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VOLUME 114 ISSUE 57
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2020 Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida
Not officially associated with the University of Florida
Student’s condition improves
LYNCHING MEMORIAL
AFTER A 60-FOOT FALL, MITCH CAPPS CONTINUES TO RECOVER AT UF HEALTH SHANDS By Sarah Mandile Alligator Staff Writer
When a few brothers of UF’s Theta Chi Fraternity walked into Mitch Capps’ hospital room last Tuesday, they weren’t sure what to expect. But as they entered the room inside UF Health Shands, they were pleasantly surprised to be greeted with a smile. “Oh, hey gang,” Capps warmly said. Nearly three weeks after falling from the fourth floor of a parking garage, Capps remains bedridden at UF Health Shands. However, his recovery has been steady, his father, Bryan Capps Sr., said. In about a month, he expects his son may be relocated to a rehab facility. Capps Sr. said it’s “a miracle” his son survived the 60-foot fall that left him with multiple broken bones and a serious brain injury. At one point during Capps’ recovery, he had a tracheostomy, a feeding tube inserted and was placed on a ventilator. “Everything has been removed now so he’s breathing on his own, talking on his own, complaining and talking constantly,” Capps Sr. “He won’t shut up.” During the past few weeks, Capps’ hospital room has been frequented by family, friends and members of the community offering their love and support. Capps Sr. said his son, a 22-year-old UF forest resources and conservation junior and member of Theta Chi Fraternity, has always been an outdoorsy and active person. So, him being confined to a hospital room for over three weeks hasn’t exactly sat well, he said. While at first Capps wasn’t responding to anything, he gradually began responding to commands to wiggle his toes and squeeze his fingers, Capps Sr. said. “It’s been remarkable,” Capps Sr. said. April Zee, Capps’ friend from forestry classes, said he was asleep the first few times she visited. But as the weeks progressed, he started opening his eyes and chatting with visitors, she said. “It’s like infinitely better than what anyone would have expected,” Zee, a 21-year-old UF forest resource
SEE MITCH, PAGE 4
Capps
Nushrat Nur // Alligator Staff
D. Ayoka Sowa-La and her husband, Nii Sowa-La, perform a drum libation, a spiritual ritual involving the pouring of drink as an offering to deities, during the Alachua County lynching memorial service at Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church Friday evening. Read this story and see the gallery on page 6.
Australia study abroad programs to continue Visiting the country is the best way to get it back on its feet, experts say By Gracie Johnson Alligator Contributing Writer
Though Australia has been ravaged by wildfires this dry season, the best thing to do for the country may be to visit.
UF study abroad programs will be running as usual during and after the fires due to a more than 1,000-mile distance between the fires and programs, said Amy Goodbehere, program and marketing coordinator for American Universities International Programs
Limited, a study abroad company. Australia is a giant country and isn’t as impacted by the fires as much as people think it is, Goodbehere said. The bushfires are concentrated between Victoria and New South Wales, and
SEE AUSTRALIA, PAGE 4
UF student journalist receives advanced standing wheelchair DREW DEES IS USING A POWER WHEELCHAIR TO ADVANCE HIS CAREER By AJ Bafer Alligator Contributing Writer
Drew Dees is enhancing his interviews now that he can see his sources at eye level. The 24-year-old UF telecommunication junior was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and has used a wheelchair his entire life. Two
SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT UF improves to 6-0 on the season
Story description finishNo. with comma,and pg#No. 18 No. 2 Florida defeated 4 Denver Iowa State during its dual-meet on Friday, pg. 10
weeks ago, he upgraded to a Permobil F5 Corpus VS power wheelchair, which allows him to do anything a person in a standing position can. Dees said he wanted a standing chair because of how it would improve his experiences in both everyday life and as a reporter. Before the chair, people would often crouch and talk down to him while he was reporting on news stories. He said the chair will allow him to do demonstrative stand-ups, allowing him to be
more interactive as a news journalist. He said that along with helping him further his career, the chair has boosted his confidence. “Being able to be on eye level with people, being able to stand up for photos…it’s just been a game-changer,” he said. The chair can be completely controlled with a joystick and can change from a sitting to a standing position at the push of a button, Dees said. It has pieces below his knees and across his chest to keep balance. Dees said his first time standing in the chair
It tastes out of this world
Eastside High made meals to spend to outer space, pg. 6
Alexa, we’re losing our connection
The Amazon Echo Dot is unable to connect to UF residential WiFi, pg. 5
was nerve-racking because he didn’t know if it would support him. He is still getting used to the change but said he has started to love it. Dees said he used the chair’s standing feature for the first time in a speech to UF alumni and administration. He said he is humbled and blessed to be able to continue his mission to use his disability as a platform to reach other people and said he is happy to know that the technology is available for those who may not be able to stand.
SEE CHAIR, PAGE 4
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