www.alligator.org
We Inform. You Decide.
VOLUME 113 ISSUE 87
THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2019 Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida
Not officially associated with the University of Florida
Taco Bell across campus stripped and shut down
THE RESTAURANT WAS OPEN FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR By Rosmery Izaguirre Staff Writer
The Taco Bell at Midtown will live no más as it was abruptly closed. The location, 1404 W. University Ave., closed on Monday, said Craig Carter, the realtor overseeing the leasing of the space. The franchise was owned by private owners who Carter couldn’t name. The cantina-style version of the franchise, which featured a custom menu and alcoholic beverages, opened in Gainesville in December 2017. The Taco Bell had a modern
design, an open kitchen and no drive-thru. The location was listed on the Taco Bell website, with pickup orders unavailable, until Wednesday morning. Kevin Fernandez, a 21-year-old economics and philosophy senior, said he visited the restaurant at least once every two weeks. “Most of my classes tend to cluster in the buildings along University Avenue. Taco Bell was a convenient, cheap and delicious option,” Fernandez said. “It was my emergency lunch.” Taco Bell corporate could not be reached for comment, and local Taco Bell franchises declined to comment. rosmeryiza@ufl.edu @rgizaguirre
Chris Day / Alligator Staff
The Taco Bell located across campus on University Ave. shut down Monday. It opened in December 2017.
Florida ranked No. 1 UF to counsel robbed abroad students in higher education THREE OF THE STUDENTS ARE RETURNING HOME
THIS IS THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR FLORIDA RANKED NO. 1 By Meleah Lyden Staff Writer
Florida isn’t just gaining national attention for lovebugs and strange crimes. It’s also known for higher education. U.S. News & World Report ranked Florida’s higher education system in first place for the third year in a row, said Syd Kitson, vice chair of the board of governors. The ranking is determined by a variety of factors but includes components like graduation rates and the cost of education.
Kitson said he believes Florida has done a good job when it comes to these factors. The tuition in Florida’s higher education system has not been raised in five or six years, Kitson said. However, different types of students pay different rates. At UF, out-of-state students pay about 4.5 times more than in-state students, according to U.S. News & World Report. “We are really trying to keep tuition low and down,” Kitson said. Part of keeping the tuition down includes graduating students in four years, because they are not accumulating additional
SEE RANKING, PAGE 4
By Kelly Hayes Staff Writer
Although no students were physically harmed while being robbed at gunpoint on a UF-sanctioned trip to South Africa, the university is preparing to provide treatment for emotional damage. UF is working to provide more counseling resources for the Lombardi & Stamps Scholarship program students upon their return from South Africa, Mark Law, director of the UF Honors Program, wrote in an email. The University of Pretoria provided immediate counseling services to the students after Monday’s incident in Pretoria, South
Africa. UF also reached out to its Counseling and Wellness Center to ensure support to any participants’ needs upon return. “We’re relieved that they are physically safe, but we want to ensure they have access to counseling if they need it,” Law said. Three UF students are still in the process of returning to the U.S. after the robbery, said UF spokesperson Steve Orlando. The 18 remaining students will continue the program as planned –– staying until May 26. The students from the incident are part of the UF Honors Program. They were accompanied by UF faculty member Todd Leedy, and Honors Program staffer Regan Garner. Both Leedy and Garner have been communicating updates to the university, Orlando said. Leedy told Orlando Wednesday
Threesome leads to severe head trauma
One last chance
Softball players Kelly Barnhill and Amanda Lorenz have accomplished almost everything as Gators — except a national championship, pg 11
A husband and wife attempted to have a threesome with another individual, but it ended with the husband taking a broomstick to the head, pg 5
Kristin Chenoweth to perform at UF
She will be at the Phillips Center at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, pg 7
W IW NI N A A WIN A
COOT SSSCOOT COOT
& GET SOME & GET SOME & GET SOME
LOOT! LOOT! LOOT!
Enter to win!
1
Become a CAMPUS member and you can own part of this local, not-for-profit co-op! 1. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win this sweepstakes. Sweepstakes begins May 1, 2019 and ends July 31, 2019. Entries may be made by legibly printing your name, address (including zip code), telephone number (including area code), and email address (optional) on a 3” x 5” card and sending it to CAMPUS USA Credit Union Attn: Scooter Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 147029, Gainesville, FL 32614-7029. For additional sweepstakes rules, please visit www.campuscu.com/scooter. The fair market value of the scooter is $1449 and may be considered taxable income. Always consult your tax advisor when filing personal tax returns.
that the students in the program went into the school they were visiting to calm the kindergarten children inside immediately after the robbery. In response to the incident, the university will be evaluating this program and its location. This is the first major issue to occur on the South Africa trip, which has been held every two years since 2009, said Susanne Hill, executive director of the UF International Center. “This is a very, very unusual incident,” she said. UF study abroad programs are generally safe, in many cases safer than Gainesville, Hill said. Most of the issues students face involve petty theft, like losing a wallet or mobile phone. To prepare for these situations,
SEE ROBBERY, PAGE 4
FOLLOW US ONLINE FOR UPDATES @FloridaAlligator @TheAlligator_ @TheAlligator
• $150 Cash Bonus when you open a FREE Checking Account • No monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement • Instant-issue debit cards Receive your debit card the same day 2
2
at one of our convenient service center locations.
• CAMPUS Online & Mobile Banking with Mobile Deposit3
Call 335-9090 and press 5 or visit any CAMPUS Service Center Membership is open to students, faculty and staff of the University of Florida, UF Health, and all residents of Alachua County!4
2. Credit approval required and initial $50 opening deposit required. Offer is for new checking accounts only. Offer subject to change without notice. Member must elect to receive eDocuments within the first 90 days, deposit over $200 per month for the first 3 months, and use their debit card 6 times within the first 3 months. If the requirements are met and the account remains open after 90 days, the $150 bonus will be made available to the member. $150 is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT. 3. Credit approval and certain eligibility criteria required. 4. Credit approval and initial deposit of $5 is required. Federally insured by the NCUA.