www.alligator.org
We Inform. You Decide.
VOLUME 113 ISSUE 61
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019 Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida
Not officially associated with the University of Florida
RTS bus driver wins lawsuit, could get job back City has yet to make a decision on rehiring her By Karina Elwood Alligator Staff Writer
More than three years after she was fired for slapping passengers’ hands, a Regional Transit System bus driver might get her job back. The Florida First District Courts of Appeal ruled Friday to uphold a decision made three years ago to give Desiree Heyliger, 39, her job
back with three years’ worth of back pay, after she claimed she was unfairly fired as an RTS bus driver in November 2015. The city has 30 days to either reinstate Heyliger or appeal the decision. City spokesperson Chip Skinner said the city hasn’t made a decision yet. The lawsuit is currently not on the agenda for Thursday’s city commission meeting, but
Mayor Lauren Poe said he expects the commission to discuss the issue. While the commission relies on city staff to manage the hiring and firing of employees, it does have the power to direct staff on how to move forward with the lawsuit, Poe said. On Oct. 14, 2015, a woman boarded Heyliger’s bus with an open container, according to court records. Heyliger told the woman it
wasn’t allowed on the bus, then asked for her bus pass. The woman waved the pass in her face and Heyliger smacked her hand out of the way and said, “Don’t do that. Get your hand away.” The second incident Heyliger was two days later when a man complained about the bus being late as he boarded, records said. He
SEE LAWSUIT, PAGE 4
After money mishap, UCF president resigns UCF PLANNED TO SPEND $85 MILLION IN LEFTOVER FUNDING By Kelly Hayes Alligator Staff Writer
University of Central Florida President Dale Whittaker offered his resignation to the chairman of the UCF Board of Trustees after criticism over misuse of funding. Whittaker was criticized for using millions of dollars in leftover operating money on the construction of a new academic building, according to The Associated Press. The university also planned to use millions in leftover operating funds on construction, which violates state rules. Last week, State House Rep. Randy Fine (R-District 53) suggested shutting down the university for five to 10 years because of the violations, the AP said. The Board of Governors Chair Ned Lautenbach released a state-
ment thanking Whittaker for his work at UCF. “I thank President Whittaker for his service to UCF students and wish him well,” the statement read. “My hope is that his decision will be an important step toward rebuilding the university’s trust and credibility.” UF had a president in a similar situation in January 1998, when former president John Lombardi offered his resignation to the Board of Regents, which used to govern the state’s public universities, according to Alligator archives. Lombardi offered to resign after he made a racially insensitive remark about Adam Herbert, the first black Chancellor of the State University System of Florida. Historically, UF has not released statements on the status of other public universities under these circumstances and are not expected to release one now, UF spokesperson Steve Orlando said. @kellyrhayes khayes@alligator.org
Chris Day / Alligator Staff
Mary Katherine Boney, 5, and Hampton Boney, 7, inspect Zachariah Chou’s Inspire-themed dinosaur costume Tuesday outside of the The Hub. Chou, a 21-year-old UF political science junior, is Inspire Party’s presidential candidate for the 2019 UF Student Government elections. Inspire Party members also dressed up in a Pikachu outfit while campaigning. Chou said that the idea for the inflatable outfits came from the “‘Pokemon Go’ to the polls” statement that Hillary Clinton made during the 2016 presidential election. “We thought it would be a very positive way to increase voter turnout, and it’s definitely something different,” he said. “It all started with the Pikachu suit.” Read the story on page 3.
Pig racing causes commission to end county fair contract A NEW PARTNER WILL TAKE OVER FOR COMING FAIR By Josephine Fuller Alligator Staff Writer
The Alachua County Commission decided to cut ties with the Alachua
UF baseball suffers first loss
County Fair Association for holding an unapproved pig race and owing them $1,980. The commission discussed the issue for about 15 minutes before unanimously deciding not to sign another contract with the association for the Fall 2019 fair during a special meeting. Instead, the commissioners are looking into partnering with the
Designated hitter Nelson Maldonado and the Gators fell to South Florida in Tampa, pg. 14
Newberry Watermelon Festival. The association could not be reached for comment. The commission started talks about not resigning during a Feb. 5 commission meeting. Gina Peebles, the assistant county manager for community and administrative services, said the association owes the county $1,980 and showed account-
UF student arrested
He was accused of sexual assault on campus, pg. 3
ing inconsistencies over the past four years. The association was also faulted for holding a pig race at the 2018 fair without the commission’s approval. Robert Mullen, the manager of the association, told the commission the Florida Department of Agriculture approved it. The county will now have to de-
cide if it wants to hold two events or combine the fair and the watermelon festival, Commissioner Robert Hutchinson said at the Tuesday meeting. Although he did agree with the decision, he said that fairs in this area of Florida are dying because of theme parks nearby. He also said
FOLLOW US ONLINE FOR UPDATES
One of UF’s hospitals is on top
UF’s Jacksonville hospital is one of the best, pg. 4
@FloridaAlligator @TheAlligator_ @TheAlligator
SEE FAIR, PAGE 4