Monday, 3/15/2021 by The Independent Florida Alligator

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MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021

VOLUME 115 ISSUE 25

Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

Not officially associated with the University of Florida

Meet the candidates for the Gainesville Regular Election THIS WILL BE THE LAST CITY ELECTION HELD ON ITS OWN

By Jack Prator Alligator Staff Writer

Julia Cooper // Alligator Staff

Alondra Arce, 20, a UF sustainability sophomore, paints a mural that says “Save Our Bright Futures” on Sunday, March 7, 2021. Arce recruited student volunteers to help her create the mural along 34th Street in Gainesville to raise awareness about Senate Bill 86, which would limit some students’ access to state funding for college if passed.

UF searching for new Chief Diversity Officer FARIAS TO BE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER VICE CHANCELLOR

By Alexander Lugo Alligator Staff Writer

Antonio Farias, UF’s first Chief Diversity Officer, who oversees diversity and inclusion efforts, left his post Monday. His resignation triggered a search for a new Chief Diversity Officer that will most likely take months, according to UF’s vice president for human resources Jodi Gentry. It is unknown exactly how long the search will take, and Gentry’s office is still working on finalizing job qualifications for his re-

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT March Madness

The Gators Story description earned finish a 7-seed with comma, and will pg# play Virginia Tech Friday. Read men’s basketball beat writer Declan Walsh break down the matchup, pg. 11

placement. The Chief Diversity Officer position was created in 2018 following controversies at UF including white supremacist Richard Spencer’s visit to the university in 2017 and an incident with an administrator who was accused of racial bias when he pushed Black students off stage for dancing during the graduation ceremony in 2018. Farias’ duties included meeting with organizations around campus, such as the Black Graduate Student Organization, Black Women’s Image Initiative, Pride Student Union and Student Success Services. The annual salary for the position was $288,400 in 2019, according to UF’s fiscal analysis. UF created

the position to better support the diverse campus environment through grants, outreach and other policies. But, in 2020 UF admitted the lowest number of Black students in the past five years. The numbers have decreased compared to ten years ago, staying under 10% since 2008. UF had 3,514 Black undergraduates out of 34,365 in 2008, when diversity data started being recorded, and that number has dropped and stayed low ever since. The number of Black undergraduates dropped to 2,127 out of 37,880 in 2020. Farias said two and a half years was not

District 1 Race

Some East Gainesville residents have watched Commissioner Gigi Simmons closely since elected, pg. 4

COVID-19 Trends

How COVID-19 numbers changed over the year, pg. 3

SEE DIVERSITY, PAGE 7

Gainesville residents will vote on two city commission seats Tuesday. District 1 incumbent Gigi Simmons is up against Desmon Duncan-Walker, founder of the Gainesville Alliance for Equitable Development, an advocacy organization that addresses inequitable development in Gainesville. For At-Large Seat B, incumbent Gail Johnson faces disbarred attorney Gabe Kaimowitz, running under the name “Gabriel Hillel.” All registered voters can participate in the At-Large race, but only District 1 residents can cast their votes for Simmons or Duncan-Walker in the East Gainesville commission seat race. Development in East Gainesville and public health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic are hotbutton issues in the election. This will be the last city election held on its own. In 2018, Gainesville voted to hold city and county commission elections together in August and November starting next year. Early voting ran until Saturday at the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office, Millhopper Branch Library, Reitz Union and the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center. Last week, the County Supervisor of Elections announced polling location changes. Due to ongoing renovations, Precinct 27 voters will be unable to vote at the Thelma Boltin Center, the precinct’s regular polling place. The temporary polling location for the precinct is now the Thomas Center. Votes on election day must be cast at voters’ specified precinct. Photo and signature ID is required to vote, per Florida law. @jack_prator jprator@alligator.org

SEE ELECTION PROFILES, PAGE 4

2 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021

Alachua Today’s County Weather residents are on the hunt for COVID-19 vaccines PEOPLE INELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE FIND WAYS AROUND STATE REQUIREMENTS

By Lucille Lannigan Alligator Staff Writer

Nadia Schmaler stopped at a Publix for a carton of milk and left with a COVID-19 vaccination. The 21-year-old Gainesville resident and recent UF grad, who was ineligible for the shot under Florida’s eligibility criteria, heard of people who received leftover vaccine doses. Itching for a vaccination, she began her hunt, along with many others in the county and the state. Schmaler registered for waitlists and searched online for sites, but her hunt ended after one day when she happened to be at Publix at the right time. She was able to get her first dose of the Moderna vaccine around 6 p.m., and a pharmacist gave her a vaccination card allowing her to return for the second dose. “I hate getting vaccines,” she said. “But this shot I was so happy to get into my arm; this feels so good.” Facebook groups and vaccine hunting websites, such as vaccinehunter.org, tip people off to locations across Florida and other states where they may have a shot at getting spare doses that would otherwise be wasted due to the vaccine's short life span of about 6 hours. Each vial has more than one dose, and sometimes not all are used. As of March 12, about 100,000 Alachua County residents have been vaccinated, said Paul Myers, administrator for the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County. Vaccination sites vary each week as the department spreads them throughout the county to reach more people, he said. COVID-19 positivity rates were below 1% Friday for the first time since last spring and have continued to drop, he said. But until the county vaccinates 20, 30 and 40-year-olds, who spread the virus the most, according to Myers, positive cases will

continue. Schmaler thinks vaccination eligibility should be expanded sooner to get the vaccines to as many people as possible. After receiving her shot, she wanted to help others and posted in a Florida Vaccine Hunters Facebook group where close to 10,000 people share information on vaccine searching. “I’m happy that [the group] exists and that people are able to help each other out like that since the current system for navigating how to get a vaccine is not very userfriendly,” she said. Some people are able to get a vaccine by signing up for waitlists at retail pharmacies. Walmart and Sam’s Club Pharmacies began a waitlist for people who do not meet eligibility requirements. The Moderna vaccine administered by Walmart has a six-hour life span once opened, which means all of the doses must be used in a certain window of time before expiring. When appointments are canceled, the store sometimes has leftover vaccines, a Walmart employee who declined to be named said. Myers said the county also has a waitlist to avoid wasting vaccines; however, because more than 600 people are on the list as of March 12, he doesn’t encourage people to try to get a vaccine through the waitlist. Kaylee Whytal, a 21-year-old Publix pharmacy technician in training, said it’s difficult for people to get appointments at Publix because time slots open online in the morning and fill up within seconds. The website even crashed after too many people tried to sign up at once, Whytal said. People from other counties travel to Gainesville to get the vaccine, she said. When these people run into commute issues, their appointments are canceled and their would-be vaccine doses are leftover. She said while Publix employees on the waitlist are prioritized, anyone who happens to be in the store at the right time can be vaccinated. The policy is different at every Publix store, but pharmacy workers where Whytal works often reach out

VOLUME 115 ISSUE 25

ISSN 0889-2423

Not officially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications Inc., of Gainesville, Florida

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to immunocompromised customers first, she said. However, people who are looking for a vaccine should call or walk into the pharmacy around 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. and ask about vaccine availability. Those who receive the Moderna shot, which Publix pharmacies offer during the weekdays along with Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose vaccine on the weekends, will be signed up for a second dose and receive appointment information by mail. A FEMA vaccination site in Jacksonville has also administered vaccines to people who are not eligible for the vaccine under state criteria. The UF Chapter of the United Faculty of Florida sent a group of about 15 faculty members to the Jacksonville site by bus on Saturday, said Steven Kirn, co-chair of the university UFF chapter. The group left at 7 a.m. and returned at about 11:20 a.m. fully vaccinated with the first dose of vaccines, Kirn said. UFF took this opportunity because UF faculty members under current Florida guidelines are not all eligible to receive the vaccine, Kirn said. The Jacksonville FEMA site, under federal guidance, allowed the group to get vaccinated despite not meeting the state’s requirements. “If the university won’t do it, then we will,” he said. It cost UFF about $1,000 to send the bus to Jacksonville, he said. Kirn encouraged everyone who can find a way to get the vaccine to get one. “Get it,” he said, “because you help all of us – not just yourself.” @LucilleLannigan llannigan@alligator.org

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MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 ALLIGATOR 3

Insomnia Cookies arrives in Gainesville THIS IS THE COOKIE COMPANY’S EIGHTH STORE IN FLORIDA By Gabrielle Gangler Alligator Contributing Writer

The smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through Midtown is sure to draw in anyone with a sweet tooth. Insomnia Cookies staff dressed in pajamas to cheerfully greet everyone who wandered inside the new store during its pajama-themed grand opening Saturday. Located directly across from UF campus at 1702 W University Ave., it’s the late-night cookie chain’s first

Gainesville store and eighth Florida location. The store offers delivery to the College Park neighborhood, university campus and surrounding areas until 1 a.m. or 3 a.m. depending on the day. Following the closure of Cookiegazm and ‘Phenomenom Nitrogen Ice Cream & Bake Shop in recent years, some UF students are excited about the arrival of a new dessert spot. Customers formed a line outside of the store two hours before the grand opening, awaiting promotions like the Lil’ Dipper, which was 24 mini chocolate chunk cookies given away for free to the first 25 customers. Alexandria Rodgers, a regional trainer for Insomnia Cookies who came to help with the

opening, was surprised by how many people came to the store’s opening. She said its location among some of the popular student bars seemed perfect. “We’ve had people say they can smell the cookies baking when they’re in the bars at Midtown, and that’s what draws them in,” Rodgers said. Daniela Duarte, a 21-year-old UF industrial engineering senior, arrived at the store with her parents during the grand opening to grab a snack. She said she has been looking for a new place for a late-night dessert ever since Cookiegazm closed. “I’ve previously been to an Insomnia Cookies at UCF, so I was pretty excited when I

saw a Facebook event advertising the opening of one here in Gainesville,” she said. Inside the store, customers are greeted by purple walls and a menu featuring flavors like double chocolate chunk, snickerdoodle and peanut butter chip. Though Priyanka Perisetla has never tried Insomnia Cookies before, she was excited to hear of the store’s arrival in Midtown. The 19-year-old UF biochemistry sophomore said it will be the “whole package” for future latenight study sessions. “Between the local delivery, ice cream and even milk, it’s going to be the perfect snack for when I’m studying ’till 1 a.m.,” Perisetla said. @gganglerr gabriellegangler@ufl.edu

Falling COVID-19 cases, rising vaccines, variants approach the country HEALTH OFFICIALS LOOK AT HOW PANDEMIC TRENDS AFFECT CURRENT PLANS

By Manny Rea Alligator Staff Writer

A year after UF shut down oncampus activity because of COVID-19, students and residents are still dealing with the saliva tests, Zoom lectures and homemade cloth masks that disrupted daily life. The start of 2020 signaled a growing threat to Gainesville residents when the CDC confirmed the first COVID-19 case in the U.S. Jan. 21. The Florida Department of Health announced its first two cases March 1, urging Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency shortly after. But while social distancing and mask-wearing persist, Alachua County is also feeling the added strain of more infectious variants. With downward trending cases and increasing vaccine availability, things are finally starting to look up in Alachua County. But it comes after months of watching the number of cases and death toll rise. Here’s how UF and Alachua County managed the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: Pandemic kindlings

The county’s first confirmed case stunted everyday activities March 10, 2020. Since then, 174,031 people

have been tested in the county with a 4.87% total positivity rate, according to the Alachua County recovery dashboard, which pulls data from the Florida Department of Health. By March 16, all UF classes were pushed online. When classes resumed in Fall, college-aged people flooded back to Gainesville and originally drove those numbers up due to asymptomatic spread, FDOH Administrator Paul Myers said. The university faced its biggest spike in positive student cases with 217 added to the UF testing dashboard in one day on Sept. 13 –– about two weeks after the first day of Fall classes. UF administration tried to manage the uptick in positive cases, facing struggles with quarantine dorms, testing and faculty ADA accommodations. Through contact tracing, the health department found restaurant and bar attendance by the younger population was most responsible for cases in the fall, Myers said. When UF surpassed 5,000 total cases in late November, the response was to prepare for the future by UF mandating biweekly testing for UF-affiliates on campus that started in Spring 2021. Since about Feb. 26, the median age of positive cases has shifted from college-aged to people around 40 years old, Myers said. He cited UF’s less than 1% positivity rate for on-campus testing as a sign that the

university is in control of its population, and students are heeding public health advice. Meanwhile, Myers said the county’s positivity rate has ranged from 1% to 4.5% since the end of February. Natural immunity from about 22,000 cumulative positive cases in the county coupled with more vaccinations should address disease consequences such as COVID-19 deaths in the elderly, Myers said. The county dashboard lists 13,464 residents who’ve received one dose and 40,433 who’ve gotten both doses as of March 14. There are about 269,043 total residents in Alachua County according to 2019 estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau. Semester hurdles

Some of the county’s highest case tallies came days after major holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas. Jan. 8 alone brought 247 positive cases. “That was really a perfect storm in terms of people getting together from different places inside,” Myers said. In an attempt to avoid a similar fallout in the future, UF replacedSpring Break 2021, which would’ve started March 8, with an extra week in Winter Break. Reducing travel reduces spread, which reduces hospitalization, Myers said. Moving Spring Break from the middle of Spring semester to the

beginning was an attempt to cut positive cases by limiting student travel. The move aimed to give students more time to recover if they tested positive for the virus or quarantine before coming back, Ken Garcia, a UF Health spokesperson, wrote in an email. He noted the university has seen its lowest number of oncampus cases since July 2020. “This is good news and we must continue our efforts to prevent spread of the virus,” Garcia wrote. Regardless of any downward trends, viral mutations were an inevitable and normal course of events, John Lednicky, a UF Health virologist, wrote in an email. Alachua County has confirmed seven positive cases of the mutation B.1.1.7 first detected in the U.K. Mutations made the virus more infectious and may lead to the need for additional immunizations to be developed in response, Lednicky said. The younger population is not invulnerable either, even if they feel the virus has no consequences on their health, he added. “The bottom line is that the new variants may in fact be causing more severe illnesses in younger people now,” Lednicky wrote. “The illnesses may not be obvious at first but have long-term consequences.” The possibility of brain fog, burning lungs, liver and kidney damage and other complications should be

enough reason to continue social distancing guidelines, he wrote. Lingering issues were even present in current virus strains. A finale in sight

The county has access to the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and is awaiting shipments of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson version, Myers said. UF Health Shands Hospital has vaccinated less than half of its 11,000 Gainesville employees, Garcia wrote. The hospital’s efforts have totaled an immunization of about 42,500 people in Gainesville, Jacksonville and Central Florida, he wrote. Additionally, Myers said eligibility will expand March 15 to ages 60 and up alongside DeSantis’ new executive order for people deemed “extremely vulnerable” by a physician. This includes K-12 school employees, law enforcement officers and firefighters 50 years and older. And while current guidelines are still a must, the CDC put out its first recommendations for fully vaccinated people March 8. On that list of approved activities: indoor visits without masks or physical distancing for vaccinated and low-risk unvaccinated people — indicating a return to normalcy. @ReaManny mrea@alligator.org

Add some sizzle to your day. Be a part of something

at the Florida Museum FREE for UF students with a valid Gator 1 Card.

GIVE Blood.

BIG Photo by Photography 35

Over 1,000 people gathered to form one of the largest human blood drop formations in the country. LifeSouth’s North Florida district needs just as many donors per week to meet the need of our community hospitals. Be a part of something big and give blood today.

Esta es una exhibición bilingüe.

For more information, call 888.795.2707 or visit www.lifesouth.org.

Connecting our donors to our patients

4 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021

Voters weigh in on District 1 City Commission candidates ahead of election THE RACE DECIDES WHO WILL REPRESENT EAST GAINESVILLE By Alan Halaly Alligator Staff Writer

East Gainesville activists and some residents have kept a watchful eye on City Commissioner Gigi Simmons, 48, since she was elected to represent them in 2018. Now that she’s up for re-election, some are throwing their support behind her challenger — Desmon DuncanWalker. Simmons faces Duncan-Walker, 44, in the March 16 municipal election to represent District 1, which encompasses most of East and downtown Gainesville. Some of the major issues currently facing the district are economic development, food insecurity and COVID-19 relief. If re-elected, Simmons would be the first District 1 commissioner in nine years to serve a second term. Scherwin Henry was the last to serve two terms from 2006 to 2012. Duncan-Walker, founder of the Gainesville Alliance for Equitable Development, has been critical of Simmons’ decision to not support Commissioner Gail Johnson’s proposal for a moratorium on development. Through a commission seat, Duncan-Walker hopes to preserve East Gainesville’s historically Black neighborhoods. “We too often hear local politicians talking about big plans for Gainesville’s east side, only to find the area ignored while valuable

resources go instead to facilitate and incentivize expensive developments elsewhere,” Duncan-Walker wrote in a February column in The Gainesville Sun. One of Simmons’ greatest accomplishments, she said, was when she coordinated the SkyBridge Educational Program at Porters Community Center, an after-school program that supplied low-income public school students with 20 laptops and gave the center $20,000 to build a computer lab. She also worked with UF to create free mobile COVID-19 testing sites over the summer, testing more than 1,800 residents in her district. As of March 14, Duncan-Walker has raised more than $20,000 to Simmons’ $12,012. Notably, Simmons received donations from Alligator Realty Group and LVS Rental Services, LLC. After having issues with the accessibility of Simmons’ predecessor, Charles Goston, Carla LewisMiles, a 49-year-old organizer in East Gainesville’s Duval Heights neighborhood, said she was excited about Simmons’ 2018 win. Lewis-Miles helped organize events and fundraisers for the 2018 campaign because she appreciated Simmons’ perspective as a longtime resident of Porters, a historically Black Gainesville neighborhood located between UF’s campus and downtown Gainesville. However, over time, Lewis-Miles said Simmons became increasingly inaccessible to her constituents and stopped responding to phone calls and emails, despite the pair having

conversations on the campaign trail about the importance of collaboration with community leaders. “We need somebody that doesn’t mind getting out there in the streets, and doesn’t mind the repercussions that come along with pushing back against the system,” Lewis-Miles, who filed to run herself before deciding to withdraw, said. “Those are things that Gigi has shown us over and over again that she’s not willing to do.” When asked about these concerns, Simmons said if she missed a phone call or email, it was never intentional. Aside from the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately killing residents in her district, she said it has also put a strain on her mental health because she’s lost friends and family members to the virus. “I am human,” she said. “I deal with loss like everyone else. If someone could not get in contact with me, I can honestly tell you there was a legitimate reason.” Through her actions as commissioner, Lewis-Miles believes Simmons has shown she isn’t interested in fighting for the community that raised her. Lewis-Miles said Simmons consistently leaves the best interests of East Gainesville out of her decision-making, leaving activists like Lewis-Miles to rely on at-large Commissioner Johnson to vote in their favor. Simmons voted against a moratorium on development in East Gainesville. She also voted against the construction of affordable housing because she said the development company was after a tax

credit. Duncan-Walker lobbied to prevent the Seminary Lane plot, where an affordable housing community once stood, from being turned into luxury student apartments. She said she’s ready to fight for development that meets the needs of the community. “Throughout my life I have kept my parents’ advice close: ‘Never forget that Gainesville is the bridge that brought you over,’” DuncanWalker wrote in The Gainesville Sun. “I want District 1 and all of Gainesville to be a place our children can call home for generations to come.” Going forward, Simmons said economic development and healthcare are her main priorities. “We deserve quality of life like everyone else,” Simmons said. “We are deserving of things in East Gainesville that we don’t have like grocery stores, healthcare centers and hospitals.” Despite some residents’ questions about her voting record, there are voters who feel Simmons is the more experienced candidate. Gregory Stetz, a 40-year-old East Gainesville resident, said he’s hopeful Simmons will serve another term. Tuesday’s election is important because while the east side of the city has been subject to ineffective leadership before, Simmons has proved to have a nuanced understanding of the district’s issues, he said. He noted that she’s made sure to meet with experts who can help bring employment opportunities

and better education to the area. “I fear Desmon being elected,” Stetz said. “She has shown she has no grasp of the complex issues facing our city, and would join Commissioners Johnson and Arreola in a voting pattern of ignorance.” Other residents remain unconvinced by Simmons’ voting record. East Gainesville resident Armando Grundy-Gomes, 40, said he’s frustrated with current elected officials who continue to further the economic development of West Gainesville. He pointed to the fact that the east side of town has only one “proper” grocery store: a Walmart on Northeast 12th Avenue. Electing Duncan-Walker would be a positive change in city government because she will take a stand for East Gainesville, be willing to meet with constituents regularly and learn as she goes, GrundyGomes said. After having conversations with other residents, he said he’s realized he’s not alone in feeling like his voice isn’t heard. He said his interests as a Black East Gainesville resident are often sidelined by the current leaders on the commission as they continually push for westward economic development. “They talk a great game as if Black lives matter, but they don’t give two cents about Black people,” Grundy-Gomes said. “Their actions speak much louder than their words.” @AlanHalaly ahalaly@alligator.org

Ashley Hicks // Alligator Staff

MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 ALLIGATOR 5

Ashley Hicks // Alligator Staff

MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 www.alligator.org/the_avenue

ART

UF graduates produce web series ‘Blackview’ THE SERIES EMPHASIZES THE VERSATILITY OF BLACK COLLEGE WOMEN By Kristin Bausch Avenue Staff Writer

For 22-year-old UF graduates Ashayla Blakely and Alena Drake, what started as creating reel content for future employers in October 2020 is now an ongoing web series on YouTube. “Blackview,” a web series created by the two telecommunications alumnae, aims to showcase the experiences of Black college women. “It became a project that actually became influential to others which motivated us to keep going,” Blakely and Drake wrote in an email. The pair direct, write and produce the series, with the goal of highlighting the obstacles Black women experience in college. “We know that Black women are always limited and presented as such on screen, so we also had in mind that we wanted to explore how versatile they are,” they wrote. “We wanted to create something

that was authentic and relatable.” The concept of versatility is something Blakely and Drake hope the audience can grasp. “Black women are versatile,” they wrote. “We will say this probably 100 times. To describe Black women all in one category is merely impossible!” “Blackview” actress and UF graduate student Haley Johnson, 24, is pursuing a master’s degree of fine arts in acting. Johnson, who plays Dominique in the series, said she was afforded the opportunity by luck. “I heard my friends were involved, and at the time, the series had its full cast,” Johnson wrote. “I told the creators if they needed anything to call me — few days later a lead dropped out, and they casted me as Dominique.” As season two advances, Johnson said Dominique’s character continues to develop. “Dominque is a bisexual activist who figuring out who she is,” she wrote. “She just broke up with her girlfriend and now exploring what it means to be single.” Johnson hopes the audience can understand the concept of Black people and women in the

media doesn’t have to be political or sad, but rather recognizable and relatable. Season two of “Blackview” is currently being filmed, and Blakely and Drake explained they will expand on the storylines of season one’s characters. “We see one side of them in season 1, and in season 2 we are now given another side of them to really emphasize their versatility,” they wrote. “We are taken into a new journey with them as they learn how to deal with a new obstacle as they’re getting ready to graduate college.” Blakely and Drake explained although the series is tailored to Black college women, they want everyone to enjoy and take away something from the characters’ stories. “People want and NEED to hear these stories,” they wrote. “Some of these stories are ours. So not only are we given the chance to be a voice for others through our series, but we get to share our voices as well and get to connect to other people who may have shared the same experiences.” UF dance junior Kristen Louder, 20, wrote she has watched the

SPOTIFY first season of “Blackview” and is excited for season two. “My favorite part about this series is that you get to see different Black girls through different lenses,” she wrote. “You get to see the things Black girls face and get a little more insight on how we think and do what we do.” Blakely and Drake wrote, as Black women, they felt it was their “rightful duty” to put out realistic content for their audience to see. “There are TV shows about college students, and some of them do have Black leads, but we noticed that their stories are not as realistic or versatile as they should be,” they wrote. Although the two producers are not entirely sure what the future holds, they said season two is not the stopping point for sharing these stories. “We want to keep expanding and diving into these stories,” they wrote. “The best part of it all is that ‘Blackview’ is designed to showcase the Black college women experience as you know, so that allows us to keep creating new characters and giving us the freedom to share even more stories while all still being in sync with what this series is all about.” Blakely and Drake wrote they are always looking to collaborate

Scan for our playlist of the best songs to read the Alligator to.

with other Black artists and businesses. They wrote most of their casting process is promotion through professors, crew members and their social media platforms. People interested in participating in the “Blackview” series as a crew member, cast member or sponsor, can reach out to Blakely and Drake at info@blackviewseries.com. @BauschKristin kbausch@alligator.org

FOOD

Courtesy to The Alligator

Kristin Bausch // Alligator Staff

Scott Joseph, 60, stands next to his personal garden at GRACE Marketplace. The resource center is partnering with Gainesville Herbal Aid to bring herbal education and medicine to the local homeless community. Read the story online at alligator.org. Keep up with the Avenue on Twitter. Tweet us @TheFloridaAve.

Remembering the anniversary

It was almost a year between when the baseball season shut down and the Gators return to play. Read the team’s reflection on the last 12 months, pg. 11

In the latest podcast, the Avenue discusses the Golden Globes, Grammys and more.

MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 ALLIGATOR 7

UF Health professor Mavis Agbandje-McKenna dies at 57 THE DOCTOR WAS RESPECTED WORLDWIDE FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE RESEARCH

By Carolina Ilvento Alligator Staff Writer

Even in her absence, Dr. Mavis Agbandje-McKenna’s fierce dedication to science and research serves as an empowering example for women in science. As a graduate student at Purdue University, she was the only Black woman in a conference to discuss virus development and gene therapy. At the time, the field was widely dominated by white male scientists, said Dr. April Burch, Agbandje-McKenna’s friend and colleague of about 20 years. “She was like a beacon of youth and color and personality,” Burch said. “I was in awe of her. She was so fierce, so outwardly confident, no matter what she was struggling with.” Agbandje-McKenna, a UF Health biochemistry professor and structural biologist, died March 3 of a neurodegenerative disease. She was 57. She died at home of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, which is a progressive nervous system disease that causes loss of muscle control. Agbandje-McKenna joined UF’s faculty in 1999, where she worked with research to develop disease treatment, according to her UF Health biography. Before coming to the university, she received her Ph.D. in biophysics from the University of London in 1989 and worked in different departments and laboratories in the U.S. and England. As a female doctor herself, Burch said women in science struggle internally, but Agbandje-McKenna was just always “a light” in the field. “Her laugh is something I will never forget,” Burch said. “No matter how stressful science got, and funding got, and competitiveness got, she always had her sense of humor.” In 2018, Agbandje-McKenna received UF’s Innova-

tor of the Year award for her work with AAV gene therapy, which uses engineered viruses to deliver working genes to a patient’s damaged cells. She said in a 2018 UF Health article that this therapy technique would be a step in developing an understanding of how viruses like these work with the Agbandje-McKenna human immune system. In 2020, she received one of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy’s highest honors, the Outstanding Achievement Award, which is awarded to members of the society who have developed or achieved research success or made significant contributions to the gene and cell therapy fields. Nicholas Muzyczka worked on gene therapy with Agbanjde-McKenna for close to 20 years at UF. He said he was the first to volunteer to work with Agbandje-McKenna and her husband to study the biology of the adeno-associated virus (AAV) at UF. He said he admired how smart and quick she was. “It took me 20 years to learn how to write a grant; it took her 2 months,” Muzyczka said. He said Agbandje-McKenna would tell everyone he had done something nice by teaching her grant writing before she became experienced, but Muzyczka said Agbandje-McKenna would have easily learned on her own. “She was just so smart. She managed to go through any type of problem,” he said. “I mean, after a few minutes with Mavis, problems seem to melt away.” Anyone who went into her office or lab would always find her smiling and laughing, Muzyczka said. He said Agbandje-McKenna was the most fun colleague he has had and will miss working with her. She is survived by her husband Robert McKenna, their two adult children and the many friends and colleagues who knew and learned from her. @CarolinaIlvento cilvento@alligator.org

UF created the position in 2018 DIVERSITY, from pg. 1

enough time to change UF’s culture of diversity and predicted it would take five to ten years. “We’ve been exclusionary longer than we’ve been inclusionary as a university, and that’s not just UF, but all of higher education,” Farias said. “It’s going to take a significant amount of time to get us where we want to be.” His resignation was announced Jan. 21 at a faculty senate meeting. He’s heading to the University of Colorado Denver where he will be a vice-chancellor, UF president Kent Fuchs said at the meeting. Farias said he’s moving to be close to his daughter. COVID-19 has made him refocus on what he values in life. “For me, it was being closer to my daughter,” he said. Farias said his proudest accomplishment at UF was creating the Campus Diversity Liaison network, a group of faculty who work with Farias on diversity issues. He said he thinks the network will continue to have an impact around campus after his resignation. “The work will continue whether Antonio Farias is sitting in this seat or not,” Farias said. Within a short period of time, during the COVID-19 pandemic

and resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, Farias has done an exceptional job, David Canton, the director of UF’s African American Studies program, said. Farias oversaw the distribution of racial justice grants. He also co-sponsored events with Canton such as talks revolving around Black students navigating predominantly white campuses and racial inequality in healthcare, Canton said. Canton doesn’t blame the recent drop in Black undergraduates on Farias — he said thinks the problem is more systemic. He stressed the importance of the new Chief Diversity Officer prioritizing Black student enrollment. “I would say let’s focus on increasing Black student enrollment. For the first year of the CDO, that should be their priority,” he said. It’s important to keep programs running smoothly during the transition between Farias and the new Chief Diversity Officer, Canton said. He compared the transition to a successful sports team acquiring new players. “I hope whoever this new person is keeps us winning and that we all work together,” he said. @alexlugo67 alugo@alligator.org

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St. Francis House is a homeless shelter located in downtown Gainesville. Our mission is to empower families with children to transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency by providing case management, housing, food, training and educational resources in a secure environment. If interested in volunteering please contact the volunteer coordinator at 352-378- 9079 ext 317 or sfhcoor@stfrancis.cfcoxmail.com St Francis House depends on monetary support from individual donors and community businesses in order to provide meals to the homeless and the hungry. To make a donation by mail, please send checks payable to St. Francis House P.O. Box 12491 Gainesville Fl 32604 or our website at Stfrancishousegnv.org

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answer on page 9 Release Date: Monday, March 15, 2021 Release Date: Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Los Puzzle Los Angeles Angeles Times Times Daily Daily Crossword Crossword Puzzle Edited Lewis Editedby byRich RichNorris Norris and and Joyce Joyce Nichols Nichols Lewis

ACROSS ACROSS 1 1What a regular Water filter often orders, with brand 6“the” Voice below 6 First of a cereal baritone trio Web portal 10box Major 1013Box score Grows faint 14number Informal okay 1416See 5-Down “Now I get it!” 1517Dorothy’s dog Wind of 19-24 16 Distinctive vibe mph, on the 17 Sauce withscale basil Beaufort 1819Like many Reservoircars sold online structure 1920“Jurassic SwimmerPark” that predator may be furry 2021Youngster, Inlet, vis-à-vis the sea metaphorically Classic Lanvin 2322Antlered scent Yellowstone 24beast In addition BigTzu’s name“way” in 2426Lao bouillon cubes 25 __City: computer 27game Japanese living art form 28 Stick a stake in, 30asIberian dance a vampire for two 32 Dry-eyes solution Summer on the 3433Manual filing Seine target? Danes of 3534Toddler’s “Homeland” monster deterrent 36 Kept the party 39 Brings on board hopping, briefly 41 Luau neckwear Scenic road, 4237He played Grant onmaybe “Lou Grant” 39 Albuquerque sch. 43 Morning 40awakener Dahl who wrote “Fantastic Mr 46 Poi source Fox” 4741One of four Ready for in five 48 Theater business 42walkways Present from birth 5044Before, in poems Zen opening? 5145“__ Misérables” Pointy flags 5347Hesitant Sports coat utterances 49 Full of chutzpah 5450Behind-theStates 51scenes What amoney voter fills source out ... and a toscorecard the start 53hint Golf ofword 20-, 35- and 5443-Across Soybean product 6158Elton or Lennon Gershwin 63 Boxer’s brotherfoursome 6459Garlicky mayo “The Hunger 65 CNN anchor Games” trilogy, Burnett e.g. 6662Great LightLake brownwith shortest 63the Upright 64name “Divine Comedy” poetof rock ’n’ 67 King 65roll Unlike the starts of this puzzle’s 68 Spinning toys four longest 69 Apt word found in answers “accident” 70 Tenant’s contract

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ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE: PUZZLE: ANSWER TO PREVIOUS

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1. What Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker and defensive end recorded 160 sacks in his NFL career from 1985-99? 2. The Calder Cup is the trophy awarded to the champion of what professional ice hockey league? 3. In 1973, Los Angeles Lakers center Elmore Smith set an NBA record for blocks in a game with how many? 4. What athletic shoe, first released in 1989, had a built-in device that inflated portions of the tongue for a custom fit?

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1. MEASUREMENTS: How many Rodriguez inches are in a mile? 2. ASTRONOMY: What does the acronym SETI mean to the scientific community? 3. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin prefix “sub-” mean in English? 4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms? 5. LITERATURE: Which 20th-century movie star penned the autobiography “Me: Stories of My Life”? 6. HISTORY: What was the first National Monument proclaimed in the United States? 7. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the island of Luzon located? 8. MOVIES: Which sci-fi movie has the tagline, “Reality is a thing of the past”? 9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What was the name of the United States’ first nuclear-powered submarine? 10. GAMES: What are the four railroad properties in Monopoly? Answers 1. 63,360 inches 2. Search for extraterrestrial intelligence 3. Below or insufficient 4. Grover Cleveland 5. Katharine Hepburn 6. Devils Tower, 1906 7. The Philippines 8. “The Matrix” 9. The USS Nautilus 10. Pennsylvania, Short Line, Reading and B&O

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10 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021

Proposed Senate Bill could affect Florida Bright Futures THE BILL WOULD LIMIT STUDENTS’ FUNDING ACCORDING TO THEIR MAJORS

By Juliana Ferrie Alligator Staff Writer

Students are protesting a proposed Florida Senate bill that may dramatically change who benefits from the Bright Futures Scholarship program. Senate Bill 86, filed by Ocala Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley on Feb. 23, would cut students’ Bright Futures financial aid in half depending on their major. For the scholarship program to cover all 120 credit hours needed to earn a bachelor’s degree, students must be enrolled in a program of study that will “lead directly to employment,” according to the bill. Students and parents around the state felt angered by the proposed bill –– over 100,000 have signed a petition against it as of Sunday and some created a website called “Save Bright Futures” to explain the bill, its next steps and how to help prevent it from being passed. At UF, Alondra Arce, a 20-year-old sustainability studies and sociology sophomore, organized a group of students March 7 to paint a mural on the 34th Street Wall and bring awareness to the bill. Students worked on the mural from 12 p.m. until around 2 p.m., Arce wrote in a text message. They painted the scholarship program’s logo and the phrase “Save our Bright Futures.” Underneath, they wrote “#StopSB86” and “#KeepOurFutureBright.” The list of degrees that would qualify for Bright Futures funding under the proposed bill would be determined by the Board of Governors and the State Board of Education on an annual basis. The bill was postponed on the Florida Senate Education Committee agenda March 9 and will be heard again Tuesday. The postponement comes after the bill met extensive backlash from students and parents around the state. Established in 1997 and funded by the Florida Lottery, the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program awards college tuition to high school students with high academic

achievement. During the 2019-2020 school year, 25,190, or about 71%, of undergraduate UF students benefited from Bright Futures, UF spokesperson Cynthia Roldán wrote in an email. Bright Futures recipients fall under two categories: Florida Academic Scholars or Florida Medallion Scholars. Florida Academic Scholars are awarded 100% of their tuition fees, while 75% of tuition is covered for Florida Medallion Scholars, according to the Bright Futures Student Handbook. In order to qualify, Florida Academic Scholars must have a 3.5 GPA, 100 service hours and a 1330 on the SAT or a 29 on the ACT, according to the Bright Futures Student Handbook. Florida Medallion Scholars need a 3.0 GPA, 75 service hours and a 1210 on the SAT or a 25 on the ACT. The Board of Governors and the State Board of Education would choose what career certificate, undergraduate and graduate degree programs are “market-driven,” according to the press release. The list of programs must be made by Dec. 31. Students who are not enrolled in an eligible program will receive funding for only 60 credit hours starting in the 2022-2023 school year if the bill passes. Cutting funding from the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program will also reduce the number of credit hours a student can receive through “articulated acceleration mechanisms.” These include Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, the International Baccalaureate Program, credit by examination and the Advanced International Certificate of Education Program, according to Florida Statute 1007.27. Roldán said 95.6% of UF students have advanced credit. This percentage was calculated over several years and remains consistent, she wrote in an email. In addition, the Florida House of Representatives filed a bill Feb. 24 aiming to give out-of-state students in-state tuition prices if they have a grandparent who is a legal resident of Florida. To qualify, the students also must have earned a high school diploma, its equivalent or completed a home education program and scored in or above the 89th percentile on the SAT, ACT or Classic Learning Test.

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Students only qualify if they will enroll at a state university as a full-time student the Fall immediately after graduation, according to the bill. Richard Burt, a UF English professor, said earning a degree isn’t only about getting a job. Because some majors within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences would become too costly to study, Burt worries enrollment could drop if Bright Futures changes. Humanities allow individuals to reflect on society’s actions and to develop empathy, he said. “If you want UF to be in the top 10, it has to have humanities,” Burt said. Arce started her UF career as a biology major. She said she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, but after starting college, she realized she wasn’t passionate about what she was learning. After switching her major, she began performing better in her classes and retaining more information, she said. She worries she wouldn’t receive Bright Futures funding for her new major under the proposed bill. “I don’t think I should be punished because of that,” Arce said. “If anything, I should be celebrated because I figured out my passion and my goal and path in life.” As a low-income student, Arce said Bright Futures plays a role in her ability to go to school and prevents her from having to worry about going into debt. She is concerned about whether students already in college will be grandfathered into the bill for the 2022-2023 school year. Although only her senior year would be affected, she said the bill will impact other students for years to come. “If anything, it’s going to put the majors in a caste-like system,” she said.Isabel Mitre, a 20-year-old UF College of Engineering computer science sophomore, chose a STEM major because it’s what she likes and wanted to study. She doesn’t think students should be asked to study something they aren’t interested in to afford college. “I think incoming college students will have to make the decision of what they study based on financials,” she said. “I know that’s the entire reason I came here to the University of Florida because it was the best option

Julia Cooper // Alligator Staff

Oscar Santiago, 18, a political science freshman, finishes spray painting a sun on a mural that reads “Save our Bright Futures” on Sunday, March 7, 2021. The mural was painted in response to Senate Bill 86, which would limit some students’ access to state funding, including the Bright Futures scholarship. financially.” Oscar Santiago, an 18-year-old UF political science freshman, opposes the bill’s plans to cut credit hour funding by a student’s number of dual enrollment and AP credits. He said he believes students should be able to go to college without worrying about their finances. “Many people come from different backgrounds, and a lot of people come from poor backgrounds,” Santiago said. “Bright Futures is an avenue that allows for students to go to college without worrying that they’ll be in huge debt.” Because the bill is vague, Santiago worries his major will be included on the list, he said. As a pre-law student, he said he is unsure whether the bill will consider majors students typically choose to study with intentions to apply to law school. Santiago signed petitions against the bill and also called Sen. Keith Perry, R-Tallahassee, who represents Alachua County, to voice his concern, he said. “I’m trying to do anything I can to stop the bill,” Santiago said. @juliana_f616 jferrie@alligator.org

MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 www.alligator.org/sports

BASEBALL

The year without baseball COVID-19, A SHUTDOWN AND PLAYING FOR THE SEASON THAT NEVER ENDED

By Ryan Haley and Sara Kate Dyson Sports Writers

Eleven months and nine days. That’s how long Florida’s baseball bats lay dormant. “Some days it feels like a year and some days it feels like five years,” UF coach Kevin

O’Sullivan said Wednesday. Last year, O’Sullivan and his team won their first 16 games, ascended to the pole position of Baseball America’s rankings and seemed poised for a run at the program’s second national championship. Then came March 12. As COVID-19 spread its fingers to the corners of the U.S., the SEC suspended all spring sports, including baseball. O’Sullivan called his team to Alfred A. McKethan Stadium for what became their fi-

Grethel Aguila // Alligator Staff

Jacob Young runs to first base during Sunday’s game against Jacksonville University. The Gators won the series after the 5-2 tie-breaker match.

nal meeting of the 2020 season, forced to tell his roster that no one knew when they could play again. For some players, the gut-punch hit deeper. The prospects expiring eligibility or a professional contract loomed over the team the way a storm cloud threatens to pour. Jack Leftwich and Tommy Mace, pitchers and draft hopefuls, thought the news unceremoniously ended their collegiate careers. “We were sitting in McKethan in the dugout, and we were crying because we thought that was for sure the last time we were gonna play there,” Leftwich recalled. What followed tested the Gator baseball program in ways it never experienced. Months without practice or games, social distancing and isolation, testing protocols and bubbles. Even away from the diamond, classes moved online, which altered the lives of all college students. Student-athletes rely on a strict schedule to balance athletics with classwork. Suddenly, that schedule was thrown into chaos, completely uncertain and at the mercy of experimentation. Even O’Sullivan felt the ripple effects as he learned how to adjust to a homeschool lifestyle with his own two children. A year later, COVID-19 still lingers in dayto-day life. But there's a silver lining. Florida baseball is back — in a sleek, new stadium. Leftwich and Mace remain in Gainesville with almost everyone from the 2020 team. “Knowing that we got to come back with our brothers and play was a great feeling,” third-year left fielder Jacob Young said. The Gators played their first intrasquad scrimmages in October. They unveiled Florida Ballpark to the public on opening night, Feb.

19, almost 11 months after that fateful team meeting. “Knowing that last year our season was cut short, it means a lot being on the field right now,” fifth-year infielder Kirby McMullen said. But just because the Gators know how impactful the 2021 season is doesn’t mean they aren’t celebrating it. “Practice, games, we’re a really close group. So when we get to play any type of baseball, we love it,” Young said. “So it’s a great feeling knowing that we’re back together.” The team, just like the rest of the world, continues to hold its breath until it crosses the finish line. Fans must wear face coverings and follow attendance limitations in the new stadium. The team still operates under health and safety restrictions. O’Sullivan called it all a work in progress for his team both mentally and physically. The athletes missed out on nearly a year of competitive baseball. To O’Sullivan, his players need more time to get back into the groove they left off last March. “I think there’s a lot of things that still have to get worked through mentally to get to a point where we feel really good,” O’Sullivan said. “The world changed a year ago.” The sports community did change, maybe permanently. The sports world may never return to its state before March 12, 2020. But whatever reality the future holds, Florida baseball won’t lag. @ryan_dhaley rhaley@alligator.org @sarakatedyson skatedyson@alligator.org

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators paired with Virginia Tech in NCAA Tournament FLORIDA WILL TAKE ON THE HOKIES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1991

By Declan Walsh Sports Writer

As Florida basketball limped to the finish line with a doubledigit drubbing against Tennessee, experts began to relegate UF into the dreaded 8-9 matchup in the NCAA tournament. But to the surprise of Florida fans and the bracketology community, the selection committee looked past UF’s recent skid and placed the Gators as a No. 7 seed in next week’s March Madness. The Gators drew No. 10 Virginia Tech as their first round opponent. The Hokies suffered from COVID-19 cancellations and only played three games in

the past month. Before its 17day hiatus, VT nabbed a pair of eye-catching wins against fourthseeded Virginia and fifth-seeded Villanova. However, the Hokies accompanied the Gators off a late-season cliff. Virginia Tech suffered convincing losses against fellow tournament teams Georgia Tech and North Carolina and failed to beat a top-100 team in February, according to KenPom. Florida should be favored to advance, but the Gators will need to sort out the following issues before looking ahead to likely meeting Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament since the 2007 National Championship Game.

Help a Mann out

Sophomore Tre Mann embraced his five-star billing and emerged as Florida’s superstar.

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The projected first-round draft pick averaged 24 points in the last four games, and his absence against Tennessee March 9 factored into UF’s second-half meltdown. However, Mann’s lurch into the limelight hasn’t stabilized UF’s woeful offense. The Gators shot 29% from inside the arc against the Volunteers Friday and failed to exceed 70 points since January. The apex of Florida’s season was a Jan. 30 victory at West Virginia. This win vaulted UF to 18th in offensive efficiency rankings and showcased its balanced arsenal of scorers. Junior Colin Castleton earned All-SEC honors after a breakout offensive campaign, but he averaged just seven points in the last three games. Junior Noah Locke disappeared for large

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stretches of UF’s rough patch and heralded recruit Scottie Lewis averaged fewer than four points in as many games. Mann’s newfound knack for the clutch will be essential for Florida to make a run in the NCAA Tournament, but the Gainesville native will need lumbar support from the Florida offense.

Establish the Interior

Florida’s early-season prowess behind the arc looks like fool’s gold with UF’s dramatic regression to the mean. Florida shot 24% from three in February, a figure recently buoyed by Mann’s superhuman performances. Castleton has been massively overlooked during this offensive trough. The big man averaged 10.5 field goal attempts during his first 11 conference games, a figure that has n nearly halved

over the past seven games. The Michigan transfer’s defensive game correlates with his offensive production. Castleton hosted weekly block parties at the start of conference play, but he swatted just six shots in the last six games. Keve Aluma, who leads VT in points, rebounds and usage rate, is the lifeblood of Virginia Tech. Castleton will draw that daunting defensive assignment. The 15-6 Hokies are just 1-3 when Aluma scores fewer than 10 points, so a defensively stout Castleton factors in a huge variable in Friday’s contest. The game will be broadcast Friday at 12:15 p.m. from Hinkle Fieldhouse on CBS. It’s the first non play-in game of the tournament.

For updates on UF athletics, follow us on Twitter at @alligatorSports or online at www.alligator.org/sports

@declanaw dwalsh@alligator.org

12 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021

HEALTH & FITNESS

Running off a year of COVID-19 RUNNING SOARED IN POPULARITY AT UF AFTER THE OUTBREAK OF COVID-19

By Faith Buckley Sports Writer

Juliette Clavier and Hannah Whittle lace up their sneakers and hit the sidewalks, every step takes their mind further from a year in a pandemic-ridden world. The pandemic offset the traditional course of college. Restaurants closed, classes became remote and life shifted to a primarily online platform. Some students sought out hobbies, including drawing, cooking and writing. Running gained more traction with the pandemic’s progression. Clavier, a 21-year-old UF applied physiology and kinesiology junior, and Whittle, a 20-year-old UF psychology junior, found their passion for running at The Swamp. They ran a stadium — one lap around Ben Hill Griffin Stadium’s first floor — for the first time last March when campus closed for the semester. They started running stadiums because of gym closures and made workouts with chairs

and other equipment. The duo exercises in The Swamp once a week and freshens up on leg and arm workouts. At the start of the pandemic, campus resembled a ghost town, so there were no eyes on the two while they worked out, Clavier said. As summer turned to fall, runners swarmed the stadium. Clavier and Whittle run about twice a week, though it takes some get-up-and-go willpower at times. Clavier said staying on top of it makes her feel accomplished and healthy afterward. “While I’m going, the only thing I’m focused on is to keep going,” Whittle said. “All the other stressors I have are released.” With mental health challenges, college students use running as an outlet for their stress. For 20-year-old UF philosophy senior Juan Serrano, running is an old hobby with a new meaning. He started running in middle school and now does so to stay in shape. Serrano runs three to four times a week because of the pandemic. It gives him an excuse to leave his apartment and enjoy the outdoors, he said. “I come to a brick wall, where I

just can’t focus as much or I feel I just need to procrastinate on some assignments,” he said. “Being able to go outside and run helps me kinda clear my mind.” Serrano runs around SW 13 Street and University Avenue and said the empty roads that surround campus give him serenity. Elliot Haynes, a 19-year-old UF education sophomore, began running her first semester of college. She joined her Delta Zeta sorority sisters at the beginning of the pandemic and hasn’t looked back since. “They (Delta Zeta) introduced me to it, and I just started coming out here because it was a good form of exercise,” Haynes said. She frequents The Swamp about five times a week and runs up and down the stairs and along the field’s outer frame. Haynes runs to get out of the house and stay healthy, she said. Running fulfills the COVID19-enacted void plunged into students’ lives. In a year defined by uncertainty, runners know they always have their shoes and the sidewalk to count on. @_faithbuckley fbuckley@alligator.org

Faith Buckley // Alligator Staff

Adam Conybear, a 21-year-old junior studying computer science, runs up the stairs at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on March 9.