www.alligator.org
We Inform. You Decide.
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
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