Issuu

www.alligator.org

We Inform. You Decide.

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

VOLUME 115 ISSUE 27

Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

Not officially associated with the University of Florida

Lennon Fisher looks at his family farm in Alachua County as Lennon Fisher Jr. stands beside him with carrots in hand. Their family has owned Fisher Farms for five generations, but the property has shrunk over time. They made it through the hardships of the pandemic with some help from a GoFundMe page and business across North Florida. Chasity Maynard // Alligator Staff

SEE FARM, PAGE 7

Gov. DeSantis expands COVID-19 vaccine eligibility THOSE 18 AND OLDER CAN PRE-REGISTER BEFORE APRIL 5

By Alexander Lugo & Manny Rea Alligator Staff Writers

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded the eligibility of COVID-19 vaccines to people 40 years or older starting March 29 and those 18 and older starting April 5. Students and faculty can pre-register for a vaccine through the Florida Department of Health in Alachua, said Dr. Mi-

chael Lauzardo, the director of UF Health’s Screen, Test and Protect program. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will also be available for people 16 and older starting April 5. All vaccines are open to those 18 and older. UF plans to collaborate with the FDOH to offer vaccines to students, faculty and staff in accordance with state guidelines, Lauzardo said. Plans for testing sites, as well as dates and capacities for immunizing the new groups, aren’t finalized yet. More details will be released this week,

he said. UF might use Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and the Cultural Plaza parking garage on Hull Road as future vaccination sites, Lauzardo said. Both areas have been used as vaccination sites previously. He said the sites’ hours will cater to students with availability later in the day. The University of Central Florida started offering vaccines to all faculty March 11, but UF followed the state’s lead on vaccine distribution. Other universities, like Florida State University, the Univer-

sity of South Florida and the University of Miami, are all following state guidelines. Vaccine recipients will be able to opt out of the biweekly on-campus testing two weeks after receiving their final doses, Lauzardo said. They can also be excluded from isolation protocols if an individual is contact traced from an infected person. “This is exciting,” he said. “We want to just get going and do this as safely, efficiently and as quickly as we can because

SEE UF VACCINE, PAGE 5

Amended Bright Futures bill passes in subcommittee, worrying high school seniors and families A PROPOSED CHANGE TO PROGRAM FUNDING CAUSED FAMILIES TO REEVALUATE COLLEGE PLANS

By Carolina Ilvento & Alan Halaly Alligator Staff Writers

Kendall Lindsay made her decision about where to go to college with one key thought in mind

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT Exit Door

–– how her family would afford degrees for its graduating triplets. Lindsay, 18, turned down her early admission to Duke University to attend UF next Fall because she knew the Bright Futures scholarship program would fully fund her in-state tuition. But, when she heard about the Florida Senate bill that proposed to change funding for the program thousands of students across the

Theredescription Story was an exodus finish with of talent comma, following pg# the men’s basketball team’s second-round loss to Oral Roberts in the NCAA Tournament. Catch up with the departures on pg. 12

state rely on to attend college, she started to worry. “I definitely would reconsider choosing the University of Florida over Duke because, without that full ride, I could have gotten to go to Duke for about the same price,” she said. Lindsay’s not alone in her worries about college funding. Students and parents across the state protested the bill for weeks, lead-

Women’s History Month

Meet the trailblazing women of UF and Santa Fe, pg. 8

Fisher Farms

Meet the family behind the fifth-generation farm, pg. 7

ing senators to remove the bill’s most controversial aspects, which included making certain majors ineligible for full funding through the scholarship. Still, the legislation continues to gather attention as it moves toward the Senate floor with language that no longer specifies how much students will receive through Bright Futures. The bill will be heard again by the Appropriations Committee

Wednesday. Currently, Florida Academic Scholars receive funds for 100% of tuition and fees, while Florida Medallion Scholars receive 75%. The bill proposes Bright Futures awards will be “equal to the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act,” which determines the state’s budget each

SEE BRIGHT FUTURES, PAGE 5

2 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

Today’s Weather UF temporarily suspends three conservative student groups THE UNIVERSITY WROTE THE GROUPS VIOLATED COVID-19 POLICIES

By Abigail Hasebroock Alligator Staff Writer

Three conservative UF student groups were suspended after violating university COVID-19 guidelines and failing to register an on-campus event. UF’s chapters of Turning Point USA, the Network of enlightened Women and Young Americans for Freedom held a Conservative Coalition Cookout with UF’s College Republicans at Norman Field on March 3. The university announced in a statement March 21 it has photos of the attendees not adhering to physical distancing guidelines or wearing face coverings. UF also said it obtained text messages that indicate members of the student groups were aware of the COVID-19 policies and knew they were required but did not register the event with the Vice President for Student Affairs according to the Use of University Space policy. Student Government Senate President Franco Luis condemned the university’s actions in a letter to Heather White, associate vice president and university dean of students, and D’Andra Mull, vice president for student affairs, on March 24. Luis wrote that the suspension shows UF does not hold all student groups to the same standard. He wrote that he’s seen other student groups not adhering to COVID-19 policies since the start of the pandemic without any action from UF. Luis did not answer The Alligator’s questions asking which other student groups had been breaking COVID-19 policies. Carter Mermer, the president of Turning Point at UF, said participants were encouraged to bring masks to the event in social media post captions. The 22-year-old UF business administration senior said most students at the event adhered to the mask policy, but there were some who did not comply despite being told by Mermer to do so. “At the end of the day, I can’t force them to do it,” he said. “If they don’t want to wear a mask outside, then

there’s really nothing that I can do.” Mermer received notice of the group’s interim suspension on March 5. He said he attempted to appeal the suspension March 10 but was rejected March 17. In his appeal, Mermer wrote he didn’t reserve the Norman Field because he did not believe it was required. He thought it was public property where the organizations could “peaceably assemble.” He also wrote that he has been strict with masks ever since being reprimanded by student affairs in the past about the mask-wearing policy. Mermer said he does not believe the university is attacking the organization for its political ideologies, but he does feel the response was extreme. “They managed to suspend all of the largest conservative clubs on campus in one fell swoop,” Mermer said. One attendant at the cookout, who learned before the event they should isolate in accordance with CDC and state guidelines, was photographed maskless with their arms around two other attendees, according to the statement. It is unclear whether this student is facing any disciplinary action. UF spokesperson Steve Orlando did not answer questions about the dates of the meetings among the university and the organizations, how it acquired the text messages and photographic evidence nor information regarding the individual who was at risk. Orlando wrote in a text message that everything UF has to say about the issue is in the statement. The university’s statement comes after it received backlash from conservative politicians about the decision to temporarily suspend the chapters. Fox News reported that according to UF Turning Point chapter secretary Abby Streetman, members took off their masks to eat during the event but were socially distanced when playing sports and were told through an Instagram post to bring masks. On March 4, one attendee posted several pictures from the gathering on Twitter showing some unmasked people posing for group photos and socializing. The photos included other groups wearing masks and socializing. UF dispelled any claims about tar-

VOLUME 115 ISSUE 27

ISSN 0889-2423

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

NEWSROOM:

Karina Elwood, kelwood@alligator.org

Engagement Managing Editor

Kaelyn Cassidy, kcassidy@alligator.org

Digital Managing Editor Senior News Director

Have an event planned? Add it to the alligator’s online calendar:

alligator.org/calendar

geting the groups for their political beliefs in its statement. “The university has not taken, and would not take, action against a student or registered student group based on the viewpoint they represent or the content of their speech,” the statement read. Karin Lips, president of the national Network of enlightened Women, or NeW, wrote in a statement on March 22 that the organization is a strong advocate for “intellectual diversity” on American college campuses, urging UF’s administration to “hold liberal and conservative organizations to the same standards on campus.” Another group leader, Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA condemned UF’s actions in a Tweet Saturday and discouraged people from donating to the university. Kirk has been known to spread conspiracy theories and inflammatory rhetoric on Twitter such as ideas about COVID-19. Philip Smith, the president of the YAF chapter at UF, wrote in a text message that the organization is not releasing a statement at this time. Interim suspension requires the groups to temporarily stop all chapter activities, according to the statement. A meeting will take place with Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, which is a service within the Dean of Students Office and aims to provide processes and support for those impacted by or involved with UF regulation violations. The university will share information regarding the allegations, and each group will be granted a chance to respond. @abbeyhasebroock ahasebroock@alligator.org

352-376-4458 • Fax: 352-376-4467

Editor-In-Chief

Payton Titus, ptitus@alligator.org Alex DeLuca, adeluca@alligator.org

Metro Editor

Asta Hemenway, ahemenway@alligator.org

University Editor Investigations Editor

Meghan McGlone, mmcglone@alligator.org

Sports Editor Assistant Sports Editor Online Sports Editor

Thomas Weber, tweber@alligator.org Christian Ortega, cortega@alligator.org Declan Walsh, dwalsh@alligator.org Grethel Aguila, gaguila@alligator.org

Multimedia Editor

Karina Elwood, Kaelyn Cassidy, Payton Titus, Makiya Seminera Julia Coin, jcoin@alligator.org

Audience Director

Alyssa Feliciano, afeliciano@alligator.org

Opinions Editor the Avenue Editor

Makiya Seminera, mseminera@alligator.org

Copy Desk Chief

Renee Hancock, rhancock@alligator.org

Editorial Board

DISPLAY ADVERTISING

Advertising Office Manager Intern Coordinator Sales Representatives

Morgan Goldwich, mgoldwich@alligator.org

352-376-4482 • Fax: 352-376-4556 Cheryl del Rosario, cdelrosario@alligator.org Ellen Light, elight@alligator.org Lily Laserna, Lori Sharabani, Rodolfor Lauzrdo, Lucas Smith

SparkIt Creative Advertising Creative Director Outreach Director Lead Strategist Interns

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

Classified Advertising Manager

239-980-6995 • info@sparkitcreative.org Michael Weinberg, weinbergm@ufl.edu Brian Gurges, brian.gurges@gmail.com Richard Forbes Adam Cohen, Ella Choi, Ian Baldwin, Donya Mansoorian, Sarah Bhatt, Ella Kulak Matthew Ohlhaber, Baemnet Abetew 352-373-FIND • Fax: 352-376-3015 Ellen Light, elight@alligator.org

BUSINESS

352-376-4446 • Fax: 352-376-4556 Delia Kradolfer, dkradolfer@alligator.org Cheryl del Rosario, cdelrosario@alligator.org Ellen Light, elight@alligator.org

ADMINISTRATION

352-376-4446 • Fax: 352-376-4556 Shaun O'Connor, soconnor@alligator.org Lenora McGowan, lmcgowan@alligator.org C.E. Barber, cebarber@alligator.org

Comptroller Bookkeeper Administrative Assistant

General Manager Administrative Assistant President Emeritus

SYSTEMS

IT System Engineer

Kevin Hart

PRODUCTION Production Manager Assistant Production Manager

Jordan Bourne, jbourne@alligator.org Deion McLeod, dmcleod@alligator.org

UF hosts its first live, social-distanced music event since shutdown MT. JOY AND FLIPTURN PLAYED FOR STUDENTS

By Carolina Ilvento Alligator Staff Writer

A year after UF’s campus shut down due to COVID-19, the university’s first in-person socially distanced live music event marked a return to normalcy. Student Government Productions, an SG-funded agency that pays entertainers to perform at UF, hosted its first socially distanced concert Friday featuring indie rock bands Mt. Joy and flipturn. The event was held at Flavet Field at 7 p.m. Friday and was free to all registered students. At the concert, students sat and danced in small groups of up to six people inside about 180 distanced pods. Each of the pods

was enclosed with metal fencing. Clara Savardi was thrilled as she walked out of Flavet Field with a group of friends at the end of the show. She was thankful to be able to enjoy good music, do something fun and release some stress, given that she didn’t get to enjoy a Spring Break this year. “I was able to experience good music and hang out with my friends in a safe environment, so it really was a win-win,” the 21-year-old UF biology senior said. Masks were enforced throughout the entire concert. It is unclear how much money SGP paid the bands, and The Alligator submitted public records requests for their contracts. The band COIN was initially scheduled to perform in the event, but its concert was canceled due to “unforeseen cir-

cumstances” and replaced by flipturn’s performance. COIN’s concert will be rescheduled to a later date, according to the SGP Facebook page. SGP chair Adrian Badenjki did not answer The Alligator’s emails asking why COIN did not perform and exactly how many people attended the event Friday. Cody Paddack, a 19-year-old UF political science sophomore, was excited to safely experience live music again and enjoyed the pairing of the bands. “I am someone who has been off-campus for a while for COVID, and I was really appreciative that they made it safe to come back to campus for this,” she said. @CarolinaIlvento cilvento@alligator.org

Got something going on? Want to see it on this page? Send an email with “What’s Happening” in the subject line to engagement@alligator.org. To request publication in the next day’s newspaper, please submit entries before 5 p.m. Please model your submissions after the above events and keep them to 150 words or fewer. Improperly formatted “What’s Happening” submissions may not appear in the paper. Press releases will not appear in the paper.

The Independent Florida Alligator is a student newspaper serving the University of Florida, published by a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) educational organization, Campus Communications Inc., P.O. Box 14257, Gainesville, Florida, 326042257. The Alligator is published Monday mornings, except during holidays and exam periods. During UF summer academic terms The Alligator is published Monday mornings. The Alligator is a member of the Newspaper Association of America, National Newspaper Association, Florida Press Association and Southern University Newspapers.

The Alligator offices are located at 2700 SW 13th St. Classified advertising can be placed at that location from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for holidays. © Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. No portion of The Alligator may be reproduced in any means without the written consent of an officer of Campus Communications Inc.

Subscription Rate:

Full Year (All Semesters) $100

The Alligator strives to be accurate and clear in its news reports and editorials. If you find an error, please call our newsroom at 352-376-4458 or email editor@alligator.org

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 ALLIGATOR 3

More than 200 protestors call for action and solidarity at Stop Asian Hate march SPEAKERS SAID AAPI ALLIES SHOULD GO THE EXTRA MILE TO SQUANDER RACISM

By Alan Halaly and Jiselle Lee Alligator Staff Writers

Protestors sat on a hill in Depot Park, folding 1,000 origami cranes — a nod to the ancient Japanese tradition, senbazuru, which is said to grant a holy wish. The cranes will showcase collective strength along with written messages about hate against Asians to create a virtual message garden. Over 300 miles away from Atlanta, Gainesville came together to mourn the losses of the victims of the Atlanta spa shootings. “I do not need to know these women directly,” said Jyoti Parmar, a 55-year-old North Central Florida Indivisible organizer, referring to the six Asian American shooting victims. “I do not need to know them personally. They are me. They are all of you out here.” Racism against Asians has been on the rise with more than 3,700 accounts of hate crimes against Asians nationally in roughly a year reported in March — an increase of about 1,000 incidents from the last Stop AAPI monthly national report in February. In response to the three Atlanta mass shootings and upward trend in hate crimes, more than 200 protestors marched down Main Street from Bo Diddley Plaza to Depot Park Saturday afternoon to condemn the ongoing violence and stand in solidarity with victims. Another demonstration was held in Gainesville last

Saturday by the Chinese American community. The Anti-Hate Team, an organization Parmar founded consisting of members from activist groups North Central Florida Indivisible, GoDDsville Dream Defenders and Moms Demand Action, collaborated to organize a GoFundMe to host the march. They raised more than $2,000 as of Sunday evening, surpassing their original goal of $1,500. The funds covered expenses such as shirts that read “Racism is a virus” and “Not your stereotype,” candles and signs, Parmar said. Any additional donations will fund future team projects. Mayor Lauren Poe released a statement Tuesday condemning violence against Asians. UF President Kent Fuchs issued a similar statement March 19. Poe, joined by City Commissioner David Arreola, addressed the crowd at the event. Poe said as a teacher, looking to U.S. history is a powerful way to fix problems in the present. “I want to let you know that here in the city of Gainesville, we stand on the side of love against hate, regardless of where you came from or how long you’ve been here,” he said. Paul Ortiz, president of the United Faculty of Florida at UF, issued an official statement at the demonstration calling for UF to provide more support for AAPI faculty. He said the university should place more emphasis on Asian American scholars in its curriculum. Ortiz emphasized how the fight for long-term change is never an easy process, but it’s worth

withstanding discomfort. “There’s no way to do this work without at times feeling a little bit uncomfortable,” he said. “Discomfort during these dialogues, by the way, is a precursor to genuine personal change and eventual institutional change.” Tai Min Tegeder, a 19-year-old Gainesville native who attends Agnes Scott College in the Atlanta area, said she was frightened to learn about the mass shooting in Atlanta. She never considered being killed because of her race a possibility until now. She read aloud a poem titled “The Game Board: Second Generation Chinese American Female Edition” by Laura Lisa Ng, which uses the metaphor of a board game to describe the female Asian American experience. The poem detailed a process of moving forward on the “game board” when assimilating to American culture and moving backward when Asian culture becomes uncomfortable for white Americans. “I’m here because I believe that no one should die for someone’s bad day,” she said, in reference to one Atlanta police captain’s rationale for the shootings. Youri Chang, a 20-year-old UF English and telecommunications sophomore, said she’s learned how important it is to speak out against Asian hate because of the complacency of older generations of Asian Americans. She said the fear in her parents’ eyes about how she may be perceived as a queer feminist only makes her angrier at the people who discouraged self-expression in their generation. “I’m sick and tired of seeing

Julia Cooper // Alligator Staff

Larry Wang, 29, (left) and Shirley Ai, 28, (right) sit at Depot Park as they listen to speakers during a vigil on Saturday, March 27, 2021. The vigil followed a march from Bo Diddley Plaza, which was held to raise awareness about increasing anti-Asian violence across the U.S and to remember the victims of the shootings that killed eight people in Atlanta. how my parents and my elders have had to repress every beautiful part of themselves and their culture in order to assimilate and survive here,” Chang said. “It makes me vow to never, ever assimilate to this country’s violence.” Young Gainesville activists also took to the stage at Depot Park and shared their experiences as Asian Americans in public schools, where they feel forced to hide their culture. Tvisha Josha, a 13-year-old Lincoln Middle School student, said she often decides not to talk about her culture around others because of how it’s been perceived by other students in the past. “In 2020, we were afraid of going outside because of the pandemic,” Josha said. “Now it’s

2021 and there are Asians afraid of going outside and being killed.” She was joined by Flora Xu, another 13-year-old Lincoln Middle School student, who told the crowd she was mortified by continued acts of violence toward Asian Americans, and wonders when non-Asian people will act on their thoughts and prayers for Asian lives. “I’m only 13, and I shouldn’t have to question if I’ll grow up or not,” she said. “I shouldn’t have to question if every day might be my last or the last of my loved one.” @AlanHalaly ahalaly@alligator.org @jiselle_lee jlee@alligator.org

Now recruiting those keeping nightlife alive for a COVID prevention study near you QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS MAY BE COMPENSATED

CONTACT:

You may be eligible if:

Timothy Elder, MD (352) 727-7000

• You socialize without masks or physical distancing three times per week

4343 W. Newberry Road Gainesville, FL 32607

• You are at least 18 years of age

El Caimán

LUNES, 29 DE MARZO DE 2021 www.alligator.org/elcaiman

ESPAÑOL

Las familias migrantes luchan contra los problemas de la educación virtual PROGRAMAS COMO LIBROS DE FAMILIA OFRECEN TUTORÍA PARA LOS HIJOS DE FAMILIAS MIGRANTES DURANTE LA PANDEMIA

Por Isabella Barnet Escritora de Caimán

Skyler Cuevas recuerda ver cómo se iluminaba la cara de un padre cuando su hijo recibía tutoría especializada a través de su organización, Children Beyond Our Borders. Ahora, como presidenta de la organización, Cuevas y su equipo tuvieron que adaptarse a los cambios que les trajo el COVID-19 a ellos y a las familias migrantes a las que sirven. “Poder ofrecer estos servicios y haciéndoles saber que nosotros estaremos ahí por ellos cada semana para continuar ayudándoles en la educación de sus hijos fue icónico”, dijo la presidenta. Antes de la llegada del COVID-19, las familias migrantes del condado de Alachua recibían ayuda en persona de parte de un grupo de voluntarios especiales afiliados con la organización Children Beyond Our Borders, o CBOB por sus siglas en inglés. Un programa dentro de CBOB, Libros de Familia, se dedica a cerrar la brecha entre los hijos de familias migrantes y la educación de calidad. La organización sin fines de lucro fue fundada en 2003, establecida por un grupo de estudiantes colombianos de UF que se enfocaban a ayudar los niños de Colombia. Después de 18 años, CBOB extendió su enfoque de Colombia a los niños de todo el mundo con la esperanza de que la educación pueda empoderar a todos. “Nuestro principal objetivo es que la edu-

cación equivale al empoderamiento para la comunidad latina”, dijo Cuevas. “Si tienes alguna conexión con un grupo minoritario, deberías tenerlos en cuenta de cualquier manera que pueda”. En Gainesville, el capítulo de CBOB de la Universidad de la Florida ayuda a niños locales con servicios de tutoría y becas. Joel Hernandez, el coordinador de Libros de Familia de UF, está a cargo de mantener el programa y de conectar a estudiantes voluntarios de UF con las familias migrantes del condado. Antes de COVID-19, los voluntarios daban tutoría en el hogar del niño migrante o en una biblioteca local y establecían una relación cercana para ayudar a las familias. Algunos tutores de CBOB hicieron el esfuerzo de construir relaciones más profundas con estos niños al pasar tiempo con ellos fuera del entorno de tutoría — algunos niños, que nunca habían estado en la playa, iban con sus tutores de Libros de Familia. Ahora, esas relaciones son difíciles de mantener debido a las luchas que enfrentan muchas familias y sus hijos a causa de la pandemia, la cual ha cambiado la manera en que los niños atienden a sus clases virtualmente. A principios de la primavera de 2021, el plan de reapertura de la Junta Escolar del Condado de Alachua permitió que los estudiantes continuaran aprendiendo en el aula. con medidas establecidas para mantener a los estudiantes seguros, pero muchos niños de familias migrantes luchan con estudiar virtualmente. “Imagina que eres un estudiante sin saber el inglés y te estás retrasando porque tienes que aprender inglés, y encima de eso tienes que tomar una clase para aprender el lenguaje”, dijo Hernandez. “Adicionalmente, si eres

alguien que se muda de lugar a lugar, no estás recibiendo una experiencia de educación (igual a la) que otros estudiantes reciben”. Hernandez también enfatizó el hecho de que la mayoría de los padres no hablan inglés y no saben cómo usar la tecnología requerida para que sus hijos estudien virtualmente. La aplicación Zoom es usada frecuentemente en las escuelas, y los estudiantes voluntarios a menudo tienen que mostrarles cómo conectar a los hijos con Libros de Familia en línea. “Un problema muy grande ha sido la conexión wifi. Nos parece tan simple, pero algunos de ellos no pueden pagar un buen wifi o simplemente no lo tienen”, dijo Cuevas. No fue hasta la reciente Ley del Plan de Rescate Estadounidense de 2021 que más familias inmigrantes se volvieron elegibles para los pagos de estímulo, incluidos los titulares de visas H-2A, H-2B y H-1B bajo las cuales muchas familias migrantes califican. Sin embargo, cualquier migrante con un número de identificación personal del contribuyente (ITIN) no califica para los pagos de estímulo. Para las familias que necesitan ayuda, CBOB ofrece un programa de becas para niños. También están ampliando sus esfuerzos de recaudación de fondos para incluir a las familias migrantes que necesitan tecnología para continuar con sus esfuerzos de tutoría en línea. El Programa de Educación Migrante de Alachua, un programa financiado por las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Alachua, ayuda a la población migrante del condado al informar a CBOB de cualquier familia que necesite tutoría para sus hijos. “Es una relación casi simbiótica porque se enriquecen los voluntarios de UF al conocer estas familias”, cuenta Victoria Gomez de la

Torre, supervisora del Programa de Educación Migrante de Alachua. “Y es como cambiarse de país al momento que llegan a esas casas”. Gómez de la Torre se dedicó a ayudar niños y familias migrantes cuando empezó como tutora hace 15 años después de graduarse con su maestría en estudios latinoamericanos de la Universidad de la Florida. Dijo que parte de la lucha que enfrentan los migrantes es la inseguridad de la vivienda desde el inicio de COVID-19. Según una inspección anual realizada por el Departamento de Salud de Florida en Alachua, 22 de los 65 campos de trabajo para migrantes se encontraban en condiciones insatisfactorias en 2020. “Ha afectado a la población migrante porque viven en lugares muy rurales, trabajan en los campos en su mayoría, es gente que no necesariamente escucha las noticias… es gente que por obvia razones no está en el radar ni de los departamentos de la salud, ni de una entidad que trabaja con el problema de COVID”, dijo Gomez de la Torre. Según el Departamento de Salud de Florida en Alachua, entre 150.000 y 200.000 trabajadores agrícolas migrantes y de temporada y sus familias viajan y trabajan anualmente en el estado de la Florida. Muchos de ellos llegan a trabajar con sus familias, incluyendo sus hijos que viven en campos de residencia en diferentes campos en el norte de la Florida. “Nadie los tiene como población de su estado, entonces nadie los toma en cuenta para tomar decisiones dentro de la pandemia”, dijo Gomez de la Torre. jbarnet@alligator.org

ENGLISH

Migrant families face virtual education problems following COVID-19 STUDENT VOLUNTEERS WITH LIBROS DE FAMILIA OFFER TUTORING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN OF MIGRANT FAMILIES

By Isabella Barnet Alligator Staff Writer

Skyler Cuevas vividly remembers seeing a parent’s face light up as their child received specialized tutoring through the UF chapter of Children Beyond Our Borders. Now, as the president of the chapter, Cuevas and her team are adapting to the changes COVID-19 brought them and the migrant families they serve. “Being able to offer these services and letting them know that we are here for them every week to continue helping them with their children’s education was memorable,” Cuevas said. Before COVID-19, the migrant families of Alachua County received in-person help from a group of special volunteers affiliated with

Children Beyond Our Borders (CBOB). One program within CBOB, Libros de Familia, is dedicated to closing the education gap for children of new migrant families. A group of Colombian UF students that first focused on helping Colombian children later founded the non-profit organization in 2003. After over a decade, CBOB extended its emphasis from Colombia to children worldwide with the hope that education could empower all children. “Our main goal is equating education to the empowerment of the Latino community,” Cuevas said. “If you have any connection with a minority group, you should take them into account in any way you can.” In Gainesville, the CBOB UF chapter helps local children with tutoring services and scholarships. Joel Hernandez, the coordinator of UF’s Libros de Familia, is in charge of maintaining the program and connecting UF student volunteers with migrant families in the county. Before COVID-19, volunteers tutored in the migrant child’s home or at a local library and

Mantente al día con El Caimán en Twitter. Envíanos un twet @alligatorElCaiman.

Fisher Farms

established a close relationship with families. Some CBOB tutors went out of their way to build stronger relationships with these children by spending time with them outside the tutoring setting — some children, who had never been to the beach, would end up visiting them with their Libros de Familia tutors. Now, those relationships are difficult to maintain due to the struggles many families and their children face because of the pandemic, such as virtual learning. The School Board of Alachua County’s Spring 2021 COVID-19 response plans allowed students to return to classes with measures in place to keep students safe. Still, many children of migrant families struggle with studying virtually. “Imagine you are a student who doesn't know English, and you are falling behind because you need to learn English; on top of that, you need to take a class to learn the language,” Hernandez said. “Additionally, if you are someone who moves from place to place, you are not receiving an educational experience [equal to] what other students receive.”

Meet the family behind the fifth-generation farm, pg. 7

Hernandez also emphasized that most parents don't speak English and don't know how to use the required technology for their children to study virtually. The Zoom app is frequently used in schools, and Libros de Familia volunteer students often need to teach the parents how to connect their children online. “One big problem has been Wi-Fi connection. It seems so simple to us, but some of them can’t pay for good Wi-Fi or simply don't have it,” Cuevas said. It wasn’t until the recent American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that more immigrant families became eligible for stimulus payments, including H-2A and H-1B visa holders that many migrant families qualify under. However, any migrants that file with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) do not qualify for stimulus checks.

Síganos para actualizaciones Para obtener actualizaciones so El Caimán, síganos en línea en www.alligator.org/elcaiman

Read the rest online at alligator.org/elcaiman ibarnet@alligator.org

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 ALLIGATOR 5

Funding could change year to year BRIGHT FUTURES, from pg. 1 year. This means Bright Futures award amounts could change every year when the annual budget passes. Students and families questioned their future plans and finances when the bill was first proposed and are still worried about funding not being guaranteed for students. “My family is depending on Bright Futures to help my kids get through college,” Lindsay’s mother, Amy Lindsay, said. Without Bright Futures, the Lindsays would have to dip into their retirement funds and savings, and the kids would need to take on jobs during their studies. Amy would probably have to find a second job as well, she said. As for any schooling beyond college, she said her kids might have to delay that if they aren’t awarded Bright Futures funding. “I am very stressed out,” she said, referring to the initial proposal of the bill. “I am trying to think about what and how we are going to do to pay for this.” When the bill was first proposed, students and families had to consider how they would balance college degree choices with family budgets. Leslie Winograd, the mother of an 18-year-old high school senior from Boca

Raton, said taking away the affordability of staying in Florida for college would drive young talent away. High-achieving students would likely opt for out-of-state schools, she said, as they often receive merit-based scholarships that lower the tuition to be close to in-state tuition prices. “I just don’t know what they were thinking,” she said. “It was a dumba-- thing to do. It’s just stupid.” Jessica Winograd, her 18-year-old daughter, said she has never been a science-oriented person. While Jessica has not fully settled on her major yet, she knows she wants to pursue a career in liberal arts. She emphasized the importance of having bright students in all fields in the workforce. “You need teachers and social workers,” she said. “You can’t just have a bunch of scientists running around.” Lexie Sealy, an 18-year-old who is starting at UF this Fall, has practiced five types of dance since she was 6 years old and dreams of opening a dance studio for underprivileged children. But because of the Bright Futures bill, she thought about leaving behind the dance degree she would pursue in college. She even contemplated not attending college at all. Sealy had to work hard to receive Bright

Futures. After countless tutoring sessions, she said she drove three hours from her home in Coral Springs to the nearest open SAT testing site, as many closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the third time she took the exam to earn the minimum score for full funding. She was stressed when she heard about the bill and questioned the need for a college education in her dance career, even though she knew a dance degree would help her refine her passion. “It was kind of a push and pull because it is something that I have always wanted to do, but it is going to be so much more expensive for my family to be able to let me live out those dreams,” she said. Alachua County high school seniors have also expressed outrage about potential changes to Bright Futures funding. Luke Bennett, an 18-year-old Eastside High School senior, said he qualifies for the highest level of the Bright Futures scholarship, which covers 100% of in-state public tuition. As an active member of his school’s drama club, he said he initially thought about either pursuing a minor or doublemajor in theatre alongside business management or political science. After hearing about original provisions in the Florida bill, he began to reconsider. “I want to be able to go to college and do whatever I want to do,” Bennett said. “But I’m relying pretty heavily on Bright Futures.” Avery Sperbeck, an 18-year-old

Over 11,000 people have been vaccinated in the county UF VACCINE, from pg. 1 the sooner we get immunity, the sooner we get back to normal.” Everyone should get the vaccine to help the university roll back social distancing policies, he said. Routine testing, masking and quarantine availability will be scaled back if immunization counts on campus stay strong. Lauzardo said recent upticks in on-campus cases indicate these practices must be kept in place for now. Eligibility opening to college-aged people will help suppress the most active spread.

Masking, testing and social distancing guidelines for Summer B and Fall 2021 have not been finalized. The university is planning close-to-normal Summer B and Fall semesters. More than 70% of course offerings in the Fall will be in person, which reflects the percentage of in-person offered before the COVID-19 pandemic. As of March 24, more than 11,000 people in Alachua County have been vaccinated in collaboration with FDOH, Ken Garcia, a UF Health spokesperson, wrote in an email. More than 100,000 doses have

been administered in Alachua County through UF Health, the county health department, retail pharmacies and medical practices, he wrote. Faculty found other ways to get vaccinated in the meantime, with some traveling as far as Alabama. Many members have been vaccinated at FEMA sites in other cities, Lauzardo said, but those who haven’t will be included in the developing plans. The United Faculty of Florida, UF’s faculty union, arranged for a bus to take about 15 UF faculty members to get vaccinated at the FEMA site in Jacksonville March

Gainesville High School senior who decided to attend UF as a finance major for Fall 2021, said Bright Futures funding influenced his decision to attend an in-state college. Sperbeck is a candidate for the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education Diploma (AICE), a program that automatically qualifies a student for the highest level of funding upon successful completion. He said seniors across Alachua County public schools have continued to fight against the changes by speaking out over social media. Above all, he believes it’s not right that those who depend on the funding may be dissuaded from choosing a Florida college. “Everybody should be encouraged to follow their passions and not feel pressured or financially motivated to go into a STEM field where they might not be as happy or it’s not their true passion,” he said. “I don’t think they should feel any less valid in their choices.”

13. UFF-UF paid about $1,000 for the trip, former UFF-UF president Steven Kirn said. Kirn said getting vaccinated is a life-or-death situation, and he was happy the union got a chance to help. “It’s kind of expensive to send a bus over there,” Kirn said. “But we were glad to do it because it’s not nearly as expensive as having somebody get sick.” Sylvie Blum, a UF French and film professor, was one of the about 15 people to go on the UFF trip to Jacksonville to get vaccinated. Blum was grateful the trip was organized because she feared driving back from Jacksonville

Juliana Ferrie contributed to this story. @AlanHalaly ahalaly@alligator.org @CarolinaIlvento cilvento@alligator.org alone after getting the vaccine. She didn’t want to possibly suffer side effects while on the road. She received the Pfizer vaccine, which requires two doses and will need to go back to Jacksonville to get the second dose. UFF has not planned a trip back to Jacksonville. “I’m just very grateful for the union to organize that. It was such a relief,” Blum said. “The return back was much more joyful.” @alexlugo67 alugo@alligator.org @ReaManny mrea@alligator.org

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 www.alligator.org/the_avenue

SPOTIFY

FASHION

UF alum ‘Dave’ keeps it fresh JOSH RITTENOUR TURNED SELLING CLOTHES OUT OF HIS TRUNK INTO A BUSINESS

By Christian Ortega Alligator Staff Writer

A blue canopy, lined with clothing racks, stood out in a white ocean. In front stood Josh Rittenour, the 25-year-old owner of Dave’s Freshly Used, who resells vintage University of Florida merchandise. He wore a neon orange Gators hat, and his shirt featured Albert the Alligator enjoying a beverage while waving a pennant. His smile, shrouded by a surgical mask, remained visible by the wrinkles around his olive-green eyes. It invited everyone walking by. He had been at Florida Vintage Market at Cypress and Grove since well before noon. He packed his blue 2007 Honda Accord until nothing else fit and drove from Bradenton to Gainesville that morning. The car gets him from A to B 99% of the time. As the hours crept by, Rittenour drifted further into the shade. He forgot his sunscreen. It was his first pop-up in months. He started small in 2011, selling out of his trunk in high school then his dorm when he enrolled at UF in 2013. Now, he says he’s the guy who got an economics degree to sell old clothing.

“There isn’t another person that claims to be the Gator guy like me,” Rittenour said. At the March 14 pop-up, several vendors featured UF gear. It’s natural to find a few Florida shirts, hats and jackets in Gainesville, but nobody dedicates their collection to the college like him. Rittenour created his business’ name off his high school nickname, Dave. He thought it was catchier than “Josh’s Freshly Used,” and it’s not uncommon for people to call him Dave before he corrects them. Though his business didn’t become an LLC until 2018, Rittenour grew up thrifting. His parents would take their kids to flea markets and thrift stores on weekends. The Rittenours even planned vacations around thrifting, lengthening road trips by hours or even days. Rittenour remembers going to a flea market with his grandma when he was 6. He had no idea what to look for and his eyes wandered from display to display, largely oblivious to what was around. Until a collection of cards caught his eye. Pokémon cards. “They were the coolest thing,” he said. Rittenour said he’s addicted to the excitement of finding something he never knew existed. Everything he buys, sells and sometimes wears

Chasity Maynard // Alligator Staff

Josh Rittenour, owner of vintage Gator shop Dave’s Freshly Used, goes through a bin of merchandise at his pop-up stand on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021.

Keep up with the Avenue on Twitter. Tweet us @TheFloridaAve.

is one-of-a-kind. “They don’t have s--- like this anymore,” Aydan Child, a 19-yearold UF sophomore who traded one of his tank tops for some of Rittenour’s shirts during the pop-up, said. The vintage market is a booming industry. It’s a solution to avoiding fast fashion. Consumers love it because the clothing is unique. In 2020, Lyst’s “Year in Fashion” report showed the phrase “vintage fashion” generated more than 35,000 new searches on its website. Entries for related keywords increased by 104%. Clothing resale website Thredup’s 2020 resale report predicts the secondhand market will be valued at more than $60 billion by 2024. Rittenour’s garage is a maze. He regularly navigates through walls of boxes, each filled to the brim with shirts, jackets, hats or whatever else can fit. In the back is a makeshift photo studio. He could lose his mind trying to keep track of his items; they number in the thousands. So he meticulously organized an Excel spreadsheet. Laundry can consume four days. Between photographing, cataloging, packaging and shipping, Rittenour spends the rest of his time hunting online. Packages usually barricade his front door. Often they come from across the world. However, he’s not afraid to stop a stranger if he sees them wearing something he likes. When he was a student, he would weave through game-day crowds, wearing his vintage clothing, looking to pry what he could from bystanders. When he was at a restaurant during Gator Growl in 2014, he spotted someone walking by with a blue snapback. On the front in script read the word “Growl.” He marched toward the stranger and introduced himself. The two talked, Rittenour flexed his hat collection and walked away with the newly acquired hat. Inside was a label that read “not to be sold.” Leaping from pursuing dental school to selling clothes in 2016 was frightening. And the idea of telling his parents the truth haunted him. Still, he had to rip off the Band-Aid. At first, his parents Renee and Jeff Rittenour didn’t understand their son’s decision. “I was sick to my stomach,” Jeff Rittenour, 60, said. It took time to embrace Dave’s Freshly Used, but now his parents actively help him find new items. Renee Rittenour said she likes to stand and watch her son thrift. He’s usually on his hands and knees digging through boxes and piles of clothes like a hunting dog

fixed on a scent. When he sees something he likes, he usually shouts his excitement to no one in particular. “Like a kid in a candy shop,” Renee Rittenour, 55, said. However, Rittenour didn’t rely on his parents to launch his business. He knew how to sell and where to buy. But years removed from his decision, he’s still anxious. He never knows if or when the business will fall apart. And he doesn’t know if or when fads will pass him by. It’s why he doesn’t stop hunting. He regularly finds himself falling in and out of rabbit holes online. Researching logos are quests he loves completing. One quest took him seven years to complete. When UF hired Charley Pell to coach the Gators’ football team in 1979, the university designed new logos. The logo chosen was used until 1994. The other design was reminiscent of the modern Seattle Seahawks helmet. It was a blue alligator on each side with white, toothy jaws open. It was allegedly dropped because of claims it looked too phallic. The design struck out to Rittenour because he never knew it existed. He spoke with equipment managers and even self-proclaimed Gator historians to find its origin. Seven years later, he was directed to an internet thread, where he found the elusive logo. If he’s not researching, he’s digging through websites. He likes buying crew-neck sweatshirts. He’ll never turn down a hat. UF club hockey jerseys are his white whale. He usually finds one online once a year if he’s lucky. “I can count on my fingers the number of hockey jerseys I’ve found,” Rittenour said. He never misses the Gators’ games. Watching Florida win brings him happiness like nothing else. The bragging rights help, too. Just don’t talk to him after a loss. People near him walked on eggshells after LSU beat the Gators in December. He was devastated when Oral Roberts knocked Florida out of the NCAA Tournament. “We’re a baseball school,” he joked. But still, he can’t live in solitude with screens occupying all his time. Sometimes he needs to be pried away from them, something his girlfriend Lynzee Janowitz doesn’t mind doing once in a while. The couple lives together in Bradenton, Florida, while Janowitz, 24, studies in medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Bradenton campus. Rittenour dreams of a brick-andmortar location to sell his vintage

Scan to listen to the latest episode of the Avenue’s pop culture news roundup.

finds. In an ideal world, the store would be in the heart of Gainesville. But he can’t expand without a brand. A large following means regular customers. Steady business means he’s doing something right. He couldn’t sell out of his trunk and dorm forever, so he built a social media following. He would sell off eBay, and he did well early. He opened his website to broaden his reach. When he ships a package, he includes a handwritten note. “Yes, we do have a hockey team!” one read. He included it in a package to a customer who directly messaged him on Instagram. They had no idea a club team existed until they saw the blue jersey. At the Gainesville pop-up, some customers went because they wanted to see what he was selling in person. He regularly models his clothing in public. It draws attention and is an excuse for him to talk about his Instagram page. One more follower to join his audience. He takes pictures of himself wearing his collection sometimes, too. He’ll post it and hope it pops up on more Instagram Explore pages. Rittenour also posts advice on how to take care of vintage clothing. He has an Instagram story highlight dedicated to removing stains. The weekend of March 20, Rittenour spent more time in a car than he did sleeping. He drove to Orlando to sell at The Citronaut Flea Market with his friend, Doug Ramos. They closed their eyes for a few hours and then drove to Atlanta for ThriftCon. But now Rittenour is back in Bradenton. His head buried in a screen, looking for clothes, thinking about his next pop-up. He’s got a business to grow. @unofficialchris cortega@alligator.org

Doctor in the trenches

Stewart Reese, a graduate student offensive lineman, dreams of anesthesiology after the gridiron. He wants to show that athletes are more than highlight reels and letterman jackets. Pg. 11

Scan to listen to the Avenue’s Women’s History Month playlist.

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 ALLIGATOR 7

Fifth generation Black-owned farm seeks aid to ease pandemic hardships FISHER FARMS WORKS WITH UF AND NORTH FLORIDA CITIES

By Michelle Holder Alligator Staff Writer

Defined lines from years of working outside adorn Lennon Fisher’s face — just like the bountiful rows of fruits and vegetables that decorate his family farm. “I used to walk out in the fields as a little boy just to see things come up and grow,” he said. “I loved to see it all the time.” The 59-year-old farmer has spent his whole life on his family’s nearly 20-acre Jonesville farm. His father and the three generations before them have done the same. Founded in 1939, Fisher Farms, a fifth-generation Blackowned farm, supplies produce to Gainesville, Alachua County and North Florida cities like Jacksonville. The farm, which grows fruit and seasonal veggies, sells its produce weekly at the 441 Alachua County Farmers’ Market and the GNV Market at Heartwood Soundstage. Fisher’s son, Lennon Fisher Jr., 29, said the farm is also slowly growing its relationship with UF and Working Foods, a non-profit organization that focuses on cultivating local food communities in North Florida. To him, UF is a growing local agricultural powerhouse, and having the support of the university is beneficial for the farm. But the COVID-19 pandemic created many hardships for farmers across the U.S. Sales dropped for Fisher Farms after farmers markets shuttered, Fisher said. His son took up a second night job at an Olive Garden in Gainesville to help sustain the farm and make ends meet.

Big corporations often take over distribution centers, Fisher Jr. said, which makes it harder for local farms to compete — especially during a pandemic. To help the farm stay in business and support the local agriculture industry, Fisher Jr., set up a GoFundMe page Jan. 21. Money donated to the fundraiser will go toward a new produce cooler and fencing to keep animals from destroying their crops. “We’re a family that’s trying to feed as many people as we can,” he said. “We don’t have too much to say. We try to keep it humble.” The farm was recognized by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Environmental and Climate Justice Committee in February 2019. It also received a $5,000 grant from the American Land Trust foundation this year, which will be used to help create fencing around the fields. Every dollar raised through the GoFundMe fundraiser will be doubled by an anonymous investor. Throughout his time on the farm, Fisher said they’ve faced a number of economic challenges. His parents started selling pieces of the farm’s land 15 years ago. His grandmother used to have trouble selling the peanuts she grew. “The Black farmers, they couldn’t grow as much peanuts because they gave the lots mostly to the whites and less to the Blacks,” Fisher said. To some, Black farming is reminiscent of slavery, Fisher Jr. said. But this is not the case for his farm. Fisher Jr. said it’s allowed him to find a stable path in life and feel liberated. He said farming makes him feel grounded, and it helped him

Chasity Maynard // Alligator Staff

Lennon Fisher (left) and Lennon Fisher Jr. (right) walk between rows of greenery on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.Tuesday, March 9, 2021. focus solely on work when he first started. However, Fisher Jr. is worried about the future of farming due to the younger generation’s negative perceptions and underappreciation of it as a profession. Fisher has worked in the field from sunrise to sunset and has watched his watermelons swell from their vines. The fruit, he said, is his favorite plant to grow. But as new neighborhood developments take land away from wildlife, Fisher Jr. said there have been problems with animals invading the farm. Turkeys, deer and raccoons have caused recurring issues. He said animals have eaten a whole crop

Chasity Maynard // Alligator Staff

Lennon Fisher picks a carrot, one of his favorite produce, on his family farm in Alachua County on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.

of peanuts three times, which hurt sales. “The turkeys are collecting a lot of stuff,” he said. “They love greens, like broccoli and cauliflower.” Xanna Prentice, a 28-year-old market manager for GNV Market, said she has known Fisher Jr. and his family for five years, through working with him at market meetings and the Food Systems Coalition. “I always thought that was like an impressive thing to not only be a farm in the community but also to be kind of helping have farmers’ voices be heard,” she said. Prentice said out of 30 total

vendor spots at the weekly GNV Heartwood market, about 15 are typically taken by farm vendors. She believes the local farmers market is one of the most hopeful things in the community. “When you have a farmers market like that, where you have local producers, every dollar has a ripple effect,” she said. “One of the most important community investments that we can make is to support our local farmers and producers.” Chasity Maynard contributed to this article. @michellecholder mholder@alligator.org

Chasity Maynard // Alligator Staff

Lennon Fisher Jr. (left) and Lennon Fisher (right) pose for a photo at their Alachua County farm on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.

8 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

Women’s History Month: Remembering the trailblazing women at UF and Santa Fe THESE WOMEN MARKED FIRSTS IN BOTH COMMUNITIES Staff Report Alligator Staff Writers

In September 1925, Lassie Goodbread-Black stood patiently behind a blocklong line of boys waiting to register for Fall classes at UF. But when she finally made her way to the registrar, he refused to help her. “He looked at me like he thought I was a nut or crazy or something,” Goodbread-Black said in a 1984 interview with Gayle Yamada through the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program. “He said, ‘Step aside, lady! Step aside, lady! This isn’t summer school,’” she recounted. “And, of course, my feelings were crushed.” Despite the initial hurdles she faced, Goodbread-Black became the first woman to enroll full-time at UF in 1925. The university wouldn’t officially begin accepting women until more than 20 years later. The history of women at UF has been a long-fought war, with them officially joining the university in 1947 but underrepresented for decades after. Congress designated March as Women’s History Month in 1987. This month, Gainesville is remembering impactful women of the past, celebrating powerful women of the present and empowering successful women of the future. It all starts with honoring the women trailblazers at UF and Santa Fe College. University of Florida

Irene Thompson tirelessly fought for increased female representation at UF by becoming the first director of the university’s women’s studies program in 1977. She began by forming a committee to address the status of women at UF. She then began teaching an evening course on images of women in literature. “If you think I knew what I was talking about, you’re out of your mind,” she said in a 2003 interview through the SPOHP. Thompson persevered, and four years later she said she applied to the College of Arts and Sciences for a probationary program, which at the time served as the equivalent of a women’s studies minor. Two years later, an official women’s studies program received 100% approval, and Thompson served as the first director until her retirement in 1986. Since then, women have continued to make progressive strides within the Gator community. In 2015, Laura Rosenbury became the Levin College of Law’s first permanent female dean. In October, Colleen Koch was named the first female dean of UF’s College of Medicine. Aside from UF staff, student organizations have taken up the task of honoring historical women. Izabella Smith, the mentorship co-director for the Women’s Student Association, a UF organization that aims to empower women, said the group believes in an accurate historical depiction of women. Women’s history has been whitewashed, the 21-year-old UF agricultural education and communication junior said. ‘Whitewashing’ can refer to an emphasis on the impact of white people’s historical contributions, which then diminishes and misrepresents nonwhite individuals in history. “Women’s history month isn’t just Susan B. Anthony, and it really shouldn’t be,” she said. Besides diving deep into the actual history of women, Smith has one other objective in mind for this month. “I’m kind of taking it as an opportunity to not take much bulls---,” she said. The path to success for female students in leadership roles hasn’t been without hard-

Ashley Hicks // Alligator Staff

Graphic of a modern-day student (left) and Lassie Goodbread-Black (right), the first woman to enroll full-time at UF. ships. Despite an increase in women’s representation at the university, the UF Student Body didn’t experience female leadership in SG until less than 40 years ago. Charlotte Mather-Taylor, the first studentelected Student Body President, was an active member of SG in the 1980s. She said her motivating force has always been service. During her time at UF, Mather-Taylor served as an SG senator, a vice president and was elected to be the first female Student Body President in 1983. While in SG, she created the Minority and Women Cabinet divisions, which were originally intended to give a platform to underrepresented groups and has now expanded into the Diversity Cabinet Division. “I ran not because I was thinking I would be the first female, but because I really just thought I could continue the work I was doing and make a difference,” she said. After she was elected, Mather-Taylor said an older female student came to congratulate her. The woman confessed she had always wanted to run for Student Body president but allowed other people to convince her a woman couldn’t run. “If you feel a passion within your being to do something, you should do it,” she said. “At least try it because you don’t want to regret that.” She said the leadership demographics should reflect the population, but equality can only be created when women are supportive of each other. “It is important for women to support other women. But not blindly,” she said. “You don’t support a woman just because she’s female. You want to support a woman who is profemale — a woman who wants to empower other women.” She now works as the director for the Agency Disability and Resource Center of Broward County and was honored by the county following the National Women’s History Alliance chosen yearly theme of “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced.” Since Maher-Taylor’s presidency, seven other women have led UF SG. Pamela Bingham, who served as UF’s first and only Black woman Student Body president in 1986, faced challenges during her path to leadership in the form of racist and hateful comments. Following in the footsteps of female trailblazers like Bingham and Mather-Taylor, Faith Maniti and Gio Mompremier, two women of

color, will take over the positions of Student Body vice-president and treasurer in late April. As an Asian American woman pursuing a degree in political science, Maniti often finds herself as the only woman of color in a room. It can be intimidating to speak out in conversations mostly dominated by white men, she said. The 21-year-old junior wants to create an approachable environment in her office and serve as a mentor to SG members and students. “I am going to make an intentional effort to see diversity within my cabinet,” she said. “Not just for the sake of diversity, but to give an opportunity to someone who may have otherwise not been considered.” Mompremier is one of the few Black women to be elected to the SG executive board. She said wants to advocate for students in underrepresented communities who often don’t feel like they belong within the SG environment. “Women need to realize that their gender or identity shouldn’t be limiting factors or something they are scared of in regards to their qualifications,” she said. Other members of SG are working toward gender equality, too. Haley Palumbo, the SG Women’s Affairs Cabinet director, is one example. Looking to April, the 21-year-old UF political science and women’s studies junior is excited to arrange the Women’s Summit, a networking event open to all UF students to discuss the inclusion of women in the professional world at the beginning of the month. She also said all SG cabinet members are currently planning events for healthy relationship week, which is meant to bring awareness to sexual assault, April 12-16. The Women’s Affairs cabinet is currently organizing an event to discuss sexual assault and consent. However, UF has yet to see a female university president. Since the institution’s inception in 1853, all of its presidents have been men. Santa Fe College

Similar to UF, Santa Fe College has been led solely by male presidents since its inception. Santa Fe spokesperson Jay Anderson wrote in an email that the college, which has accepted women since its opening in 1966, honors notable women within the community by hosting an annual Women of Distinction luncheon every March. Ann Bromley was Santa Fe’s coordinator of women’s programs and special projects from 1981 until she retired in 1992. She cre-

ated the event in 1987 to recognize women’s contributions, according to Santa Fe’s website. Bromley was the college’s first female administrator, serving as associate dean for Student Affairs from 1966 to 1968, Anderson wrote in an email. More than 190 women have been honored through the luncheon since its creation. A “Woman of Promise” category was added in 2006 to recognize young women between 1621 years old for their leadership in the Alachua and Bradford County communities, according to the website. Although Santa Fe postponed the 2020 luncheon due to COVID-19, the college hopes to recognize those women later this year. An announcement will be made soon about a 2021 event and how the college will celebrate the 2020 honorees, Anderson wrote in an email. Joudi Ayroud — Santa Fe’s 2020 Woman of Promise — was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria. Around the start of the civil war in 2011, the 22-year-old Santa Fe organizational management senior and her family left Syria and moved to Qatar where they have lived since. Ayroud is currently the college’s Student Body president and is the first Arab woman to hold this position, she said. Ayroud said she’s proud of this and loves being in a position where she can give back. “Ever since I came to the U.S., I’ve been constantly working on breaking those stereotypes that people have of Arab women that they’re oppressed, they’re weak, they’re incapable,” Ayroud said. “I’m none of those, and neither are any Arab women.” Women’s history should be celebrated every day, Ayroud said. She celebrates the women who got her and others to this point each day, she added. “It’s about empowering each other,” Ayroud said. “It’s about standing by each other, recognizing that we’re capable of so much, and we have so much to offer.” @abbeyhasebroock ahasebroock@alligator.org @sofecheverry secheverry@alligator.org @juliana_f616 jferrie@alligator.org @CarolinaIlvento cilvento@alligator.org

How to Place a Classified Ad: Online: w/ major credit card at www.alligator.org/classifieds

In Person: Cash, Check, MC, Discover, AMEX or Visa @The Alligator Office: 2700 SW 13th St. M-F, 8am - 4pm By E-mail: classified@alligator.org Call 352-373-FIND for information. By Fax: (352) 376-4556 Sorry, no cash by mail. By Mail: P.O. Box 14257 G-ville 32604 Credit cards or checks only.

BUY IT. SELL IT. FIND IT. 373-FIND

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

Corrections and Cancellations: Cancellations: Call 373-FIND M-F, 8am - 4pm. No refunds or credits can be given. Alligator errors: Check your ad the FIRST day it runs. Call 373-FIND with any corrections before noon. THE ALLIGATOR IS ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRST DAY THE AD RUNS INCORRECTLY. Corrected ads will be extended one day. No refunds or credits can be given after placing the ad. Corrections called in after the first day will not be further compensated. Customer error or changes: Changes must be made BEFORE NOON for the next day’s paper. There will be a $2.00 charge for minor changes.

www.alligator.org/classifieds

See alligator.org for more information

For Rent

Unique artistís studio conversion, available April 10. Furnished apartment upstairs, sleeping loft, large windows, lots of light. $1,050/mo. includes electric and WiFi. 352-372-5733 4-12-21-4-1

Furnished townhouse in SW neighborhood. 18 min. from campus. $420/week. Utilities and internet included. Quiet, cozy, washer/dryer, high ceiling, front garden, back porch, parking spaces. No pets. Available from April 4. Email: vchow331@yahoo.com. phone:352-256-1211 4-19-21-6-1

answer on page 10

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 DOWN 3 Prepare to use, 1 Fast-food as a lawnco. chair buckets 4serving Updated, as a 2 Feel Websick page 35Aptly named Mimicked 6clean-up For, to basin Fernando ers or 4 Speaker’s 7ums “Get a room!” evoker,spot initially 5 Sports Sonnyrodent who lost 68Some to Clay in 1964 9homes Portraitist’s prop 7 Baghdad’s 10 City-state land 8 Alluring poster separator 9 Long 11 Globestories 10 12Add Payto orthe penstaff follower 11 Poetic salute 13 Foxy 12 Elk 1828-Across Captained 13 19nickname “She desires to speak with 14 Chinese teayou ... __ you go to 22 Help bed”: “Hamlet” 23 birdfavorite of one 23Poetic Realtor’s word sign 25 Blanc, e.g. 24Mont 2010s cooking26 Arthur of talk “Theshow themed 25Golden Kristen Girls” of “Bridesmaids” 28 King Kong’s 26home Required wager 27Patting-theThe “Y” of YSL 31 29baby’s-back Be saccharine goal 32“Picnic” Here, in Havana 33 33 Octagonal sign playwright 34 Short aliens? 35 Petulant state

37 35 Book Extinctjacket blurbs elephants 38 36 “His UberDark __”: fantasy trilogy competitors 40 37 Defendant’s “Match Game” host Baldwin story 38 Hosting Earnest the request 41 roast 39 Algerian port 44 Use the feed 43 bag Land with fjords 45 Clarke who 45 OR attendants played Daenerys 46 Go up on “Game of 47 Ritualistic Thrones” kind doll 46 of Sheepishly

48 Deputized Kidnap bands 47 50 Second Surly mutt 49 attempt 54 Radio Singersettings Baker with 50 eight Grammys 51 Circular 55 dashboard Manufacturer 57 devices Stony debris 52 fliers 59 U.K. Count (on) 54 Restorative 60 Gael or Breton resorts 62 Lap-loving pet 55 Albeit, briefly 65 Past __: late 56 Barnyard layer 66 Disturb __ Loin of Beef: 57 Bugs Bunny 58 Operate character path 59 Pendulum

Great house in great location 4br 3ba available immediately or Fall 2021. 1/2 blk north of O'Dome on NW 21st St. Big nice modern home w/ many amenities. 4 unrelated roommates ok as per city code. Call K & M Properties 352-372-1509. 4-19-21-13-2

1BR $455/mo Call:. 352-647-6632

4-19-21-15-2

J UMB L E by David L. Hoyt

ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE: PUZZLE: ANSWER TO PREVIOUS

Real Estate

NEW CONDOS-WALK TO UF For Info on ALL Condos for Sale, Visit www.UFCONDOS.COM or Matt Price, University Realty, 352-281-3551 4-19-21-15-5

Furnishings

BEDS - Brand Name, Brand NEW Pillowtop Mattress & Box Set: Twins $89, Fulls $100, Queens $120, Kings $200. Can Deliver 352377-9846. Gainesville Discount Furniture. 4-19-15-6

For Sale

●UF Surplus On-Line Auctions●

are underway…bikes, computers, furniture, vehicles & more. All individuals interested in bidding go to: SURPLUS.UFL.EDU 392-0370 4-19-21-15-10

Goats for Sale & Lease Horse Boarding - 7 miles to UF Charlie - 352-278-1925

4-19-15-10

3-29-21

4 5

03/22/2021 03/23/21

03/29/21

ACROSS CLUE 1. Hesitated, interrupted 5. Deserve 6. Locale 7. Very happy DOWN CLUE

1. 2. 3. 4.

ANSWER SDPUAE ITMRE VUEEN D E LT A E ANSWER

Spoil PERPMA EARULNV Fall apart Passed on CXTETNI WSRHDE Crafty, wise CLUE: ____ is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory.

03/23/21 03/29/21

Complete the crossword puzzle by looking at the clues and unscrambling the answers. When the puzzle is complete, unscramble the circled letters to solve the BONUS.

ANSWERS: 1A-Paused 5A-Merit 6A-Venue 7A-Elated 1D-Pamper 2D-Unravel 3D-Extinct 4D-Shrewd B-Sumatra

ACROSS ACROSS 1 1Buckwheat Insult 5porridge Golden fruit that, 6 Tears, paper legendashas it, 10 Hobbyist’s started thebook Trojan 15 One Warsubmitting a 10tax Heat in “The return Heat” solo 16 Operatic 14 First-rate 17 State bordering 15both Stands at and Nevada lectures Canada Like some 1816“Almost!” hygiene 19 Drink brand 17 Midas stock item with 20associated Slept noisily 21NASA Periodmissions in office 2022Fight off at Leered 2123“Parking” image, Left onsurreptitiously signs 2428“As I seeand it,” to a Beatty Kelly 29texter “Walking in Memphis” 25 Stay alcohol-free Grammy winner 27 Ad that spreads Marc awareness, briefly 30 Bill for svc. 28 Baseball’s Musial rendered 29 Princess from 31aBerry who galaxy far,played far Storm in “X-Men” away 33 Israeli or Arab 3036Society Simple New newcomer England houses 3240Minnesota NFLer From dawn to 34 Slacks dusk 3641Second drop- __ ’90s candidate down Perotlist, say Buzzer in a 3942“Kosher” image, onswarm labels 43 Half-moon 42 Garage floortide 44blemish Office fill-in Gobblehunter up 4348Wabbit 52Fudd “Wherefore art thou” guy 4653Forward, Fellini Weighty to Kuwaiti? 4954“Just a __!” Girl-asks-guy 51 “Count on me!” dances, informally 5255Blubbers Director’s “We’re 53 “Pow!” relative done for today, 56 Potatoes often people” ... and used forthe fries hint to start of 17-, 23-, 36- and 58 Cape __, Mass. 48-Across 59 “Registered” 60image, Bequest on beneficiary product names Linney 6161Draw outof “Ozark” 62 “Blue” or “White” 63 DIY furniture African river brand 63 “This is __ a test” 6464Fridge forays Matches audio to 67 Diet-friendly video, e.g. 6865Blab Verbalizes 69 Boredom 70 Eccentric DOWN 71 1Creative Lover ofpursuits, Delilah 2with Airport “the”waiting area 72 Yard-grooming tool

For Rent

unfurnished

Available Immediately. Blocks away from UF & shopping. 2BR units. Rent includes utilities & wi-fi. Shared W/D on-site. Call Brenda 352-672-8657 5-10-21-6-2

Release Date: Monday, March 29, 2021 Release Date: Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Great Location 2br 1ba Apts. available immediately or Fall 2021. 1/2 block north of UF O'Dome Clean, Modern, Well Maintained $700/month total rent. Call K & M Properties 352-372-1509 4-19-21-13-2

Quality single family homes. Walk or bike to UF. www.ellieshouses.com 352-215-4991 or 352-215-4990 4-19-21-15-2

Lake Santa Fe cottage; dock, wifi, utilities; grad couple/roommates. $400/mo + 15-20 hrs/mo caretaking, gardening. Available April 25 (352) 4683244. 4-5-21-3-1

unfurnished

★★ ELLIE’S HOUSES ★★

SS & VA ARE WELCOME!

$460/BedRoom ● No Deposit! ● Furnished Cable ● Internet ● Utilities www.campuswalk.co 352-337-9098 4-19-15-1

For Rent

furnished

2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

Send comments to TCA - 160 N. Stetson, Chicago, Illinois 60601 or DLHoyt@HoytInteractiveMedia.com

scan to subscribe to the alligator newsletter

Autos

2003 Mercedes Benz S430 125,000 miles, well cared for. $5,500 or best offer. Call 352-226-0205 3-29-2-12

● We Buy Junk & Used Cars ● ●Trucks, Vans - Titled only ● KT 352-281-9980 sunnyman352@gmail.com 4-19-15-12

★★Cash Today★★

For your unwanted auto running or not. Call anytime 7 days a week 352-642-5000 4-19-15-12

Wanted

● ● ● ● NEED CASH? ● ● ● ● Buying ★ Gold ★Jewelry ★ Coins, ★ Exchangable Currency.★ Call 352-554-4654. Coin Kingdom 3446 W. University Ave. 4-19-15-13

by Fifi Rodriguez

1. SCIENCE: Where is the How world's most 1. MEASUREMENTS: many inchesvolcano are in a mile? active located? 2. ASTRONOMY: What does the 2.acronym TELEVISION: Whichto1990s TV drama SETI mean the scientific community? invented the catchphrase "The truth is 3. LANGUAGE: What does the Latout there"? in prefix “sub-” mean in English? 4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who the 3. MATH: What is the total of was numbers only president to serve two noncon1-100 added consecutively (1+2+3, etc.)? secutive terms? 5. LITERATURE: Which What 20th-cen4.tury GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: do the movie star penned the autobiogra100 in a chef's represent? phyfolds “Me: Stories of Myhat Life”? 6. HISTORY: InWhat the Potter first 5.National LITERATURE: whichwasHarry Monument proclaimed in the book does the Whomping Willow make United States? its 7.firstGEOGRAPHY: appearance? Where is the island of Luzon located? 6. GEOGRAPHY: How many 8. MOVIES: Which sci-fi countries movie hasin the tagline, “Reality is a thing of thenames? Africa have only four letters in their past”? 7. MOVIES: In the animated movie 9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What"Up," the name of thegroup Uniteddoes States’ first towas which scouting Russell nuclear-powered submarine? belong? 10. GAMES: What are the four railproperties in Monopoly? 8.road ARCHITECTURE: Who designed the faAnswers mous Fallingwater House in Pennsylvania? 1. 63,360 inches 9. LANGUAGE: does the intelliGreek 2. Search forWhat extraterrestrial gence "hyper" mean? prefix 3. Below or insufficient 10.4.MEDICAL: What is the common Grover Cleveland 5. Katharine Hepburn ailment classified in medical terms as 6. Devils Tower, 1906 singultus? 7. The Philippines 8. “The Matrix” 9. The USS Nautilus 2021 King Features Synd., Inc. 10.© Pennsylvania, Short Line, Reading and B&O

10 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

Sat & Sun 4-19-21-15-21 Say:

the

800-227-2345 if interested.

place a free "found" ad in the alligator classifieds! Call 373-FIND or email classified@ classified@alligator alligator..org

just go to:

www.alligator.org

Services

WE CAN HELP! 24 HOURS 7 DAYS

CALL NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS 1-866- 352-5323 352-376-8008 www.uncoastna.org pr@uncoastna.org

HIV ANTIBODY TESTING

Need CPR Training?

(352) 727-4733 www.GatorCPR.com CNA Prep Classes from GatorCNA.com

4-19-21-15-16

Alcoholics Anonymous 24-hour hotline #352-372-8091 www.aagainesville.org No dues or fees

solution over there

10. Hiccups

9. Over, excessive

8. Frank Lloyd Wright

4. 100 ways to cook an egg

7. Drone Racing League (DRL).

6. Three: Chad, Mali and Togo

7. Wilderness Explorers

3. 5,050

5. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

ScrabbleGrams solution

Alachua County Health Dept. Call

334-7960 for app’t (optional $20 fee)

www.alligator.org/classifieds | (352) 373-FIND | classified@alligator.org

DRUG PROBLEM?

Sudoku solution

16 Health Services

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

CryptoQuote answer

Want to be a CNA? Don’t want to wait? Express Training Services now offers a CNA class which can be completed in one weekend. Perfect for busy college students. www.expresstrainingservices.com/ww 4-19-21-15-15

alligator

3. Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager.

HIRING home/office/apartment cleaners(m-f and every other sat). Day and night shifts available. Must own a car. weekly pay $10.00/hr. if interested please call 352-214-0868. 4-19-21-15-14

Now you can easily submit your classified ad for print and/or web editions right through our website!

If you find something, you can place a FREE FOUND AD in our lost & found section.

— Carl Sagan

Sun Country Sports is hiring for summer! Camp Counselors, Gymnastics, Office, Rockwall. Apply today at suncountrysports.com/jobs! 4-19-21-5-14

Lost & Found

6. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Sunoco across the GPD is looking for a reliable clerk to ring up customers and restock coolers. Flexible schedule. Call Nita (352-514-6022) to schedule appt. 4-12-21-4-14

http://ocgainesville.org/

to be known.

Help Wanted

Lots of NEW info at

incredible is waiting

found something?

Spaying/Neutering Free-Roaming Cats Borrow a Trap / Make a Clinic Reservation Make a Donation / Volunteer New Expanded Hours

Sports Quiz answers

5. The annual award presented to the best female college ice hockey player in the U.S. is named after what Princeton University hockey standout? 6. Elmer Layden, NFL commissioner from 1941-46, played fullback for what college football team? 7. Jordan "Jet" Temkin, Paul "Nurk" Nurkkala and Alex Vanover are former champions in what sports league?

answers over there

King Features Weekly Service

Isotopes Minor League Baseball club was inspired by a fictional team from what TV comedy series? 4. Jim Covert and Ed Sprinkle, two members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020, spent their entire playing careers with what NFL franchise? 5. What traditional Japanese martial art is literally translated as “the way of the sword”? 6. Floyd Mayweather Jr. defeated what mixed martial arts superstar in a 2017 boxing megafight in Las Vegas? 7. What Croatia-born basketball player won three NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls from 1996-98 and was the 1996 NBA Sixth Man of the Year? Answers 1. 13. He hit eight of them in his 1962 rookie season. 2. The Big Whistle. 3. The Simpsons. 4. The Chicago Bears. 5. Kendo. 6. Conor McGregor. 7. Toni Kukoc.

May 25, 2020

1. Nicknamed "Mr. DeMarathon," what Olympic bronze medalist won the Boston Marathon seven times? 2. Which NFL defensive back finished his career with more interceptions: Rod Woodson or Charles Woodson? by Ryan A. 3. Name the three members of the Los An1. Tommie Aaron, brother of Hank, hit Berenz how many home runs in his seven-seageles Dodgers who shared World Series son Major League Baseball career? MVP honors in 1981. 2. Bill Chadwick, the NHL’s first U.S.-born referee and later a 4. broadWhat World Golf Hall of Famer and South caster for the New York Rangers, went Korean native won the McDonald's LPGA Chamby what nickname? 3. The name for the Albuquerque pionship tournament in 1998, 2002 and 2006?

OPERATION CATNIP

2. "The X-Files"

alligator.org/section/spanish/

Ginnie Springs Outdoors Now Hiring Receptionists, Cashiers, Night Gate Attendants and Grounds Maintenance Staff Applicants must be outgoing and enjoy working with the public. High energy and low drama is a must! Must have your own transportation and availability to work nights, holidays and weekends. Full or Parttime positions available. Apply in person ONLY 9 am - 4 pm weekdays - NO phone calls! ****GPS Address:**** 5000 NE 60th Ave. High Springs, FL 32643 5-10-21-6-14

Pets

1. Hawaii (Mauna Loa)

lee

Cafe Risque 24/7 NUDE Entertainment Micanopy, FL 352-466-3803 Performers Audition NOW Cooks / Managers / Waitresses APPLY IN PERSON 7-19-20-14

alligator"

- - - - - - - - spolier alert- - - - - - - - - - - spoiler alert - - - - - - - - - - - spoiler alert - - - - - - - - - - - spoiler alert - - - - - - - - - - - spoiler alert - - - - - - - - -

¿hablas español?

University of Florida Survey Research Center 720 SW 2nd Ave. Suite 156 Mon-Fri 9am-9pm 352-392-2908 ext. 105 $10.00 - $10.50 per hour + performance incentive + Paid Training REMOTE POSITION; COMPUTER AND RELIABLE INTERNET REQUIRED Search ‘Telephone Interviewer’ on Gator Jobs! http://jobs.ufl.edu 4-19-21-15-14

FOUND IT IN

Trivia Test answers

solution over there

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

Need patient & dependable female for 3-4 weeks helping female arranging in new house and getting estalished in Gainesville. 3 references & reliable vehicle. Call Nancy @ 267431-9090. Leave clear voice message including name & phone number. $500 / wk. Job starts by mid or end of May. 3-29-21-3-14

www.WaldoFlea.com

5. Patty Kazmaier.

to transport cancer patients to treatment. Flexible schedule. Training and liability insurance provided. Please call

WALDO FARMERS & FLEA MARKET Vintage & Unique - Like EBay in 3D

4. Se-ri Pak.

VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED

I need help driving at various times weekdays to several schools in Gainesville and help with chores. Possible shifts include 8 am to about 10:45, 10 am-12:30 pm, and 2:30-4:30 or possibly to 6 pm. I'll pay $15hr plus money for gas. Kids range in age from 12-18. rosenson@ufl.edu 3-29-21-1-14

Entertainment

2. Rod Woodson, with 71 (Charles Woodson had 65).

The American Cancer Society Road to Recovery Volunteers Needed!

Help Wanted

1. Clarence DeMar.

Wanted

Somewhere, something

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 www.alligator.org/sports

FOOTBALL

A doctor in the trenches GRADUATE STUDENT STEWART REESE LOOKS PRIMED FOR THE NFL, BUT FOOTBALL ISN’T HIS ONLY PROFESSIONAL DREAM

By Ryan Haley Sports Writer

“Put him to sleep!” It’s a battle cry. One that lights a fire in football players’ hearts and psychologically prepares them to crush opponents. For Florida starting right guard Stewart Reese, the phrase carries a double meaning. The graduate student wants to become an anesthesiologist. “I couldn’t see myself standing and operating on people, so I decided to just sit behind the scenes and put people to sleep,” Stewart said. Stewart always harbored a passion for the medical field, and his infatuation shone through in occasionally eyebrow-raising ways. As a child, he woke early to watch TLC medical shows, his favorite centered around delivering babies. His wide eyes stuck to the screen until the show went off the air around midday. He observed videos of surgeons replacing knees between bites of food at lunchtime. In middle school, he learned about a pressure point on the head used to incapacitate attackers. Naturally, he experimented on a middle school classmate, who shrieked that she almost passed out. Stewart’s obsession bloomed into a career aspiration. He told his mother, Patricia Reese, he wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. As he studied the human body, Stewart’s own grew to ridiculous proportions, which gravitated him to the game of football. “In middle school, the kids used to try and determine how many of them it would take to take him down because he was such a big boy,” Patricia said. Stewart initially grew too large. He couldn’t play football until ninth grade due to weight limits in younger leagues. At Fort Pierce Central High School, Stewart’s size captivated scouts nationwide. Standing well above 6 feet tall and over 300 pounds, Stewart could sit crisscrossed, a show of his flexibility and movement for his stature. His father said Mississippi State recruiters were blown away by his son’s athleticism in warmup videos they watched. No matter how much hype Stewart gathered athletically, academics came first in the Reese house. One day during Stewart’s freshman year, Stewart Sr. checked his son’s grades and saw several classes hovering near D’s. He drove to the field, pulled his son out of the middle of practice and told him he could return to practice when his grades improved. The turnaround took less than a week. He moved himself to the front of the class. He began to participate, raising his hand and answering questions. Stewart read the assigned books he previously blew off that

summer. The teachers were astounded by the reinvention. It’s near impossible to place a glass ceiling on someone 6 feet, 6 inches tall, not that Stewart’s parents ever tried. In fact, the Reeses empowered their children to block out negativity. No one had the power to discourage Stewart nor his siblings from pursuing their dreams and goals. This message was a deeply personal one for both parents, borne from positive and negative influences from their own childhoods. Stewart Sr.’s parents always told him he could reach the greatest heights with hard work, but the world didn’t always share their confidence. Older peers told him what he wasn’t, what he couldn’t do, a damaging and debilitating reinforcement he knew too well. “That stays with you angry,” Stewart Sr. said. He and Patricia never wanted their children to experience that anger. Negative people, negative energy, negative environments, all weren’t allowed to hold any power over Stewart. Whatever peak he envisioned, he just needed to work for it. Work for it, Stewart did. His dedication on the field led him to a three-star rating as 247’s 19th-ranked offensive guard in the 2016 class. As he matured into higher levels of competition, Stewart knew careers in football and health care wouldn’t be easy to balance. The NCAA limits athletes to a maximum of four days or 20 hours of in-season practice a week, amounting to a part-time job without including travel and recovery time. UF College of Medicine admits a 3.79 average GPA and a 514 average MCAT score. For reference, a 3.5 GPA in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates with honors, and a 514 on the MCAT scores in the 92nd percentile. But like his parents taught him, difficult doesn’t mean impossible, and Stewart’s confidence never wavered. He drew inspiration from Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who started at right guard for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Canadian earned his Ph.D. in medicine from McGill University in 2018, all while playing professional football. He helped the Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory early in 2020 but later shelved his pads for PPE to serve on the front lines against COVID-19 in his home country. So Stewart didn’t compromise. He committed to Mississippi State in February 2016, a program then run by current Florida head coach Dan Mullen and offensive line coach John Hevesy. After a redshirt year, he played 26 straight games at right tackle across the 2017 and 2018 seasons, anchoring the second-best rushing offense in the SEC before moving to right guard in 2019. Even in Starkville, he didn’t forget the lesson his father taught him when he pulled Stewart from the field. He earned his way onto the 2016 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll and collected SEC Academic Honor Roll

AlligatorSports has a podcast. The AlligatorSports Podcast releases episodes every Wednesday and can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your other preferred streaming platform.

Follow our newsletter

Photo courtesy of Patricia Reese

Stewart (51, far left) standing with his family on his senior night at Fort Pierce Central High School. honors in 2017 and 2018. Dreams of orthopedic surgery gradually gave way into anesthesiology as he juggled blocking sleds and biology tests, but his doctoral dreams never died. After four years as a Bulldog, Reese returned to his home state when he transferred to Florida in May 2020. He not only reunited with his Mississippi State coaches, Mullen and Hevesy, but also his younger brother, outside linebacker David Reese. He started 11 games at right guard for the Gators last season, an experienced and reliable presence situated between Kyle Trask and opposing defenses. College athletes typically don’t suit up longer than five years before they lose eligibility. With the COVID-19 pandemic hanging like a cloud over the 2020 seasons, the NCAA allowed all fall student-athletes a free year of eligibility, which gifted Stewart a sixth year to bolster his draft stock and continue his march toward medical school. “We just prayed about it,” Stewart said, “and when they made the statement that they were going to be allowing us to come back, we were happy. I can't be happier to be back.” Stewart isn’t the only Reese sibling with aspirations in the medical field. Brandon, his older brother, worked as a paramedic in Jacksonville, and Stewart saw his brother’s work up close and personal, like when he walked through an ambulance after a critical care transport. “Seeing what I'm doing, he's probably more comfortable doing it because he sees me in that role and he's hung out with me and he sees what my life is like,” Brandon said.

Love alligatorsSports? Stay up to date on our content by following our newsletter. Scan the QR Code to sign up.

While at Mississippi State, Stewart flew out to visit his brother, who now works as a nurse in Las Vegas, and witnessed the field again when he met doctors and walked through the hospital Brandon calls an office. As he ambled through the halls of his brother’s workplace, the veil of mystique and professionalism gave way to familiarity. “A lot of people have this fear of healthcare and doctors and stuff like that, but they're just normal people, and he saw that,” Brandon said. Stewart hopes to be one of those normal people one day, though medical school may wait if the NFL comes calling. A professional career wouldn’t slow Stewart down at all, it would be another layer of the plan. He wants to inspire kids everywhere, especially young athletes who feel scared to pursue lives off the field and away from the gym. “A lot of times people always push, especially kids that are big, athletic, they'll always tell them 'Play sports, play sports,’” Stewart said. “I think, a lot of times, they have other dreams and aspirations outside of sports. Because sports is so popular, they usually get caught up and just play sports and never really pursue anything outside of it.” Stewart hopes his success, both wearing a Gator helmet and a white coat, shows children there’s more to an athlete than highlight tapes and letterman jackets. In the meantime, however, people still need to be put to sleep and Stewart Reese will be the man for the job.

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

@ryan_dhaley rhaley@alligator.org

12 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Florida basketball suffers exodus of players, coaches UF LOSES FIVE PLAYERS TO NBA DRAFT AND THE TRANSFER PORTAL

By Declan Walsh Sports Writer

As a despondent Gator squad walked off the court after a devastating collapse to Oral Roberts March 21, the team’s varied reactions told a story. Teary-eyed guard Tyree Appleby clenched down on his jersey. A group of UF players, namely junior Colin Castleton and sophomore Scottie Lewis, shuffled toward

the locker room in unison. Meanwhile Noah Locke, who bricked a go-ahead three moments earlier, eluded his teammates and the TruTV cameras after the game. Less than a week later, the junior surprised many by entering his name into the transfer portal. Tre Mann kicked off an exodus of players and coaches from the Florida basketball program Tuesday when the sophomore declared for the NBA Draft and expressed his intention to hire an agent. Jacksonville University announced that UF assistant Jordan Mincy would take

Mike White yells calls during a game last season.

Alligator File Photo

over its head coaching position March 25. Mincy’s departure coincided with a number of departures over the next two days. Locke, sophomore Ques Glover and junior Osayi Osifo all announced their decisions to transfer from Florida. Castleton posted a brief statement Sunday, where the second-team All-Conference center announced his decision to enter the NBA Draft. However, the Michigan transfer specified that he wouldn’t hire an agent and ensured that his eligibility remains intact. Mann made the same decision last season and elected to return for his sophomore campaign. The relaxed NCAA transfer regulations and allure of professional basketball hallowed out Florida’s roster. One week removed from Florida’s season-ending defeat to ORU, four players who played at least 10 minutes in that game declared for the NBA Draft or the transfer portal. Florida’s emigration blends in with a hectic 2021 season. An unprecedented 900 players entered the college basketball transfer portal, and 75 schools lost at least five players. However, UF’s roster turnover furthers concerns about coach Mike White’s re-recruiting and talent evaluation. Over the last three seasons, Florida suffered 10 losses to the transfer portal, namely star point-guard Andrew Nembhard. Nembhard sizzled the nets at Gonzaga season, shooting 55% percent as a role player for the nation’s top overall seed The double-digit departures cast a bleak

forecast for the 2021-22 season, as Appleby may serve as the only returning Gator with more than 10 points per game. Four-star recruit Kowacie Reeves should add immediate depth at the shooting guard position, and White may pursue the transfer market to fill the expanding void. Gator County reported March 24 that Florida reached out to four transfer candidates: Cameron Shelton from Northern Arizona; CJ Felder from Boston College; Jarrod West from Marshall; and Brandon McKissick from Missouri-Kansas City. Felder turned in a solid 11-point performance against the Gators last November and served as one of BC’s most efficient scorers last season. Felder’s size and versatility make him White’s top recruit in the transfer portal this offseason. West enters the transfer portal as one of Conference USA’s most well-rounded players. The senior opted to pursue his fifthyear of eligibility after he posted a top-100 assist rate and steal rate. The Marshall transfer also shot 40% from three-point territory, a welcomed addition to a UF team with no returning players better than 35% from beyond the arc. Florida returns just eight players. Even if Castleton returns to Gainesville for his junior season, White will need prudent business in the transfer market to ensure Florida’s status as an NCAA tournament regular. @declanaw dwalsh@alligator.org