted Dog and house sitter needed May 27-June 14 Must be able to spend nites at the house Pay $1,000 McIntosh Fl 16miles from G'ville 352-207-2717 for interview 3-25-19-21-14

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Services

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Express Training Services now offers a CNA class which can be completed in one weekend. Perfect for busy college students. www.expresstrainingservices.com/ww 4-2419-43-15 Trust your New Hampshire commercial, residential, multi-family rental property's to a company looking out for the owner. Rent collection, tenant screening, maintenance, bug removal. Cannon Real Estate Company Inc. 603-668-6200 All of NH and Northern Mass.

2-13-19-15-15 AVIATION Grads work with JetBlue, United, Delta and others- start here with hands on training for FAA certification. Financial aid if qualified. Call AIM 888-242-2649.

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MEN'S BASKETBALL

With loss to Auburn behind it, UF turns attention to Tennessee

By Tyler Nettuno Sports Writer

The Florida men’s basketball team hasn’t lost three-straight games this season. But it’ll have to pull off a major upset if it wants to keep it that way.

Next up is No. 1 Tennessee on Saturday, and UF will have to take on the nation’s top team on the road.

The Gators hit perhaps their rock bottom in conference play when they were dominated

by Auburn on Tuesday night.

Florida led in the first minute of that game and not a minute afterward. The Tigers leapt ahead by as much as 18 points in a 7662 win, snapping an 11-game losing streak to the Gators. UF committed 17 turnovers in the defeat.

Senior center Kevarrius Hayes knew that wasn’t enough of an effort to compete in the SEC. “We weren’t very poised taking care of the ball,” he said in a release after the game. “We

knew that part of their game plan is to play fast and try to turn us over. That gives them a chance to get out in transition — and they’re a very good team in transition.”

Florida (12-10, 4-5 SEC) limited the turnovers in their first matchup against the Volunteers, a 78-67 loss on Jan. 12 in the O’Connell Center. The Gators hung around until the end of that game, but 34 combined points from Vols stars Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield allowed UT to pull away late.

Tennessee (21-1, 9-0 SEC) is still unbeaten in the SEC, and its lone loss of the season came in overtime against Kansas on Nov. 23. If Florida wants to be the first team to down the Vols in Knoxville, Tennessee, it’ll have to play much tighter than it did against Auburn.

KeVaughn Allen and Noah Locke scored 18 points and 16 points, respectively, in the first game against the Vols. Florida shot 41.3 percent in the first

SEE MEN'S BASKETBALL, PAGE 16

Chris King / Alligator Staff

Florida center Kevarrius Hayes scored 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting on Tuesday against Auburn.

GYMNASTICS

Florida hosts Auburn in “Link to Pink” Meet

By River Wells Sports Writer

There are only two SEC gymnastics teams unbeaten in conference play.

Come tomorrow night, there will only be one.

The No. 2 Gators (3-1, 3-0 SEC) host the No. 12 Auburn Tigers (5-0, 4-0 SEC) tomorrow night at the O’Connell Center for the “Link to Pink” event in support of breast cancer awareness. Florida enters the meet looking to regain momentum after a close loss to Oklahoma, and the Tigers hope to remain unbeaten after beating the Kentucky Wildcats at home.

Here’s what to expect from both of the SEC’s top programs when they step on the mat tomorrow night.

Tigers by the Tail The Auburn Tigers are the third tiger team UF will face this year, and they’ll

be far from its easiest opponent.

Auburn hasn’t defeated Florida in the O’Connell Center since 2004, and it’ll brave the arena once again with five wins under its belt, including victories over No. 5 LSU and No. 6 Georgia.

One gymnast to watch is freshman Derrian Gobourne, a two-time SEC Freshman of the Week winner this season. Gobourne had a 9.950 on the floor in the team’s meet against Georgia and shared the all-around title with teammate Drew Watson with a score of 39.350 against Kentucky.

While Auburn has yet to lose, its last two meets have been staggeringly close.

The Tigers only beat Georgia by .375, and their last meet against Kentucky was a very tight 196.125-196.000.

When the Tigers come to the O’Connell Center tonight, they’ll be wor-

Kelly Barnhill and the Florida softball team begins the 2019 season this weekend at the USF Opening Weekend Invitational.

UF's first game is Friday against Illinois State.

SEE GYMNASTICS, PAGE 16

24-Evan / Opinion

Gators may be worse off than you think program as well.

Florida’s baseball team enters With all of that turnover, it’d be the 2019 campaign with high exmoronic to assume this team won’t pectations, as it should.

The club is fresh off its fourthat least encounter a few growing straight College World Series appains in the season’s early stages.

The Gators look to have immepearance and is looking to make diate contributions from some of its eighth trip to Omaha since 2010 their newest members, like freshthis season.

Evan Lepak Twitter: @EvanMPLepak With all of that success in mind, men Jud Fabian and Cory Acton. it’s hard to imagine this Florida They are expected to be thrust into the starting lineup at center field squad — ranked as high as third in various preseason rankings — could be consid- and third base, respectively.

Fellow rookie Kendrick Calilao is also proered overrated, right? jected to be in the starting lineup, replacing Wrong.

Just look at the overhaul that has turned this Schwarz/Bell at first.

Now don’t get it twisted, the three youngseason’s roster on its head.

Ace pitcher Brady Singer? Gone. First-round sters have talent and probably deserve to be third baseman Jonathan India? Gone. Veteran starters at some point. Fabian in particular was starters Deacon Liput, JJ Schwarz and Nick named to the 2018 Florida High School AllState Team.

Horvath? Gone, gone and gone.

Not to mention Jackson Kowar (10-5, 3.04 The fact is, none of them have competed at ERA in 2018) and Michael Byrne (the pro- the college level yet, and that inexperience is gram’s all-time leader in saves) are also no lon- almost guaranteed to breed costly mistakes for Florida during February and March. ger on the roster.

Over on the mound, there’s even more quesOh, and yeah. Relief pitcher Andrew Baker and first baseman Keenan Bell have left the

Gators down Alabama at the O'Dome The Florida women's basketball team defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 57-55 on Thursday night at the O'Connell Center. Guard Funda Nakkasoglu led all players with 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including a 40 percent clip from beyond the arc.

SEE COLUMN, PAGE 16

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019 ALLIGATOR 15

BY THE NUMBERS

Is this Florida basketball’s worst offense in the past 20 seasons?

By Jake Dreilinger Sports Writer

2018-19 season:

2014-15 season:

2006-07 season:

The Gators men’s basketball team has been in a rut all season.

They couldn’t make a shot if the officials made the rim bigger.

They get outrebounded nearly every game. They just don’t have enough developed talent to be competitive in the SEC. It has been a bad season, the worst since coach Mike White took over four years ago. Florida’s offensive woes are starting to catch up, and its fanbase is losing hope for the season.

But is it UF’s worst offense since the turn of the century?

In our first edition of alligatorSports “By The Numbers,” we look into whether this is an accurate statement or not, all based on pure stats and analysis.

22 games played 68.7 points per game 0.421 field-goal shooting 0.347 three-point shooting 13.1 assists per game 12.0 turnovers per game

33 games played 63.7 points per game .434 field-goal shooting .323 three-point shooting 13.1 assists per game 12.4 turnovers per game

40 games played 79.8 points per game .526 field-goal shooting .409 three-point shooting 15.3 assists per game 14.1 turnovers per game

Question: Is this Florida basketball’s worst offense in the past 20 seasons?

It’s hard to believe it isn’t. Especially the way this season has gone.

The Gators are averaging 68.7 points per game, which is the

second worst in the SEC ahead of only Missouri (68.0). They are turning the ball over nearly 12 times a game, and they aren’t creating nearly enough assists to make up for it (13.1 per game).

Mix those stats with a low 42.1 percent shooting average from the field and a sub-par 34.7

three-point shooting percentage, and it’s clear to see why Florida is struggling this season. It currently sits at a 12-10 record midway through conference play. Not an ideal season for a team coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Answer: No, it’s not the worst. But it’s close, very close.

Chris Day / Alligator Staff

Men’s basketball coach Mike White and the Gators are in the middle of one of the worst offensive seasons in the past 20 years. They are averaging 68.7 points a game, the second lowest in that span.

This season has made a lot of fans forget just how bad the Gators were in 2014-15, Billy Donovan’s last season at the helm before leaving to coach the Oklahoma City Thunder.

They couldn’t do anything well that year. UF averaged 63.7 points per game, shot just over 32 percent from beyond the arc and shot 63.5 percent from the charity stripe. All worse than this season’s numbers.

The 2014-15 team also turned the ball over more (12.4 per game) and grabbed less offensive rebounds (10.5 per game).

That team went 16-17 and missed the postseason for the first time since 1997-98, the second season under Donovan.

If we had to point to any offensive campaign as the worst in the past two decades, it would clearly be this one.

But Florida is flirting with the wrong side of history this season.

That seems to be because it isn’t adapting as college basketball continues to evolve.

UF’s average scoring has been on the decline since the 1999-2000 season, when it averaged 83.8

points per game. Not even the back-to-back championship years from 2006-07 could match that.

They only averaged 79 points per game during that two-year span.

Now those numbers are inching closer to the upper 60’s. Some of that can be attributed to the increase in the amount of threes Florida takes. Last season saw it take 832 threes, the most since it attempted 939 in 2011-12.

Another reason for the decline could be the lack of assists.

The Gators have been hovering around just over 13 assists per game for most of the past five seasons. During the championship years, they were averaging 16 per game.

Conclusion: This is not UF’s worst offense in the past 20 seasons.

The only category this Florida team is the worst in is its 42.1 field goal percentage.

Everything else is either lowermiddle-of-the-pack or relatively close to the bottom.

The Gators are in their worst season under White, but at least it’s not the worst in the past two decades.

Check the @alligatorSports Twitter page and vote for the next “By The Numbers” story you would like to see. @DreilingerJake jdreilinger@alligator.org

2019 FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS  CB Chris Steele. Bellflower, CA  CB Kaiir Elam. North Palm Beach, FL  WDE Khris Bogle. Fort Lauderdale, FL  OLB Tyron Hopper. Roswell, GA  TE Keon Zipperer. Lakeland, FL  OLB Mohamoud Diabate. Auburn, AL  WR Arjei Henderson. Richmond, TX  OLB Diwun Black. Kissimmee, FL  OG Deyavie Hammond. Lakeland, FL  WDE Lloyd Summerall. Lakeland, FL

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 OG Wardrick Wilson. Opa Locka, FL  OT William Harrod. Fort Washington, MD  CB Chester Kimbrough. New Orleans, LA  WR Dionte Marks. Deland, FL  OG Riley Simonds. Buford, GA  WR Ja’markis Weston. Clewiston, FL  OG Kingsley Eguakun. Jacksonville, FL  OLB Jesiah Pierre. Mount Dora, FL  WR Trent Whittemore. Gainesville, FL  OT Ethan White. Clearwater, FL

16 ALLIGATOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

Florida scored season-high 198.025 against OU GYMNASTICS, from pg. 14 rying about themselves, not the Gators.

“I think it’s really important just because you don’t need to look at anybody else’s scores,” Watson said in a release. “We are with ourselves, and I think that we have enough competitiveness within our team that we don’t need to look outside at that.”

The Lighter Orange and Blue The Gators didn’t do quite enough to knock off Oklahoma on the road last Friday, but they’re certainly still feeling confident after the loss.

The team’s 198.025 was its highest score on the year, and it featured performances from sophomore Alyssa Baumann and freshman Trinity Thomas that earned them the SEC Specialist of the Week and SEC Freshman of the Week awards, respectively.

Thomas has won an SEC award every week of the season.

Senior Alicia Boren noted Auburn’s impressive record but didn’t look past her own team.

“Auburn is really good, and they’ve improved a lot this year,” she said. “But we keep getting better, as well.”

UF will look to shape up its vault landings, which have contributed to the lower scores in the event this season, while continuing its success on events like the bars and the beam, where it is tied for and holds the season high, respectively.

The Gators may be aware of Auburn’s status as the only other undefeated team in conference play, but they’re ready to step up to the challenge head on come tonight.

“That’ll be fun,” Thomas said of the meet on Wednesday.

“That’ll be interesting. We’re excited, we’re ready, and we can’t wait to take on Auburn.” @riverhwells rwells@alligator.org

Aaron Ritter / Alligator Staff

Sophomore gymnast Alyssa Baumann earned SEC Specialist of the Week for her performance against Oklahoma on Friday.

Tennessee has the sixth-best scoring ofense in the NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL, from pg. 14 half and led by three at the break. But if the Gators want to win this time, especially playing on the road, they will have to avoid another second-half collapse. Florida will need a consistent offensive performance throughout to keep pace with the Volunteers, who boast the sixth-best scoring offense in Division I basketball.

UF’s 18th-ranked scoring defense will

have its hands full against Schofield and Williams, who both cracked the Late Season Top 20 Watch List for the Wooden Award.

Hayes and forward Dontay Bassett face the tough task of defending Williams on the interior. He’s one of the most dynamic players in the country and can hurt his opposition in multiple ways, whether it be from the mid-range or driving to the basket.

If he can take over the game the way he did the first time around, it could be a long afternoon for the Gators.

After playing the Volunteers, Florida has a stretch of winnable games, and how it performs in those games will determine its tournament fate. But unless UF puts together an uncharacteristically strong performance against Tennessee, it will likely have to dig itself out of an eleven-loss hole. @TylerNettuno tnettuno@alligator.org

COLUMN, from pg. 14 tion marks.

The 2018 three-day rotation has been ripped to shreds with Singer and Kowar now Major League Baseball hopefuls.

Those two combined for 22 wins and 229 strikeouts last year.

You aren’t going to just snap your fingers and replace that kind of production.

And yeah, sophomores Jack Leftwich and Tommy Mace started in some games and junior Tyler Dyson has plenty of experience to assume the role of UF’s new ace, but you simply can’t compare them to what the team lost.

Leftwich and Dyson combined for a 10-8 record last season with both ERAs hovering over four.

Mace was 5-0 in 26 appearances but only made six starts.

The bullpen has now been overloaded with freshmen as well. Six pitchers were playing high school baseball in 2018.

Coach Kevin O’Sullivan admits to some of the uncertainty that is hovering over this year’s team, and it seems he realizes the impact some of the newcomers will make on its performance early in 2019.

“There’s a lot of question marks,” O’Sullivan said. “But from a talent standpoint, it’s a good nucleus.”

It’s obvious O’Sullivan has confidence in his young players to take their lumps and come out just fine when the calendar turns closer to summer. He has seen it happen, and I’m not saying I don’t agree with him.

All I’m saying is, don’t be surprised when the Gators drop a series to Winthrop or lose a game to Jacksonville before SEC play gets started.

Evan Lepak is a sports writer. Follow him on Twitter @evanmplepak and contact him at elepak@alligator.org

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