www.alligator.org
We Inform. You Decide.
VOLUME 114 ISSUE 5
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2019 Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida
Not officially associated with the University of Florida
New Gator Party established at first Senate meeting of semester FUNDING CONTROVERSY WAS ALSO DISCUSSED By Emma McAvoy Alligator Staff Writer
After student organization leaders pleaded with Impact and Inspire senators for funding, they learned they were speaking to a third party as well.
At the first SG Senate meeting of the Fall semester Tuesday night, former Impact Party member Wynton White announced the establishment of a new party called the Gator Party. This announcement came after an hour of public comment in which students expressed concerns about funding issues following the Young Americans for Freedom lawsuit set-
tlement. White, the party spokesperson, said the Gator Party aims to unite members from both Impact and Inspire “for achieving a better Gator Nation.” “Our mission is to bring together students’ resources and leaders,” White said. Gator Party President Emily Dun-
son, the former Senate Pro Tempore for Impact, sent a Letter to the Editor to The Alligator announcing the new party at 7:24 p.m., six minutes before the Senate meeting started. In the letter, she announced herself as the party president, Richard Doan as the party treasurer and White as the spokesperson. “Our goal is that our actions today will affect generations to come,” she wrote. “This movement will empower every student to reach their full potential, with students as catalysts for positive change that will shape the future.” The Alligator reached out to White via Facebook message and email, as well as Dunson via phone and email, but they did not respond to comment by the time of publication. Inspire Party President Zachary Amrose said Gator Party is Impact Party in disguise. ,
Caroline Keefe/Alligator Staff
Nik Bindi, CLAS Senator and Deputy Minority Party Leader, speaks Tuesday night at the first UF Student Government meeting of Fall semester about upcoming legislation on SG reapportionment to better reflect the populations of voting districts. About 100 people attended the meeting.
ZOOKEEPERS REALIZED THE ANIMAL WAS MISSING SUNDAY MORNING By Dana Cassidy Alligator Staff Writer
Authorities are investigating the possible theft of a skink from the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the college’s police. Zookeepers first noticed the 25-year-old female Solomon Islands skink, a lizard species, was missing Sunday morning, said Jade Salamone, the conservation education curator. It is valued at $1,000,
measures approximately 18 to 20 inches long and is a light green and brown color. The missing skink was reported soon after zoo staff realized the animal might have been stolen. The zookeepers check the security of the enclosures multiple times a day, Salamone said. The unnamed skink has lived at the zoo for 20 years. It’s a possibility, but unlikely, the skink escaped on her own, Salamone said. The exotic animal could possibly have been stolen to be sold. Last year, three people were arrested for their alleged involvement in the theft of 11 Santa Fe College
Quotes from UF’s media session
Read what the Gators had to say fresh off a 2420 victory over rival Miami, pg 11
Teaching Zoo animals. Gopher tortoises, a monkey and a different skink were among those stolen. “We’re hoping this is a completely isolated incident, but [theft is] definitely a concern,” Salamone said. The police are investigating any possible reason for the animal’s disappearance, Salamone said. She encourages people to keep an eye out for the skink. “When our animals went missing last year,” Salamone said, “it was citizens that brought them back to us.” @danacassidy_ dcassidy@alligator.org
Free meal program at Micanopy Academy
THE SHOW WILL FOLLOW HIM AS HE PREPARES TO PLAY FOR UF By Melissa Hernandez A local football star is coming soon to a screen near you. Eastside High School star quarterback Anthony Richardson will be featured on the next season of the Netflix show “QB1: Beyond the Lights,” which is filmed by Downrange Production, Inc. The show is a documentary that follows high school football players in their final season as they prepare for Division I college football. Richardson’s episodes are expected to be released in 2020, said Alachua County Public Schools spokesperson Jackie Johnson. The school district previously denied the production company’s request to film due to issues with liabilities and student privacy, but it was approved after further negotiation with the school district. Despite the former challenges, the district is eager for the opportunities this will bring Richardson,
More than 70 students will now get free breakfast and lunch, pg 5
Who broke a Weaver Hall door?
UPD look into the broken door incident in the dorm, pg 4
SEE SENATE, PAGE 3
Eastside High quarterback chosen for Netflix series Alligator Staff Writer
Stolen skink? Police investigating missing lizard from Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo
Impact has been under fire by several student leaders since Summer. Three party members disaffiliated on Aug. 8. “The parties, I’m sure we will find, will share the same people, priorities and values,” Amrose said. “They follow a pattern of system party rebranding from time to time as they harm students by denying funding to student organizations.” During the meeting, student organizations criticized the “lack of transparency” in light of reallocation of funds after the lawsuit. A new funding system was created, which affected the organizations’ ability to host events and welcome assemblies. Sebastian Georgiev, the president of the University Film Society, spoke on the issue during public comment. “We were kind of fooled by the outdated website about the money,”
Johnson said. “Anthony is a wonderful kid and we certainly didn’t want to prevent him from participating in this,” she said. Richardson, 17, is committed to UF and began filming with the production company over the summer, she said. Although he plays football for Eastside High School, he will graduate early from the Professional Academies Magnet at Loften High School in December and will film at both schools. The Alligator attempted to contact Richardson but could not reach him by publication. Eastside High School head football coach, Cedderick Daniels, has been working with Richardson for four years. He said he enjoys seeing him accomplish his dreams. “It’s been an honor to have him,” Daniels said. “It goes beyond football. He’s a great athlete, but the thing that stands out most about him is that he’s a good kid.” @melissamh_ mhernandez@alligator.org
FOLLOW US ONLINE FOR UPDATES @FloridaAlligator @TheAlligator_ @TheAlligator @alligator_newspaper