Monday, Nov. 8, 2021

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 12

Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

Not officially associated with the University of Florida

FOOTBALL

Gators move on from Grantham, Hevesy BOTH COACHES HAD BEEN WITH FLORIDA SINCE 2018

By Michael Hull Sports Writer

The Florida Gators let go of defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and offensive line coach John Hevesy Sunday, according to multiple reports — first broken by The Athletic.

The University Athletic Association did not respond for comment as of Sunday.

Grantham joined the Florida staff in 2018 and had his best season in 2019, when the Gators defense allowed just 15.5 points and 306.6 yards per game — the secondbest marks in the SEC and top-10 nationally. Grantham’s coaching career began at Virginia Tech in 1990, and he saw stints at Michigan State, Georgia, Louisville, Mississippi State and the NFL. Hevesy, meanwhile, has also been with the team since 2018 and has coached alongside Florida head coach Dan Mullen since their stint at Bowling Green began in 2001.

The duo coached together during the golden years of the Gators, beginning in 2005.

He moved to Mississippi State with Mullen in 2009 and stayed until 2017, when both coaches returned to Gainesville.

Allowing 459 yards to the Gamecocks seemed to be the final nail in the coffin for Grantham’s Gators tenure. Florida’s defense under Grantham has long been criticized by media and

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT

fans alike. The 2021 version allowed 25.5 points per game to SEC opponents. Over the Gators’ last three games, they surrendered 40 points to South Carolina, 34 to Georgia and 49 to Louisiana State.

The run defense appeared especially suspect. South Carolina tallied 284 yards on the ground Saturday, while LSU’s equally poor rushing offense bullied Florida to the tune of 321 rushing yards on Oct. 16. Tigers running back Tyrion Davis-Price broke the school’s single-game record for rushing yards, barreling his way for 287 yards on 36 carries.

Fans clamored for Grantham’s removal after last season, when Florida’s historic offense — 39.8 points per game — was hindered by an equally unimpressive defense.

The 2020 unit allowed 30.8 points per game, including five games over 30 points and three games over 50 points.

The performance against Alabama in the 2020 SEC Championship Game will forever live in Florida fans memories. The Gators gave up 52 points to the Crimson Tide, allowing Heisman finalist Mac Jones to toss for 418 yards and five touchdowns while current Steelers running back Najee Harris ran for 178 yards and two scores.

Mullen did not comment on any coaching changes after Saturday’s loss to South Carolina, saying he needed to evaluate. @Michael_Hull33 mhull@alligator.org

Story description comma, pg# Defensive disasterfinish andwith strategic shortcomings Florida came in to South Carolina as 20-point favorites and left with a 23-point loss, pg. 12

Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff

Florida defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, pictured Oct. 30 during the Gators game against Georgia, and offensive line coach John Hevesy were let go by the team Sunday, according to multiple reports.

Three UF professors file lawsuit against university CASE WILL BE HELMED BY JUDGE WHO IMPLIED CRIMINAL TRIAL AGAINST UF IS POSSIBLE

By Alexander Lugo Alligator Staff Writer

Three UF professors, who were restricted from acting as expert witnesses in a voting rights case against the state, filed a lawsuit against UF Friday.

The lawsuit was filed by political science professors Sharon Austin, Michael McDonald and Daniel Smith, who claim UF violated their first amendment rights when it barred them from testifying in a lawsuit against Florida’s Senate Bill 90.

The bill would set stricter rules on voteby-mail procedures.

UF’s initial statement said the professors were denied their abilities to testify because they were getting paid to do so. However, another professor later came out and said he was denied his ability to help in a mask mandate case against the state even though he

was going to do so for free.

The lawsuit against UF was filed on the same day President Kent Fuchs asked the university to reverse its decision to bar the professors from testifying and asked to allow them to be paid for it. Following Fuchs’ request, one of the professors announced on Twitter the decision was officially reversed.

The lawsuit will be heard by Chief Judge Mark Walker of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida. That same judge implied that a case against UF could go into criminal proceedings if the United States Attorney’s Office decides to pursue an investigation.

He cited a law prohibiting anyone from conspiring to deter another person from testifying in court. Breaking that law is considered a felony.

On top of legal troubles, UF is facing an investigation over the issue by its accreditor, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. President Fuchs has addressed the issue once since the initial story broke Oct. 29.

City Commission Special Edition

“It’s too bad the institution is going through this; it’s not anybody’s fault as far as I can tell,” Fuchs said during a faculty senate meeting Thursday. “Everyone is doing what they think is right for higher [education].”

UF’s Board of Trustees has yet to comment on the matter. Four of the 13 board members gave a combined $661,800 to DeSantis’ campaign, according to a Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau report.

In addition to the voting rights case, five other UF professors said the university limited their abilities to be involved in another voting rights case and two cases against the state’s ban on mask mandates. DeSantis has been a champion for all the issues the professors would have helped defeat in court.

Spokespeople for both UF and the governor’s office have denied that the governor had any influence in UF’s decision to bar the professors. @AlexLugo67 alugo@alligator.org

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2 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

Today’s Weather Tom Petty festival approved amid controversy TICKETS ARE LIMITED TO 6,000 PER DAY

By Jiselle Lee Alligator Staff Writer

Honoring Tom Petty’s legacy has become more complicated after a unanimous vote at Thursday’s City Commission meeting.

On Wednesday, the City Commission amended its meeting’s consent agenda, which means a motion can pass without discussion. They added one controversial item: the approval of a multi-year event at Depot Park to celebrate one of Gainesville’s Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, Tom Petty.

According to the agenda, the Full Moon Fever Festival is replacing the Annual Tom Petty Birthday Bash and will first take place in October 2022. It’s a twoday event — Oct. 22 and Oct. 23.

In the past, the birthday bash was a free event for the public.

But with the changes, Depot Park will be fenced off, with ticket sales ranging from $25 to $230.

Activist and 66-year-old Porters Quarters resident Faye Williams spoke at the meeting, worried about how an event attracting thousands of people might affect her community.

“I’m sure Tom Petty is turning over in his grave,” Williams said at the meeting.

She said the local community isn’t being given a fair chance at sharing input.

“We thought all parties would be able to talk about it,” she said.

“I’m waiting for a call from Red Light Management. [The city] should hold this at Legacy Park instead.”

Because of the time and resources it takes to set up an event of this size, organizers want to close Depot Park for six days, from Oct. 19 to Oct. 24, 2022.

The organizers will have to pay a fee for total park closure that can’t exceed six days, and the fee will increase gradually: $15,000 in 2022, $17,500 in 2023 and $20,000 in 2024.

Petty’s surviving friends who still live in Gainesville also showed up to the meeting to express their disapproval.

Chris Nixon, 49, was one of the organizers of the former Tom Petty Birthday Bash. His family was lifelong friends of the Petty family.

Nixon’s father was Tom Petty’s best man at his first wedding.

Nixon’s aunt was also Petty’s daughters' godmother.

Petty’s eldest daughter Adria Petty, he said, is helping to organize the event to make a profit.

“We were doing it free for the community,” he said. “We found local sponsors to fund it, and we ended up building an event that is

actually larger than the one that is being proposed, which is limited at 6,000 tickets per day.”

He said city manager Lee Feldman, who recently resigned in September, was the main point of contact for Red Light Management.

Nixon said Feldman wanted to get the festival approved by the city before he left.

Nixon was originally invited to speak with Red Light Management about local acts and businesses it could collaborate with. He said they agreed the event would be free, at least for the first year, but the group went back on their deal and are capping the number of people who can attend and charging attendees for tickets.

After speaking with members of Petty’s family, the new festival is not what they envisioned to preserve Petty’s legacy.

“They think that the locals should keep their festival,” he said.

“Adria should start her own thing instead of trying to eliminate the local festival in order to establish hers.”

Commissioner Reina Saco said the management group came and talked with the Commission.

“They heard our concerns; they heard the public’s concerns,” Saco said. “They are trying to accommodate as much as possible — shy of just canceling the whole thing. I don’t know what other accommodation they can give at that point.”

She said that if the event does not work out, it can also always be prevented from recurring the next year.

“For whatever reason, the city is allowed to cancel the other years,” Saco said. “We’re allowed to just drop it with minimal reason, so that is a lot of power for the city if it does cause a complete disaster for the community.”

Jeff Goldstein, founder of the Gainesville Music History Foundation, said hosting the event won’t be much of a headache, as it’s only a few days out of the year.

“Certainly, Gainesville can live with that,” he said. “It’s on a weekend; it’s time to relax.”

Commissioner David Arreola said there are still unknowns when it comes to the logistics of the festival.

“By now, we can sort of figure out how to address things, like we know parking could be an issue, we know overflow could be an issue,” he said. “I just want to make sure that these things are being taken into account during negotiation and not after the fact.”

Mayor Lauren Poe said he would like to write up a contract to clarify some of the nuances.

“Tom Petty’s name and what happens as a part of his legacy is up to his daughter and his family to

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 12

ISSN 0889-2423

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

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decide, and this is what they want to do,” Poe said. “They don’t want to do that in L.A., or they don’t want to do that in New York … they want to do that here.”

Alex Levy, one of the festival producers, said he’s determined to spotlight the story of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

“We're putting on a different event,” he said. “What those guys did was wonderful, but it was a fan festival. We're talking about bringing a fully sanctioned event into the park with national bands.”

Levy said that he wants the community to greet the festival with open arms, and this is something that they should be excited about. He said organizers are even planning on giving back 15% of total revenue to a local charity, which they are in the process of looking into.

Adria said the response from some Gainesville residents has been “shocking” and “hurtful” to watch.

“Chris is not an authority on our dad, our family or our business,” she said. “He was certainly not Dad’s confidant.”

According to Adria, Nixon had spent very little time with Petty in person. She said he probably met Petty less than five times, mostly backstage at shows.

“It is sad to see him violate a lighthearted, long distance friendship with me and my mother by publicly attacking our family and our incredible management team,” she said. “We most definitely considered him a friend of the estate, and we only wish him the absolute best going forward.

But what he is saying is not true.”

She said that the event was never going to be a free festival, and the bands who travel to perform deserve to be paid for their work — something that ticket sales would help fund.

The organizers’ vision of the Full Moon Fever Festival, she said, is a low-priced, high-quality event, bringing exciting talent into town to remember Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

“It was not a corporate or insincere endeavor,” she said.

“Giving back and carrying on our father’s spirit would be the only reason we would do anything in Gainesville.” @jiselle_lee jlee@alligator.org

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021 ALLIGATOR 3

Gainesville celebrates 40th annual art show THE FESTIVAL OFFERED ART FOR SALE, ENTERTAINMENT AND CONTEST TO PICK BEST EXHIBITS

By Zachary Carnell Alligator Contributing Writer

The festival offered art for sale, entertainment and contest to pick the best exhibits Gainesville celebrated the 40th anniversary of its Downtown Festival & Art Show Sunday — this time in person — after being forced to go fully virtual last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hundreds of people attended the event, which lasted from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Police blocked off several areas around Bo Diddley Plaza that were strewn with neighboring white tents on either side of the road. Guitar players, cello players and Egyptian-style belly dancers performed, accompanying artists who exhibited paintings, pottery, sculptures, jewelry, clothing, charactertures, water fountains and wind chimes.

Attending the festival for the first time, Thomas Rye, 30, and his family members voiced their appreciation of the festival’s variety.

“It’s immersive,” Rye said. “There’s something for everyone here.”

Sunshine Artist, a publication that evaluates arts and crafts festivals, considers Gainesville’s festival to be one of the best of its kind, consistently ranking it among the top 200 arts and crafts festivals nationwide.

Sunshine Andrei, who has coordinated the festival for the past seven years, said the festival typically boasts 240 artists, who are selected by a panel of several local artists and some more established artists who serve as judges to pick the best exhibits.

Due to COVID-19 constraints, the festival had room for only 160 artists this year. The festival was supposed to last two days, but the Saturday art exhibits were canceled because of rain.

“If we weren’t dealing with COVID, we probably would have had more time to do something a little more grand for the 40th,” Andrei said.

Still, she was excited the festival was able to be held in person this year because virtual events hindered the community aspect of the event.

“Being able to get out on the streets again and see people enjoying themselves — you don’t get to see that when you’re doing a virtual event,” she said. “You miss that connectivity.”

Andrei said it’s not the same festival it was 40 years ago. Only a dozen local artists

Kiara Cline // Alligator Staff

John Then draws during the 40th Downtown Festival & Art Show at Bo Diddley Plaza on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. This free figure-drawing session was hosted by Figure On Diversity and will be held every first and third Sunday.

Kiara Cline // Alligator Staff

Autumn Chin, 1, makes her own art during the 40th Downtown Festival & Art Show by Gainesville City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. A section of the festival was dedicated to children’s crafts including painting, coloring and headband making. used to gather for the event, she said. Now, it hosts a wide variety of artists from as far south as Miami and as far north as Virginia.

Artists like Julia Dressler, a painter, drove multiple hours to Gainesville for the festival.

Dressler, a 58-year-old artist from Virginia who has done art shows for about 35 years, has made the nearly nine-hour overnight drive to the festival for the past four years to showcase and sell her paintings of Volkswagen vans.

“I love old pickup trucks, and the Volkswagens kind of fit in with it. It’s kind of a cultural thing,” she said. “A lot of people love them, and it’s kind of fun for me to do.”

Other attendees, like Susan Ori, 65, and Richard McCauley, 71, also said the festival’s location, the downtown backdrop, was an enticing aspect of the event.

However, last year’s virtual festival was not as effective at attracting customers, said Leslie Peebles, who has 20 years of experience selling her art at festivals.

“I tried to do virtual Gasparilla. I tried to do virtual Downtown Festival [& Art Show].

Couple of others,” Peebles said. “They were terrible. I didn’t sell a single thing at any virtual festival.”

As a line of customers began to crowd her, Peebles said these were festivals where, in person, she would often make up to $10,000. Sometimes she made more.

Michael Bryant, another artist at the festival, said he also struggled with his art during the COVID-19 pandemic, not financially but creatively.

Though he physically could work, the uncertainty of the pandemic made him feel unsafe and uncomfortable, he said. Now, he regrets not spending the time to make his art, but at the time, he couldn’t focus on it.

“I can’t create when I think the world’s ending,” he said. “I had a year and a half at home where I could’ve made a brand new body of work … and I couldn’t do that just because —– I didn’t realize it at the time — – because I didn’t feel safe. I didn’t feel secure. I felt unsettled … Mentally, I just couldn’t do it.”

He said this struggle to be creative during the pandemic was common among artists he knew.

And it goes beyond just artists. Festival attendee Frankie Jimenez, 32, said it was refreshing to once again come together as a community.

“Everyone has been shut away for so long and afraid of being out and about together,” Jimenez said. “I think a big community event like this reminds everyone how great it is to be in a community. Gainesville’s a great place for that.”

Zachary Carnell is a contributing writer for the Alligator.

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4 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

UF announces new chief diversity officer following 8-month search Marsha McGriff is expected to assume position on Dec. 6

By Camila Pereira Alligator Staff Writer

UF appointed its second-ever chief diversity officer after an 8-month-long search for the right candidate for the position.

Marsha McGriff, UF’s new chief diversity officer, will build upon current and previous work, lead diversity, equity and inclusion strategic planning, build a culture of accountability and transparency on progress made, and engage with community leaders and student diversity groups.

Following the resignation of the university’s former and first chief diversity officer, Antonio Farias, in March, UF President Kent Fuchs appointed a search committee of 16 students, faculty and staff to find someone to fill the position.

Two rounds of interviews took place since the resignation searching for possible candidates. McGriff was chosen as a finalist in early October and will now serve as UF’s chief diversity officer and senior advisor to the president.

“I’m thrilled that Dr. McGriff will be joining the University of Florida,” Fuchs said. “She is a proven leader with more than two decades of experience in developing and leading strategic initiatives to further diversity and inclusion in higher education. I look forward to working with her to advance UF as a university that is second to none in welcoming, celebrating and supporting all students, faculty and staff.”

McGriff is currently the associate vice president for inclusive excellence at Ball State University.

The last chief diversity officer, Antonio Farias, was tasked with setting up and attending events for student groups, meeting with diversity leaders and individuals that made up the UF community and providing both financial support and resources to all.

During the search, the position was vacant with the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer staff left to fulfill the duties of the role. Student diversity groups said the vacancy did have an effect on the progress of President Fuchs’s promises following Black Lives Matter protests last summer.

As the chief diversity officer at UF, McGriff’s strategic vision: ‘Vision 2026: Inclusive Excellence in Action,” describes her guiding principles, leadership philosophy and her plans for building and expanding the university’s work on diversity and inclusion.

At UF, she promised to use data and assessment to make decisions about diversity, equity and inclusion strategies and programs on campus and reports to account for the progress made through quarterly updates made available for everyone.

In 2020, UF admitted the lowest number of Black students within the past five years before that, according to its data.

The number of Black students enrolled at UF has stayed under 10% since 2008.

Apart from accountability, students from diversity groups like the Black Graduate Student Organization and Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/ Hispanics and Native Americans in Science UF chapter want the chief diversity officer to be an advocate and

ally for students, faculty and staff who have been historically excluded from higher education and underrepresented.

For McGriff, she plans to establish the role of chief diversity officer as the campus partner for faculty, staff and students in diversity, equity and inclusion and to educate, empower, serve and support groups and individuals at the university.

She received her bachelor’s of science degree and masters of education from Tuskegee University and her doctoral

degree in education from Creighton University.

At Ball State University, McGriff led the Office of Inclusive Excellence as the chief diversity officer. She also supervised faculty, administrative support, graduate students, interns and the campus ADA coordinator.

According to a UF News article, McGriff is expected to assume her role as chief diversity officer and senior advisor to the president on Dec. 6. @CamilaSaPereira cpereira@alligator.org

Manna Robertson // Alligator Staff

UF barring professor testimony raises political questions PROFESSORS SPEAK OUT ABOUT STATE’S INFLUENCE ON UNIVERSITY

By Elena Barrera Alligator Staff Writer

Widespread turmoil erupted after UF stopped three political science professors from testifying in a case against the state. Some faculty members believe these events point to a bigger issue: increasing political pressure from the state on the university’s decisions.

“There is so much state control of our university system now,” said Paul Ortiz, United Faculty of Florida president. “This is how we got to this moment.”

Ortiz, who is also a UF history professor, said the professors were denied the ability to testify as expert witnesses because of politics. Over the last 50 years, he said universities have increasingly fallen under the control of Boards of Trustees and Boards of Governors.

“They don’t really represent the people of Florida,” Ortiz said. “They represent their own corporate interests.”

The Boards of Trustees has moved universities toward a share-

holder system that prioritizes the Boards of Trustees and Boards of Governors over the students and people of Florida, he said.

However, UF administration and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office denied any state influence on the decision to impede professors’ academic freedom.

“The governor’s office did not create UF’s policy on conflicts of interest, nor did the governor tell the university — either directly or indirectly — how to enforce their own policy,” Christina Pushaw, DeSantis’ press secretary, wrote in an email.

UF President Kent Fuchs was not immediately available to comment, but university spokesperson Hessy Fernandez wrote that no outside opinions from the governor influenced UF’s decision.

Despite the statements, politics are still believed to be a large contributor to the challenge of academic freedom.

Dr. Jeffrey Goldhagen, another professor who was impeded from testifying against the state, said the appointment of Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo as Florida’s next surgeon general and secretary of the Florida Department of Health is a direct example of how politics are integrating their

way into the university.

Ladapo was made a professor at UF’s College of Medicine Sept. 20, and the following day was appointed as Florida’s surgeon general, according to the Gainesville Sun. “Dr. Ladapo, for 100% political reasons, was brought to the university with the sole purpose of being appointed as surgeon general,” Goldhagen said. “As surgeon general for the sole purpose of supporting DeSantis administration’s public health policy.”

Political influences like this have violated the integrity of the College of Medicine faculty, he said. The issue needs to be addressed by all parties, he said.

A report from the Tallahassee Democrat shows Mori Hosseini, UF Board of Trustees chair, emailed Ladapo’s resume directly to UF Health’s president.

Hosseini has close ties to Gov. DeSantis, who reappointed him as UF Board of Trustees chair in February, according to the Tallahassee Democrat report. Florida’s first lady Casey DeSantis used Hosseini’s private jet to fly to a fundraiser in 2019, the report showed.

Additionally, Hosseini’s construction companies donated a total of

$112,000 in campaign contributions to DeSantis, according to a Herald/ Times Tallahassee Bureau report.

But Hosseini is not the only member of UF’s Board of Trustees to have ties to the governor. Four of the 13 trustees at UF gave a combined total of $661,800 to DeSantis’ campaign, according to the Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau report.

Joining Hosseini is Jim Heavener, who DeSantis appointed to the UF Board of Trustees in January. Heavener, who is also the CEO of the private Full Sail University, gave a total of $250,000 to DeSantis’ campaign, according to the report. Heavener has donated millions to UF, and will become the namesake of the campus’ newest sports facility.

Rahul Patel, who DeSantis reappointed to the board, donated $175,000 to DeSantis, according to the report.

Anita Zucker gave DeSantis’ campaign $100,000 two months following her appointment to the board.

Over the summer, DeSantis passed House Bill 233, which went into effect July 1. It protects student and faculty speech under the First Amendment by prohibiting the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors from shielding or limiting

their speech.

But even with the bill in place, the case involving the three professors leads Ortiz to believe it has much larger implications. Politics are even starting to influence what professors include on their syllabi, Ortiz said.

“What do I tell my graduate students? What do I tell my research seminar?” he said. “I mean, should I tell them, ‘Well, before you pick a research topic, call Ron DeSantis.’”

Attacks on academic freedom have tangible effects on students’ education, Charles Karcher, a UF English and international studies senior, said during a UFF-UF virtual news conference Friday.

Karcher said he’s spoken to professors during office hours asking why they briefly skimmed over material. His professors told him there’s ongoing hostility toward certain academic projects, Karcher said.

“I think that President Fuchs and UF leadership have a decision to make,” Ortiz said. “It’s a very simple decision: Do you support intellectual freedom going forward, or do we become a 100% politicized entity?” @elenabarreraaa ebarrera@alligator.org

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021 ALLIGATOR 5

East Gainesville festival celebrates Black-owned businesses LOCAL VENDORS CAME TOGETHER SATURDAY

By Bryce Brown Alligator Staff Writer

The brisk, gray weather clung to the air, but it didn’t affect the warm energy of the crowd congregated in East Gainesville on Saturday. The sounds of music and laughter intertwined as people checked out new Black-owned businesses and visited longtime friends at a festival

that brought together local vendors and patrons.

Swarthy East GNV, a new organization aiming to bring a grocery and retail store supporting local Black-owned farms and businesses to the east side of the city, hosted the first Revolution Before Evolution Festival.

The inaugural event, hosted at Northeast 14th Street beside Citizens Field, featured food trucks, live music and community resources. It was Swarthy’s first in-person community event.

Owner and founder Hatdrika Monroe said the event is the first of many. She said she’s looking at offers for a permanent physical location for the potential grocery and retail store, which will make it so there are more USDA-approved grocery stores in East Gainesville.

“It’s important that we provide a safe space for Black-owned businesses to really thrive and offer their services as well as their products to the community,” Monroe said.

When Nicole Miller was diag-

Lauren Witte // Alligator Staff

Annique Williams, 9, dances during The Revolution Before Evolution Festival hosted by Swarthy East GNV behind Citizens Field on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.

nosed with breast cancer in June 2015, the last thing she needed to worry about was how to afford her next meal. But after leaving her job at a veterans affairs hospital and facing steep chemotherapy costs, the 32 year old didn’t have a choice.

Once the mother of three finished her treatment, she was $7,000 behind on her rent payments and $2,000 behind on her car payments. Miller said she had no financial plan to save her — and she wasn’t alone.

In January 2018, Miller created Blossoming Butterfly, a nonprofit organization that helps breast cancer patients pay their bills while undergoing treatment. Located at 1135 NW 23rd Ave Suite E2, Blossoming Butterfly receives funding through grants and private donors.

Miller said she was grateful for the opportunity to share her business at the festival. Many are still unaware of Blossoming Butterfly because it just secured its physical location in October.

“I was able to be engaged with a lot of people that I didn’t know, so the opportunity was great,” she said. “I feel like it’s something that could grow really big over the years if more of the community got involved.”

Janay Thomas began her business, Nay Domez Customs, two years ago by creating big heads or “domes,” which are large printed photos of people’s faces on sticks often used at sports events or graduations. Thomas said she eventually expanded her custom print and vinyl business. Now, she produces anything from T-shirts and car decals to yard signs and magnets.

“Anything that you could think of, I can get it done for you,” she said. “I can put anything on anything.”

UF alumni to release new dating app Jungle promises to make live dates happen

By Emma Behrmann Alligator Staff Writer

UF students can venture into the wild of online dating with a new Gator-made app dubbed Jungle.

UF alumni Sebastian Galindo, Jungle’s chief executive officer and founder, and Jake Nolan, the app’s chief operating officer, created Jungle to improve online dating. The app promises in-person dates as users match with others who have at least one favorite place, like a restaurant, in common.

The app will launch beta testing in Gainesville Nov. 27, Galindo said. The team will plan events during UF’s Spring syllabus week before moving on to Tallahassee, Orlando, Tampa and Miami — other notable Florida college towns.

“We make live dates happen by pairing the person with the place in common,” Nolan said. “So when you have those conversations there’s no awkward like: ‘Hey, how are you? Wanna come over?’ It’s like: ‘Are we going to this date at Dragonfly at 7 because we both like sushi?’”

When a user makes an account, there’s a list of nearby sit-down restaurants, bars and activities like miniature golf, sunset watching and bowling. These locations or activities can be favored, and then the user can only swipe on individuals who have at least one choice in common, Galindo said.

After a match, the users have 72 hours to plan a date and can make reservations through Jungle.

Galindo started developing the app in Fall 2020, his senior year. His idea came after recognizing other dating apps’ failure to generate real, in-person dates when using Tinder, Bumble and Hinge.

“The main problem they have is once you match, it’s very hard to actually meet up,” Galindo said. “Or, it’s just weird.”

Galindo credits another flaw of today’s dating apps to matching with people a user would normally never see out. Jungle provides a solution by allowing users to swipe on people who enjoy the same social setting.

Megan Keating, a 19-year-old UF microbiology junior, said she experiences these problems with dating apps, which

she described as the worst part.

“It’s so easy to say something over the internet and then be done,” Keating said. “But if you’ve already liked the same restaurant, it’s weird if you don’t show up.

You both picked that.”

Her response is what Galindo and Nolan were hoping for. Nolan said they are making dating easier by providing opportunities for in-person dates.

“I feel like half of dating is figuring out where the hell you’re going to go,” Keating said. “It’s way easier because you already have picked a place.”

Jacob Soto, a 20-year-old UF economics junior, said apps like Tinder and Bumble tend toward hook-up culture. He approves of Jungle’s approach to online dating.

“It’s coming in with the assumption of dates,” Soto said.

Both Soto and Keating indicated problems like catfishing, ghosting and being stood up. Keating said apps like Tinder rarely ever lead to in-person dates.

These issues create a stigma around online dating; something Jungle intends to change.

People use dating apps to meet people

Lauren Witte // Alligator Staff

Annique Williams, 9, does a cartwheel in the middle of The Revolution Before Evolution Festival hosted by Swarthy East GNV behind Citizens Field on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.

Seeing locals come to the festival and show their support was motivating, she said.

Julia Rainer, the owner of Create Space, is a childbirth educator and doula, where she provides emotional and physical support to expecting mothers. Create Space allows women to share their thoughts and feelings as they navigate their pregnancies. Rainer visits her clients, and they discuss topics ranging from childbearing and labor advice to simply sharing a personal experience. “[It’s] a safe place to empower women and inspire women,” she said.

She said seeing other Blackowned businesses at the festival was a great experience, and she said everyone had a great time despite the rainy weather.

“It was amazing that we all fed off each other’s energy,” she said.

“It was very empowering.” @brycebrownnn bbrown@alligator.org

they normally wouldn’t, but then don’t end up meeting face to face. Jungle plans to erase the online dating stigma by promoting in-person dates and real chemistry that is built in person, Nolan said.

Jungle has officially closed its first investment round and received a valuation of $2.3 million.

The dating app will generate revenue from the venues and the users, Galindo said. It will offer premium subscriptions found on other apps like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge.

While developing Jungle, Galindo recognized the hit restaurants took during the pandemic. The app aims to generate foot traffic for these venues while also making money for Jungle through premium user subscriptions, similar to those found on Tinder and Bumble with super-like or super-swipe features, and selling data to venues and advertisers.

“We’re going to make it fun for the users and make it fun for the restaurants,” Galindo said.

The former Gators hope to inspire young entrepreneurs and show them that it’s possible to take an idea and make it a reality. @emmabehrmann ebehrmann@alligator.org

6 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL ELECTION

Who’s running for Gainesville’s open at-large seat?

Five candidates are running with a wide range of experience and skills

By Meghan McGlone & Troy Myers Alligator Staff Writers

Registered Gainesville residents can vote for new representation starting next week following the resignation of a city commissioner.

The special election became necessary when former Commissioner Gail Johnson announced her resignation Aug. 23. She said issues such as the City Manager Lee Feldman’s retention and the city’s lack of commitment to

gender and racial equity led to her decision to resign.

For years, Johnson was known for advocating for the interests of historically Black neighborhoods in Gainesville.

Some of her most notable achievements include proposing a moratorium on development in East Gainesville and heading the effort to challenge Gov. Ron DeSantis’ anti-riot law with a lawsuit.

Following her resignation, Feldman and city attorney Nicolle Shalley resigned from their positions, and City Clerk Omichele Gainey retracted her resignation.

Now, a special election candidate will take over the

Chestnut, who was endorsed by former Commissioner Johnson, has a long history in Gainesville’s City Commission.

She was the first Black female mayor of Gainesville in 1989 and the first Black woman elected to the Commission in 1987.

She’s also been part of the Florida House of Representatives, the Alachua County Commission and the Alachua County Democratic Party.

Chestnut said she has a record of getting things done, and she wants to bring that back to Gainesville. She believes there is a communication error between the City Commission and the charter officers, which was part of what led to the resignations in the city.

“The current City Commission is just dysfunctional,” Chestnut said. “We need a City Commission that is oriented and willing to listen to the citizens and involve the citizens in decision-making.”

Improving equity in the city includes listening to citizens, Chestnut said, and this requires making City Hall a welcoming place for citizen engagement. She suggested bringing back

Matt Howland, 35 Monetary Contributions: $32.9k

citizen advisory boards and moving meetings from City Hall to the community.

“I want to be a voice for the citizens,” Chestnut said. “We have a void now. Citizens are not invited to be engaged, and they’re not listened to.”

Protecting neighborhoods, especially Gainesville’s traditional Black neighborhoods, is one main focus on Chestnut’s platform.

She said she wants to fight for neighborhood preservation against gentrification because homes are the largest financial investments people make, leaving a legacy behind for their children.

“Neighborhoods are the backbone of the city,” Chestnut said.

Chestnut’s other concerns include reducing violence, protecting the environment and increasing energy efficiency for low-income citizens. Above all, her goal is to work together with the community for a better Gainesville. @meggmcglone mmcglone@alligator.org

Howland moved to Gainesville with his wife to attend UF, where he earned a history degree in 2009. They stayed in Gainesville for 13 years until moving to Washington, D.C., for work in solar power projects. They moved back to Gainesville last year after their work went remote.

“I love this city,” he said. “I would not have moved back if this was not the community that I wanted to live in.”

During the 13 years he’s lived in Gainesville, he was a public school teacher at Westwood Middle School and coached basketball at several public high schools. He also started Youth Combine, a nonprofit organization in Gainesville focused on childhood sports.

Through the nonprofit, Howland collaborated with Alachua County Public Schools, UF and Gainesville’s Parks and Recreation division.

He said his fresh perspective sets him apart from the other candidates.

“I know the city very well,” he said. “I have not been a political operative in this city for decades; I’ve been a resident and involved in the city. So, I feel like I have a pretty good pulse of what people in this city want.”

Howland said his previous jobs in Gainesville aren’t a far jump from working as a city commissioner: in every instance, he worked to serve people.

Howland’s goal is to get back to the basics of local government — focusing on utility rates, road repair, waste collection, police, fire-

Henry served as a city commissioner in 2006, but ever since, he’s been an active member of the Gainesville community through UF’s City of Gainesville Alliance Committee, the Neighborhood Housing and Development Board of Directors, the Alachua County Library Trustee Board and other boards.

Henry grew up in East Gainesville, so representing Gainesville on the City Commission would help him improve his home. East Gainesville lacks housing, investment for infrastructure and jobs paying a living wage, he said. East Gainesville also has some of the oldest schools in the city, he said.

“I’m a native of Gainesville, and I love my city,” he said. “But I feel that we have not really made our city a city that’s inviting to all.”

To fix these issues, Henry said he wants to increase economic growth by supporting trade-based jobs like plumbing and construction work. Henry suggested adding classes that teach those skills to local schools.

“School, to me, is the first line of defense in preparing future young employees to be marketable once they hit the job market,” Henry said. “Government can’t do everything, but we can partner with different entities to bring about change.”

Henry also aims to tackle equity issues by ensuring the city hires a range of people who look like they make up the city. Gainesville Regional Utilities has done a great job hiring minorities in authority positions, he said, which is something the city could learn from.

remainder of Johnson’s term until 2024.

Early voting for the special election begins Nov. 12 and ends Nov. 14, and registered Gainesville residents can vote at the Alachua Supervisor of Elections Office or the Millhopper Branch Library from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On election day, Nov. 16, registered voters can go to their designated precincts with a piece of identification that includes their signature and picture.

On the ballot, voters will choose among five candidates: Matt Howland, Cynthia Chestnut, Scherwin Henry, Patrick Ingle and Gabe Kaimowitz.

Cynthia Chestnut, 72 Monetary Contributions: $34.3k

fighters and other things that keep the city running.

“I want to play a role in shaping the city that we all know and love,” he said. “But most importantly, I felt like the city was ready for a message like mine.”

Energy production and utility rates are at the top of his focuses, he said. Utility rate increases disproportionately affect low-income and fixed-income residents, he said, and the city needs to get a grip on rates. Additionally, pursuing clean, renewable energy is important so the city can have a role in climate change management, he said.

Howland said he is also focusing on Gainesville’s streets, and he supports slowing traffic for pedestrians and bicycles, which would make Gainesville a safer place for people who choose to walk or bike around town.

In addition to these points, Howland’s platform also consists of expanding Gainesville housing and supporting small businesses.

“We all know that colorful, awesome, artsy Gainesville that we all love,” he said. “So let’s see more of that in our development.”

Stalemates, arguments and individual ideologies are weighing the city down, Howland said. His goal, if elected, is to get work done rather than focus on personal agendas, he said.

The city also needs to increase interactions with minority businesses, he said, because now it’s hard for those businesses to get contracts with the city.

“Because if we’re going to talk about equal opportunity, if we’re going to talk about inclusion, if we’re going to talk about equity, then there has to be that for all and not just a few,” he said.

Henry’s other goals also include lowering GRU rates through looking at the city’s budget and investing in East Gainesville and the downtown area.

He said Commissioner Johnson’s resignation was surprising, but it shows how the current commission is dysfunctional due to low morale among employees and lack of leadership from the Commission.

The city needs to communicate that it appreciates its workers, he said, because having a supportive employer makes productive employees. Henry said he’d be a good match for the commission because he’s a good listener and will have a short learning curve due to past experience.

“I’ve seen Gainesville grow up from the dirt roads to where we are now,” he said. “I don’t think anybody else that is running has that kind of knowledge of our city.” @meggmcglone mmcglone@alligator.org

@meggmcglone mmcglone@alligator.org

Scherwin Henry, 69 Monetary Contributions: $7k

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021 ALLIGATOR 7

CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL ELECTION Ingle feels ready to change the city government.

“What’s the difference with me?” Ingle said. “I’m the newcomer that’s more eager to get things back rolling again.”

As Ingle approaches retirement from a career in software engineering and programming engineering, the Gainesville City Commissioner At-Large Seat B candidate said his experience has wired him to solve problems and find solutions. He has always had an interest in public office and serving the public, he said.

With his past employment, he said he wants to put his skills to the test.

Ingle wants Gainesville residents to know he will bring his forward-thinking and open heart to understand the community’s interests and concerns, according to his candidate statement.

“We don’t need quitters in government,” Ingle said. “It’s a public service, and you have to stick it out.”

Ingle believes the work culture among the city must be changed, and he said with a new candidate like himself, he believes he can bring a sense of well-being. If elected, he said he wants to assure the commission staff and other city employees they will not be micromanaged.

In Ingle’s candidate statement, he discussed bringing accountability and transparency to the position, believes honesty and reliability are essential in getting people to trust their elected officials and pledged to bring this to the position if elected.

Ingle said he would work on planning better for meetings and make operations run more smoothly to ensure the public that they are getting work done. He wants voters to know he will advocate for them during commission meetings and that he supports programs that benefit residents.

For too long, Ingle said he has witnessed a lack of attention to Gainesville’s most vulnerable citizens, which has been a motivating force for him to run.

“If you’ve been following my campaign, I’m very strong on affordable housing,” Ingle said.

On Ingle’s website, you can track his campaign trail progress, see his financial reports, read questions he has answered from voters and view the main issues he would like to focus on, like affordable housing, if he is elected.

Patrick Ingle, 61

@Troy_Myers1 tmyers@alligator.org

Monetary Contributions: $1k

Kaimowitz is a candidate for city commissioner for the third time after running for the at-large seat in previous elections. He plans on running for a fourth time in the next election.

Kaimowitz said his reason for running is to “revive Gainesville as the first butterfly city.”

The candidate described a fascist government that he wishes to stop, which is why he will run again in 2022. He believes the current nature of the city gives no say to UF students and has created a lopsided town, he said.

Despite being the only candidate to run against Johnson in the spring, he doesn’t consider himself a serious candidate this time around. He hasn’t raised any money as of Sunday evening. Instead, Kaimowitz said he supports Scherwin Henry, another candidate in the election and that it’s imperative that an African American person is elected.

“I have no interest in being elected this year,” Kaimowitz said.

Kaimowitz also described his disbarment as “phony” and that he is still in “good standing” and affiliated elsewhere with courts in New York and Washington, D.C. He said he officially retired from the Florida Bar Aug. 15, 2016, but the disbarment occurred Dec. 1, 2017.

The former lawyer, journalist and candidate currently has two lawsuits: one against The Alligator and the other against the city of Gainesville. @Troy_Myers1 tmyers@alligator.org

Gabe Kaimowitz, 86 Monetary Contributions: $0

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021 www.alligator.org/section/the_avenue

MUSIC

Early 2000s dance party at The Wooly pays homage to ‘it’ era

Throwback night in downtown Gainesville had people reliving the 2000s

By Alexis Carson Avenue Staff Writer

Nostalgia surrounded the stage as audience members were dressed in their favorite Y2K fashion.

The Wooly, located at 20 N Main St., held a 2000s-inspired Von Dutch & Velour dance party Friday, where locals danced to their favorite early 21st century icons like Usher, Britney Spears and Kesha.

DJ Drew Love, a 45-year-old local DJ and Gainesville resident, hosted the dance party.

Love found a passion for playing throwback nights when he DJed for acts between a show that LFO, a boy band from the ‘90s, played.

“It was like one of the funnest nights I’d had,” Love said. “So after that, I was like, ‘I really want to do something like this a little more consistently. I’d love to see a monthly party for this.’”

He found himself hosting more throwback nights at The Atlantic in downtown Gainesville. However,

when The Atlantic temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Wooly picked up on hosting these events.

Friday was the second time the Von Dutch & Velour event played at The Wooly, and Love said the pandemic shutdown hit hard.

“A lot of what I do feeds off the crowd,” he said. “And if I can’t see people dancing, I can’t see people enjoying it, I’m not having fun,” Despite the cold, rainy weather Friday night, Love said the turnout was great.

Erica Hetrick, 21-year-old UF digital arts senior , said she had to attend when she heard the event was 2000s themed.

Hetrick dressed up for the event in a schoolgirl outfit, replicating Britney Spears in the “...Baby One More Time” music video.

Hetrick said she is “super ‘free Britney!’,” so it was really important for her to dress up even though she isn’t the biggest fan of 2000s fashion.

“Nothing screams ‘90s and 2000s

more than Britney, and I do think her story needs to be shared,” she said.

One of the memorable traits about the 2000s is, undeniably, the music. Hetrick said the era’s hits are incomparable.

The music played at Von Dutch & Velour included a wide variety of genres and artists. Hip hop artists like Puff Daddy and Nelly, boy bands like the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC, pop icons like Britney Spears and Lady Gaga and pop-punk/rock bands such as The Killers and Fall Out Boy were all on the night’s playlist.

Giovanni Banuchi, a 31-year-old Gainesville resident, said the 2000s was a really iconic time for his generation, so he and his partner thought it would be fun to attend the event.

Banuchi describes the 2000s as “nostalgia down to its core.”

“There are just a lot of good memories from being much younger, so I guess why not try and revisit those for fun with music,” he said.

The atmosphere at the event

embodied people of a likemindedness who wanted to enjoy nostalgia, dance and have a good time, Banuchi said.

The next date for the Von Dutch &

Velour dance party has not yet been announced, but they are expected to occur once a month at The Wooly. @Alexis_Carson99 acarson@alligator.org

Eli Nino // Alligator Staff

Attendees enjoy the Von Dutch & Velour party at The Wooly on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021.

ART

‘Inviting the Gaze’: Figure on Diversity spotlights diverse bodies with outdoor drawing series FIGURE DRAWING IN THE PARKS WILL HOST BI-MONTHLY SESSIONS THROUGH APRIL

By Veronica Nocera Avenue Staff Writer

As a figurative artist pursuing an undergraduate degree at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and Lesley University, Angela DeCarlis was always craving “new problems to solve” and “new bodies to draw.” The latter, however, was more difficult than they expected.

In 2018, while figure modeling in Boston and moderating a Facebook group of local models, DeCarlis was confronted with a jarring realization. The group, both online and in the art studio, was fairly homogenous.

Despite their impression that the art world constantly sought diversity, the figure models rarely reflected this desire. Instead, most models were white, thin, athletic, visibly able-bodied and female.

Faced with this reality, DeCarlis, 28, started Figure on Diversity that same year, a project dedicated to bringing diversity to the field of figure drawing and art education as a whole.

DeCarlis is continuing the program in Gainesville as they complete the third and final year of their MFA program at UF’s College of the Arts. Figure on Diversity held its first Gainesville event, a seven-hour workshop, in June.

This Sunday, Figure on Diversity launched

Figure Drawing in the Parks. The outdoor figure drawing series invites individuals of any artistic experience to come out to a Gainesville park every first and third Sunday of the month through April 17. The series started outside Bo Diddley Plaza at the Downtown Festival & Art Show on Sunday with a two-hour figure drawing session featuring two models.

In order to promote access and inclusion in the arts, each model will belong to one or more marginalized identities, including people of color and individuals who are fat, gender-expansive or visibly disabled. Sessions will last three hours, models will be clothed and drawing tools and paper will be provided at no cost.

All sessions on the first Sunday of the month will take place at Depot Park, located at 874 SE Fourth St. Those on the third Sunday will take place at multiple outdoor locations that have not yet been announced.

By spotlighting diverse models — and doing so in public spaces — DeCarlis, who identifies as queer, nonbinary and invisibly disabled, said the series seeks to bring figure modeling into the community’s sphere of awareness.

“Most of what we do as figurative artists and figure models happens behind closed doors, often in institutions that require quite a lot of privilege to access,” they said. “I’m excited about Figure Drawing in the Parks because the events will be free, open to the public and visible, and I really hope that folks feel welcome when they see us.”

Figure Drawing in the Parks eliminates some

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of the barriers that make it difficult for individuals of visibly marginalized identities to get involved in figure modeling in the first place.

Most figure drawing sessions expect models to pose upon a pedestal, precluding the possibility of models in wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Many institutions also book figure models as either “male” or “female,” making it difficult for nonbinary or transgender models to enter the field.

But while these barriers could essentially be eliminated with small changes, others run deeper.

“What happens when all of your students and all of your faculty are white people?” DeCarlis said. “Do you really expect the only person of color in the room to also be naked? It’s an incredibly socially vulnerable situation, and it’s a risk I don’t think most people want to take.”

Figure modeling is a deeply intimate position but also a very healing one, said Ally Larned, 22, who graduated from UF this year with a studio art degree.

“Every insecurity that you have is out there, and you’re intimately aware of people making eye contact with every inch of your body,” they said. “But it’s also really empowering seeing the way people treat your body like art and something worth being drawn.”

Larned, who identifies as a non-cis-passing nonbinary individual, found Figure on Diversity through DeCarlis, who was both their classmate and teaching assistant while at UF. Larned was slated to be one of two models at the Downtown

Festival & Art Show figure drawing session Saturday afternoon before the first day of the festival was canceled due to rain.

Figure Drawing in the Park, DeCarlis said, represents a post-pandemic shift in the figure modeling world.

Typically, figure artists are instructed to draw only from life, which became difficult amid COVID-19 protocols. Suddenly, figure modeling took to the Internet, and a global community of amateur artists came together via Zoom and other online spaces. Outdoor figure drawing was the natural next step.

DeCarlis said they encourage participants to focus less on the product of their work and more on the process of capturing the model’s image.

Truly seeing someone in this way, they said, is the first step toward understanding each other.

“In the paradigm of figure drawing, there is a model who is inviting the gaze and who is inviting you to pay attention to what they look like and how they are,” DeCarlis said. “Once that body ends up on paper, the artwork carries those benefits.”

Individuals interested in modeling with Figure on Diversity can reach out on Instagram at @figureondiversity or by email at figureondiversity@gmail.com. The rate for Figure Drawing in the Parks is $20 per hour. The next outdoor drawing session will take place at Depot Park on Dec. 5. @vernocera vnocera@alligator.org

A different Lane to success

Florida guard Niels Lane didn’t grow up as a one-sport star, exceeding as a fencer before his heart led him to basketball, pg. 11

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By Daniel Bodily ©2021 Content Agency, LLC By JerryTribune Edelstein ©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021 www.alligator.org/section/sports

FEATURE

Undeniable: Niels Lane’s journey from fencing to basketball LANE WAS A NATIONALLY RANKED FENCER IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

By Brian Olmo Sports Writer

Niels Lane lunges his sword toward his opponent. The sounds of piercing clashes and shuffling feet reverberate around the hall.

A duel of steel, skill and sweat begins.

Parry. Parry. Thrust. Recover. An amalgamation of a slow, methodical chess match and a violent, expressive dance unfolds. The opponents swing and stab.

Lane, a sophomore shooting guard on the Florida men’s basketball team, was a nationally ranked fencer in middle school, but the sport fought with his growing passion for basketball.

Basketball was tied to Lane’s legacy. His parents, Rod and Kim, both played at Armstrong State, a former Division I program in Georgia.

“My parents are the ones that got me into basketball,” he said. “They're both so knowledgeable about the game. Sometimes you find them only talking about basketball.”

Despite basketball being a family affair, Lane gravitated toward the game on his own, the way his parents wished he would.

By age 4, he got his first taste of the hardwood in Freehold, New Jersey, which he now believes made him a better basketball player.

The state is a cultural hub for basketball, with players like Shaquille O’Neal, Dennis Rodman, Kyrie Irving, Karl-Anthony Towns and Bam Adebayo all hailing from the Garden State.

Lane was too young for his township’s basketball program, but a family friend ran a program in a nearby town that accepted younger children.

Before enrolling him, Lane’s parents debated the idea. Rod turned to his wife.

What if he tries basketball and doesn’t like it? Are you OK with that?

They decided they were OK with that. But Lane liked basketball. He became enamored with the sport.

Lane’s ability to muscle his way into the paint and score strengthened as he grew older.

He prided himself on his defense and became

a force on the court.

When Lane was in fourth grade, he played on a fifth-grade team at the national level.

Eight of the 11 on the team now play Division I basketball.

However, Lane faced one of the biggest obstacles of his basketball career in eighth grade.

Despite starting each year, he found himself suddenly cut from his Amateur Athletic Union team.

“It toughened me as a player and toughened my mental, so I feel like it was a challenge but also you learn from challenges,” Lane said.

The unsavory news didn’t deter Lane from athletics. As Lane’s days of dribbling a basketball abruptly ended, he shifted his focus to fencing.

By the beginning of age 13, Lane trained at Freehold Fencing Academy two to three times a week. He battled against top-ranked fencers from across the country at tournaments about every other month.

He was introduced to the sport when he and his father visited the local YMCA to shoot hoops. Half of the gym was blocked off for a fencing tournament.

Nine-year-old Lane’s eyes were glued to the action. The Power Rangers immediately crossed his mind.

“Next day, I went back,” he said. “I tried it out for the first time, and I was just good at it.

I had the right body type for it. Quick feet, long arms, legs. So it kinda came naturally to me.”

In four years, Lane proved how capable he was in the sport, but his fencing career came to an end when he enrolled at Roselle Catholic High School in Roselle, New Jersey.

Lane made his way back to the courts his freshman year at Roselle Catholic. The school has produced high-caliber players, such as NBA legend Rick Barry and his ever-so-glorious underhanded free throw.

By the end of his senior year, Lane helped the team to a 22-7 record and established himself as a career 1,000-point scorer.

Team Final, Lane’s team, trailed Boo Williams at the Peach Jam in 2019, an AAU tournament that features the best high school players across the U.S. and Canada. The crowd’s heads followed the players as they darted across the court. Team Final got possession of

Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff

Florida's Niels Lane goes up for a shot in an exhibition match against EmbryRiddle on Nov. 1. the ball.

After a quick pass to Lane, he sprinted straight to the basket. He lept into the air, towering over a 7-foot-tall center, and his fingers hung off the rim as the ball swished through the net.

The play shifted the team’s momentum and is still one of Lane’s favorite memories from his high school career.

But his flashy plays and strong regular season weren’t enough for Lane if Roselle Catholic didn’t win the state championship.

The Roselle Catholic Lions entered the playoffs starving for prey. They pounced on Morris Catholic in the first round 69-32 and defeated the Marist Royal Knights 57-47.

Lane shined in the state semi-final against Gill St. Bernard, claiming 15 points, four rebounds and five assists. All that stood in the Lions’ way from being crowned kings of the jungle were the Wildwood Catholic Crusaders.

A clash of two beasts — except it never happened.

The state championship game the two

SOCCER

Postseason magic disappears for Florida

Tennessee downs the Gators, 5-2, in the second round of SEC tournament

By Jesse Richardson Sports Writer

Tennessee forward Jaida Thomas chipped a shot in the final minute of the second match in the SEC tournament versus Florida. With a quick shimmy and shake around UF defenders Georgia Eaton-Collins and Cameron Hall, the Volunteer earned her second score and forced a dagger into the backs of Florida.

After cashing in a penalty kick victory against Vanderbilt on Oct. 31, the postseason magic for the Florida Gators washed away, 5-2, by the No. 12 Tennessee Volunteers Tuesday in Orange Beach, Alabama.

The Volunteers ran away with the match in the second half, scoring three late goals to crush Florida’s hopes.

Thomas landed the first strike of the match in the 17th minute of play after she took advantage of a costly

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Florida turnover at the midfield.

Senior defender Abby Burdette tallied a score two minutes later on an open opportunity against UF goalkeeper Alexa Goldberg. The goal gave the Vols enough confidence to coast into the second half.

Eaton-Collins was everywhere on the pitch and punched in the first Gators goal. Florida was already down 2-0, but the defender’s right-foot shot into the net momentarily eased an uphill

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teams fought to reach was canceled due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic. A year and a half later, Lane still believes that if the game wasn’t canceled, the Lions would’ve won the championship.

Now, Lane looks forward to practices with his sights set on a new championship. During practices, when he’s in charge of the aux, he plays an assortment of Drake, Gunna, R&B and jazz music. He enjoys their jam sessions during drills as long as teammate Phlandrous Fleming Jr. isn’t managing the music.

“He plays too much Polo G,” he quipped.

“He likes Polo G a little too much, and I don’t mess with him like that.”

Lane’s connection to fencing may have ended at 13, but it taught him how to persevere.

The sword eventually led Lane back to basketball, a potential state championship, Florida and maybe — someday — his NBA dreams.

climb heading into halftime.

Tennessee kept the scoring parade rolling after the break with a right-foot goal from Taylor Huff in the 58th minute to push her team’s lead to 3-1.

Graduate transfer Julianne Leskauskas celebrated a score of her own after a left-foot strike found its way to the right side of the net. Leskauskas hauled in a pass from midfielder Maddy Rhodes, controlled her feet and found her corner target.

The Vols made their way through the transparent Gators defense to push Goldberg through a proverbial shredder. Tennessee laid down 13 shots on goal and Goldberg came

@BrianOlmo0211 bolmo@alligator.org

away with six saves in an attempt to keep her team close. Goldberg did her part, but the rest of the team failed to cooperate.

Tennessee keeper Lindsey Romig only had to make two saves as the Gators got off only four shots on goal.

Florida’s season has ended and now head coach Tony Amato will have a full spring to recruit and train a fresh set of players. Forwards Kit Loferski, Madison Alexander and Eaton-Collins were all honored at Florida’s senior day earlier this season.

Follow us for updates

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

@JesseRich352 jrichardson@alligator.org

12 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

FOOTBALL

What just happened to the Florida Gators?

FLORIDA’S MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS ON FULL DISPLAY IN EMBARRASSING LOSS TO SOUTH CAROLINA

By Michael Hull Sports Writer

Columbia, S.C. — “Sandstorm” boomed over the speakers as South Carolina Gamecocks fans strolled out of the stadium after Saturday’s game against the Florida Gators. This time, though, the members of ‘Cocks nation left early with smiles on their faces, their team controlling a flailing and disheartened Florida roster.

UF’s defensive performance coupled with questionable decision-making on offense resulted in one of the more embarrassing losses in program history Saturday, as the Gators fell 40-17 to the Gamecocks, falling below .500 on the season.

Florida’s defense entered Saturday off back-to-back games allowing at least 34 points and 190 rushing yards. That trend continued in Columbia, as South Carolina totaled 459 yards against the Gators’ Swiss-cheese defense.

The Gamecocks’ attack hadn’t been elite before it met Florida, either. Before Saturday, USC sat dead last in the SEC in total yards (2,625) and second-to-last in

yards per game (328.13).

UF’s rush defense has been the focal point of many Florida fan message boards this season after its debauchery in Death Valley and a poor showing against Georgia.

Florida came into Columbia trending in the wrong direction, allowing 321 and 193 against LSU and Georgia, respectively, after holding opponents under 100 in four of the first six games.

South Carolina took advantage, romping its way to 284 yards — its highest mark of the season.

For comparison, Vanderbilt allowed just 112 rushing yards to the Gamecocks.

Multiple USC backs got involved in the parade. Redshirt senior ZaQuandre White entered the day as South Carolina’s leading rusher, and averaged 6.9 yards per carry. He finished with 13 carries for 111 yards.

Junior Kevin Harris, meanwhile, averaged just 3.5 yards per pop before the game, but he wrapped up Saturday with 128 yards on 16 attempts.

Things didn’t get much better for Florida’s aerial defense, either. South Carolina started third-string quarterback Jason Brown — an FCS transfer from St. Francis — against the Gators.

Instead of revealing his Division I inexperience, however, the Florida defense made Brown

look like prime Connor Shaw: He completed an efficient 14 of 24 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns.

USC’s average defense showed clear weakness entering the game: Its run defense sat 11th in the conference in yards allowed, giving up nearly 170 rushing yards per game. Florida fans assumed Mullen would use Florida’s uber-effective ground game to expose this matchup.

After all, UF ranked sixth in the country with 242.8 rushing yards per game and averaged over six yards a pop.

Makes sense, right? Not so fast, my friend.

The Gators threw the ball 10 straight times to open the game.

They finished the first quarter with 11 passes to just three runs.

Quarterback Emory Jones did accumulate eight completions for 163 yards and a score in the opening frame, but 113 of those yards occured on two throws.

Florida put up seven points and trailed by three entering the second quarter.

The pass-happy attack appeared to work, but instead of sticking with it, Mullen shifted Florida to a more neutral offensive attack once behind: The Gators ran seven rushing and passing plays apiece in the second quarter. Florida gained

Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff

Florida football head coach Dan Mullen pictured on the field at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville on Oct. 30 before Florida played Georgia. just 19 yards of offense in the second, seven on the ground and 12 through the air.

Florida emerged out of the locker room with a 20-point mountain to climb. In a clear negative game script, coaches and analytics alike suggest offenses go more pass-heavy, to try to create bigger plays faster to get back into the game. Florida zigged when others zagged and ran the ball nine times in the third quarter against four passes. The Gators put up a goose egg on the scoreboard.

Even in the garbage time of

the fourth quarter, the Gators maintained an even game script — eight passes to seven runs. The total splits for the night: 30 passes to 26 runs.

The game perfectly encapsulated the 2021 campaign for the Florida Gators.

Questionable decisions, poor defensive play and a jarring nonchalance from top to bottom leave Mullen, his team and the future of the program with many more questions than answers. @Michael_Hull33 mhull@alligator.org