Monday, Dec. 5, 2021

Manna Robertson // Alligator Staff

2 ALLIGATOR  MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021

Former employee embarks on legal journey against abusive work culture at Collier Companies ANTHONÉ GENERIS RECOUNTS COVER-UPS, SETTLEMENTS, NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS, RETALIATION, HARASSMENT AND UNWANTED SEXUAL TOUCHING

By Troy Myers Alligator Staff Writer

The Collier Companies is one of the largest student housing companies and employers in Gainesville, responsible for providing thousands of UF students with a safe home and hundreds more with a stable job.

Yet, residents and employees alike feel they’ve been let down, ignored, used and betrayed. During the Summer and Fall semesters, residents of Collier apartments have brought safety concerns to front offices, witnessed serial problems with no tangible solutions, dealt with rising rent prices and protested the company’s decision to evict tenants receiving supplemental income. Specifically, Collier-owned Gainesville Place Apartments, located at 2800 SW 35th Place, was the location of more than 250 calls to Gainesville Police Department within a nine month span in 2021. Instances included rape

Carolina Ilvento // Alligator Staff

and kidnapping, attempted break-ins, burglary and exposure to public masturbation. But the complex’s administration took no actions to improve security. Collier residents have been witnesses, victims and survivors of crimes. Former employees have been, too. Anthoné Gerenis was a young, homeless and hopeful Black man in Miami. Today, he’s a survivor seeking justice through a legal battle. Gerenis was not yet 18 when he decided to move to Gainesville to attend UF. He became a tenant of a Collier apartment and was soon hired for a minimum wage job. Over the summer of 2009, he embarked on his professional career with The Collier Companies. Along with the job came what he calls a nightmarish work culture — full of coverups, settlements, non-disclosure agreements, intimidation, retaliation, sexual harassment and sexual assault that he experienced firsthand in the years that followed. Gerenis remembers being told this company is a family. In a way, they did become like a family for him — until he became a witness to their true colors. With 26 communities in Gainesville alone, Collier claims to be the largest provider in the nation of student housing owned by a private individual. The company aims to double its number of apartment homes across the nation over the next decade. It boasts having more than 12,000 conventional and student apartment homes. Collier has focused on providing housing in the southeastern United States, but it reaches as far as Georgia and Oklahoma. The company provides housing in some of the biggest college towns in Florida, namely Gainesville and Tallahassee. Gerenis said everything that happens at Collier runs through one man: Nathan Collier. Since Gerenis’ first day on the job and over

the next few years, he said there were constant reminders that Nathan Collier was in full control of Gainesville and his employees. Gerenis believes leadership starts at the very top of the company, and the habits and reputations of leadership trickle down to every facet of the company. Early in Gerenis’ career, he wasn’t aware of compromising situations involving highranking employees. Within two years of being hired, Gerenis was promoted. He was given an increase in pay and bonuses, the 2010 Office Team Member of the Year title, and he earned bachelor’s degree in telecommunications at UF in 2011. Then, he worked as a full-time employee as assistant manager at Gainesville Place Apartments. There, he had direct interactions with students who made up the majority of Collier’s workforce. He heard instances of these young workers experiencing issues with direct management, such as community and property managers, as well as senior management from the headquarters office — something Gerenis would soon experience himself. In December 2011, Gerenis was promoted to the headquarters office in Downtown Gainesville, located at 220 N Main St., and given the responsibilities of traveling to all properties the company owned in Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma. In the following months, Gerenis became more familiar than he wished with Michael Still, who managed the most extensive portfolio of properties and employees in the company at the time. “Within six months of my promotion into headquarters, I became intimately aware of the culture of harassment and assault involving employees and student employees,” Gerenis said. During Gerenis’ travels to different prop-

SEE COLLIER, PAGE 15

Survivors share their stories, encourage others to speak up

More than 30% of UF undergraduate women experience nonconsensual sexual contact By Melanie Pena Alligator Staff Writer

Julia Mitchem weaved her way through the Gainesville Place parking lot as the lamp post light flickered. As she headed toward her apartment, the light trailed her steps. A man sat at a bench. He stared at Mitchem. As the 21-year-old UF journalism senior approached the picnic table, the man became more visible. He was masturbating. “I just felt panic,” Mitchem said. “I called my boyfriend at the time and just started running and got away from there.” More than 30% of UF undergraduate women experienced nonconsensual sexual contact by force or inability to consent since entering UF, according to a 2019 sexual assault and misconduct survey. This was an increase of almost 10% from the 2015 survey. UF also reported 78 cases of Violence Against Women Act crimes in 2019, including domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, according to a 2020 annual security report. Only 38 cases were reported the

previous year. These numbers are not invisible to female UF students. Like Mitchem, many have experienced a sex crime themselves, or know a survivor. The numbers become most apparent in the messages many student-run social media accounts receive. UF Girlboss is one of these accounts. The Instagram account was created by 20-year-old UF music composition sophomore Meagan Valliere and her roommate. “It initially started completely as a joke,” Valliere said. “I don’t think we posted a single serious thing. Being a victim of harassment and assault, I thought that it would be important to use my platform to eventually start doing serious posts.” Valliere remembers when she first experienced sexual harassment at the age of 12 when a drunk man chased her down the street. Since then, men have followed her, stalked her and made inappropriate comments. The pattern of male harassmen molded into coercion and other gray areas of sexual assault as she reached adulthood.

“I’ve been basically assaulted by people I’ve been in relationships with,” she said. “Then that’s really hard to report too, because where is the line drawn? You consented to this act, but you didn’t consent to that act.” Account followers messaged Valliere about their struggles with assaults in this gray area. Many feel guilty and confused. They weren’t attacked or forcefully penetrated, but they were taken advantage of and coerced into actions they didn’t want to do. “They were in a relationship, and they were in love with these people and they took advantage of them and violated their consent and often didn’t even ask and just went for things,” she said. “Even if they would speak up, it would be like [their boyfriend] pressed and pried and tried to coerce their partner into doing things that they wouldn’t have otherwise.” And with more messages flooding their inbox, the account shifted its focus to sexuality, consent and survivor validity beyond its meme-like posts. The page shared the stories

of two women who said a UF student drugged them at Grog House Grill. The women reported the crime to police, but the Grog camera footage was faulty and no arrests were made. However, most of the stories of assault and harassment sent to the account were never reported to police. “Feeling like there’s an incompetent police force will deter people from even wanting to go in and gut-wrenchingly have to explain to people what has happened to them,” Valliere said. “People are not going to want to take that risk involved in going after the person that hurt them if it’s going to be fruitless.” After Mitchem’s experience, she called the police. Management at Gainesville Place told her it couldn’t do anything about what had happened. An officer explained to Mitchem that perpetrators will often start with public masturbation to test the boundary before working their way up to worse crimes. “Then when it started happening more, that’s when the panic started setting in,” Mitchem said.

Mitchem’s roommate, 22-year-old UF accounting senior Teagan Levee, found herself in the same situation about two weeks after Mitchem filed her report. Levee and her girlfriend were walking home. When they passed the picnic table, a man sat there, masturbating. She immediately called the police. The officer asked if the man had touched them. When she explained he hadn’t, she said the officer lost interest. After the incidents, Levee and Mitchem began to post about what they witnessed. Friends reached out and shared their stories. One friend told them she was swimming in the Gainesville Place pool when she noticed a man in the corner masturbating. “It was scary because he walked in there,” Levee said. “It was getting scary to us because he’s escalating. Before, he would just be there and watch people, but this time, he made his presence known to them.” Levee, Mitchem and even Mitchem’s mother called the Gainesville Place office for

SEE SEXUAL ASSAULT, PAGE 15

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We Inform. You Decide.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 16

Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

Not officially associated with the University of Florida

UF Board of Trustees takes aim at faculty, unions over academic freedom THE BOARD SAID OUTSPOKEN FACULTY EQUATE TO LOUD MINORITY

By Alexander Lugo Alligator Staff Writer

Xinyue Li // Alligator Staff

UF President Kent Fuchs and Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini are seen during the meeting at Emerson Alumni Hall on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021.

FOOTBALL

Who is Billy Napier? A dive into his Louisiana tenure Statistics reveal a diverse, run-heavy attack in Louisiana By Ryan Haley Sports Writer

When Florida’s jet touched asphalt a little before noon on Dec. 5, the ramp lowered and out walked a tall, suited man with a buzz cut and a Gators pin on his lapel, surveying his new slice of the southern football kingdom. Florida officially welcomed its new head football coach Billy Napier Dec. 5 as he held his introductory press conference. But with a 7-year contract worth north of $50 million on the table, what kind of coach did UF get? The numbers from Napier’s four years with the University

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT When team becomes family Story finish with comma, Floridadescription walk-on Caroline Pagac found pg# she’s always loved and wanted what with Gators diving: a team. Read more on pg. 13

of Louisiana tell a pretty simple story: Napier likes to run the ball. A lot. Louisiana ranks as the 43rdbest rushing offense in the country this season, averaging about 190 yards per game on the ground, but Napier’s commitment to the rushing game extends beyond this season. UL ran the ball at least 119 more times than it threw in each of Napier’s seasons. His system worked, as Louisiana averaged at least 30 points per game all four seasons. The Cajuns needed a strong offensive line for that success, a priority Napier said will carry over to the Gators. Florida will employ

two offensive line coaches under his tenure. “To be a national championship contender, you’ve got to be really strong on the line of scrimmage,” Napier said. “So there’s no question that will be a part of our identity.” The newest head coach to sport orange and blue also offered a clear picture of that identity as a whole. “Our trademark will be our physicality,” Napier said. “We’ll be in great condition. We’ll be known for how hard we play. We’ll be disciplined. And we will

SEE NAPIER, PAGE 14

Following a monthlong scandal accusing UF’s Board of Trustees and other administrators of appeasing Gov. Ron DeSantis, board members defended themselves at a Board of Trustees meeting Dec. 3. The board’s chairman Morteza “Mori” Hosseini defended himself and other administrators by blaming faculty for the policy that led to the barring of professor testimonies that started the scandal, expressing disappointment in faculty union leadership and calling media reports incomplete. Hosseini denied that he or other board members influenced the school’s decision to bar the professors from serving as expert witnesses in cases against laws DeSantis champions. He was accused of interfering after reports showed he and other members have direct political ties with DeSantis. In addition to his construction company donating $112,000 to DeSantis’ campaign, the governor’s wife also used Hosseini’s private jet to fly to a fundraiser in 2019. “My conversations with the governor have been about one thing and one thing only – asking him to help UF to become one of the leading universities in the country,” Hosseini said. “The governor has done exactly that in response.” A report from the Tallahassee Democrat also showed Hosseini emailed Dr. Joseph Ladapo’s

Dr. Joseph Ladapo

Controversy surrounds Florida’s surgeon general, pg. 6

Critical race theory

Academic freedom coalition works to combat UF, pg. 5

resume directly to UF Health’s president shortly before Ladapo was offered professorship at UF’s College of Medicine. The same week as his appointment to UF faculty, Ladapo was appointed as Florida’s next surgeon general and secretary of the Department of Health by DeSantis. Ladapo has faced criticism for questioning the safety of vaccines as well as disapproving of mask mandates and lockdowns, a view that mirrors DeSantis’ stances. Notably, UF’s social distancing and masking policies have also echoed the governor’s. The university went against Alachua County’s policies and didn’t enforce a mask mandate despite pressure from the city government. In addition to Hosseini’s ties to DeSantis, one of the deans who rejected a professor from testifying against the state said senior UF administration officials directed him to do so. Other board members also contributed to DeSantis’ campaign: Jim Heavener donated $250,000 while Rahul Patel gave $175,000 and Anita Zucker $100,000, according to a Herald/ Times Tallahassee Bureau report. In the Dec. 3 meeting, Zucker pointed to president Kent Fuchs’ decision to allow white supremacist Richard Spencer to speak on campus in 2017 as an example of UF supporting freedom of speech. Meanwhile, Patel dismissed faculty who vocally oppose the administration as a loud minority of total faculty. However, UF’s faculty senate voted 70 to 31 to rebuke the administration’s COVID-19

SEE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PAGE 6

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4 ALLIGATOR  MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021

Alachua County resources help sexual Today’s Weather assault survivors cope with trauma ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH AND LEGAL SERVICES

By Meghan McGlone Alligator Staff Writer

Organizations in Alachua County are standing by at all hours of the day to offer trauma support for sexual assault victims. A few include Three Rivers Legal Services, Peaceful Paths and the Alachua County Victim Services & Rape Crisis Center — each offering a variety of services to victims of sexual assault. Three Rivers Legal Services

Three Rivers Legal Services provides help with restraining orders, also known as injunctions, for victims. The nonprofit works with victims on restraining orders for domestic violence, sexual violence, dating violence and other situations, Staff Attorney Lauren Sleasman said. There are no income limitations for services that have to do with sexual assault or domestic violence, Sleasman said. Anyone living in Alachua County can seek help through them. Working on injunctions gives Sleasman a sense of justice because she gets to advocate for victims, she said. The process can be emotional for involved victims, she said. Additionally, working on certain cases can be emotionally tough for herself, especially when she needs to stay level-headed for victims. “Some cases were horrible enough that they linger,” Sleasman said. “I can clock out at 5 or 5:30, but those facts don’t go away.” Sleasman believes stress relief can be found through therapy groups and private sessions. She also encourages people to seek help even if they haven’t reported sexual or domestic violence to the police or aren’t sure if what

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 16

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they’ve experienced counts as violence. “As attorneys, we keep it in confidentiality,” she said. “It’s still an element of the case, even if they haven’t reported it to the police, even if they don’t want to, and it can still help them get an injunction if the issue is ongoing.”

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tim Services & Rape Crisis Center, where Cassandra Moore works as a project coordinator. The center has a 24-hour, seven-days-aweek helpline — a place for victims to anonymously report rapes and access other services. Their gender-neutral services are available to anyone who identifies as a victim, Moore said, whether the situation involves roommates, coworkers, friends, partners, family members or anyone else. When people call the helpline, Moore said workers will discuss victims’ physical health, whether they want to report the incident to law enforcement and if they are looking for shelter or other areas of support. “We definitely just want to make sure we have a space that we can present them as many options as possible,” Moore said. Psychologically, victims can face issues, such as hardships with relationships, sleeping and eating, Moore said. Everyone heals from trauma differently, Moore said, and everyone’s different feelings of depression, anger, guilt or other emotions are normal and valid. “It doesn’t matter what was happening, the assault falls on the person who did that crime without consent,” she said. Faith Buckley contributed to this report.

Alachua County Victim Services & Rape Crisis Center

@meggmcglone mmcglone@alligator.org

Victims can also seek help through the Alacha County Vic-

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Peaceful Paths

Other organizations, such as Peaceful Paths, provide free and confidential services to adults and children who’ve faced any kind of domestic violence, including sexual assault. The institution’s resources include emergency shelter, legal assistance for restraining orders, counseling services and other resources, Executive Director Theresa Beachy said. All of Peaceful Paths’ services are free, Beachy said. They are available to anyone in Alachua, Bradford and Union Counties. In her 21 years as executive director for the nonprofit organization, Beachy said it’s powerful to be part of the work that exists to save lives and create change. “We know that the single most important thing that we as a community can do for survivors is to connect them with center services and to get that intervention in their life,” Beachy said. It’s important to hold abusers accountable and create consequences for them, Beachy said, which is why Peaceful Paths’ protection of women and children is so important. “We continue as a society to undervalue women and children and tolerate abuse for women and children,” she said. “We allow it because society has not created a good accountability system or a good punitive system.”

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021 ALLIGATOR 5

Gainesville City Commissioner launches campaign for mayor IF ELECTED, DAVID ARREOLA WOULD BE THE FIRST MEXICAN-AMERICAN GAINESVILLE MAYOR

By Meghan McGlone Alligator Staff Writer

City Commissioner David Arreola, 30, announced his candidacy for Gainesville mayor Dec. 1. Gainesville is holding its City Commission election for the mayor at-large seat and districts two, three and four Aug. 23, 2022. The current mayor, Lauren Poe, has served the city in the position since 2016, so he can’t run for re-election due to Gainesville’s two-consecutive-term limit. Although the election is more than eight months away, Arreola said he wanted to get

his message out early so voters have time to evaluate candidates. His decision to run for mayor stems from his previous experience as commissioner. He wants to continue the work Gainesville is doing now, such as focusing on public transportation and racial equity. “Gainesville is going to need new leadership,” Arreola said. “With my experience on the Commision, I believe that I would be one of the most qualified candidates to run.” After two terms on the City Commission, Arreola said he would bring a fresh perspective as a son of immigrants. As a millenial himself, he said he’s working to ensure his campaign staff includes young people and students. Arreola said his campaign will be community-driven with a focus on issues affecting all Gainesville residents.

One top priority is to create stronger neighborhoods through zoning changes with a racial equity lens, he said, which would divide city land along certain regulations. He also wants to focus on affordable housing, land conservation, investments in local parks and local governments’ rights. “Gainesville has really been at the forefront of a lot of these challenges,” Arreola said. “I just want to make sure that leadership continues here in Gainesville.” Although he can’t run again this term, Poe said he hopes whoever takes over his job in the 2022 election continues the work the city’s doing now — focusing on issues like affordable housing, traffic on University Avenue and 13th Street and land conservation. He said the future mayor should also prioritize increasing equity and continuing the city’s partnerships with organizations like

UF. “I really hope that the next group continues to take all of those things seriously … when they take their oath of office,” he said. Poe said he likely won’t endorse anyone in the election, and he hopes for a competitive race where candidates can share their ideas and visions for Gainesville. Because the 2022 election is in August, Poe also said he looks forward to seeing higher turnout from people who historically haven’t voted in previous city elections because of the timing. “More participation and a more diverse set of voters will lead to a really strong showing for our city commissioners,” he said. @meggmcglone mmcglone@alligator.org

Academic freedom coalition steps forward as UF denies critical race theory concentration UF SAID THE TITLE WOULD OFFEND STATE LEGISLATORS

By Elena Barrera Alligator Staff Writer

The fight for academic freedom at UF took a new turn as a professor filed a grievance with the university after it prohibited a degree concentration on campus because it contained the words “critical” and “race” in its title. The Coalition of Faculty for Academic Freedom is leading another effort to fight against faculty infringements after Chris Busey, a UF College of Education professor, filed a grievance about the fresh breach of academic integrity at UF. The coalition is made up of faculty members wanting change in response to the academic freedom scandal where professors allege First Amendment rights were violated by the university. It issued a statement and distrib-

uted a petition separate from the United Faculty of Florida’s petition Dec. 1 to stand in solidarity with Busey, UFF and all other affected faculty. The petition garnered almost 300 signatures from faculty in various departments before ever reaching the public. “We were surprised at how many signatures started coming in and how fast,” said Michelle Jacobs, a UF Levin College of Law professor. “I think that’s an indication of how important the issue is.” The coalition started forming after the news first broke about the three political science professors who were denied by UF the ability to provide expert testimony, Jacobs said. “What was done to them was just the tip of the iceberg,” she said. In Busey’s case, professors in the College of Education aimed to approve a concentration titled “Critical Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Culture in Education.” UF’s administration

denied the proposal and told the faculty the title had to be changed to something less offensive to the Florida legislature, according to the filed grievance. The words “critical” and “race” used together would not be approved, it read. “Our collective efforts and freedom of speech should never be censored, but instead cherished as a key principle of this university which should act as a beacon for the state of Florida and the nation,” Busey wrote in a statement. The political science professors were prohibited from external activities, which caused widespread alarm across not only Florida but the country. However, Busey’s story involves internal affairs, said Clarence Gravlee, a UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences professor. “If we were alarmed a month ago … we should be even more alarmed about evidence of the administration meddling in the core mission of

the university around teaching and scholarship,” he said. The purpose of the coalition, Gravlee said, is to draw attention to the broad actions of the university that threaten academic freedom, not just the actions prohibiting expert testimony. The problem is that the university’s response is narrowly framed around the three professors when it should be recognizing the pattern of actions occurring beyond this scope, he said. “There’s a deep and wide issue that requires a deep and wide response,” UF Levin College of Law professor Nancy Dowd said. While it stands behind the demands made in UFF’s petition, the coalition feels it is also narrowly focused, which is why they issued a secondary petition. It is important the petition covers beyond just issues pertaining to the service duties of professors and needs to include how the core research and teaching

function is at risk too, Dowd said. The hope is the university will take a deep look at the issues brewing within the institution and the circumstances that Busey is facing will be swiftly examined and reversed, Dowd said. The coalition, however, believes an independent entity will ultimately have to do the investigation because the university has demonstrated they are not trustworthy to do it properly themselves, Jacobs said. UF President Kent Fuchs appointed a task force to investigate the school’s conflict of interest policy. But the coalition and many other faculty members have expressed their concerns about some members in the task force who administered the policies in question. Read the rest online at alligator.org @elenabarreraaa ebarrera@alligator.org

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6 ALLIGATOR  MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021

UF faces criticism after hiring Florida surgeon general critical of COVID-19 measures Dr. Joseph Ladapo’s resume was expedited to UF Health from UF’s board chair By J.P. Oprison Alligator Staff Writer

The speed of Dr. Joseph Ladapo’s tenure approval, along with his controversial views on COVID-19 measures, have some questioning his meteoric rise. The same week Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Ladapo as Florida’s next surgeon general and secretary of the Department of Health, Ladapo received professorship at UF with tenure. Controversy clouded his role at UF after reports showed Board of Trustees Chair Morteza “Mori” Hosseini, who has ties to DeSantis, personally expedited Ladapo’s resume to UF Health despite his controversial views on COVID-19 measures. Ladapo’s hiring brought into question the school’s tenure process, which typically takes about a year and a half. Ladapo is a health policy researcher and an expert in cardiovascular health and preventive medicine from UCLA. In the past, he has criticized COVID-19 lockdowns, mask mandates and the safety of vaccines. The vaccines were developed using science that has been around for decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They are safe and effective at preventing severe illness from COVID-19 and limiting the virus’s spread. Requests for comments on Ladapo’s views were redirected to the Florida Department of Health, which did not respond to several requests. The governor’s office told UF that Ladapo was being considered for state surgeon general, UF Health spokesperson Ken Garcia said. Ladapo separately and independently contacted UF about a potential opportunity to fill a vacant position in the College of

Medicine, he said. Faculty provided favorable comments about Ladapo’s appointment, Garcia wrote, according to a Gainesville Sun article. However, Garcia did not provide positive commentary from anyone other than himself after several requests. The only faculty willing to speak on the record mainly expressed concern. Bob Harmon, a former UF internal medicine faculty member, said he was surprised how quickly UF gave Ladapo a professorship in a politicized process. He was also concerned when he discovered Ladapo’s statements on the pandemic, which starkly contrast with CDC guidelines. “[It] certainly raises questions as [to his] fitness to serve,” Harmon said. Such controversial positions led more than 300 Florida medical professionals, including Harmon, to sign a letter to the state senate. The letter urged senators to fully vet Ladapo on his COVID-19 response during the confirmation process before deciding whether to confirm him as surgeon general. “Through the confirmation process, you can help clarify Dr. Ladapo’s — and by extension, our state government’s — commitment to science- and evidence-based safety measures so we can better protect the health and safety of all Floridians during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the letter read. When his appointment to surgeon general was announced Sept. 21, Ladapo vowed to base his decisions on science. But critics say Ladapo has spread misinformation contributing to vaccine hesitancy. Faculty members have academic freedom and are able to speak their mind, Harmon said. But Harmon believes it’s unusual for a public health leader

to hold positions counter to science. “That’s not a good example for college students,” Harmon said. Ladapo’s positions also don’t fulfill the role of what an epidemiologist should be, Linda Cottler, associate dean for research in UF’s College of Public Health and Health Professions, wrote in an email. “An epidemiologist’s goal is to follow best scientific practices and work with and for the community to be trustworthy,” Cottler wrote. Ladapo’s position will come with tenure, which involves giving someone a permanent post, subject to approval by the UF

Dr. Joseph Ladapo is seen on Oct. 14, 2021.

Blaming the professors BOARD OF TRUSTEES, from pg. 3 policies through a vote of ‘no-confidence’ exactly two weeks before the meeting. The vote remained unmentioned even after board member and senate faculty chair David Bloom defended his role in both bodies as being appropriate following Patel’s comments. The board did mention a faculty union vote to review UF’s conflicts-of-interest and outside activities policies. But Hosseini blamed the initial barring of the professors on the review, which was prompted by some professors focusing too much of their time on outside work. He said a 2019 letter from the National Institute of Health to UF prompted an

Board of Trustees. The first step in the process was a faculty vote completed in mid-September, but the results are confidential, Garcia wrote in an email. Tenure is essential for a democratic society, said Robert Hatch, a physician and UF professor of community health and family medicine. It assures there’s a group of people who can develop expertise and express information and opinions without fear of losing their job. While Hatch values diverse views and free expression, he said Ladapo can expect to have his views vigorously challenged if he brings them up in the classroom.

investigation that found a number of professors were neglecting their work at UF for outside paid work. They also kept their outside work a secret from UF, Hosseini said. That revelation led the school to revise its outside activities policies in 2020. The revisions were voted on by the faculty senate in July, he said. Hosseini went on to condemn faculty who take on second jobs at the university’s expense, faculty who improperly advocate personal political views at the expense of other political views and a specific professor who tried to find a way for his faculty to avoid coming into the classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic. “This behavior is unacceptable. It is disrespectful not only to the taxpayers of

Florida, whose hard-earned dollars pay faculty salaries, but it is also disrespectful to these faculty members’ hard-working colleagues,” he said. “It is disrespectful to the students who depend on their professors’ full attention and commitment. This will not stand. It must stop, and it will stop.” Hosseini also expressed disappointment in union leadership at UF for encouraging donors to stop contributing to UF as a form of protest. United Faculty of Florida president Paul Ortiz said it was UF alumni who initiated the boycott — his organization just added its voice to the movement. Ortiz also said he disagrees with any implication that faculty who are outspoken against UF’s policies are a minority opinion among faculty. “If it was just faculty who’s upset about this, it would be one thing,” he said.

He has heard Ladapo’s resume and track record are impressive, and he suspects if Ladapo had gone through the typical process, he would’ve been awarded tenure. But he still questions how fast Ladapo received his tenure. Hatch said UF faculty should be left with decisions on tenure, not an outside body. “I always thought that our tenure process followed some guidelines, and for all I know, they were followed in this case,” Hatch said. “But if we don’t have well specified criteria and process, then we need that clarified and specified.” @joprison joprison@alligator.org

Courtesy to The Alligator

“But in reality, it’s the whole community that’s appalled. It’s colleagues all across the country. If it was just a minority of faculty, it wouldn’t have received the kind of sustained attention that it is receiving.” Ortiz said UFF is encouraging another external investigation into the scandal. That would add to three other investigations: One proposed by the senate faculty, a U.S. congressional subcommittee investigation and an investigation by UF’s accreditor. None of the investigations were mentioned in the meeting. The university is also facing a lawsuit from a group of professors who were barred from testifying. Those same professors filed a court motion to end the university’s conflicts-of-interest policy the same day of the meeting. @AlexLugo67 alugo@alligator.org

MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021 ALLIGATOR 7

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Gainesville Jewish community celebrates post-quarantine Hanukkah festivities Throughout the week, at least 10 Hanukkah festivities were held in Gainesville By Faith Buckley and Omar Ateyah Alligator Staff Writers

Although the COVID-19 pandemic upended the communal aspects of Jewish life, Gainesville’s Jewish community was still able to celebrate the Festival of Lights in each other’s company throughout the week beginning with Nov. 28. Hanukkah, which is observed over an eight-day period, is a celebration of the triumph of the Jewish Maccabees against the ruler Antiochus. The victory allowed them to rededicate their Temple in Jerusalem and discover that a small amount of oil was left to burn for a period of eight days. The holiday usually falls in mid to late December, which can mean students aren’t on campus because of winter break. This year, however, it fell near finals week. Alexandra Morse, a 19-year-old UF marketing sophomore, celebrated her first Hanukkah in Gainesville this year after spending it at home with her parents last

year. Morse went to a candlelight event Dec. 1 with UF Hillel, the largest Jewish campus organization in the world whose Gainesville chapter hosts a wide array of festivities across the city. This year’s celebration runs laps around last year’s for Morse, she said. Though Hanukkah wasn’t necessarily a let down for her in 2020, it didn’t meet her normal expectations. Morse, who usually has a large gathering of 10 to 20 people for the holidays, had a three-person Thanksgiving last year. “We didn’t get to do our Hanukkah party or having buddies over, so it was literally my parents and I every night, lighting in the kitchen by ourselves,” she said. “Kind of depressing to be honest.” Bailee Rousso, a 22-year-old UF family, youth and community sciences senior, noticed a change in this year’s Hanukkah celebration. In 2020, most of the Hillel Hanukkah festivities took place outside due to safety

Liana Barros // Alligator Staff

Alex Nelson, UF freshman, lights a menorah for the sixth night of Hanukkah at the UF Hillel’s pajama-themed Shabbat dinner on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021.

concerns, she said. Rousso said she’s glad this year is moving back to a conventional celebration. She said she grew up believing in Judaism, attending a Jewish day school from preschool through high school. When at home in Weston, Florida, Rousso makes latkes, lights a real menorah and turns on an electric one that sits on a windowsill at the front of her house. Rousso always made candles with her family for Hanukkah and wanted the tradition to continue when she came to college. She said she now makes them in her apartment with her roommates or in the UF Hillel building. “I think it’s nice to be able to be around other people again and celebrate together,” Rousso said. Alex Nelson, an 18-year-old UF wildlife ecology and conservation freshman, spent the third night of Hanukkah Nov. 30 with UF Hillel. She said being there was important to her because it allowed her to remain connected to her Jewish faith and be around members of her religious community. She said COVID-19 altered the experience of Hanukkah celebrations because of the isolation associated with the pandemic. “Throughout the week, during quarantine, we’d light the menorah, and I’d be able to spend the time with my family,” she said. “However, we didn’t have the opportunity to observe it and celebrate it with our community as much as we usually would.” Nelson said Hanukkah is meaningful to her because it gives her the opportunity to reflect on the history of the Jewish community. “We have many holidays in Judaism, and I feel like Hanukkah is one that focuses on the good and one of the positive experiences that we’ve had in our history,” she said. As the pandemic continues, the Gainesville Jewish community is determined to bring the Hanukkah celebration to everyone. Rabbi Berl Goldman is a religious leader at Chabad UF. He said he resonates with Hanukkah because of his devotion to his

faith. “The story of Hanukkah is not only historic in nature, but every single message of the menorah, good over evil, light over darkness, few over many, is such a relevant message to young and old today,” Goldman said. Goldman said the center has been getting creative to include Gainesville residents who may not be ready to gather in a group setting. Volunteers donated more than 110 Hanukkah care bags, made up of matzah ball soup, bagels, homemade brownies and Israeli croutons, to homebound Gainesville residents Wednesday, Goldman said. “So there’s a way to bring the joy of the celebrations and the joy of the holiday to them — those that cannot meet in person because of immune compromised or other concerns,” Goldman said. “Every holiday, especially Hanukkah, is in the center of our hearts.” Michael Joseph, the 63-year-old rabbi of Temple Shir Shalom, said he appreciates U.S. Jews’ ability to observe the holiday without reservation — a privilege the community has not always had. “In the United States, particularly, it’s a festival of religious freedom,” he said. “In the course of Jewish history, it’s really almost a unique phenomenon that we’re able to have our celebration freely.” Joseph said the holiday can be a beacon of hope during trying times. This message of Hanukkah is particularly relevant with challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, he said. “The nature of light at a dark time of year is very, very powerful,” he said. “Last year, in December, we were waiting any day until the vaccine would be released, and it was that kind of light.” He said that as the pandemic continues and a new variant emerges, the community will continue to provide the glow of hope. “At least the light that we can make, we’re determined to make and make it as bright as we possibly can,” he said. @_faithbuckley fbuckley@alligator.org @OAteyah oateyah@alligator.org

Internal investigation reveals no policy misconduct in death of former inmate’s baby A DREAM DEFENDERS PRESS CONFERENCE IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY TO UNVEIL DEMANDS

By Isabella Douglas Alligator Staff Writer

A four-monthlong internal Alachua County Sheriff’s Office investigation into the birth of a newborn behind bars and her eventual death, revealed Nov. 30 that no misconduct took place inside the jail. However, the mother’s supporters disagree. Erica Thompson, 25, gave birth in an Alachua County Jail cell Aug. 9 after being in labor for hours. In a Facebook post, she wrote her screams for help went unanswered, and she later lost her baby, Ava, at UF Health Shands Hospital. She had been arrested the same day for vio-

lating her probation and failing to appear in court on a traffic charge. “my daughter died in my arms at the hospital and I say all this to say ALACHUA COUNTY JAIL is responsible for all my pain and suffering,” Thompson wrote. “they’re responsible for the death of my daughter.” Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr. said the sheriff’s office disputes the claims. Time stamped photos show Thompson being checked on by emergency responders at 11 p.m. and by medical staff at 5:41 p.m, 8:34 p.m and 10:21 p.m. “The death of Ms. Thompson’s baby is tragic, and we are greatly saddened by her and her family’s loss; however, I must present you with the facts of the case,” Watson wrote. Watson approved the findings of the Office of Professional Standards, which looked into Thompson’s ar-

rest, incarceration and medical care, according to a release. Watson said neither employees nor the contracted medical provider violated any laws or policies. The investigation included witness testimony of security operations staff and medical providers as well as a review of security footage, officer’s log and medical records, ACSO spokesperson Kaley Behl said. “It took a while to get done, but of course we wanted to make sure that it was thorough and complete,” Behl said. “We still have an obligation to the citizens of Alachua County and to the inmates in the jail to make sure that we didn’t miss anything.” Behl said ACSO policies and procedures are reviewed at least every year to ensure the best practice. In 2020, the Tammy Jackson Act was

passed, granting pregnant inmates proper care, which includes being taken to a medical facility and not being placed in restrictive housing. After learning of the law, ACSO made changes to about six policies to comply with the law and accreditation standards, Behl said. Activists like Tray Johns, the 46-year-old director of nonprofit Dignity Power, still firmly believe ACSO violated the Tammy Jackson Act. Johns, who helped advocate for the law, said restrictive housing includes all areas of a jail. “She needed to be transported to a hospital no later than an hour after she complained of contractions,” Johns said. Supporting Thompson, Dignity Powers is working to pass “Protecting the Dignity of Women and Infants” or “Ava’s Law” after Thomp-

son’s newborn. The proposal, which Johns said will hopefully put an end to holding pregnant women in custody, was passed unanimously by the Florida Senate’s criminal justice committee Nov. 30. After learning of ASCO’s findings, Johns said she’s still disappointed in Watson’s judgment. “Sheriff Clovis let down women — specifically Black women and Black babies,” Johns said. The GoDDsville Dream Defenders will host a press conference at the Alachua County Jail Monday to demand a formal public apology, a public release of full, uncut jail and infirmary footage, and that ACSO cut its contract with Corizon Health. @Ad_Scribendum idouglas@alligator.org

MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021 www.alligator.org/section/opinions

Goodbye Column

Ode to exhausting accountability

I

’m a Cancer. I’m dramatic and emotional, so just bear with me here. It’s cliche to say change is hard. We know. Get over it. But it’s true, which I guess is why everyone says it. As I sit behind the keys of my laptop trying to capture the emotions of my time here, I’m confronted with the reality of it all. It’s over. A chapter of my life is now written. There’s a range of emotions I’m feeling right now, but it all boils down to how much I care about this paper and the people who make it happen. Ever since April, this paper has completely dominated my life. Late nights, too much caffeine and not enough time with the people around me. I’ll never get these moments back, but the moments have been plentiful. I never thought I was good enough for this paper. I started here over a year ago as the 2020 election reporter. As a junior joining staff for the first time, I was considered a late bloomer to many here. This Fall as editor-in-chief was my third semester on staff. Some at The Alligator have twice as many semesters as I got. I knew when coming into this newsroom that I was making up for lost time. As soon as I started, I knew I had been missing out. Journalism is stereotyped as a toxic, hyper-competitive field, and it can be at times. I’ve never felt anything like that here at The Alligator. Maybe I’ve been lucky, but my short time at this paper has been filled with some of the best friends I’ve ever had. I’ve learned so much throughout my time here. Valuable lessons about working in a newsroom, working with friends and finding a work-life balance even when it’s impossible.

Goodbye Column

Your passion led me here

I

haven’t experienced back-tosemester –– good or bad, and sometimes really funny. It’s fulback semesters working at filling for our likes and retweets The Alligator like some of my to skyrocket, but it wouldn’t be peers have. That never really possible without our entire staff. bothered me. But now, I sit here At the end of it all, I’m going writing this and wish I had more to miss editing stories, obsessivetime. ly geeking over Instagram graphBeing the engagement manKristin Bausch ics and creating weekly newsletaging editor of one of the largest Twitter: @BauschKristin ters. But I’m also going to miss student newspapers was never the quirks of every individual on staff, hugon my itinerary. The Alligator was the shining ging Heather when she walks in the office, exlight in the distance to the sophomore at the ploring quite literally every feature on Canva University of Central Florida. But even when I with Makiya and spending Sundays gathered officially became a Gator, I told myself I would around people I’ve learned to call my friends never be capable of being on staff –– especially … oh, and making fun of Steven’s Chipotle orafter being rejected when I applied as a news der. (Trust me, you don’t want to know.) assistant. Steven and Carolina, the last 16 weeks have Intimidated by the staff at the time, I failed felt like an eternity of friendship. I’d be lying to realize everyone at The Alligator shares one if I said I was 100% confident in my ability to thing in common: We are all student journalwork with two people who were considerably ists. But this semester, I’ve learned to really strangers, but I write this in awe of how well embrace that. we worked as a trio. You guys amaze me evWe are student journalists. ery day, and I cannot wait untill we finally get I can give you the cliches and tell you the our dream jobs — because we manifested it. most fulfilling part was being in a role that It’s really hard to pinpoint why this mooversees a staff of 70. But I won’t, because that ment is so bittersweet, but when you’re surwould be a fact error, and those are really bad. rounded by hard working individuals 24/7 What I will tell you is that I’ve witnessed (and yes, I mean 24/7), it’s hard not to be conthe talent, passion and professionalism of stantly inspired, and it’s hard not to let that this semester’s staff members both in their feeling go. demeanor and in our coverage. They have If you’re reading this and find yourself week-by-week raised the bar, impressing our in the same position that I was in about two readers, our professors and our peers. They’ve years ago, I’m here to tell you that you already reported the same stories some of the most have the same fire in your stomach. It’s just honorable news outlets have. And they even about believing it. broke news that made national headlines. The Alligator has and always will continue Through The Alligator, I’ve found my pasto produce good journalism. Behind every sion for connecting our readers with things word, every photo and every social media they want and need to read. We’ve reached post, just know there is a staff full of incredible audiences like never before, curated crisp and individuals. clean content, and even went viral on TikTok. As engagement editor, I’ve read nearly every Kristin Bausch was the comment on our social media platforms this Engagement Managing Editor.

Being editor-in-chief this Fall proved to be one of the biggest challenges of my career so far. The last 16 weeks have tested my judgement, my willpower, my patience and my endurance. My past experience in political journalism also didn’t hurt. I would need it all as our community became rather newsworthy this semester. UF restricted its professors’ First Amendment rights, the university’s accreditor and the U.S. Congress launched investigations into UF, and Steven Walker detailed accounts of abuse under former women’s head basketball coach Twitter: @swalker_7 Cam Newbauer surfaced. The common denominator was The Alligator in the thick of it. If one word defines this semester, it’s “accountability.” My goal has always been to uphold the underlying purpose of the First Amendment. A free press should exist to serve as a check on the powers that be and provide a public service to the community to keep them informed on events that otherwise would happen in the dark. Such diligence costs energy, mental health and time. Reflecting on this Fall, I am certainly exhausted. Those who seek to work in the darkness bank on our exhaustion. Rest assured The Alligator will continue to hold our university and its community to a high standard beyond this Fall. It’s funny how when I found out I was going to be editor-in-chief I didn’t feel ready. Now that my time is up, I’m not ready for it to be over. I’m incredibly thankful to anyone who interacted with The Alligator in any way while I was here. Readers, reporters, editors and friends — you are what made this paper special. Steven Walker was the editor-in-chief of The Alligator.

Goodbye Column

Sundays are for The Alligator. Always.

A

t this exact time a year proud every day. After around 50 Sundays of ago, I had one big dream print nights in this paper, I am in mind: being part of wrapping up my time as one The Alligator. of three leading this incredible I read every story published newsroom. I wasn’t close to the and knew all the names on byother two-thirds of my Big 3 at lines of stories I admired so first, but now they are the first to much. It seemed so far-fetched Carolina Ilvento be notified of any new developto think I could be a part of that Twitter: @CarolinaIlvento ment in my life. world. As a recently declared Whenever one of us had an journalism sophomore, I didn’t feel experioff day, the others would provide words of enced enough. But The Alligator believed in me. In De- comfort. “That is why there are three of us.” cember 2020, I received an offer for my first To Steven and Kristin, thank you for existposition in staff: Student Government reporter. From there on, my chest filled up with ing — I could not imagine this paper without pride every time I made a call or sent an email you. Leaving this paper now feels like letting for an interview introducing myself as “I am Carolina Ilvento, a reporter for The Alligator.” go of a part of me. As a managing editor, I dragged editing (and not sleeping) Sunday And to this day, it still does. It has only been a year, but The Alligator nights. But even on nights we wrapped up the has since become my life. I’ve walked out of paper early, I found myself wanting to stay class for interviews, sneaked out of personal late in the office just to talk. Today, I am grateevents to address final edits on my phone and ful for the lost hours of sleep. Now that I realize I will no longer be walkeven crashed a club to cover an election — ing into the office and filling a paper every yup, us reporters do it all. Those watching from outside may see The week, I feel empty. Maybe I don’t need to Alligator as an extracurricular activity we do. sleep. Can I stay a bit longer? While it does hurt me to walk away from But ask anybody in staff, and you’ll hear it is a 24/7 commitment. It can be exhausting and this paper, I know I will always keep it with draining. But we all do it day after day with me. Once in The Alligator, we are indeed in it a common motivation: passion for journalism for life. We reserve a spot in the closet with a foot-tall pile of old papers, and fill our bios and the paper. As a desk editor, I forced my reporters to with a proud @TheAlligator years after leavsleep. Sounds weird, I know. What type of job ing the paper. I will do no other than keep the gets staff working after hours voluntarily? The legacy. To all former and future reporters, editors Alligator does. It didn’t matter if it was a Friday night — if big news broke in the univer- and staff members: If I can ever be a resource, sity. I knew I could count on the reporters to please call, mostly if it is a Sunday night — I cover it. And if one of them was not available, will be thinking of the paper anyway. So what do you all, non-Alligator lunatics, another had their back. That’s the thing about The Alligator — do on Sundays? we care so much for the paper that covering Carolina Ilvento was the stories is so instinctive that we may forget to Digital Managing Editor. sleep. To my uni team girls: you make me

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Alligator. The Alligator encourages comments from readers. Letters to the editor should not exceed 600 words (about one letter-sized page). They must be typed, double-spaced and must include the author’s name, classification and phone number. Names will be withheld if the writer shows just cause. We reserve the right to edit for length, grammar, style and libel. Send letters to opinions@alligator.org, bring them to 2700 SW 13th St., or send them to P.O. Box 14257, Gainesville, FL 32604-2257. Columns of about 450 words about original topics and editorial cartoons are also welcome. Questions? Call 352-376-4458.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021 www.alligator.org/section/the_avenue

THEATRE

Student actors shake up Shakespeare at Reitz UF SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK HELD ITS FIRST IN-PERSON SHOWCASE IN OVER A YEAR

By Veronica Nocera Avenue Staff Writer

Equipped with cow print pants and a Southern accent, Zoe Nevins spent the mornings of Dec. 4 and Dec. 5 running around the Reitz Union North Lawn. The scene, more than just a Western outburst, was a homage to one of the world’s most renowned playwrights — William Shakespeare. The 20-year-old UF media production, management and technology junior is also the vice president of Shakespeare in the Park, which held its Fall Selected Scenes showcase that weekend. The cast put on two 11:30 a.m. performances over the two days, each running about 45 minutes. This semester, the showcase theme — media inspired by Shakespeare — was a celebration of Shakespeare in popular culture. The performance featured notable scenes from adaptations of Shakespeare works alongside corresponding scenes from the original plays for a total of 10 scenes. Nevins took on the role of King Lear from Shakespeare’s tragedy of the same name, as well as John Lear, the royal’s stand-in from the

2002 made-for-television Western drama “King of Texas.” To tie the two works together, Nevins and her fellow actors depicted both versions of a scene where King Lear divides his kingdom into three. Other iconic scene sets included Romeo and Juliet’s first meeting, paired with the same moment in “Gnomeo and Juliet;” Hamlet seeing his father as a ghost, paired with the scene from “The Lion King” where Simba sees the ghost of Mufasa reflected in the water; and a monologue from “10 Things I Hate About You” paired with the corresponding scene from “The Taming of the Shrew.” The performance — which featured a nontraditional combination of genres, eras and source material — was larger than life, Nevins said. She’s been involved with Shakespeare in the Park since her freshman year and said she finds the club a great way to embrace her lifelong love of theatre and acting without taking up too much time. “The club is extremely approachable, and that’s something we make a point of,” Nevins said. “Regardless of the amount of experience you have, there’s something for you to do.” When Davis Elordi, a 21-year old UF English and history junior, joined the club freshman year, he had no experience in acting. Now, as president of Shakespeare in the Park, he gets to act in and direct scenes from some of his favorite Shakespeare

plays. He played the nurse in “Romeo and Juliet,” Horatio in “Hamlet” and Rafiki in “The Lion King.” Elordi said he hoped the side-byside comparison of original scenes to their modern counterparts made it easier for audiences to understand the source material. “It’s a really great way to introduce people to Shakespeare in a way that’s less overwhelming than being launched into a full classic, elevated Shakespeare play,” he said. The showcase was also the first in-person Shakespeare in the Park performance since its 2020 Spring Selected Scenes showcase. Since then, the club has held all shows over Zoom, including two showcases and last year’s mainstage production — “Julius Caesar” set in a fraternity. The shift back to in person after an entire school year of virtual performances included its own set of challenges. With no scripts propped just outside of frame, actors needed to be completely off-book for this weekend’s showcase. There was also a greater emphasis on blocking and costumes. Still, finally getting to perform outside again was a blast, Elordi said. Last year, he said, rehearsals and meetings could add an extra five or more hours on Zoom to student’s schedules — something that became exhausting, even when participating in an activity they all enjoyed. In-person performances also changed what elements Elrodi needed to focus on as a director. On

Zoom, he said, actors had to ensure their facial expressions matched their dialogue, as the camera exposed these discrepancies far more intimately than a live show would have. But being back on the Reitz Union North Lawn, there’s more room for experimentation. The opportunity to run freely across the grass and shout Shakespearean insults made the experience far more entertaining, Elordi said. “I’ve enjoyed being able to run around and pretend to be a baboon as Rafiki and attempt a bad accent before realizing that it was a terrible

idea,” he said, “It’s been a lot of fun to experiment and be outside with these people who I trust a lot at this point.” Next semester will also see the return of in-person mainstage productions, which are full-length stage productions with a twist. This Spring, Shakespeare in the Park will put on a performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” — but with pirates. Auditions will be held early next semester. @vernocera vnocera@alligator.org

Esha Nair // Alligator Staff

Makena Vargo (left) and James Bilderback (right) act out a scene from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet on the Reitz Union North Lawn during the event hosted by UF Shakespeare in the Park on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021.

FOOD & DRINK

#DrinkWithYourBestFriend: Outdoor dog bar barks up a storm in downtown Lebowski’s Pet Pub opened Dec. 3 By Alan Halaly Alligator Staff Writer

Drinking beer alongside man’s best friend — for a new Gainesville bar, that’s a winning combination. Lebowski’s Pet Pub, an outdoor bar and subscription-only dog park hybrid located at 514 N Main St., opened its gates Dec. 3 with a launch party. With a mural of owner Geno Schmelke’s three dogs wearing sunglasses — and Lebowski, a boxer vizsla mix, as the centerpiece — the bar is ready to be a hangout space for dogs and humans alike. Schmelke, 37, said he’s always dreamt of having a bar to call his own. A graduate of Gainesville High School, he said he’s been bartending for over a decade, shuffling through bars along University Avenue in Midtown and

downtown. After going to a similar bar in St. Petersburg called The Dog Bar, the longtime Gainesville resident knew instantly it would be a hit in a college town. “It’s like you’re going into your backyard with your friends,” Schmelke said. “Bringing your dog and just having a good time. It’s nothing crazy.” Customers are charged a fee to bring their dog to the bar. Subscription rates range from $5 for a day pass to $100 for a full year — about $8 a month. The staff is made up of some of his lifelong friends, he said, all of whom have more than a lifetime of bartending experience between them. Although it’s open to anyone over 18, Schmelke doesn’t envision Lebowski’s like a

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typical college town bar catered to students. “We’re not really the college bar,” he said. “We’re not really an old person’s bar. I think it’s just people that just want to hang out and relax.” Before opening Friday, Schmelke said the staff hosted a soft opening Nov. 28 with one purpose: raising money for a friend’s dog in need of bladder surgery. Giving back to the community is a must, he said. He’s currently ironing out the details to host adoption events with organizations like the North Central Florida Humane Society and Camp Run-A-Mutt. “We just want to have fun and be happy about where we’re working,” Schmelke said. Shael Morgan, a 52-year-old Gainesville resident, said she appreciates the owners’ giving spirit. “I would be less likely to go to a business that is interested in just perpetuating themselves instead of trying to give back to the com-

munity and helping others,” she said. Morgan said she’s going to subscribe to bring her dogs to support the staff. It’s important to her family to support the business because her husband worked with one of the owners at SharpSpring, a marketing company. Lebowski’s will likely be a hit among both college students and Gainesville residents, Morgan said. “Gainesville is such an outdoorsy place these days,” she said. “Maybe [college students] will miss their pets, that they might have had to leave at home with their parents. They’ll go to the dog bar just to pet other people’s dogs.” The bar is now open weekdays from 2 p.m. to midnight and on weekends from 1 p.m. to midnight. @AlanHalaly ahalaly@alligator.org

The Wise 1K

Gators volleyball clinched head coach Mary Wise’s 1000th win Thursday, the day before it punched a ticket to the Sweet 16, pg. 13

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solution on page 12 Release Monday, December 6, 2021 Release Date: Date: Wednesday, November 24, 2021

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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.

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solution on page 12

12 ALLIGATOR  MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021

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

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021 www.alligator.org/section/sports

FEATURE

Caroline Pagac: For the love of the team THE SOPHOMORE’S DESIRE TO FIND A TEAM PROPELLED HER TO WALK ON WITH THE GATORS

By Jackson Castellano Sports Writer

Caroline Pagac’s favorite part of being on Florida’s diving team is just that: being on the team. Nothing is more rewarding for Caroline than being with her teammates and pushing each other to be better. It’s what motivated her to begin the sport in the first place, and what pushed her along the unorthodox path she took to Florida. “It’s a team but it also becomes a family,” Pagac said, “It takes the right sport to build that, and diving does that.” Pagac is not the typical Florida diver, no Olympian or All-American — in fact, she’s only been diving for a few years. She walked onto the team in 2021 after proving her value with Gator Dive Club during her first semester at Florida. Lesley Pagac, her mother, saw her daughter’s talent at a young age. “I remember her taking her to the playground to play with the kids and she was so much more physically agile than some of the other kids of her age,” Lesley said. Caroline’s balance led her mother to sign her up for gymnastics, and thus began the earliest years of Pagac’s athletic career, joined by her

younger sister, Amanda. Although that stage of Caroline’s career was not so fruitful, she was always motivated by her sibling beside her. “To be honest, I was terrible,” Caroline said, “Well, I wasn’t terrible, I worked really hard, and my little sister was actually always a little bit better than me so she really pushed me, and I kind of had that sister rivalry.” Those around Caroline noticed she shared the traits of a great teammate and leader from a young age. Her mother recalled a state gymnastics meet when Caroline scored a 9.4. Her sister, the only remaining competitor, edged her out with a 9.45. “Caroline jumped up and went running over to her, lifted her, twirled her around and was more excited that Amanda got the score, than her getting second place,'' Lesley said. “It was the most touching thing.” The feeling of celebration and a family environment have always been of utmost importance for Caroline, but she began having her doubts whether that environment was always there. She said the gymnastics atmosphere wasn’t as inviting, and her sister agreed. “The gym that we both went to, it was a very, very verbally, emotionally and psychologically abusive environment,” Amanda said. “The coaches were really, really bad people. It did cause me and my sister a lot of sports trauma.” Caroline ultimately left gymnas-

tics at 13. “It’s different when you’re that young and you’re working that hard and your heart’s just not in it, there’s a dichotomy there that you don’t want to be there.” she said. Caroline chose to spend her time teaching gymnastics, and her mother said she set out to treat her students differently than she had been treated. While Caroline bonded with her students and enjoyed the teaching process, Amanda knew she missed the competition. Teaching couldn’t replicate the team environment, and Caroline felt the difference, too. “I was like ‘Wait a minute, maybe I have more dreams that are unfinished. I have unfinished business,’” she said. Upon entering high school and observing meets and practices for her school’s scholastic season her freshman year, Caroline decided she would take up diving with the local Coral Springs Diving club. She could only offer a small commitment to the team at first, only able to practice once a week with her parents working full-time jobs and no car of her own. However, the impact of the team environment was noticeable from the start, especially compared to gymnastics. “For diving, it’s a night-and-day difference,” Caroline said. Her sister saw a noticeable improvement in Caroline’s demeanor after joining the team. Caroline was eager to return to an environment where she could connect with her

teammates, and it brought her a lot of fulfillment despite diving being a casual endeavor at first. “I wasn’t a good diver,” Pagac said, “I loved it, I still love it, but it was just fun then.” This all changed when she got a car before her senior year, now able to take herself to practice up to six days a week. That’s when Caroline’s club coach, Michelle Sandelin, told her she had a future in diving. “She is literally my second mom. I love her,” Pagac said about Sandelin. “If it wasn't for her, I would not be here because she told me to look at different dive programs and told me I could do this.” Pagac put her head down and worked her senior year, and when she looked up, there were collegiate diving offers in front of her. Unfor-

tunately, there were none from her dream school, UF. She was left with a choice: forgo attending Florida, where she was admitted through the standard process, and choose to dive at the College of New Jersey or George Washington University, or abandon her diving offers to attend UF. It wasn’t an easy choice for her to make. If possible, Pagac hoped to settle for a school similar to Florida academically and continue diving, but her love for the school and the financial burden of attending college out of state was insurmountable. Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/sports @jaxacastellano jcastellano@alligator.org

Courtesy to The Alligator

Caroline Pagac poses for a photo with her sister, Amanda.

VOLLEYBALL

How Sweet It Is: Gators volleyball’s two NCAA tournament sweeps and Wise’s 1,000th overall career win No. 21 Florida advanced to the Sweet 16 for a matchup against No. 1 Louisville Thursday By Carson Cashion and Kaitlyn Wadulack Sports Writers

Double the sweeps, double the fun. The No. 21 Florida Gators volleyball team swept its first and second round NCAA tournament opponents Thursday and Friday in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center to advance to the Sweet 16. UF dominated Florida A&M Thursday night (25-11, 25-14, 25-8) where head coach Mary Wise claimed her 1,000th overall career win, the first female Division I head coach to hit the astounding milestone. “Trying to get to 1,001,” Wise said about the achievement. Wise’s wish was the Gators’ command. Florida came back into the O’Dome Friday night and emerged with another sweep, this time over the No. 24 Miami Hurricanes (25-15, 25-20, 25-16).

Win 1,001 for Wise. The Sweet 16 for Florida. After star outside hitter T’ara Ceasar announced she would not be competing with Florida in the NCAA Tournament, questions filtered in about how the Gators could replace her scoring prowess. Outside hitters Sofia Victoria and Thayer Hall and middle blocker Bre Kelley stepped up to the plate. Kelley boasted .625 with six kills over the Rattlers and had three blocks versus the Hurricanes. Hall hammered in a .556 hitting percentage with 11 kills Thursday and bumped up to 13 kills in Friday’s match. Meanwhile, against both Florida A&M and Miami, Victoria racked up 13 kills. “I think her [Victoria] energy is just unmatched,” setter Marlie Monserez said after Friday’s match. “My favorite part of the game and in the middle of the match she looked at me and she goes, ‘I just love playing with this group.’ That makes it worth it, it makes it fun.” Victoria, Kelley and outside hitter Merritt

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Beason led Florida’s attack early in Thursday’s match. The trio opened the first set with two kills and a Beason ace, along with two Kelley kills and one by Victoria at 6-3. Later in the set, Hall recorded two kills of her own before a Beason kill sealed the first set for Florida, 2511. The Rattlers’ initially kept pace with the Gators in set two, but not for long. The Gators accelerated ahead with one kill each from Victoria and Beason on top of three Rattlers’ attack errors, and a Hall ace ended the second set 25-14. The Gators left Florida A&M in the dust on a 14-1 run in the third, featuring two Victoria kills and five Rattlers’ attack errors. Victoria cemented the sweep for Florida with a matchending kill at 25-8. Less than 24 hours later, Victoria’s fire remained ablaze. The sophomore scored half of the Gators’ first six points en route to an early lead. Florida shot ahead by 10, and despite Miami’s best efforts, Victoria secured set one with

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a kill, 25-15. The Hurricanes fought desperately in the second set, scoring six straight to leave Florida trailing by two. A timeout by Wise reset her lineup, and the Gators surged back with a 5-2 run. Miami never reclaimed its early set advantage, and a Beason kill iced out the Hurricanes, 25-20. The third set was the Gators’ playground. UF tallied seven of the set’s first eight points. Following a Miami timeout, the two teams traded points, but the Gators’ lead remained out of reach. Hall closed out the match with a kill, and the Sweet 16 was finally achieved for Florida. “Every team can be so different,” Wise said. “There’s just a vibe with this group right now.” Next up, Florida will travel to take on No.1 Louisville Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Sweet 16. The match can be streamed on ESPNU.

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

@kwadulack kwadulack@alligator.org @carsoncashion ccashion@alligator.org

14 ALLIGATOR  MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021

Run-heavy NAPIER, from pg. 3

Lauren Witte // Alligator Staff

New Florida football coach Billy Napier greets fans during his first day on the job Sunday in Gainesville.

Goodbye Column

Always team Alligator

I

cried waterfalls in the library of Providence High School in Jacksonville after my high school basketball team, Bishop Synder, was eliminated by Trinity Christian in the district tournament. Tears dropped from my eyes and pooled into a puddle on the carpet because I thought I’d never be a part of a team again. Then I joined The Alligator’s sports desk in Spring 2020. It wasn’t that simple. I didn’t know anything about the largest student-run newspaper when I arrived at UF after transferring from Florida State College at Jacksonville. However, I met my now-best friend Noah Ram in Sports Media and Society my first semester. He led me to apply and told me this is where I belong if I was serious about journalism. I tried my hand in the Fall of 2019 but failed to make the cut. I didn’t give up. I tried again. This time, then-sports editor Kyle Wood called me and told me I was hired to cover Florida men’s tennis in the Spring of 2020. Like many other great writers and even better people before me, the decision to work at The Alligator was the best decision I’ve ever made because I found another team to be a part of. The people I’ve encountered and made friends with at the sports and news desks are some of the most hardworking and nicest people I’ve ever met. We always were each other’s biggest supporters and had each other’s backs. We all worked hard to become better writers and reporters and attempted to uphold the standard as the best student-run newspaper in the country. We also built strong friendships at Ryan Haley’s apartment watching Thursday Night Football or bonding over pitchers at The Social at Midtown every Wednesday before the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the pandemic arrived two months into my first semester at the newspaper, I still strongly feel that I got the whole experience. I made lifelong friends and became a much better journalist and person. I glanced back at the first story I ever wrote for The Alligator from time to time

eliminate careless play -- turnovers, penalties, mental errors.” Napier’s staunch grip on the ground game is not the only thing that jumps out from the stat sheet. Rather than wielding the hammer of an every-down workhorse, he prefers the scalpel of a committee carousel. Despite the Cajuns averaging over 190 rushing yards per game in each of his four seasons (and a staggering 257.4 in 2019), Napier only gave one back more than 200 carries in a season (Trey Ragas had 207 in 2018). The new Florida coach’s magic number seems to be four over the last few years. Four of his rushers collected 80 attempts or more so far in 2021, and in each of his final three seasons in Lafayette, at least four players rushed the ball more than 50 times. No year exemplified the surgical sharing of touches more than 2019, arguably Napier’s most im-

during my six semesters to see how far I’ve come and did so one last time before starting this goodbye column. Tears run down my face every time beZachary Huber cause of how much Twitter: @zacharyahuber I improved as a journalist and the memories I made along the way. Before I say goodbye, I need to thank several former colleagues and current writers and editors. I’m sorry I couldn’t thank everyone because of word count, but if you weren’t mentioned, thank you, too. Thank you to Kyle and Evan Lepak for taking a shot on me and letting me live out my dream of covering the school I loved growing up. If it wasn’t for so many talented editors and writers like Kyle, Ryan, Joseph Salvador, River Wells, Brendan Farrell, Payton Titus, Christian Ortega, Grethel Aguila, Michael Hull and Steven Walker, I never would’ve been able to write and report on a story that important, made national news and allowed me to achieve a lifelong dream of going on SportsCenter. I owe a huge thank you to Noah because I don’t think if I ever would’ve applied if we never crossed paths. You’re my best friend, and I don’t know what I would do without you. You have such a bright future ahead of you, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for you next. To Ryan and Michael, our trip to Louisiana to cover the Florida-LSU football game is one of my favorite memories that I’ll cherish forever. To the sports desk this semester, thank you for making Ryan’s life and my life so easy. All of you are so talented and gifted. The future of the sports desk is so bright. If you guys ever need anything, I’m always a DM, text or phone call away. If you’re a journalist at UF consider applying because I promise you won’t regret it. Finally, thank you to The Alligator for letting me be a part of a team again. Zachary Huber was the Assistant Sports Editor and a sports writer at The Independent Florida Alligator.

pressive statistical season with UL. Three Ragin’ Cajuns running backs put together at least 116 attempts and 820 rushing yards, a true backfield Ghidorah. Ragas, Elijah Mitchell and Raymond Calais combined for 33 rushing touchdowns, and each compiled three 100-yard games. Mitchell might be Napier’s most impressive selling point as a talent developer. A 2-star wide receiver prospect according to Rivals, the Louisiana native accumulated 3,267 rushing yards, 597 receiving yards and 46 total touchdowns over his four-year run wearing vermilion and white, almost entirely under Napier’s watchful eye. Now an NFL rookie, Mitchell has nearly 900 yards from scrimmage through nine games with the San Francisco 49ers. Napier’s dual-threat quarterback Levi Lewis offers more promising development for Florida fans. The former 2-star Rivals prospect started for the final three years of Napier’s tenure, completing 61.5% of his passes and averaging 7.7 yards per attempt. The 5-foot-10 lefty threw 64 touchdowns against just 15 intercep-

Goodbye Column

Trust the process

A

nyone who knows me admits I am a procrastinator. For assignments, I often wait until the last minute because I “write better under pressure.” So, it only makes sense that I penned this goodbye column on Dec. 4, one day before my name will appear in The Independent Florida Alligator one last time. The truth is, I first began to think about what I’d say in this space in mid-August, in the produce section of Aldi. It turns out, though, searching for the right words to describe a place where I spent three years of college and wrote nearly 150 stories proved taxing. The time has arrived, and I can no longer put this task off anymore, so here goes. As any good journalist would do, I will start at the beginning. (Yes, I will get to the moral of the story in due time). In high school, I sought out TV Production, but I eventually yearned to be as far from a camera as a calculator. When I arrived in Gainesville in Fall 2018, I first applied to The Alligator. I remember writing the sample story about women’s basketball in the Law Library for hours. I got rejected, and I expected the same result in the spring when I re-auditioned. However, on a Thursday night in late-January, I received a call from Jake Dreilinger in the parking lot of Southwest Rec that changed my life. Somehow, I was hired to cover men’s tennis. For the first time in my journalistic life, I felt worthy. I developed lofty expectations for myself at The Alligator. Before I graduated, I intended to serve as sports editor and football beat writer. As I prepare to cross the stage in two weeks, I realize none of those dreams came true. But before you shed a tear, let me reassure you, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I’ll explain. (Yes finally, the point!) My first year and a half at The Alligator flew by as I covered gymnastics and served as Assistant Sports Editor in Summer 2020, which proved demanding but exhilarating. However, my plan began to suffer multiple detours. This Fall, I anticipated to conquer the holy grail of football. Instead, I was named the

tions across his three-year run. Lewis alluringly distrubed opposing defenses with his legs as well. He carried the ball at least 55 times each season and legged out 799 yards and 13 more touchdowns since 2019. With redshirt freshman Anthony Richardson and redshirt junior Emory Jones, who managed nearly 1,100 rushing yards between them in 2021, sitting in Florida’s garage, Gators fans should salivate seeing Napier does not fear getting his quarterback involved in the rushing attack. Florida fans should expect a gravitation toward the ground game, but Napier said the Gators top priority is setting themselves up for success. “We’re going to play complementary football,” Napier said. “I think our entire plan is built around working together as a team to position ourselves to win the game.” Napier’s plan won’t be unveiled for the world to see for months, but the blueprint seems to be in place. @ryan_dhaley rhaley@alligator.org

sports enterprise reporter. Within an instant, everything I worked up for seemed to vanish in the wind, like a snap from Thanos. I questioned my abilNoah Ram ity and future as a Twitter: @Noah_ram1 writer. Little did I know this decision helped me find my real journalism dream: to tell stories of people and places that don’t normally land in the newspaper. But what really made “sprots” at The Alligator stand out from other jobs is the people, and I wanted to shout a few of them out. To Jake Dreilinger, thank you for taking the chance on a freshman who didn’t know a lick about AP Style. You could have easily cut bait with the new guy, but you stuck with me, and I am eternally grateful. To Kyle Wood, the OG Hybrid Reporter, you always worked with me on the gymnastics beat and helped me become a better writer in the process. Thank you for showing me sports writers can tackle topics outside the game. To Ryan Haley, thank you for being such an understanding editor. I know this semester had some bumps along the way, but you are leaving this section in an amazing place. And thank you for reuniting the section in a “post-COVID” era. Your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Finally, to Zachary Huber, my first friend at the J-school. I haven’t been certain about much, but when you got hired at The Alligator, I knew you would shine. You accomplished more than just about anyone in your time. How many student journalists end up on national news?! I can’t put into words how proud I am of what you’ve accomplished. You’ve been my confidante since I joined staff. Whenever I need advice, I turn to you first. Keep working hard, man. You are destined for greatness. And to any aspiring journalist reading this, remember to trust the process and keep the faith. Throughout my life, I have mostly rejected the cliché of “everything happens for a reason.” But, as I reminisce about my time at The Alligator, I can’t help but agree. Noah Ram was a sports writer at The Independent Florida Alligator.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021 ALLIGATOR 15

What happens when an Alachua County resident reports a sexual assault? THREE DIFFERENT AGENCIES HAVE SIMILAR PROTOCOLS

By Isabella Douglas Alligator Staff Writer

No two sexual assault experiences are the same; but law enforcement across the county have similar response protocols. Following the protocol, dispatchers head to the incident location upon receiving a call from a sexual assault victim. The victim then is taken to the hospital, where a rape kit is administered. The hospital calls law enforcement and the victim service’s hotline, then the pressure is placed on the victim. How do they gather the words to explain the event they’ve not yet processed? After a victim comes forward, several law enforcement agencies and victim advocacy groups throughout Alachua County are meant to help victims when they’re most vulnerable. UPD

When and why a sexual assault victim reports their assault is up to them, detectives said. If a victim chooses to report their assault to University Police Department, they have three options: call its emergency or non-emergency line, send an email or online report, or walk into a police station, UPD spokesperson Rick Taylor said. “The patrol officer will take the first report and be very brief with the victim so that they don’t have to repeat necessarily the same thing to five different people,” said Bonnie Boland, UPD detective. Officers work closely with UF Victim’s Advocates and the local hospitals to support

sexual assault survivors. Boland said UPD dispatchers want to know the location of the victim, the nature of the call, if the victim is still in danger and if the suspect is still present. It’s also kept brief to prevent the victim from reliving the moment. If a victim chooses to pursue an investigation, a patrol officer will be sent to the location to write a report, collect evidence and preserve the crime scene. If a victim is nervous about what may be found on the scene, such as drugs, the department would prioritize the victim, Boland said. The victim may then be taken to UF Health Shands Hospital to process a rape kit. A UPD victim service advocate may also be present to comfort the victim. At any time, the victim may ask to stop the procedures or investigation. When a detective is assigned to the case, a victim service advocate may join when the victim is interviewed. The victim can also choose to only speak with a victim service advocate. In this case, the advocate wouldn’t relay any information to UPD against the victim’s will, Taylor said. UPD victim advocate supervisor Veleta Roberts listens to victims share their stories. She collaborates with UF Counseling and Wellness, GatorWell and Housing to coordinate tools to help victims succeed at UF after his or her traumatic experiences. “We are confidential, and we are free,” Roberts said. “We’re here to serve them if they want to come and talk to somebody. They are not going to be forced to speak with law enforcement, even though we are housed with the police department.” Roberts works with the victim to place a no-contact order on their alleged abuser, espe-

‘He’s gonna do it again’ SEXUAL ASSAULT, from pg. 2 weeks. They begged to move. They no longer felt safe, especially after discovering posts from years ago describing similar cases of harassment. “This is an ongoing issue, and they’re doing nothing,” Mitchem said. “And it’s only going to get worse.” The crime distressed Levee. It triggered memories from her freshman year, when she was assaulted at Grog. “It made me feel so unsafe and powerless, and hopeless for what I can do, and how I can feel safe in my own home,” she said. Levee had experienced revictimization, an effect of surviving sexual assault. Exposure to sexual assault puts survivors at higher risk of experiencing assault or harassment again. Caroline Pope, a 23-year-old sociology senior, didn’t know about this phenomenon until she was assaulted a second time. “I used to freeze like the first couple of times that I was assaulted,” Pope said. “Now, I actively am putting up a fight.” One day in November 2020, Pope was celebrating with some friends in their apartment

after a UF football game. Pope ordered an Uber home. Two male mutual friends were supposed to walk her to the Uber and make sure she was safe. They checked her phone. One told her the driver canceled the ride. Pope asked them to reorder it. She got into the Uber, but she didn’t make it home. “They didn’t order it to my apartment,” Pope said. “They ordered it to a completely different location.” From there, the men took her to an apartment. The next day, Pope’s family came up to Gainesville to be with her. Pope decided to not report the crime but messaged the man who had raped her. “I did message him about it though to tell him, ‘This is not OK,’” she said. “He responded with ‘I take it you don’t like me?’” Later in May, Pope visited friends in Gainesville for a couple of days. She had been seeing a man she met through Tinder. Everything had gone well, and she liked him. She had planned on meeting up with him again until he began to harass her over text. When she went out to The Rowdy Reptile with friends

cially if they live in the same residential hall or attend the same classes. In some cases, the alleged abuser must withdraw from those courses. Taylor believes it’s important for victims to come forward so the department can actively pursue their cases. “Most of the time these cases aren’t happening on some dimly lit sidewalk,” Taylor said. “They’re happening in places where our students frequent.” UPD’s office is located at 1515 Museum Road near Jennings Hall. The department’s non-emergency line is 352-392-1111. GPD

If a victim chooses to open an investigation, the story would be told to law enforcement at the crime scene, said Laura Kalt, director of the Alachua County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center. It’s something she’s seen over and over. As of Sept. 9, 149 sexual assault cases have been reported to Gainesville Police Department. Reported cases have fluctuated among 174 in 2018, 153 in 2019 and 129 in 2020. “Someone who does report to the Gainesville Police Department is very likely going to have an officer and advocate working together, getting to know them, helping them make this report and get through the experience of just having to relive the details,” Kalt said. Victim services workers need to build a rapport with the victim because retelling their stories can be retraumatizing, Kalt said. Above all, she said, putting the victim’s needs first is important. While working with GPD, she has watched the detective discuss the victim’s options of

a few nights later, the man was also there. She asked her friends to keep an eye on her. “It was at the point where even the bartender was kind of concerned because I didn’t look into it, and [the assaulter] was very touchy-feely all over me,” she said. “He wouldn’t let me get away from his table, and I just wanted to leave.” He managed to isolate Pope to coerce her into going home with him. The bar’s lights turned on, and the crowd swarmed out. She didn’t see her friends, so she left with him. “There were things that I never would have agreed to that he did,” Pope said. The next day, Pope was administered a rape kit. She spoke with a detective but decided not to pursue charges. “I just want to have his name on the books that he’s done this because he’s gonna do it again,” she said. “I know he is.” Pope blamed herself for a long time. But through therapy, research and advocacy, she has found a way to heal as a survivor. None of these cases have been legally resolved, but the survivors are taking control of their experiences to prevent future similar cases. @MelanieBombino mpena@alligator.org

how to recount their story. If you feel like you can get through 10 minutes of retelling what happened, then that’s all we’ll do. If you want to tell me everything that you can and get it over with today, let’s do that. We’ll spend hours together or however long it takes. GPD’s office is located at 545 NW 8th Ave. The department’s non-emergency line is 352955-1818. ACSO

If a victim is uncomfortable, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office will try to assign a deputy by the victim’s desired gender. Victims who choose not to speak with police still have the option to speak with victims services. Law enforcement will instead contact the reporting party, which is usually a nurse or staff member on duty, to gather evidence, such as the rape kit. Rape kits should be performed within the first five days of the occurence for the most accurate results, a U.S. Department of Justice report read. Examiners should stick to two swabs per collection area to avoid dilution of the biological sample. ACSO policy states that police will not talk with the victim nor question the staff on what occurred. If the victim decides to pursue legal action at a later date, police will compile evidence and investigate the assault further. After gathering evidence, the State Attorney’s Office will decide whether or not to prosecute. ACSO is located at 2621 SE Hawthorne Road. The office’s non-emergency line is 352955-1818.

All an act COLLIER, from pg. 2

erties, coworkers complained about Still’s sexual harassment and unfair treatment. Following protocol, Gerenis reported it and HR told him it opened an investigation. As of Dec. 5, neither The Collier Companies nor Nathan Collier could be reached for comment despite multiple phone calls, emails and a visit to two homes registered under his name. In July 2012, Still was terminated from the company by executive team members, President Diana Miner, Vice President Mike Wilkie, Nathan Collier, CEO James Hogshead, President of Operations Jennifer Clince and HR Director Elizabeth Guynn. Gerenis said he got to know Nathan Collier fairly well during his time with the company, even flying on his private jet together. “Either he was completely aware of everything going on, which is completely terrible, or he was unaware, which is an unconscionable lack of control,” Gerenis said. Although Still was separated from the company, Gerenis said other instances of sexual harassment, sexual assault and intimidation involving high-up employees continued. But he trusted these complaints were being handled properly. A former executive leadership employee at Collier for just over a year confirmed these issues had been happening long before they joined the company. “It’s very much like a cult environment,” said the former executive grant-

@Ad_Scribendum idouglas@alligator.org

ed anonymity out of fear of retaliation. Nathan Collier tweeted a quote by Todd Whitaker Oct. 19 that read “The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior its leaders are willing to tolerate.” The employee said Nathan Collier is a gifted public speaker who prides himself as a humble leader. “I can tell you from my own personal experience that it is a show,” the former executive employee said. “It is all an act.” After eight years working for the company, Gerenis left Collier for another job opportunity. In what Gerenis described as coincidental timing –– especially knowing the damaging information he had –– The Collier Companies offered a job to Still exactly five years after Still’s termination. Just weeks later, Still became the vice president of operations, a position higher than he was in before his termination. Gerenis later came to realize why Still’s rehire went so smoothly. He recalled an extremely high turnover rate at all levels of the company, meaning there would be few employees, if any, that knew of the complaints against Still like Gerenis does. Gerenis was offered an HR position with Collier after about 10 months with his other job. Unaware of Still’s rehire, he accepted it. In Gerenis’ position, he learned all files are destroyed every five years, leaving no paper trail of any misconduct of employees — making the coincidence of Still’s timely rehire not so coincidental anymore. Read the rest online at alligator.org. @Troy_Myers1 tmyers@alligator.org

16 ALLIGATOR  MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021

What do numbers show about sexual assault on and around UF campus? About 5% of reported rape cases result in arrest at UF By Christian Casale and Omar Ateyah Alligator Staff Writers

Amid concern over recent cases of sexual misconduct on and around UF’s campus, data indicates that rates of such misconduct have remained consistent in recent years. Between 2015 and 2019, University Police Department data shows reported cases of rape averaged more than 16 reports per year — following a change relative to UF’s steady student population. However, in 2020, a sharp decrease in cases coincided with the COVID-19 campus shutdown that shook up student life and housing. With the closure of UF’s campus in March 2020, reports decreased by more than half compared to previous years — with seven cases reported throughout the year while campus housing remained closed for almost six months. So far this year there have been eight, according to UPD’s crime log. The log shows that of the 97 total rape reports since 2015, only five have resulted in an arrest. Of the remaining cases, 13 were withdrawn and 60 are still pending. A major issue facing the country with regards to sexual assault cases has been delaying the examination of the forensic evidence related to

these cases, according to the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN). Legislation passed in Florida earlier this year, known as Gail’s Law, seeks to address the backlog crisis. The law creates a system by which rape kits can be monitored to provide victims updates on the kits’ progress through the justice system. According to UPD’s public guidelines, the Clery Act definition of rape is the “penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus, with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim,” with no victim distinction based on gender. Under the Clery Act, instituted in 1990 to ensure federal oversight in the disclosure of campus crimes by colleges and universities, UF and universities across the country are required to keep students notified about criminal activity that could threaten their safety. Out of Florida’s largest public universities — University of Central Florida, UF, Florida International University and University of South Florida — UF is first in reported rape cases proportionate to student population, according to most recent Clery Act data. UF averaged nearly four cases per 10,000 students in 2019. The other universities had a close average of two to three cases per

10,000 students. Not all instances of rape and sexual assault at UF are reported to the university, as many victims of sexual assault do not come forward with their stories. Therefore, no discussion of sexual assault data can provide a complete picture of the crisis. According to a study by The Association of American Universities, one in four female undergraduate students and 13% of all university students will be a victim of “nonconsensual sexual contact by physical force or inability to consent” during their university experience. Comparing the study’s estimates to the 2019 UPD crime log would mean less than 1% of victims filed a report after their rape. The data required for disclosure is generally limited to crimes that occur within university property within a mile away from campus borders. At UF, the Clery Act covers all crimes that occur either on UF’s campus or in housing complexes that are “reasonably contiguous,” said Kate Moore, Assistant Director of the UF Office of Clery Act Compliance. This includes all on-campus residence halls, the three off-campus student housing facilities owned by UF — The Continuum, Infinity Hall and Tanglewood Village — and Greek

Carolina Ilvento // Alligator Staff

life houses, Moore said. Although not included under the Clery Act, students may sometimes also receive Timely UF Alerts, or phone notifications of notable crimes, that took place off campus. Notifications of off-campus criminal activity are generally sent out if the incidents involve students. The university and city police departments maintain a level of coordination to ensure UPD is notified of relevant offcampus criminal activity involving students, said AnnaLee Rodriquez, UF’s Office of the Vice President for Business Affairs spokesperson. A UPD supervisor or a member of UF’s Office of Clery Act Compliance would decide what constitutes a timely warning based on standard guidelines, Rodriquez said.

“It is all based on the legal standard for issuance,” Moore said. “It’s something that has that element of an ongoing or continuing threat to the campus.” There is not complete consistency between rape data reported under the Clery Act and the number of rape cases included in the UF crime log. Like any other university that receives federal financial aid, UF must report timely warnings to “all members of the UF community” for potentially ongoing and dangerous incidents in and around its campus. ccasale@alligator.org @vanityhack oateyah@alligator.org @OAteyah