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VOLUME 119 - ISSUE 17 Not officially associated with the University of Florida

Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

‘Not a jerk would be lovely’: What do Gators want out of UF’s next president?

AFTER SASSE’S TUMULTUOUS TENURE, STAKEHOLDERS WANT STABILITY, ACADEMIC CREDIBILITY

By Shaine Davison & Sofia Meyers Alligator Staff Writers Editor’s note: The search committee told attendees that the sessions and names of attendees would not be recorded. Names of some speakers have been omitted to platform their unvarnished feedback on administration without jeopardizing their jobs or enrollment.

The 15-member search committee charged with finding the UF’s next president spent the beginning of the Spring semester in virtual listening sessions, consulting with hundreds of students, faculty, staff and donors. Their goal: to identify what Gator Nation wants — and doesn’t want — in a successor to former President Ben Sasse.

For some, expectations couldn’t be simpler.

“Not a jerk would be lovely,” one staff member quipped.

The overwhelming consensus, however, was that UF’s next president needs to be a seasoned academic with research bona fides — not another politician.

In other words: not Ben Sasse.

Sasse, a former Republican U.S. Senator from Nebraska, arrived in the Swamp two years ago with hefty promises but a limited resumé in higher education. Despite his Ivy League degrees and a stint as president of a small liberal-arts college, most listening session attendees characterized Sasse as a political appointee ill-suited to run the state’s flagship university.

“He was more of a politician than an academic,” one professor said.

Sasse’s tenure was short-lived

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT

Catch a ride finish with comma, Story description The pg# future of the rideshare industry.

Read more on pg. 2.

and divisive. Citing worsening family health issues, he abruptly resigned in July after months of strained campus relations and a behind-thescenes feud with Mori Hosseini, the chairman of UF’s Board of Trustees.

His legacy — marked by a secretive selection process, political paranoia and financial scandals — loomed large over the listening sessions.

“The last president was likely to be a political appointment,” said Juan Galan, a former chair of UF’s fundraising foundation. “Academia knew it and laughed at it. We can’t afford a second laugh.”

Some spent the sessions, meant to help craft the criteria and qualifications used to recruit the next president, throwing thinly veiled jabs at Sasse.

“I'd love a president who is funny and relatable,” one staffer said.

“Not so high on their dignity that they can’t have a warm conversation with anyone in our UF community.”

Others were more blunt.

“The hiring of Ben Sasse was a complete and total disaster,” one alum said. “He was hired under the cloak of darkness… and we saw how that worked out: not very good.”

Variations of “restoring stability and trust” frequently came up as pressing items on the incoming president’s agenda. Professors, staff and alumni appeared exhausted

by Sasse’s chaotic presidency and pleaded for a return to traditional academic leadership.

One alum put the search for Sasse’s replacement in terms of hiring a coach.

“I personally don't want an upand-comer that seems to have potential. I don't want a good old boy,” the alum said. “I want the proven leader of a top tier research university that is among the ranks we should aspire to be.”

SEE PRESIDENT, PAGE 3

Del Halter // Alligator Staff

UF staff, students, and alumni share their opinions on who they want for the next university president.

Gainesville celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The federal holiday aligned with President Donald Trump’s return to office

By Vivienne Serret Alligator Staff Writer

As President Donald Trump was sworn into office Monday, civil right activists around the nation found themselves in a combined state of celebration and mourning.

Parades and celebrations marking Gainesville’s 41st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day took place as Trump prepared to take office as the 47th president of the United States.

The Avenue: Dynamic Duo

The twins making music together, pg. 6

To local activists and community organizers, King’s dream seems somewhat antithetical to Trump’s return to office after a series of controversies. Trump previously stated he had a bigger crowd on Jan. 6, 2021, than King did for his “I Have a Dream” speech during a campaign rally in Mara-Lago.

He also once compared North Carolina’s former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson to King, deeming him a “Martin Luther King on steroids,”

which many took offense to.

And in November, a proTrump social media account posted an AI-generated advertisement to the social platform X in which Martin Luther King Jr. endorsed Trump.

The video was denounced as a “deepfake” and condemned by King’s daughter, Bernice King.

But despite controversy and political tension, cities across the nation still found themselves

SEE MLK, PAGE 3

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Demolition and an uncertain future, pg. 4

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2 ALLIGATOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025

Weather Florida Today’s ride-share industry to see automated disruption UBER, LYFT DRIVERS WARY OF ROBOTAXI REVOLUTION

By Natalie Kaufman Alligator Staff Writer

Linda Swann’s nightmare scenario may soon become her reality.

An electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicle rounds a corner, creeps to a gentle halt and whisks passengers across town. The Jaguar, vying to become Swann’s competition, is a cluster of cameras, sensors and software — a robotaxi.

The 64-year-old Tampa driver is among the growing number of ride-share contractors anxiously anticipating an industry overhaul.

The sector’s dominant players, Uber and Lyft, recently revved up efforts to integrate driverless vehicles into their fleets, threatening some drivers’ livelihoods.

“A lot of these ride-share drivers use this platform to make money for their families, and it’s their only source of income, so it’s sad that it’s gone to this,” she said.

Swann started working for Uber and Lyft three years ago, looking for flexible work and steady pay.

She said she’s since soured on the companies’ management styles and is worried about their automation plans. Six months ago, Swann began weaning off ride-hailing apps before her corporate superiors could potentially unseat her.

Now, she’s established an independent driving service, allowing her to curate a pool of clients and pocket 100% of her earnings. She advises others in the business to do the same and insulate themselves from market volatility as autonomous vehicles flood the zone.

A new transportation frontier Last summer, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, introduced its self-driving taxi service, Waymo One, to San Francisco streets. The cars employ radars, computers, artificial intelligence and sensors to navigate, which are generally reliable but not fail-safe tools. Following a series of high-profile accidents, Alphabet briefly recalled its cars in 2024 and returned to the drawing board to correct safety issues.

The robotaxi service, powered

by Jaguar I-PACE electric cars, now operates in two other U.S. cities: Los Angeles and Phoenix, Arizona. It has scheduled launches in Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia. Across its commercial markets, Waymo provides more than 150,000 weekly rides.

The company plans to debut in Miami early this year, launching its cars in testing stages. It aims to make its ride-hailing service publicly available there in 2026.

Industry analysts warn the cars will soon create state-by-state regulatory challenges. Florida does not currently require specific operating permits for autonomous vehicles, which some officials believe could jeopardize traffic safety, according to the Miami Herald.

Humans take a backseat to big tech Uber, which enjoys a 76% share

of the ride-hailing market and manages nearly 4 million drivers in Florida, abandoned efforts to create its own robotaxis in 2020. It signed multi-year contracts with robotaxi companies Waymo in 2023 and General Motors’ Cruise in 2024.

It also has partnerships with driverless companies Motional, Avride and Aurora to add automated services to its fleet. Uber’s ride-share rival, Lyft, works with Mobileye, May Mobility, Motional and Nexar to bring driverless tech to its customers.

The Economic Development Research Group estimated Uber contributed about $1.1 billion to Florida’s annual GDP in 2017, the most recent year for which data is available. That means if the company replaces its current workforce with robotaxis, the state could see an erosion of economic productivity.

Andrew Macdonald, Uber’s senior vice president of mobility, told The Wall Street Journal earlier this month that the pivot toward automation has long been in the works.

In preparation for a driverless future, the company has undertaken a full-scale infrastructure makeover, finding storage and charging space for its new fleet of electric vehicles and training mechanics to maintain them.

Newly minted Target associate Matthew Santos said he may have dodged a bullet when he quit driving for Uber. The 25-year-old Santa Fe human resources senior said he wasn’t earning enough to make the job worthwhile, and considering a robot could one day supplant him, he’s happy to have exited the market when he did.

Santos said he doubts Uber and Lyft have plans to protect drivers’ jobs as they introduce robotaxis to the market.

“Once they do get it up and running, I assume it's not going to be good for people who still want to make a living off of Uber,” Santos said. “They’re just doing what’s best for their bottom dollar, but I mean, at the end of the day, it’s a business, it’s a company, so I’m not surprised that’s what they want to do.”

Uber has disputed robotaxis will destroy jobs en masse. The company’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, recently told The New York Times that automation could unlock opportunities for displaced drivers in areas such as customer service, vehicle maintenance and recruitment.

The companies could not provide comment in time for publication.

Some drivers remain undaunted Andy Esteller, a 29-year-old Gainesville Uber driver, isn’t convinced a robot could easily replace him. He said human drivers will remain integral to Uber’s business model, regardless of the company’s plans for automation.

“Trust me, Uber is always gonna want more drivers on the road, especially on heavy days,” he said.

“The Uber driver is such a good liability because it’s my car; it’s my driving.”

Esteller explained that by contracting freelance drivers, Uber avoids financial responsibility for

VOLUME 119 - ISSUE 17

ISSN 0889-2423

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

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accidents, gas, insurance and vehicle maintenance.

As Uber transitions to a capitalintensive robotaxi model, it will have to spend billions upfront on equipment like cars and charging stations, a Morgan Stanley analyst told The Wall Street Journal in October. Later, it will be responsible for repairs and technological upgrades.

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Swirling questions and adoption hurdles The industry must also contend with existing deficiencies and consumer skepticism.

“There’s still the question of who is more efficient,” said Patricia Kio, an assistant professor in UF’s sustainability and the built environment program.

Riders in a rush may still opt for Uber and Lyft over robotaxis. Due to limited availability, self-driving autos generally take longer to hail.

Travel times may also be slower, as the cars are programmed to avoid complex shortcuts most human drivers can navigate. And unlike humans, robotaxis must adhere strictly to speed limits and traffic signs.

That’s why Kio thinks autonomous vehicles will never replace traditional cars; instead, the two will share the roads.

Although self-driving car proponents argue the vehicles offer safer transportation by curbing human error behind the wheel, that doesn’t mean people are ready to fling themselves into robotaxis. The public’s reticence to adopt the technology could undermine Uber and Lyft’s automated aspirations.

According to a Pew Research Center analysis, about six in ten adults say they wouldn’t ride in a robotaxi, and about 45% say they’d be uncomfortable driving alongside the vehicles.

What’s coming down the pike?

While Cruise and Waymo cars aren’t yet burning rubber down I-75, that’s about to change. Pruthvi Manjunatha, a researcher in UF’s civil and coastal engineering department, predicts the public will encounter autonomous vehicles more often within the next five years.

“I think we are right on the cusp of most of these technologies going from pilot to actual usage,” he said.

Autonomous shuttles are already operating in Gainesville, Orlando and Lake Nona, but robotaxis in the state are still undergoing tests.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025 ALLIGATOR 3

Gainesville celebrated with parades, concerts and plays MLK, from pg. 1

celebrating King’s message for peace, love and social change.

In celebration of King’s legacy, the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Florida, alongside the City of Gainesville, held events from Jan. 11 to Jan. 20.

Rodney Long, the president and founder of the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Florida, said the commission’s theme this year focuses on the idea of resilience and “not going back.”

Long has been involved with the commission since 1983.

“Regardless of who's in the White House — what administration is in the White House — we're going to continue to espouse those principles of nonviolent social change demonstrated by Dr. King, including equity and inclusion for all people,” Long said.

Despite the current political climate, Jan. 20 was still a day to reflect on who King was, Long said. He said he wants people to understand why King ultimately paid the sacrifice of his life, which gave millions of Americans the ability to sit at lunch counters and be treated equally despite the color of their skin.

“We're going to hold whoever's in the White House, whether it's a Democratic administration or a Republican administration, we’ll hold their feet to the fire so they

will make sure that all Americans are entitled to justice, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Long said.

Celebrating community To kick off the Jan. 20 celebration, the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Florida began by honoring various award recipients — including Cayden Parker, a senior at Santa Fe High School, who was awarded the 2025 Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Scholarship.

The scholarship requires students to write a 500 word essay on King’s ideals and principles and participate in a mandatory interview process with the MLK Education Committee.

The scholarship is given annually to students to support their college education and continue King’s legacy. Parker was awarded $15,200.

Afterward, over 50 people came together to march for the King Celebration Annual Commemorative Parade, an annual Gainesville tradition that began in 1982. Gainesville City Mayor Harvey Ward marched alongside community members and thanked attendees for showing up despite the nearfreezing temperatures.

Parade attendees marched from East University Avenue to Waldo Road, north of Citizens

Field. Among attendees was 12-year-old Zephaniah Shepherd, who said King means a lot to him.

“This one Black man, Dr. Martin Luther King [Jr.], spoke up for us,” Shepherd said. “He did lots of stuff for us, including the Black community.”

Other community members — of all age groups — expressed appreciation for King and said they were excited to share the civil rights leader’s message of peace and equality despite political differences among the attendees.

Charlie Jackson, a 60-year-old military veteran, attended the parade and said Martin Luther King Jr. Day is about freedom and democracy.

He noted this year was special to him due to the holiday falling on Trump’s inauguration.

Presidential inaugurations always occur Jan. 20, and Martin Luther King Jr. day always takes place on the third Monday of January.

The last time a presidential inauguration landed on Martin Luther King Jr. day was in 2013 during former President Barack Obama’s inauguration.

“We're also going to deliver today an inauguration that's not going to involve climbing the walls in Washington,” Jackson said. “It’s going to involve putting President Trump into

Stakeholders weigh in on the search PRESIDENT, from pg. 1

A turnaround president Listening session attendees — particularly donors — stressed the need for UF’s next president to recover the university’s standing in national rankings.

Under Sasse, UF lost its heralded Top 5 status in the U.S. News and World Report’s public university rankings, dropping spots for two consecutive years. The Wall Street Journal briefly ranked UF as the #1 public university during Sasse’s tenure, but it plummeted to 34th the following year.

“I think we have a lot of repair work to do,” said Joelen Merkel, a former UF trustee and current board member of the university’s fundraising foundation.

For Merkel, Sasse’s successor doesn’t just need to turn around rankings; they need to restore UF’s reputation.

“We’ve lost our way a bit,” Merkel said, citing a lack of transparency around Sasse’s decision-making and outsized expenses, which are

now undergoing a state-mandated audit.

The Alligator first reported in August that Sasse tripled annual spending out of the president’s office during his 17-month tenure, channeling millions to consulting contracts and salaries for Capitol Hill staff who worked remotely while racking up significant travel expenses.

The governor’s office called for an audit, which Merkel said must be completed before the next president is named to ensure accountability and financial stability.

“I can't imagine anyone stepping up to the table without knowing the answers to the questions that were raised [about Sasse’s spending],” Merkel said. “Primarily, how did this happen?”

A political shield Students and professors called for a leader who can act as a buffer against the conservative politics of Tallahassee — a role in which Sasse was markedly more successful than his predecessor Kent Fuchs.

Armand Raichandani// Alligator Staff

A crowd gathers for the MLK Day parade on University Avenue on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. The Honorable Rodney J. Long presents the 41st anniversary. office in a free country, in a free nation, doing it the way it should be.”

Marvin Buchannon, a 66-yearold Gainesville resident, said the holiday is about coming together as a country. Trump’s inauguration falling on the same day as King’s national holiday shouldn’t necessarily be significant, Buchannon added.

“This president is coming in a very, very tense political landscape,” one student said.

“It's important that over the entirety of their tenure, they keep the student body's priorities first.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican state lawmakers have sought to do away with diversity initiatives at state universities and restrict how subjects like race, gender and sexuality are taught in classrooms. When Fuchs yielded to pressure from Tallahassee on issues concerning academic freedom and pandemic-era mask and vaccine mandates, he was pegged as a president of Gator Nation who wouldn’t bite.

Sasse, meanwhile, retained some political savvy from his term-and-a-half as a U.S. Senator. Under Sasse’s leadership, the university waved through a ban on publicly funded diversity programs to comply with a new state law, but opposed the DeSantis administration's order to shut down UF’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter amid First Amendment concerns.

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ing UF’s rankings and reputation, attendees said the next president must reconnect with the campus community. Sasse, known for his reclusive style, was described by listening session attendees as a president who was distant and disengaged from professors and the student body.

Sasse spent the first leg of his presidency working behind-the-scenes, during which students plastered posters of his face across campus that read: “MISSING!” and “Have you seen this man?” It was a far cry from Fuchs, who could regularly be spotted chatting and taking selfies with passersby, occasionally bussing students to class on a golf cart.

“That was a gift,” one staffer said. ”It would be very nice to see again.”

As one student put it: UF’s next president needs to be a “spirit animal” for faculty and students.

“In the spirit of the Gator,” the student said, “it needs to be someone who is regenerative.”

A visible leader Beyond fending off Tallahassee and repair-

Bad Outdoorsmen

He said he hopes King’s message doesn’t get overshadowed by the current political climate.

“We have to think on a higher level to learn to love and respect one another regardless of what's going on,” Buchannon said.

@shainedavison sdavison@alligator.org @SofiaMeyer84496 smeyers@alligator.org

4 ALLIGATOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025

‘It’s just not liveable’: UF graduate students navigate on-campus housing shortages MAGUIRE VILLAGE AND UNIVERSITY VILLAGE SOUTH ARE SCHEDULED FOR DEMOLITION

By Shaine Davison Alligator Staff Writer

Nestled adjacent to Southwest Recreation Center and the Florida Museum of Natural History, Maguire Village and University Village South were once bustling living spaces, acting as a cultural haven for graduate students and their families.

But after the university announced plans to demolish the complexes in 2020, it stopped allowing residents to renew their two-year leases. By summer 2023, the communities were completely deserted.

Building entrances are now boarded up and apartment windows are without panes. Playgrounds stand derelict with swingless swing sets and sun-bleached slides, once painted in bold shades of orange and blue. Yellowed pandemic-era advisories and event fliers cling to some of the units’ walls — including one for a 2022 party at Maguire’s pool, now steeped in murky green water.

The university said Maguire and UVS — constructed in the early 1970s — were too old and would cost an estimated $35 million to renovate. After delays and years of protests from graduate students, the UF Board of Trustees recently approved a $10.1 million plan to demolish the complexes by the end of 2025.

As on-campus housing shrinks and the demolitions loom, graduate students are sounding alarm bells over what they see as an affordable housing crisis. And a small batch of activists are making one final push to save Maguire and UVS. “It was a place where people lived and had events and built community and trust,” said Derek LaMontagne, a 39-year-old chemistry graduate student and president of the Mayor’s Council, a group representing graduate students who live on campus. “It’s just going to be lost.”

Advocacy efforts LaMontagne, a former Maguire resident, spearheaded advocacy efforts. Since December, he’s advocated for a pause on the plans at public comment sessions during meetings with the UF Faculty Senate and Alachua County Commission.

He created a Change.org petition, which currently has over 1,600 signatures, in 2021 to help save the complex from demolition.

He is also one of the organizers of a coalition launched in 2022 to save the complex.

“All we’re asking is a pause to the demolition,” LaMontagne told county commissioners at a Jan. 14 meeting. “That’s one of the only cards we have left.”

The complexes were scheduled to be knocked down in the Ssummer of 2024, but it has been delayed.

LaMontagne said the university’s reasoning for destroying Maguire and UVS is “misleading” and “disrespectful” of the units’ affordability and cultural value.

Student Sen. Max Banach, a 21-year-old electrical engineering and economics senior (Change-Graduate) surveyed the property and observed demolition preparations, such as the boarded-up second floor entry walkways. Banach looked through some windows into units, taking note of the clean carpets and standard appliances. “By and large, they look livable to me,” he said.

The UF Student Senate has passed two resolutions against the demolition of Maguire and UVS in 2021 and 2023. Banach co-authored a 2025 resolution, which is in the works. However, UF Student Body President John Brinkman voted alongside the UF Board of Trustees to approve funding for the demolition.

“I think that’s quite frankly the sickest thing out of it,” Banach said. “If we even want to care about graduate students, then the first project in that 10-year implementation strategy ought to be new graduate and family housing facilities on campus.”

Graduate housing issues The demolitions, first announced in 2020, will result in the destruction of 44 brick buildings that once housed 348 apartments.

The closures dropped the total graduate on-campus bed count for graduate students by 36% to under 1,000 beds total.

According to the university, nearly twothirds of the roughly 15,000 graduate students currently enrolled at UF are on a two- to threeyear waitlist to receive lease offers for the remaining on-campus graduate housing units — Corry Village, Tanglewood Village and Diamond Village.

Even before the demolitions, UF graduate students had fewer on-campus housing options than undergraduates. For the Fall 2019 semester, there were four undergraduates per one on-campus bed but about 11 graduates per bed in graduate housing.

With minimum graduate stipends starting at $19,200, paying rent can quickly eat away at annual salaries.

Cassie Urbenz, a 24-year-old graphic design and visual communications student and the Graduate Assistants United president, cited a

Kade Sowers // Alligator Staff

The Maguire Village playground stands undisturbed on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.

2021 GAU survey thatwhich found that 20% of UF graduate respondents were unable to pay for rent due to money shortages.

With those money shortages comes, “A lot of international students getting roped into really expensive leases,” Urbenz said. Graduate students are not paid enough to afford off-campus housing, Urbenz added.

To resolve the shortage of available space on campus, UF has turned to private-public partnerships with local off-campus apartments to remedy the affordable housing shortage for graduate students. However,But residents say rent for the only off-campus graduate housing apartment, The Continuum, is too high compared to on-campus options and the living conditions are poor.

“The Continuum has been a disaster,” Urbenz said. “Their maintenance has been pretty bad.”

Rent at the Continuum’s less expensive units is about one-third higher than on-campus options. The gap climbs to over 50% among pricier apartments, with on-campus costs topping out at $1,000 while the Continuum goes up to $1,500. While The Continuum is still cheaper than the average Gainesville apartment, on-campus rents remain a much cheaper option.

Josh Brawn, a 32-year-old UF faculty member and organizer of The Continuum’s tenant union, has been a resident for more than a year. When Brawn first moved in more than a year ago, he said his original unit’s metal light

fixtures were covered in rust. Residents have also complained about mold around the property, he said, and broken windows have gone unfixed for months.

Future graduate housing plans — or lack thereof In the five years since the demolition was first announced, the university hasn’t made it clear what the space once occupied by Maguire and UVS residents will be used for. Neither has it announced plans to build on-campus housing replacements for graduate students.

Potential future uses of the space range from “housing to dining to parking and transportation,” according to UF Housing & Residence Life.

Kevin Senior, a 26-year-old graduate research assistant and president of the Graduate Student Council, said it’s “an insult” to graduate students that there are no definite plans for additional on-campus graduate housing. Senior is a member of a graduate housing student subcommittee, which aims to look for future graduate housing.

Despite his efforts, Senior said he fears poor graduate student housing conditions and the destruction of Maguire and UVS are inevitable. “[Maguire and UVS] are going to be taken down. It’s just a matter of time,” he said.

UF didn’t respond in time for publication. @shainedavison sdavison@alligator.org

Trump taps former UF official for education role Penny Schwinn was a member of former UF President Ben Sasse’s cabinet

By Annie Wang & Garrett Shanley Alligator Staff Writers

Penny Schwinn, a member of former UF President Ben Sasse’s cabinet, has landed a position in President Donald Trump’s administration.

On Jan. 17, Trump announced Schwinn, UF’s inaugural vice president for PK-12 and prebachelor’s programs, as Deputy

Secretary of Education — the second highest-ranking education official in the country.

In a now-deleted post on his Truth Social platform, Trump touted Schwinn’s track record in education — and misspelled her name.

“I am pleased to announce that Peggy Schwinn will be our next United States Deputy Secretary of Education,” Trump wrote.

Trump notably omitted

Schwinn’s stint at UF under Sasse, who Trump was bitter rivals with on Capitol Hill. Sasse, a former Republican U.S. Senator from Nebraska, was vocal in his criticism of Trump and refused to support his presidential campaigns.

Schwinn previously served as the Commissioner of Education in Tennessee before Sasse hired her in 2023. Schwinn worked for UF remotely from her

home in Nashville, Tennessee, occasionally flying to campus using university funds.

Her tenure was marked by a controversial plan to overhaul P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, a Pre-K-12 public laboratory school based in Gainesville. In April 2024, Schwinn proposed a selective admission process in an effort to elevate the school’s rankings into Florida’s top 10.

However, her plan never came into fruition due to pushback from Gainesville locals and the city commission.

Schwinn also worked with Sasse to create UF K-12 charter schools across the state, but the initiative was discontinued by UF President Kent Fuchs. @wynwg awang@alligator.org @garrettshanley gshanley@alligator.org

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025 ALLIGATOR 5

Gainesville sees increase in theft, burglaries during holiday season GAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED OVER 100 REPORTS IN DECEMBER

By Kaysheri Haffner Alligator Staff Writer

Porch pirates and holiday scams were some unwanted presents at the doorstep of Gainesville residents during December.

Over the holiday season, there’s a marked increase in residents reporting they were victims of package theft or scammers. Theft and burglary-related crimes make up an average of almost 30% of reported incidents year-round, increasing by 2% during December, according to data from DataGNV. Shoplifting is an issue at retail stores, Gainesville Police Department Detective Sgt. Nick Ferrara said, but residents need to be wary of package delivery and scams, too.

“Some of these people are so brazen about how they do it,” he said.

Ferrara said installing video surveillance on front doors is one of the best measures against porch pirates.

It allows police to identify the suspect and track them down, he said.

“It really comes down to if somebody has really good video footage,” he said. “But again, sometimes people just get away with it.”

Ferrara also warned against falling for common scams that become more active during the holidays.

These often present in the form of fake emails, calls and text messages claiming various fictional scenarios, he said.

In the past, Ferrara said GPD

employed holiday details where officers were paid overtime to increase their presence in shopping centers.

In more recent years, he said there have been fewer of these assignments.

“Truthfully, we are short-handed, and we’re working on it. It is difficult to get enough people out there,” Ferrara said. “When your resources are limited, there’s only so much you can do.”

In December 2024, GPD responded to over 100 reports of theft and burglary-related incidents. Throughout the rest of the year, theft and burglary remain the most common crimes in Gainesville, according to DataGNV. Lenny Roque, a 20-year-old UF chemical engineering junior, said he experienced it first-hand after returning to his apartment in The Retreat apartment complex after winter break. When Roque walked through his door on Jan. 10, he said he noticed something odd.

“It almost felt like it was cleaned out,” Roque said. “Then we turned around and saw a broken door.”

It wasn’t long before he realized he had been burglarized over the holidays. Roque said he and his roommates discovered the robber had taken several items and broken into multiple rooms. Roque’s boombox and laptop were stolen from his bedroom.

Roque said his roommates had a watch and shoes stolen, and there was evidence their bedroom doors had been forced open. However, Roque’s bedroom door showed no signs of forced entry, he said.

“Someone might have spoofed

it. The officer said someone maybe copied it because it’s an electronic fob,” Roque said. “We don’t know too much as to how they got in.”

Oddly enough, he said, cash and other electronics in the apartment were left behind.

Roque said he hasn’t received any updates about the case from GPD. He said he would feel better knowing how the burglars got in.

“The first night, trying to fall asleep was a little strange,” he said.

“I feel like once I know how they entered, I would feel like I would sleep better at night.”

In response to the break-in, Roque said he and his roommates decided to invest in a Ring camera

and possibly add cameras inside their apartment for added security.

Roque said he wants to add one in his room as a deterrent against burglars.

Angel Berrios, a 22-year-old UF digital arts and sciences senior, had a similar experience. However, he said his Ring camera saved the day.

Berrios lives in a house across the street from UFORA Gainesville with eight other students, and all of them were away with family when a burglar broke in on Christmas Day. One of his roommates saw on their Ring camera that someone was in the house and quickly called the police.

Berrios said the burglar tried to

steal smaller valuables, including jewelry and a speaker. He said the previous residents had faced troubles with robberies, so he and his roommates installed two Ring cameras when they moved in.

“That was a lifesaver,” he said.

“He probably would have stolen more stuff if we didn’t have that.”

While Berrios said he’s not worried about another burglary while he and his roommates are in town for classes, he is concerned they might face another during a future break.

“I definitely think it could happen again,” Berrios said. @kaysheri_h khaffner@alligator.org

Del Halter // Alligator Staff

Winter holidays can introduce a rise in crime as Gainesville residents leave their homes. Recent trends show the differences in activity during these times.

State plans return on investment study for UF’s women’s and gender studies program, three other majors THE STUDY IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THE SEMESTER

By Sofia Meyers Alligator Staff Writer

How high is the “return on investment” for a gender studies diploma from UF? And how does it stack up against a finance degree?

That’s what the UF Board of Governors, the political appointees who oversee the state university system, want to know by the end of March.

The board is currently soliciting bids for a system-wide pilot study on the return on investment for degrees from five academic programs: finance, nursing, civil engineering, computer science and women’s and gender studies.

At UF, computer science is the only program from the board’s list not slated for review.

The pilot study will weigh the programs’ operational costs including faculty and staff salaries.

The board isn’t required to commission the study under any state law, and it’s unclear how much the study will cost taxpayers or how its findings could factor into future funding decisions for the selected programs.

A Board of Governors spokesperson wrote in an email statement that if the pilot study’s findings are “worthwhile,” then the board will

move forward with a more comprehensive program review across the university system.

Status and concerns for women’s studies Some Democratic lawmakers and non-UF professors are questioning why the state is putting women’s and gender studies under the microscope alongside four politically palatable, high-value majors.

“The very lopsided selection of the programs that they’re studying raises questions about their goals and intents,” said Amy Reid, the former director of New College of Florida’s now-dissolved gender studies program. “It’s hard to see the benefit of doing the comparative analysis of pistachios and pineapples.”

Florida is one of an increasing number of states that have sought to axe gender studies programs. Gov. Ron DeSantis and state lawmakers have argued the programs don’t prepare students for the workforce and are a waste of taxpayer dollars.

“You’re going to have a truck driver pay for someone’s degree in gender studies. No, that doesn’t make sense,” DeSantis said at a 2023 rally in Iowa.

But the Florida Legislature has stopped short of banning gender studies and other subjects outright because doing so is legally tricky. A 2023 bill that would have removed any programs teaching critical race theory, gender studies or intersectionality from state universities’ offerings was ultimately tabled after State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-42) and other lawmakers brought up First Amendment

concerns.

“This has been a slow burn,” said Eskamani, who studied political science at the University of Central Florida. “Before you know it, you blink and the programs are gone.”

Eskamani said she suspects that the state will use the study to justify pulling funding during the upcoming legislative session. “They were unable to strip the programs based on content,” she said. “Now, they’re attempting to defund the programs.”

Eskamani also raised concerns about the potential cost of the study. The Board of Governors originally planned to ask the state legislature for less than $750,000 in appropriations to pay for a system-wide review that included more programs, but the request was nixed in favor of the smaller-scale pilot study.

The Board of Governors spokesperson didn’t answer a question about how much the board intends to spend on the pilot study.

“It’s a huge waste of money,” Eskamani said, adding that it would be better spent on professors’ salaries, scholarships and campus infrastructure.

Why study return on investment?

Michael Itzkowitz, a UF sociology alum and former U.S. Department of Education official, said it’s uncommon for states to commission return on investment studies and that they are typically performed on a national scale.

Itzkowitz, while in the U.S. DOE, founded the College Scorecard, an online tool that tracks post-graduation salaries and student

debt for different majors across universities nationwide. He said the most common way to calculate the return on investment for certain programs is by comparing out-of-pocket costs against how much students would earn with and without a degree.

Itzkowitz said graduates of UF’s women’s and gender studies program generally fare well in the workforce and are able to pay off student debt on par with other majors, though starting salaries for gender studies graduates tend to be lower than other majors.

“Look, if you’re a sociology major like I am, you are not going to earn as much as a computer scientist,” Itzkowitz said. “Those are just the facts. Any findings in this study will not illuminate anything more than we already know.”

UF students who earned bachelor’s degrees in ethnic, cultural minority, gender and group studies in 2019 or 2020 earned an average $26,000 salary the first year following their graduation, according to DOE data.

Graduates gave about 11% of their salary to loan payments each month during that period, making their debt-to-earnings ratio the second-worst among UF subject areas for that cohort. Only dance majors fared worse at 12% per month.

Read the rest online at alligator.org. @SofiaMeyer84496 smeyers@alligator.org

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025 www.alligator.org/section/the_avenue

MUSIC

Twin indie-folk duo Lighthearted talks Playground and new single The identical twin sisters from Georgia discuss their new single and performance at Playground Music + Arts Festival

By Juliana DeFilippo Avenue Staff Writer

When Gracie Huffman came up with the chorus for Lighthearted’s newly released single, “Borrowed,” she didn’t know if there was anything there. So, she turned to her twin sister and bandmate, Eliza Lemmon, for some advice.

“She sent me a voicemail and was like ‘I don’t know about this, let me know what you think,’” Lemmon said. “And I let it sit for a while, and it just kept getting stuck in my head.”

Huffman writes most of the songs for Lighthearted, the band she started with her twin sister Lemmon. Huffman started exploring themes of loss and permanence as she crafted “Borrowed,” calling upon images of the rising and setting sun or ebbing tide. She wanted to capture the feeling of “always saying goodbye” as she and her sister sang over a melodic guitar track.

Once she began exploring this idea, Huffman said she found that time was not the only thing she feels she borrows in her everyday life. In the song’s bridge, Huffman sings “I even borrowed this song until it came out of my throat.”

She recalls that the song allowed

her to realize the power in recovery and healing.

“It’s a beautiful thing that pain like that can’t be just erased or forgotten about, because it’s a reminder that healing is possible, and that is permanent,” Huffman said.

The 24-year-old identical twins are the founding members of the Athens, Georgia, based indie-folk duo Lighthearted, and they released their single “Borrowed” Jan. 3. Although they formed the band in 2019, the two have been playing music together since childhood. The twins’ parents fostered an appreciation for music, prompting them to take up instruments like the acoustic guitars they play together when performing.

Throughout their time working together as musicians, Lighthearted has found their twin dynamic influences their career in various ways.

While on tour in 2023 following the release of their debut album “from here on out,” they found bickering is unavoidable. But the connection they share makes their collaboration more meaningful.

“I know she’s always going to be there for me, and if I mess up, that’s cool,” Huffman said. “But if I do really well, she’s also going to champion me.”

Sydney Johnson // Alligator Staff

Nineteen-year-old Elin Ebner and 18-year-old Jabril Bachu pose for a photo taken by 19-year-old Faith Frank as they sit on the lawn during the Playground Music + Arts Festival at Heartwood Soundstage on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.

Although Huffman is primarily focused on songwriting and Lemmon takes on managerial duties, the sisters are constantly striving to learn from one another. Their upcoming album features a song called “My Sweet Time,” which both sisters co-wrote.

“I think we’re both finding ways to meet each other in our strengths and learn from each other,” Lemmon said. “I see Gracie as a great

songwriter. I want to meet Gracie where she is, and be a learner of her process.”

When Lighthearted was contacted about performing at Playground Music + Arts Festival on Jan. 18, they looked forward to performing alongside many of the bands they had looked up to, including flipturn and The Brook and The Bluff.

Madeline Jarman — the bassist for flipturn, which has become an

indie sensation since the start of their career in Gainesville — helped found Playground. She said the festival seeks new bands every year to expand the indie music community.

“Every year, we’re always looking for ways we can improve and make this just an amazing day for everybody,” she said. “I would say the energy and excitement is the same, but every year we try to bring something a little bit different from the year before.”

Lighthearted was the only duo who performed at Playground.

The sisters have found the style of stripped-down instrumentals with an emphasis on their vocals allows them to convey the messages of their songs more authentically.

They performed their Playground set with one electric guitar and one acoustic, hoping it resonated with audiences.

“Our hope is that people would see our humanness and the way that we struggle with certain things, or really appreciate certain things,” Lemmon said. “And I hope that we can bring some fresh perspective to people who haven’t heard of music before.” @JulianaDeF58101 jdefillipo@alligator.org

SOCIAL MEDIA

How do UF students feel about the TikTok ban?

GENERATION Z QUESTIONS FREE SPEECH AND DATA PRIVACY

By Sabrina Castro Avenue Staff Writer

On a crisp 60-degree Friday morning, UF’s campus almost seemed idyllic. Beneath a cloudless blue sky, students bustled around the Plaza of the Americas, coffee cups in hand and backpacks slung over shoulders, soaking in the rare instance of warm weather in the midst of winter.

But while the weather seemed to lift spirits, the news of the morning cast a shadow over the day. The United States Supreme Court upheld a controversial law banning TikTok, the popular social media app, leaving many students stunned and frustrated.

The ruling, issued early Friday morning, came as part of a larger conversation about national security. The popular social media

platform with over 170 million users in the U.S. alone has long faced scrutiny from the nation’s government and citizens alike over its ties to China and allegations of data collection practices that could compromise user privacy.

The court’s decision marked the culmination of months of legal battles and debates over the balance between free speech and safeguarding national interests.

“I can see the danger as an American citizen and as a Chinese person,” said UF English and literature senior Anneliese Hoffman.

“I can see how it’s getting a little shaky with upholding certain rights to the public but also the danger to national security.”

Hoffman sat in a sunny patch in Turlington Plaza, chatting with a friend and catching up on local news. Hoffman said although she does use social media, she doesn’t frequent TikTok, mainly consuming short-form videos through Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts.

Yet for many students, the ban is more than a policy decision; it’s a disruption to a

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platform woven into the fabric of Gen Z’s daily life. Hoffman reflected on TikTok’s deeper significance beyond the memes, social trends and viral dances.

“Gen Z has a very interesting relationship with TikTok, because it was the app that came to the forefront primarily during the pandemic,” Hoffman said. “It serves as not only entertainment but also, at times, critical news.”

For UF and other state universities, TikTok has been banned under campus Wi-Fi since April 2023 following the State University System Board of Governors Emergency Regulation 3.0075.

UF mechanical engineering sophomore, Aarnav Gautam, questioned whether or not this was a well-founded decision.

For the 19-year-old, the debate surrounding the nationwide TikTok ban made him think more about local data privacy concerns. He pointed out what he sees as a double standard in the reasoning behind the ban. “[People] are realizing they’re saying,

‘Oh, the Chinese government is stealing your data,’” he said. “And while that may be true, you are also getting that data taken [by] American companies.”

Other students shared a similar opposition, viewing the ban as an overreach. Max Kappalman, a UF political science and psychology senior, called the app a “virtual third place,” or a place for people to connect outside of home and work, for many members of Gen Z. He questioned whether alternative solutions had been thoroughly explored, referencing social media star Mr. Beast who posted on X, formerly Twitter, with the intention to buy TikTok. “I don’t believe that they should have gone as far as to banning the app,” Kappalman said.

“There were many people, I think, that could have stepped in and maybe helped with that.” @sabs_wurld scastro@alligator.org

Caimán

Qué cualidades busca el comité de selección en el próximo presidente universitario. Leer más en la página 11.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025 ALLIGATOR 7

FILM

Florida Film Lab offers local film development as photography picks up THE LAB IS THE FIRST LOCAL FILM DEVELOPMENT SITE SINCE COMMUNITY DARKROOM CLOSURE TWO YEARS AGO

By Sabrina Castro Avenue Staff Writer

In a world defined by instant gratification where packages arrive with the tap of a button and photos are snapped and shared in seconds, a nostalgic rebellion is quietly unfolding.

It begins with a click. Not the digital tap of a touchscreen, but the visceral, metallic clack of a 35mm film shutter. The sound is deliberate and final — a snapshot frozen in time. The moment captured won’t appear instantly on a glowing screen. Instead, it disappears, tucked away on a strip of film, waiting to be coaxed to life through the alchemy of development.

This is the allure of film photography: a deliberate, almost meditative antidote to the on-demand culture of today. Its connoisseurs crave the imperfections of light leaks, dust specks and the dreamlike grain that no filter or application can replicate.

Major film photography companies have reported significant surges in demand for film products in the last decade. In June, the Pentax 17 was released as the first film camera from a major brand since the early 2000s. According to The Verge, Kodak temporarily halted film production in November to upgrade its Rochester, New York, factory, aiming to enhance capacity and meet the growing demand in still photography sectors.

So, why are so many 21st century storytellers trading megapixels for negatives?

Miguel Cardona’s journey began with architecture and most recently developed into the creation of Florida Film Club for local enthusiasts. The 33-year-old Gainesville film lab owner was initially drawn to photography as a way to capture architectural models during his time at UF, relying on the precision and convenience of digital cameras. He ultimately pivoted to event and product photography during college, turning his hobby into a job and extinguishing his once burning architectural passion.

“I think it’s important to do things that feed your soul when you really enjoy something, because obviously when I first started, I had no idea that I would be turning it into a business,” Cardona said. “Finding a way to turn it into a service for others as well is where the entrepreneurial spirit comes in.”

That’s when Cardona dove into film photography headfirst, developing his own rolls of film at home. He turned his home into a makeshift darkroom, storing bottles of chemicals and dyeing negatives hanging from makeshift clotheslines. At first, he used whatever old cameras he could find — hand-me-downs from family, thrift store finds or trades with other film photography enthusiasts.

In 2023, an accidental discovery took his passion to the next level. Cardona stumbled upon a Facebook post where a Missouri man was selling his late father’s camera collection.

Intrigued, Cardona reached out and learned the collection was enormous, featuring boxes upon boxes of vintage cameras and lenses all for an astonishingly low price.

Without hesitation, he packed his car after a full work day and drove over 15 hours from Gainesville to Missouri, where he was met with a U-Haul worth of cameras and equipment. Cardona loaded the truck and headed back to Gainesville, his mind racing with possibilities.

Back home, a trade with a retiring local photography professor added the cherry on top to his growing collection — a full darkroom setup with a highly sought-after Jobo

Evan Stice holds a retro camera at Simons nightclub on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. film processor to develop film prints, acquired in exchange for a few carefully selected cameras.

Piece by piece, Cardona’s hobby transformed into something much larger. He began selling and trading pieces from the Missouri collection, carefully reinvesting the profits to purchase professional-grade equipment.

Slowly but surely, the idea of a full-service film lab in Gainesville began to take shape.

Soon, Cardona’s vision came to life. In a water closet hidden behind a red door in a quaint, unsuspecting brick building in downtown Gainesville, he began developing film for personal work. Last June, the full-sized room next to the restroom became available for rent. That’s when he took the leap of faith.

“I was like, ‘OK, well, this will give me the opportunity to get a lot of the other equipment in place and have a dedicated space to then offer this as a service,’” Cardona said. “I’ve spent the entirety of the fall semester getting the space to be functional, learning the equipment.”

Thus, Cardona’s brainchild was born: the Florida Film Club, a Gainesville film lab that officially opened in September.

Though the lab’s existence is in its adolescent stages, according to Vance Herbener, a full-time environmental scientist and one of

the lab’s part-time film developers, the lab has been well received by the Gainesville arts and small business communities.

Herbener was put in contact with Cardona by a friend who knew he’d been a film photography hobbyist. Herbener’s journey into film photography began just two years ago, sparked by a camera long forgotten in his parents’ garage.

“The combination of loving old tech and the unique look of film photos drew me in,” Herbener said. “I think there’s this adage of ‘you’ve got to romanticize your own life,’ and film photography helps me do that.”

Herbener’s profession is often tied to ultramodern technology, but this doesn’t stop him from taking his film camera with him during field days on the job.

Initially, Herbener sent his rolls of film to labs by mail for development, but the costs quickly added up. A year and a half ago, he took matters into his own hands, learning to develop black-and-white film in his bathroom, similar to Cardona.

“The lab is very much a work in progress that we hope can become the place where local film photographers can buy quality film, cameras, scans and prints,” Herbener said.

Until recently, Gainesville’s film photography enthusiasts had no brick-and-mortar

Courtesy of Sydney Hinton

labs to call their own. The last community darkroom closed its doors over two years ago, forcing photographers to mail their precious rolls of film to far-off labs. It was a costly and nerve-wracking process, plagued by the risks of lost packages, sun damage or simply waiting weeks to see the fruits of their creative labor.

Whether it’s disposable cameras from the drugstore or dug-up hand-me-down pointand-shoots, Generation Z is discovering the once lost technology for the first time.

For 19-year-old UF art student Sydney Hinton, film was introduced to her life in middle school through the viewfinder of her mom’s old film camera, which she still shoots on today. Being able to develop and scan her film at a lab in town has allowed her to grow and develop her skills, she said.

For many Gen Z film enthusiasts, it’s their first taste of a world where every shot counts, where film rolls are finite and the magic lies in the waiting.

“I think there’s something really special about film photography that you don’t get with a digital photo,” said Hinton. “Each image becomes so much more valuable.” @sabs_wurld scastro@alligator.org

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025 www.alligator.org/section/opinions

Column

Why New Year’s resolutions still matter in a distracted world

T

he annual ritual of a New Year’s resolution is often met with joking skepticism. Over the years, its fleeting nature has earned resolutions a reputation of glorified pipedreams. Yet when a new year dawns, millions of people can’t resist the allure of a fresh start and the promise of a better future.

For many, the new year means new goals, routines or mindsets. This collective moment of change with resolutions, despite its short-lived reputation, still has importance in a distracted world.

In today’s world, distractions are everywhere — from constant notifications on our phones to the endless noise of daily life. This makes striving toward resolutions even more significant. In a sea of distractions, resolutions serve as anchors, providing direction and purpose.

Three in 10 Americans made at least one resolution for 2024, and half of this group reported making more than one, according to Pew Research Center. However, 13% of resolutionists say they haven’t kept a single resolution a month into the year.

Sticking to New Year’s resolutions are undeniably challenging, but that doesn’t mean we should give up. Pushing through difficulties and setbacks can ultimately lead to personal growth and self-discovery.

The first step toward achievement is the power of intention. Setting clear, positive objectives can guide our focus and

energy toward meaningful goals. This doesn’t mean to employ wishful thinking, but to create a roadmap for our efforts and keep ourselves motivated even when it gets tough.

However, even with the best intentions, the journey toward achieving our resolutions isn’t always perfect.

Embracing those imperfections and acknowledging our flaws allows us to learn and grow, rather than becoming disheartened by them. After all, progress is rarely linear, and it’s through these challenges that we build resilience and find long-term success.

Moreover, staying motivated is often fueled by the shared sense of improvement and community that flourishes during this time of year. This collective momentum to growth can inspire and sustain individual goals.

Little evidence shows that race, ethnicity, gender or partisanship affects who makes resolutions, according to the Pew Research Center. This emphasizes the universal nature of New Year’s resolutions, highlighting that this annual tradition transcends boundaries and unites people from all walks of life in their pursuit of self-improvement.

This communal energy is different from other goal-setting moments during the year. The turning of a new calendar year is symbolically powerful. It represents a clean slate, prompting people to reflect on the past and set visions for the future.

During New Year’s, there is often increased awareness and support for resolutions. Friends, family and even colleagues

are more likely to discuss and share their goals. Talking about what we want to achieve with those close to us creates a feeling of accountability.

This social support network can be a powerful motivator. Knowing that others are aware of our goals can encourage us to stay on track and persevere. So, sharing our progress Isis Snow and challenges with others provides opinions@alligator.org a sense of camaraderie and collective resilience.

While maintaining resolutions can be difficult, the efforts invested — setting clear intentions, embracing imperfections and seeking support — are invaluable. In our distracted world, where focus can easily waver, these resolutions serve as guidelines to the self-improvement we seek within ourselves.

New Year’s resolutions may have a reputation for being short-lived, but their importance lies in the continuous effort to improve ourselves and our lives. In the chaos of modern life, resolutions remind us to pause, reflect and aspire.

Despite the disruptions that permeate our daily lives, the tradition of New Year’s resolutions remains a beacon of hope and determination.

Isis Snow is a UF journalism and sports media junior.

Column

Blaming the kicker misses the point

I

t’s fourth down in a football game, there’s less than 10 seconds left and the score is neck-and-neck as the kicking unit walks onto the field. The game is on the line.

It’s a scene familiar to American football fans, as is the tendency to place the blame for the game’s outcome squarely on the kicker’s shoulders. This anger, while seemingly justified to fans, is ultimately misplaced.

Sports are played by humans, and humans make mistakes. But, this imperfection is part of what makes sports fun and worth watching.

These games aren’t just about physical skill; it’s seeing who can outsmart their opponent without leaving any weaknesses vulnerable — who is able to not crumble under the pressure.

That said, football is a game of countless small battles. Each game has around 140 plays, with all 24 on-field players contributing in ways that can tip the scales in their favor. On any given play, a wide receiver might beat his cornerback to get open, or an offensive lineman might read the defense perfectly to keep the pocket intact for the quarterback. These moments matter, and cumulatively, they determine the outcome of the game.

But here’s the challenge: these micro-battles are hard to quantify, and their individual impact often gets lost in the sea of plays. To address this, I’ve created a crude scale to classify the most notable game actions: 1. Directly Game-Changing Plays: Plays that directly lead to or prevent scoring.

2. Likely Game-Changing Plays: Plays

that create scenarios with a high probability of leading to or preventing scoring.

3. Possibly Game-Changing Plays: Plays that lead to scenarios where scoring, or preventing a score, is possible where it wouldn’t have been before.

Let’s apply this scale to this year’s Orange Bowl, where No. 7 Notre Dame earned a spot in the National Championship with a dramatic 41-yard field goal in the final seconds to beat No. 6 Penn State. While this field goal was the final turning point, other moments in the game were just as critical.

In this game, I identified four examples of directly game-changing plays: 1. In the first quarter, Notre Dame intercepted a pass at their own 0-yard line, but the play was nullified by a holding penalty. This play would have prevented Penn State from scoring a field goal later in the same drive.

2. In the second quarter, Penn State threw an incomplete pass at the goal line. The pass was on target but dropped by Nicholas Singleton, forcing PSU to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown.

3. In the fourth quarter, Notre Dame intercepted a pass, but the play was nullified by a pass interference penalty.

This play would have prevented Penn State from scoring a touchdown two plays later.

4. In the fourth quarter, Notre Dame

scored a touchdown off a 54-yard pass to Jaden Greathouse, who was left wide open after cornerback Cam Miller tripped.

Additionally, I identified three likely gamechanging plays: 1. In the second quarter, Penn State successfully converted on 4th & 2, leading to their first touchdown of the game. If they had failed, Notre Dame would have taken possession.

2. In the second quarter, Penn State sacked Notre Dame’s quarterback after a high snap on the 15-yard line, pushing them back to the 23. This forced Notre Dame to settle for a field goal instead of a potential touchdown.

3. In the fourth quarter, Drew Allar threw an interception that was returned to the Penn State 42-yard line.

This set up Notre Dame’s game-winning field goal. Without this turnover, the game likely would have gone into overtime.

And three possibly game-changing plays: 1. In the first quarter, Notre Dame threw an interception.

2. In the third quarter, Notre Dame completed a 36-yard pass to the Penn State 19 to put them in scoring range.

They scored their first touchdown of the game three plays later.

3. In the fourth quarter, Notre Dame threw an interception on the first play of their drive.

Additionally during this game there were 43 Ethan Niser first downs and opinions@alligator.org nine punts. Each of these represents multiple opportunities when either team could have extended or ended a drive, respectively.

This same line of thinking also applies to calls from referees who may not go the way you wanted. Referees are also humans who make mistakes, but again, in a sea of judgement calls — some of which may have ultimately benefited your team, despite being incorrect — these aren’t the sole reason for the game’s outcome.

While this method of thinking can be applied to other sports, it can also be applied to life. Looking only at the last thing to happen is rarely a path to success.

If Notre Dame’s kicker had missed its winning field goal, would that have been a mistake? Certainly. But, to only focus solely on that moment and ignore the many other turning points that contributed to the result isn’t just wrong, but actively counter productive. In order to become a team that doesn’t need a clutch field goal to win, you must address the other mistakes — and that starts by giving them the attention and weight they deserve.

Ethan Niser is a UF computer science freshman.

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MARTES, 21 DE ENERO DE 2025 www.alligator.org/section/elcaiman

“Que no sea un tonto sería maravilloso”: ¿Qué quieren los Gators del próximo presidente de la UF? DESPUÉS DEL MANDATO TUMULTUOSO DE SASSE, LOS INTERESADOS DESEAN ESTABILIDAD Y CREDIBILIDAD ACADÉMICA Por Shaine Davison y Sofia Meyers Escritors de El Caimán

Nota del editor: El comité de búsqueda informó a los asistentes que las sesiones y los nombres de los participantes no serían grabados. Se han omitido los nombres de algunos oradores para permitir que compartan sus opiniones sobre la administración sin perjudicar sus trabajos o su matrícula.

El comité de búsqueda encargado de encontrar al próximo presidente de la UF, compuesto por 15 miembros, comenzó el semestre de primavera realizando sesiones virtuales de consulta con cientos de estudiantes, profesores, personal y donantes.

Su objetivo: identificar lo que la comunidad Gator desea —y no desea— en el sucesor del expresidente Ben Sasse.

Para algunos, las expectativas no podrían ser más simples.

“Que no sea un tonto sería maravilloso”, bromeó un miembro del personal.

Sin embargo, el consenso general fue que el próximo presidente de la UF necesita ser un académico experimentado con credenciales de

investigación, no otro político.

En otras palabras: Que no sea Ben Sasse.

Sasse, exsenador republicano de Nebraska, llegó a UF hace dos años con grandes promesas pero un currículum limitado en educación superior. A pesar de sus títulos de la Ivy League y su experiencia como presidente de un pequeño colegio de artes liberales, la mayoría de los asistentes a las sesiones lo caracterizaron como un nombramiento político poco apto para dirigir la universidad insignia del estado.

“Era más un político que un académico”, dijo un profesor.

El mandato de Sasse fue breve y divisivo.

Citando el empeoramiento de problemas de salud familiares, renunció abruptamente en julio tras meses de relaciones tensas en el campus y un conflicto interno con Mori Hosseini, presidente de la Junta de Síndicos de UF. Su legado —marcado por un proceso de selección secreto, paranoia política y escándalos financieros— pesó mucho en las sesiones de consulta.

“El último presidente probablemente fue un nombramiento político”, dijo Juan Galán, expresidente de la fundación de recaudación de fondos de la UF. “La academia lo sabía y se reía de ello. No podemos permitirnos otra burla”.

Algunos usaron las sesiones, destinadas a ayudar a definir los criterios para reclutar al próximo presidente, para lanzar críticas poco disimuladas hacia Sasse.

“Me encantaría un presidente que sea divertido y accesible”, dijo un miembro del personal.

“Que no sea tan orgulloso como para no

poder tener una conversación cálida con nadie de nuestra comunidad de la UF”.

Otros fueron más directos.

“La contratación de Ben Sasse fue un desastre total y completo”, dijo un exalumno.

“Fue contratado bajo el manto de la oscuridad… y vimos cómo resultó: no muy bien”.

Variaciones de “restaurar la estabilidad y la confianza” surgieron frecuentemente como prioridades urgentes para el próximo presidente. Profesores, personal y exalumnos parecían agotados por la caótica presidencia de Sasse y suplicaron un regreso al liderazgo académico tradicional.

Un exalumno comparó la búsqueda del reemplazo de Sasse con la contratación de un entrenador.

“Personalmente, no quiero alguien que parezca tener potencial. No quiero un 'buen chico de siempre’”, dijo el exalumno. “Quiero a un líder comprobado de una universidad de investigación de primer nivel, a la que debamos aspirar”.

Un presidente para la recuperación

Los asistentes —particularmente los donantes— subrayaron la necesidad de que el próximo presidente recupere la posición de la UF en los rankings nacionales.

Bajo el liderazgo de Sasse, la UF perdió su estatus de Top 5 en el ranking de universidades públicas de U.S. News & World Report, cayendo varios puestos en dos años consecutivos. Aunque The Wall Street Journal clasificó brevemente a la UF como la universidad pública #1 durante el mandato de Sasse, cayó al puesto 34 el año siguiente.

“Creo que tenemos mucho trabajo de reparación por hacer”, dijo Joelen Merkel, exmiembro de la junta de la UF y actual miembro de la fundación de recaudación de fondos de la universidad.

Para Merkel, el sucesor de Sasse no solo necesita mejorar los rankings; también debe restaurar la reputación de UF. “Nos hemos desviado un poco”, dijo Merkel, citando la falta de transparencia en la toma de decisiones de Sasse y los gastos excesivos, que ahora están siendo auditados por orden estatal.

The Alligator informó en agosto que Sasse triplicó el gasto anual de la oficina presidencial durante sus 17 meses de mandato, canalizando millones hacia contratos de consultoría y salarios para personal del Capitolio que trabajaba de forma remota mientras acumulaba significativos gastos de viaje.

La oficina del gobernador solicitó una auditoría, que Merkel afirmó debe completarse antes de que se nombre al próximo presidente para garantizar responsabilidad y estabilidad financiera.

“No puedo imaginar a nadie asumiendo el puesto sin conocer las respuestas a las preguntas planteadas [sobre los gastos de Sasse]”, dijo Merkel. “Principalmente, ¿cómo ocurrió esto?”.

Lea el resto en línea en alligator.org/section/elcaiman. @shainedavison @SofiaMeyer84496 sdavison@alligator.org smeyers@alligator.org

¿Cómo se sienten los estudiantes de la UF acerca de la prohibición de Tik Tok? LA GENERACIÓN Z CUESTIONA LA LIBERTAD DE EXPRESIÓN Y LA PRIVACIDAD DE DATOS Por Sabrina Castro Escritora de El Caimán

En una mañana fría, con temperaturas de 60 grados un viernes, el campus de la Universidad de Florida casi parecía idílico. Debajo de un cielo azul, los estudiantes caminaban alrededor de la Plaza de las Américas, con vasos de café en la mano y mochilas sobre los hombros, sumergiéndose en el caso extraño de temperaturas cálidas en medio del invierno.

Pero mientras el tiempo parecía levantar el ánimo, las noticias de la mañana oscurecieron el resto del día. La Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos confirmó una ley controversial que prohibiría TikTok, la aplicación popular de redes sociales, dejando a muchos estudiantes atónitos y frustrados.

La decisión, emitida a temprana hora el viernes por la mañana, surgió como parte de una conversación más amplia sobre la situación de seguridad nacional.

La plataforma popular de redes sociales, con más de 170 millones de usuarios solo en los Estados Unidos, ha enfrentado el escrutinio durante mucho tiempo. Esto es tanto por parte del gobierno como por parte de los ciudadanos de la nación, y se basa en sus vínculos con China y por acusaciones de prácticas de recopilación de datos que podrían comprometer la privacidad del usuario.

La decisión del tribunal marcó la culminación de meses de batallas legales y debates sobre el equilibrio entre la libertad de expresión y la salvaguardia de los intereses nacionales.

"Puedo ver el peligro como ciudadana estadounidense y como persona china", dijo Annelis Hoffman, estudiante de la UF del

Mantente al día con El Caimán en Twitter.

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último año de literatura e inglés.

"Puedo ver cómo se está poniendo un poco inestable a la hora de mantener ciertos derechos del público, y también el peligro para la seguridad nacional”.

Hoffman estaba sentada en una zona soleada de Turlington Plaza, charlando con un amigo y poniéndose al día con las noticias locales. Hoffman dijo que aunque usa las redes sociales, no frecuenta TikTok; principalmente consume videos de formato corto a través de Instagram Reels o YouTube Shorts.

Sin embargo, para muchos estudiantes, la prohibición es más que una decisión política; es una interrupción de una plataforma entrelazada en la vida diaria de la Generación Z. Hoffman reflexionó sobre el significado de Tik Tok más allá de los memes, tendencias sociales y bailes virales.

“La Generación Z tiene una relación muy interesante con Tik Tok, porque fue la aplicación que llegó a la vanguardia principalmente durante la

Childhood dream

Two best friends play together again. Read more on pg. 12.

pandemia”, dijo Hoffman. “Sirve no sólo como entretenimiento sino también, a veces, para noticias críticas”.

Para la UF y otras universidades estatales, Tik Tok ha sido prohibido en el Wi-Fi del campus desde abril del 2023, siguiendo el Reglamento de Emergencia 3.0075 de la Junta de Gobernadores del Sistema Universitario del Estado.

El estudiante de segundo año de ingeniería mecánica de la UF, Aarnav Gautam, cuestionó si se trataba o no de una decisión bien fundada.

Para el joven de 19 años, el debate en torno a la prohibición nacional de Tik Tok le hizo pensar más sobre las preocupaciones de privacidad de datos locales. Señaló lo que considera una doble moral en el razonamiento detrás de la prohibición. "[La gente] se está dando cuenta de que están diciendo: 'Oh, el gobierno chino está robando tus datos'", dijo. "Y si bien eso puede ser cierto, también se obtienen esos

datos [por] empresas americanas”.

Otros estudiantes compartieron una oposición similar, considerando la prohibición como una extralimitación. Max Kappalman, un estudiante de último año de ciencias políticas y psicología de la UF, llamó a la aplicación un "tercer lugar virtual" o un lugar para que las personas puedan conectarse fuera del hogar y del trabajo, para muchos miembros de la Generación Z. Cuestionó si se habían explorado a fondo soluciones alternativas, haciendo referencia a estrella de los medios Mr. Beast que publicó en X, anteriormente Twitter, con la intención de comprar Tik Tok. "No creo que debieron haber llegado tan lejos como para prohibir la aplicación", dijo Kappalman.

"Creo que hay muchas personas que podrían haber intervenido y tal vez ayudar con eso”.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025 www.alligator.org/section/sports

SOFTBALL

An invisible string: chalk, championships and chance FLORIDA SOFTBALL’S JOCELYN ERICKSON AND RYLEE HOLTORF REUNITE ON THE DIAMOND

By Noah White Sports Writer

Florida softball will host No. 8 Duke on Friday, Feb. 14. It’ll likely be the first ranked contest held at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in 2025, but not the last.

As the sun sets for the 7 p.m. Valentine’s Day affair, a pair will rekindle a mutual love and live out a dream that’s been more than a decade in the making — a dream that seemed unimaginable five years ago, the last time they played a notable game together.

Pregame

The temperature in Tempe, Arizona, rivals that of Gainesville, but what differentiates the two is the humidity. The air sits disconcertingly still, and on May 13, 2019, the dirt in Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium's infield pleaded for moisture.

As the sun drifted behind the Four Peaks mountain range northeast of Tempe, providing a moment of rest for the drained soil underneath it, a bus rolled into the parking lot of the Arizona State football facility. Out stepped

a line of teenage girls. Dressed in dark uniforms, they shuffled their Nike slides and charm-covered Crocs across the heat-radiating rubble towards a set of gates.

“When we got there, it’s like we were free to just kind of compete,” Holtorf said. “Because we [knew] we’re prepared for it.”

Rylee Holtorf, a high school sophomore and Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year candidate, led the band into the dugout. Within the last week, the infielder had strengthened her already well-established candidacy.

“Rylee is a natural leader on and off the field,” Sandra Day O’Connor High School softball head coach Melissa Hobson told the Arizona Republic. “She is so willing to do whatever is best for the team.”

And what was best for the team was her bat. As the Sandra Day O’Connor Eagles weaved their way through the Arizona Conference 6A State Championship bracket, Holtorf’s hitting was at an all-time high, batting over .400.

Sandra Day O’Connor played the same school, Red Mountain, twice, winning their second meeting with the Mountain Lions 172. But three days earlier, it wasn’t nearly as easy. The Eagles needed an extra inning and a walk-off hit by an unnaturally calm freshman catcher to keep their tournament berth alive.

Courtesy of Ronnie Holtorff

UF Softball players Jocelyn Erickson and Rylee Holtorf grew up on the field together.

Youthful Growth

Club sports are intense, and when you’re talented at your sport, that intensity starts at an early age.

Jocelyn Erickson and Holtorf stumbled into the West Coast softball factory system around the same time at 9- or 10-years-old (the two argued about which year it was), but they didn’t play with each other imme-

diately. Holtorf’s a year older than Erickson and made the top team the grade above her.

After a rapid ascension through travel ball that featured home runs, throttlings and disheartened middle schoolers, Erickson moved a grade up to join Holtorf’s Arizona Storm team. Welcoming her with a skeptical smile, Holtorf met the girl everyone was talking about, the girl who was now playing with 13-, 14- and 15-year-olds at 12. Joy ensued.

“The first big tournament that I feel like [we] ever won was the Colorado Sparklers [Championship],” Erickson said. “The trophies were like the coolest thing ever.”

She raved about how they were glass — the first award of an esteemed career. Now, the pair have closets, bins and shelves filled with similar souvenirs.

They spent years playing games in cars, traveling from Arizona to Nevada, Nevada to California: anywhere an invitational wanted its field to be uncompetitive. But as the wins rolled in, the pair began to take trips together for a different reason.

Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/sports. @noahwhite1782 nwhite@alligator.org

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Can the Gators improve in the SEC? Here’s Florida women’s basketball mid-season report.

WITH THE GATORS CURRENTLY 2-4 IN THE SEC, THEY WILL NEED TO WORK HARD AND REMAIN CONSISTENT TO CLIMB THE CONFERENCE RANKS

By Amanda Roman

“I do have [double-doubles] in my mind,” Kyle said. “That’s just the goal that I’ve set for myself this year.”

Currently averaging 15 points per game and 9.3 rebounds, Kyle is off to the strongest start of her career.

The center has reestablished herself as a force in the league and a leader on the court, ranking seventh in field goal percentage (63.9%) in the NCAA.

Sports Writer Finding the right formula

Just over halfway through its 2024-2025 campaign, the Florida Gators women’s basketball team sits at 11-9 overall and 2-4 in the SEC. After being eliminated in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals last season, finishing with a 16-16 (5-11 SEC) record, the Gators have since retooled their roster in hopes of a brighter future.

Here is the latest look at where Florida stands halfway through their season.

Ra Shaya Kyle’s return

Kyle previously suffered a season-ending knee injury against Vanderbilt on Jan. 7, 2024. The 6-foot-6-inch center faced a long and hard recovery process in order to get back on the court with her teammates.

“I was in a really dark place," Kyle said. “I was sad and it was really tough not being able to help my team.”

Despite her setback, Kyle has displayed tremendous resilience and leadership since returning to Florida’s lineup in its 2024-25 season opener.

She currently ranks 10th in the nation in double-doubles. Kyle notched her 10th of the year with 16 points and 10 rebounds in Florida’s 26-point victory against Mizzou Jan. 12. alligatorSports has a podcast!

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Despite having five new players on their roster this season, the Gators’ team chemistry has been apparent both on and off the court.

Specifically, junior forward Alexia Gassett and Kyle have worked together well this season. As roommates, the pair has established a great relationship both in the practice facility and around campus.

“When [Gassett] comes in for me, or I go in for her, we just know the slack is not gonna be let down,” Kyle said.

Gassett has worked to become a key contributor in her first year for the Gators, tallying 94 total rebounds on the season and a season-high of 11. She leads Florida in total blocks (20), averaging one per game.

However, Florida has struggled to be consistent from start to finish in numerous games this season, a pattern that has weakened it in SEC play.

This trend was exposed in Florida’s recent game against its highest-ranked opponent, No.5 LSU. Florida had a 21-15 lead after the first quarter, but then quickly lost it as the game progressed, allowing 24 turnovers. The Gators ended up losing by a margin of 17-points.

The Gators have found themselves in positions where they

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either start the game slowly and pick it up towards the end, or they take an early lead and can’t maintain the same intensity for all four quarters.

UF women’s basketball head coach Kelly Rae Finley has asserted from the beginning of the season the importance of “being consistent through four quarters [because] every single possession matters equally.” She attributes this setback to her team’s inexperience.

Turnovers have been another Achilles heel for UF. Florida suffered its largest defeat of the season in its game against Ole Miss Jan. 16 due to 29 turnovers, which in turn led to 42 points for the Rebels.

If Florida wants to improve in the SEC, it needs to dictate the pace of games from the start, limit turnovers and maximize its strengths in the paint.

Florida’s rising stars

The Gators secured two top recruits in the 2024 class with the addition of freshman guard Liv McGill and wing Me’Arah O’Neal this past offseason. Both McGill and O’Neal were McDonald’s All-Americans, joining 2023 All-American and sophomore guard Laila Reynolds at UF. This marks the first time in program history that Florida has three players with this honor suiting up in the same season.

McGill quickly established herself as Florida’s leading scorer, averaging a team-high 16.1 points per game so far this season.

Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/sports. @mandy_romannn aroman@alligator.org

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