October 15, 2018

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VOLUME 113 ISSUE 23

MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2018 Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

Not officially associated with the University of Florida

FLORIDA 37

VANDERBILT 27

Ground game, bold play calls keys to UF victory By Alanis Thames Sports Writer

Every part of Saturday’s game seemed to break the Vanderbilt Commodores’ way before No. 14 Florida rallied to edge out their conference rivals 37-27 in Nashville, Tennessee. Here are a couple takeaways from the Gators’ win:

Lamical Perine and Jordan Scarlett emerging as key offensive weapons Plenty of questions surrounded Florida’s offense heading into the season. But few of them were at the running back position. Lamical Perine and Jordan Scarlett showed why on Saturday. The duo combined for 234 of the Gators’ 292 yards on the ground and became the first pair of Gators to amass 100 rushing

yards since their 2016 performance against Missouri. Perine had 23 carries on his way to a career-high 121-yard performance, and his 93 receiving yards led the team. His impact was apparent from the opening quarter despite a plethora of early mistakes made by Florida’s offense. The Gators found themselves down 7-0 in the first after the Commodores capital-

ized off quarterback Feleipe Franks’ interception at the Vandy 2-yard line. Florida faced a fourth-and-one on its next drive, and coach Dan Mullen put his trust in his junior tailback. Perine took the direct snap and smashed through the pile just inches in front of him for a 2-yard pickup. One of his most impactful moments

SEE FOOTBALL, PAGE 14

Operation Airdrop sends more than 50 planes with supplies to people affected by Hurricane Michael The group is still accepting supplies to donate. By Dana Cassidy Alligator Staff Writer

It wasn’t Dylan Leoni’s first time flying supplies out to stranded residents because of a hurricane. Leoni was 19 years old when he first volunteered to fly into LaBelle, Florida, to bring supplies to those affected by Hurricane Irma with Operation Airdrop, a nonprofit aviation charity based out of Texas that aids with hurricane relief. On Saturday, he volunteered again. This time, he flew to help those affected by Hurricane Michael. It was rewarding for Leoni, a now 20-year-old Florida State University exercise physiology junior, to go into the stranded town of La-

Belle and hand out supplies to local residents. For this reason, Leoni felt the pull to help people in Apalachicola, Florida. “It was really rewarding to do that and see their reaction,” Leoni said. On Saturday and Sunday, Operation Airdrop delivered about 27,000 pounds of essential supplies such as nonperishable foods, water, batteries, bug sprays, diapers and toothpaste with more than 50 private planes from the University Air Center, at 4701 NE 40th Terrace, said Trey Thriffiley, a board member of Operation Airdrop. The nonprofit is still asking for many of those supplies to be do-

SEE PLANE, PAGE 8

Meryl Kornfield / Alligator Staff

Pilot Mark Creighton, of Port Aransas, Texas, loads nonperishable food onto a plane headed to Appalachia, Florida, for Operation Airdrop. His home flooded during Hurricane Harvey, and he’s helped other victims of hurricanes through Operation Airdrop since.

UF graduate to face the Israeli Supreme Court for appeal By Dana Cassidy Alligator Staff Writer

After two denied appeals and nearly two weeks living in Ben Gurion Airport’s detainment center, UF graduate Lara Alqasem will have her final hearing. Alqasem appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court on Friday, said the

Consul General of Israel to Florida Lior Haiat. The court agreed Sunday to have a hearing within the next few days regarding whether or not Alqasem can enter Israel and study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It is rare for the Israeli Supreme Court to hear cases unless they are urgent or will result in an irrevocable decision, Haiat said.

Behind the Gators’ win over Vanderbilt

Sophomore Lamical Perine led the way for Florida on the road. Who else contributed to UF’s latest come-from-behind victory? pg. 14

Until the hearing, Alqasem will continue to reside in the airport detainment center, Haiat said. Alqasem’s second appeal to the Tel Aviv District Court was denied on Friday, Haiat said. Israelis are torn on Alqasem’s case, Haiat said. Like any political situation, there are people who agree and disagree with it.

“Israel is an active democracy,” he said. Tamir Sorek, Alqasem’s former professor and a UF professor of sociology and Jewish studies, was not surprised when Alqasem was denied for the second time. The Israeli government is trying to undermine any form of Palestinian activism and struggle for Palestinian rights, he

B-A-N-A-N-A-S

Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary hosted Monkey Day, pg. 3

said. “The fact that she is ready to continue and suffer there means that she believes she is doing it for a great cause,” Sorek said. “I really appreciate her courage.”

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Drop it like it’s hot

The College Plant Initiative broke its record at Friday’s plant drop, giving away 1,000 plants in two-and-a-half minutes, pg. 9

@FloridaAlligator @TheAlligator_ @TheAlligator

@danacassidy_ dcassidy@alligator.org


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