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TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

VOLUME 118 - ISSUE 18 Not officially associated with the University of Florida

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Alachua County gathers for celebratory parades of Martin Luther King Jr. Day MICANOPY CELEBRATES FIRST ANNUAL MLK DAY MARCH, GAINESVILLE CELEBRATES 40TH

By Henry DeAngelis, Jordan Ramos & Emma Parker Alligator Staff Writers Hundreds of Alachua County residents took to the streets Monday, commemorating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. through a series of county-wide celebrations.

Jan. 15 marked the 40th anniversary of Gainesville's celebration honoring King, and Micanopy’s first annual march. The events were filled with signs, speeches, awards and hotdogs.

MLK Day in Gainesville

Hundreds marched during a cloudy day along Martin Luther King Jr. Highway with “Black Lives Matter” shirts and a variety of signs, like

“invest in bBlack men,” Jan. 15 in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Hosted by the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Florida, the parade started at City Hall at noon, and parade-goers walked roughly a mile to the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Community Center.

Some sang “We Shall Overcome”

by Pete Seeger while the employees of Wawa, McDonalds and Waffle House watched the parade along East University Avenue.

Before the parade, the president of the commission, Rodney Long, gave a speech reciting an excerpt from a Martin Luther King Jr. speech he made the night before his death.

“Men, for years now, have been talking about war and peace. But now, no longer can they just talk about it,” King said in the 1968 speech.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Florida awarded a $10,000

SEE MLK, PAGE 4

Madilyn Gemme // Alligator Staff

The Rev. Ron Rawls marches in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebratory parade on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024.

Can DeSantis waiving Jewish student transfer requirements be called affirmative action?

UF legal experts conflicted on order to Florida universities

By Zoey Thomas Alligator Staff Writer

Seven months after Gov. Ron DeSantis praised the United States Supreme Court’s ruling to end college admissions based on race or ethnicity, his latest executive order launched accusations that he’s passing the type of legislation he criticized.

DeSantis announced in his State of the State address Jan. 9 Florida universities will waive certain transfer requirements, including credit hours and application deadlines, for out-ofstate students experiencing antisemitism or other religious discrimination on their campuses.

The executive order, signed by Florida’s state university system chancellor, cites a survey indicating 73% of Jewish college students have witnessed some form of antisemitism since the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year.

DeSantis introduced the order by pointing out Florida’s continued support of Israel since the Israel-Hamas war began Oct. 7. The state stood up to protect students at Jewish day schools

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT

Gymnastics Story description finish with comma,

Freshman talent floods Gators’ pg# roster. Read more on pg. 11.

and on university campuses against threats of violence, but many universities outside Florida have failed to do the same, he said.

While many Jewish Floridians praised the order, which welcomes any undergraduate students seeking to transfer to a Florida university because of a “well-founded fear of antisemitic or other religious discrimination,” others are calling it a problematic form of affirmative action.

Affirmative action, defined by the Florida Board of Governors as preferences in the university admissions process on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability or sex, has been banned in Florida since 1999. The U.S. Supreme Court made headlines in July when it rejected the practice nationwide.

“There’s no question it’s affirmative action”

Danaya Wright, a UF constitutional law professor and the Faculty Senate chair, believes the law is clearly a form of affirmative action. The question is whether this particular form of affirmative action is “suspect” or “non-suspect,” she said.

Bagel Bakery

Breakfast hotspot remains open following series of violations, pg. 6

The Supreme Court ruled against categorizing students based on race, but universities can still use affirmative-actionstyle admissions to give preference to students in other categories — for example, legacy students with alumni parents, she said.

“There's no question it's affirmative action,” she said. “We don't allow affirmative action on the basis of race, we do allow it on the basis of legacy. Where should this fall in that sort of spectrum? If it's closer to race, then I say not OK.” If the law is challenged, courts will navigate uncharted territory as they decide for the first time whether religion should be accepted as a justification for affirmative action, she said.

Giving Jewish students special privileges in admissions becomes a problem under the Equal Protection Clause, which says any law that makes a distinction between two groups of people has to accomplish a justified goal, she said.

DeSantis’ order can technically apply to anyone experiencing religious persecution, not just Jewish students. But the order’s stated goal of protecting Jewish students complicates its legality, she said.

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2 ALLIGATOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

Today’s Weather DeSantis grant allows UF undergraduates to be paid to intern in K-5 classrooms THE STATE’S FIRST PREBACHELOR’S APPRENTICE PROGRAM AIMS TO FIGHT TEACHER SHORTAGE

By Zoey Thomas Alligator Staff Writer

Alyson Adams wishes the UF College of Education’s new master’s program was more competitive. But even though the course load is free, online and just one year long, applicant numbers are slim, she said.

“It’s just hard to get people to commit to the career of teaching right now,” said Adams, UF education professor and director of the School of Teaching and Learning.

Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $5 million Dec. 13 among 10 Florida public universities to develop prebachelor’s apprenticeship programs.

UF received about $1.3 million from the grant, which was the latest effort in DeSantis’ Pathways to Career Opportunities investment to strengthen Florida’s teacher pipeline.

Apprenticeships pair aspiring educators with mentors who guide them through on-the-job classroom training — giving participants a chance to get paid for becoming a teacher. Since PCO’s launch in 2019, 56 new apprenticeship programs have been created in Florida.

UF launched its first PCO-backed apprenticeship in March 2023. The one-year program offers a master’s degree and teaching certificate to students who complete online courses and an in-classroom apprenticeship.

But the requirements to join the program — a bachelor’s degree in a topic other than education and a passing score on subject exams — have made it hard to find interested and qualified students, Adams said.

Just 10 students are currently enrolled in the program, she said.

“There aren’t many bachelor’s degrees where you can get paid”

The Dec. 13 grant caters to prebachelors instead of master’s students, which Adams hopes will draw wider interest, she said. Instead of accumulating student debt, undergraduates will get paid a salary to apprentice in local schools for two years.

“There aren’t many bachelor’s degrees where you can get paid for your junior and senior year,” Adams said. “I think that’s going to be a really popular option.”

Adams is now creating online courses for the program and hopes to start recruiting in Fall 2025. The program still needs full approval, and UF will submit its final grant application Jan. 19, she said.

Apprenticeships are a great way to address Florida’s teacher shortage, said UF education professor Tina Smith-Bonahue. Research on what makes a good teacher shows the importance of academics combined with real-life experience, she said.

“Teaching apprenticeships are not unique to Florida,” she said.

“There’s a national move in this direction.”

Tennessee was the first state to register an apprenticeship program with the federal government in January 2022. Two years later, apprenticeship programs are formally registered in 30 states and under development in at least six more.

More teachers, quality teachers

Florida school district websites posted 10,771 total vacancies in August 2022, according to the Florida Education Association.

DeSantis’ efforts to fight the shortage have received mixed feedback. In June 2022, he approved a bill making veterans without a bachelor’s degree eligible to receive a temporary five-year teaching certificate.

Critics’ fears that apprenticeships make it easier for unqualified people to become teachers are valid, said Adams. But the new program won’t let that happen.

“There were probably some veterans who had a position in the military that would make them excellent teachers. But there maybe are others that could use some more preparation,” she said. “So I'm glad that we're at the table with the apprentice grant so that we can make sure to focus on quality.”

Undergraduates applying to the program will need an associate degree and a 3.5 GPA, Smith-Bonahue said. With strict admission requirements and demanding coursework, the program won’t create undeserved certificates, she said.

“There’s always critics,” she said.

“But one thing to understand about teaching apprenticeships is that it’s not a red state or a blue state issue.”

Rebekah Keita, a 36-year-old Rawlings Elementary teacher, enrolled in UF’s Site-based Implementation of Teacher Education program after getting an email last year advertising an opportunity for a free master’s degree.

Keita got her UF undergraduate degree in sociology. But when she got a job as a paraprofessional working with behaviorally and academically challenged kids after graduating, she realized she wanted to become a full-time teacher.

“It can be difficult physically and emotionally, but most days you love it,” she said. “Because you see the

VOLUME 118 - ISSUE 18

ISSN 0889-2423

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tiny little growth for somebody who couldn't recognize numbers up to five and then they can. It was amazing every day.”

Difficult classes but worthwhile results

The coursework required for the master’s program is so rigorous that of the four other teachers at Keita’s school who began the program with her, Keita is the only one remaining, she said.

But Keita — who balances her master’s studies and her work with ESE students on top of her duties as a mom to an 11-year-old daughter and their brand-new puppy — said she would choose to do the course again if given the option, she said.

“I didn’t know anything going into teaching, and now you get all this background,” she said. “The professors are amazing. I had an incident in mid-September and I just could not get myself to do the work, and they're like, ‘Whatever you can turn in by the end of the semester would be great.’”

The pre-bachelors program will also be rigorous, but they’ll be very tied to practice, Adams said. While a class might help apprentices learn about classroom management, their work in the classroom will help them understand what it looks like, she said.

Young people in the College of Education are excited to get out into the classroom and start working with students, and she’s excited this program will give them the opportunity to do so even sooner, she said.

“It's hard to be a teacher right now,” she said. “But there are some amazing veteran teachers who, despite the challenges and the environment, stick with teaching. And thank goodness that they're there to inspire the young people who are coming into the schools.” @zoeythomas39 zthomas@alligator.org

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 ALLIGATOR 3

The manatee may re-enter endangered species list after population decline EXPERTS, ACTIVISTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CELEBRATE THE MANATEE FESTIVAL, BUT WORRY FOR THE SPECIES’ FUTURE

By Kylie Williams Alligator Staff Writer

Every year, the “Manatee Capital of the World” erupts in celebration for a weekend-long festival. Yet even as thousands gathered this year to celebrate the manatee, the species struggles to overcome human threats.

More than 25,000 people packed into downtown Crystal River Jan. 13-14. Vendors sold everything from manatee-shaped soft pretzels to art depicting native sea life, and venture groups offered tours by boat or kayak to see manatees in their natural habitat.

One booth offered the chance for people to adopt their own manatee.

In exchange for donations, the Save the Manatee Club offered adoption certificates and manatee memorabilia. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the club focuses on protecting manatees in Florida, even as the species faced steep challenges in recent years.

Gina McClain, the organization’s outreach and volunteer specialist, said the festival is an opportunity for Save the Manatee Club to garner financial support and teach people how they can help the species. Many festival attendees come back to the club’s booth year after year, McClain said, while others are excited to learn about manatees for the first time.

“People are incredibly generous,” she said. “They love manatees. It’s everybody’s favorite mammal.”

Florida’s manatee population has struggled over the past few years, leading many petitioners to call for its re-entry to the endangered species list. In 2017, the manatee was reclassified from “endangered” to “threatened” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Save the Manatee Club filed a joint petition in 2022 to

put the Florida manatee back on the endangered species list.

The decision to remove the manatees from the endangered species list was premature, Save the Manatee Club Research Associate Cora Berchem said. Due to the challenges manatees face, it’s important that they have as much protection as possible, she added.

Over the past few years, manatees have experienced an increased mortality rate. In 2021, the number of manatee deaths nearly doubled from 600 to 1,100, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

This increase was due to a mass die-off of seagrass, the main food source of manatees, Berchem said.

Heavy algae blooms, caused by human pollution, led to the die-off.

“Manatees were literally starving to death because they couldn’t find that food,” Berchem said.

Many of the other threats manatees face are also caused by humans, UF Aquatic Animal Health Professor Michael Walsh said. Boats going too fast in shallow water can strike manatees, he said, and manmade canal locks or floodgates can also harm the species. Watercrafts account for about 10-20% of manatee deaths each year, according to data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Algae blooms not only kill seagrass but can also pose additional threats to manatees. Red tide, a type of harmful algae bloom, is poisonous to manatees. In 2023, red tide killed more than 100 manatees.

“The challenges that are facing this species are just amazing,” he said. “And the problems are what we’re contributing.”

Manatees also face habitat loss as humans continue to encroach on natural springs and rivers, Walsh said. Florida’s spring systems have warm water temperatures yearround, which manatees need to survive.

Manatees can be found in the waters of over half of Florida’s counties but are commonly found

Gabriella Aulisio// Alligator Staff

Local animal artist, Samm Wehman, stands in front of her painting of a manatee at the Crystal River Manatee Festival on Jan. 14, 2024.

in the Indian River Lagoon. Over the last several years, the Indian River Lagoon suffered poor water quality, and the subsequent algae blooms reduced seagrass in the area by over 90%.

A key part of protecting manatees is preserving the species’ habitat, said Alex Freeze, the collaborative conservation manager with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation.

The Florida Wildlife Corridor focuses on land conservation and setting aside wild habitats to be permanently protected.

Part of the foundation’s focus is preserving the land around natural water bodies. Florida’s environment is interconnected, Freeze said, which means unchecked damage can have widespread impact.

“You cannot separate what happens on land from what happens in the springs from what happens in the ocean,” she said.

Part of the challenge, Freeze said, is making sure Floridians understand the impacts their individual actions could have on the environment.

Some residents might not be aware of what causes harm to manatees, she added.

Educating residents on boat safety and how to avoid polluting waterways is part of what the Florida Wildlife Corridor advocates for, Freeze said.

“People as a whole want to do what’s right by the environment,” she said. “Do they have access to the knowledge, and are they supported in their pursuit of wanting to build sustainably?”

At the Florida Manatee Festival, Dianne Azzarelli said she enjoyed seeing positive education combined with fun and creativity. Azzarelli, 56, attended the festival for the first time Jan. 13. She bought a manatee T-shirt for her granddaughter and liked visiting the educational booths.

Azzarelli was happy to see the public awareness brought by the Save the Manatee Club. As a native Floridian, she said non-natives moving to the state often aren’t properly educated on how to protect manatees.

“I love that they’re imparting so much knowledge for the manatees,” she said.

Throughout the festival, first-time Save the Manatee Club volunteer April Sarna fielded questions and took donations from attendees. Sarna, 66, first saw a manatee at an aquarium in her home state of California. She said she was mesmerized by the way the aquarium manatee ate its cabbage and grew an instant appreciation for the species.

After moving to Florida, the Ocala resident joined the Save the Manatee Club and adopted a manatee named Ariel. This year, Sarna said she wanted to volunteer to learn more about manatees and show support for the species.

“It’s fun actually talking to people, and it seems like everybody’s on the same page and wanting to make a difference,” Sarna said. @kyliewilliams99 kyliewilliams@alligator.org

4 ALLIGATOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

UF, SF students share concerns over school shootings HOW DO STUDENTS FEEL ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE ON CAMPUS?

By Sara-James Ranta & Emma Parker Alligator Staff Writers

Within the first 15 days of the new year, there has already been one school shooting in the United States. A 17-year-old student opened fire at Perry High School in Iowa, shooting eight people Jan. 4.

In the past two years, the areas surrounding Gainesville campuses saw both the Thanksgiving weekend shooting and the shootings at The Crossing. Both UF and Santa Fe College received hoax school shooting threat calls in 2023 as well.

With 78% of undergraduate students at UF living off-campus and SF bearing no on-campus housing, gun violence statistics in college communities can be inaccurate.

Because some college campuses are connected to surrounding communities, the exact number of school shootings can’t easily be tracked.

Gunfire on school grounds has become increasingly relevant since spiking in 2018.

According to Florida law, carrying guns at schools, colleges or athletic events is prohibited. Florida is also one of 38 states to adopt a no-guns mandate on college campuses.

Despite this, in 2023, there were 136 incidents nationally of gunfire on school grounds, with five of those incidents occurring in Florida.

No 2023 incidents happened on Gainesville campuses.

Both UF and Santa Fe College students have concerns about campus safety. For some, the understanding of gun violence started in high school.

Connor Fosnow, a 19-year-old SF business sophomore, experienced active shooter drills at Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, Florida, when two separate students brought guns to campus within the same year.

“Someone had a gun in the bathroom. I was just in math class,” Fosnow said.

With the debate around teachers carrying guns and the availability of weapons, Fosnow said the situation is tricky.

“Guns don’t kill people, people kill people,” he said. “If someone wants a gun, they’re going to find a way to get one regardless.”

The influence of social media also has an effect on the perception of school shootings.

Some researchers cite the contagion effect theory, which suggests mass shootings happen in clusters, with greater media coverage playing a key role in future attacks. Student recordings of campus shootings posted to social media are linked to an increase in copycat threats.

Fosnow has seen these videos and is concerned about them, he said.

“It's disturbing and sad,” he said.

Chelsea Churuba, a 19-yearold UF nursing junior, also finds difficulty with seeing disturbing videos when they come onto her

Celebrating MLK Day MLK, from pg. 1

scholarship to 17-year-old Justice Alexander before Long’s speech.

Alexander, student body president at Eastside High School, was awarded the Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream scholarship. Edna M. Hart was a member of the commission and became the first woman of color to receive a master’s degree in Alachua County in 1949.

During the application process, Alexander had to write an essay on King’s ideals.

“I wrote about how the work of Dr. King and other people allowed me to take advantage of certain opportunities and have higher aspirations,” she said.

Several groups participated in the parade, including Jewish Voice for Peace, a grassroots organization for Jewish people who are in solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war.

Wearing a shirt that reads “Ceasefire Now,” 42-year-old Abigail Fletcher, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace, spoke about how it’s important for people of all kinds to get together and celebrate King’s life.

“We’re here today to be in solidarity with the African American community and also to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr., who was a powerful civil rights activist and also an anti-war activist,” she said. “We believe that if he was alive today he would be against the war in Gaza.”

Rising Sun Lodge No. 10, a rising sun masonic chapter, provided free hot dogs and refreshments to anyone attending the parade.

Darryon Roberson Sr., president of the Rising Sun Lodge No. 10, expressed how much MLK’s work has impacted him and his organization.

“We still had doors that were closed, and because of Martin Luther King, and his actions, that opened the doors for us,” Roberson said. “I think that’s the greatest contribution he gave us, and we can only do anything but respect him and marching in his day.”

UF students and Gainesville residents spent the day off attending the parade and paying respect to King and his work.

explore pages.

“It’s very hard to process,” she said. “It’s hard to imagine something like that can happen. It puts you in a state of distress.”

The increased spread of school shootings published online leads to concerns of students’ mental health.

UF students have access to the UF Counseling and Wellness Center including the “you matter, we care” program. At SF, there is a counseling center as well as a visiting therapy dog program.

With the uptick in school shootings, 21-year-old UF economics junior Nico Cardenas said shootings aren’t regular, but still in the back of students’ minds.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a new normal, but it’s unfortunately something that is expected,” he said. “It’s just non-stop. You wish there could be something done to stop it.”

Agreeing with Cardenas, 21-yearold UF nursing junior Hana Bouter emphasized the desensitized tone others use when talking about school gun violence.

“When people discuss it and talk about it, it's so nonchalant because it happens so often now,” she said.

Bouter lived just over an hour from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and attended high school the same year as its 2018 shooting. Because it was so close to home, she felt more affected seeing footage of that shooting, she said.

“We held a lot of memorials after the Stoneman Douglas shooting,” she said. “We all had friends who went to that school.”

UF Police Department Sergeant Andrew McIntosh said the

Karis Dunnam // Alligator Staff

department’s top goal is to protect students and staff in the most effective and efficient way possible.

“Our main focus has always been direct to threat,” he said. “Because for us, it’s about getting out there and stopping the threats so more students don’t get hurt.”

UPD’s biggest asset has been the community, with its use of the silent witness portal and the Gatorsafe app, McIntosh said.

From more street lighting around campus to educating different departments on active shooting training, UPD has continued to work with the student body and the university.

“We’ll get the ball rolling and make changes to make our student population feel safe,” McIntosh said.

“Whether it's an active assailant or

Gainesville City Commissioner Casey Willits is one of the many city representatives who participated in the parade, such as Mayor Harvey Ward and City Commissioner Ed Book.

Willits has participated in the parade for six years and since then has seen the growth within the community and their willingness to learn more about national history, he said.

“What I think I see the most in the crowd is an evolution of a movement locally and also nationwide,” he said.

As a white man, Willits acknowledged the importance of being an ally and having uncomfortable conversations, especially through events like Monday’s parade.

“In Gainesville, in Florida, in the South, remembering and also challenging our perceptions of our memory of Dr. King’s work in the Civil Rights Movement and the progression to the current day is important,” Willits said.

The first Gainesville march was in 1982 and went from the Plaza of the Americas to Bo Diddley Plaza.

Micanopy march

Micanopy, on the other hand, debuted its first-ever MLK Day celebration. Bishop Christopher Stokes, the founder and executive director of the Willie Mae Stokes Community Center, was driving to Ocala last year for the city’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration when he had an epiphany.

“We would always walk in the other communities, and help the other communities celebrate Dr. King,” Stokes said. “I’m driving to Ocala through Micanopy, and why not do this in Micanopy?”

A year later, his idea blossomed into Micanopy’s first annual MLK Day celebration, hosted by the Stokes Center. The celebration, honoring King and the achievements of community leaders, included a 10 a.m. march, a complimentary meal of hot dogs and hamburgers, a program of speakers headlined by County Commissioner Charles “Chuck” Chestnut IV and the awarding of Micanopy’s first annual Hometown Hero Award.

Close to 100 Micanopians joined the march, trekking from the center’s 355 NW Eestalustee Ave. address, turning under the live oak canopy of North Division Street., before looping back on NorthwestW Seminary Avenue., toward Eestalustee and the welcome faces of the center’s hand-painted murals.

During the parade, marchers clapped and sang along with the gospel songs playing from the speakers of the four-wheeler

it’s just getting home at night and not having access to whatever they need, we are open to ideas.”

In addition to providing UF with resources and improvements, UPD prioritizes practice and preparation for the event of a potential threat by conducting in-house training within buildings like P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School.

“The forefront of our training is making sure that we are staying up to date on the latest skills, so that if that situation were to happen, we can quickly and swiftly cease any harm to our students,” McIntosh said. @sarajamesranta sranta@alligator.org @emmaparkerg eparker@alligator.org

leading the procession.

Upon returning, the group gathered with hot dogs in hand on the center’s basketball court, dressed with folding chairs and a podium in preparation for the day’s program of speakers.

Stokes welcomed the program and Jiana Williams, the first female African American mayor of Micanopy, followed.

“Everyone came with different reasons and convictions,” Williams said. “But we came with one common goal, and that was unity.”

County Commissioner Charles Chestnut IV spoke later as the keynote, honoring King’s legacy, but stressing that the fight is not over.

“In the past few years, state legislators have turned back the hands of time, and passed laws that prevent teachers from actively teaching history to students or not teaching Black history at all. As well as banning certain black authors and their books in the public school system,” Chestnut said.

Chestnut left the audience with a call to action to fight voter suppression laws that still impact Black voters, he said.

“My question to you is what are you going to do to stop these racist, [suppression] attacks on voters of color?” he asked.

The program ended with Chester Dunmore receiving the Hometown Hero Award. Dunmore, 86, was Micanopy’s first African American mayor and the owner of community staple Dunmore Burgers.

The award is the first of many, Bishop Christopher Stokes said, as he is already recruiting members for Micanopy’s Martin Luther King Commission, to help organize next year’s celebration, and to select the next recipient of the Hometown Hero award.

“There are other Mr. Dunmore’s in our community that have done well, and done things behind the scenes,” Stokes said.

“And we stand on those shoulders. We have to start remembering our past because we didn’t just get here on our own.” @hadeangelis hdeangelis@alligator.org @JordanR68971799 jramos@alligator.org @emmaparkerg eparker@alligator.org

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 ALLIGATOR 5

Sidewalks and substances: The Gainesville cyclist’s experience DISTRACTED DRIVERS REMAIN CYCLISTS’ BIGGEST CONCERN

By Bailey Diem Alligator Staff Writer

Brady Castellano rides his bike “literally every single day” for both commuting and exercising. While he enjoys riding in Gainesville more than other cities he’s lived in, it isn’t without its dangers.

Gainesville bicyclists often face concerns of distracted or impaired drivers, paths in poor condition and limited bike lanes.

When biking for his commute to campus, Castellano, a 25-year-old UF master’s student, predominantly sticks to bike lanes. Still, he said he would rather “be annoying by taking up the whole lane” than ride in a narrow bike lane.

“Sometimes I feel it is safer to take a whole lane rather than just riding on the edge of the road,” he said. “All it takes is a single driver glancing at their phone and veering a few feet for my life to end.”

While Castellano rides on sidewalks sometimes to get out of the way of drivers, they are often more dangerous to ride on because of bumps, pedestrians and cars pulling out, he said.

“I have been in a situation where I was riding on the sidewalk, and a car passed me and pulled in front of me, giving me no time to brake,” he said. “Because I was on a sidewalk, I had no options to swerve to avoid it.”

For Castellano, it is often the driver — not the road itself — that concerns him most when riding, he said.

“The biggest issue facing cyclists in [Gainesville] is people with ‘car brain,’” he said. “Everyone is in a rush these days and also distracted by their phones, and it's really unfortunate when a cyclist bears the brunt of that by getting hit or yelled at.”

There were 132 bicycle crashes reported in Alachua County in 2023, resulting in one death, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website. Bicycle crashes resulted in three deaths in 2022 and four in 2021.

For Blaire Moraski, a 21-year-old UF Spanish and international studies junior, UF’s main

Gabriella Aulisio // Alligator Staff

A cyclist travels down NW 20th Street on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2024. campus seems to be safer to ride in than the Gainesville area at large.

“Campus is very bikeable, but around Gainesville it can be a bit trickier,” she said.

“Areas around town tend to have good bike lanes, and I feel comfortable riding in them, but farther out from the heart of Gainesville it can be more hit or miss.”

Some roads in and around Gainesville lack bike lanes and opt for shared lanes instead, she said.

“There are some areas I’ve noticed that have signs where ‘bicycles may use full lane,’ but that isn’t equivalent to bike lanes and tends to push cyclists, including myself, to bumpy sidewalks instead,” she said. “One time, I crashed into a pedestrian since my bike hit a bumpy section of [an] old sidewalk.”

Moraski believes the crash could have been avoided if there was a bike lane on the road, she said.

The City of Gainesville has plans to take up the first road project funded by a portion of the Wild Spaces Public Places surtax, a news release revealed Dec. 21.

The first of these “Streets, Stations and Strong Foundations” projects is the “resurfacing and restriping” of a section of North Main

Legal experts conflicted DESANTIS, from pg. 1 “The language of the order is a little bit broader to try to make it okay,” she said. “But his saying that this is for Jewish students … that it's really just to deal with antisemitism, that then does become, I think, really problematic.”

“The analogy to affirmative action is a poor one”

UF law professor John Stinneford disagrees the law discriminates on the basis of race or religion.

The Hamilton Center senior fellow said the law’s inclusive language makes its benefits applicable to all students and doesn’t create discriminatory categories in the admissions process.

“A Muslim student facing threats based on her Islamic faith would also appear to be eligible for these benefits,” Stinneford wrote in an email to The Alligator.

Tracey Maclin, another UF law professor, agrees labeling the order as affirmative action is a faulty comparison.

Like Wright, Maclin pointed out the continued use of affirmative ac-

tion in admissions based on classifications like family ties and athletic ability. But those classifications aren’t illegal or unconstitutional, he said — and neither is waiving requirements based on religion.

“What the Supreme Court has said is that schools and universities cannot make admission decisions on the basis of race or ethnicity,” he said. “This is not that.”

Nothing from the order jumps out at Maclin as violating the First or 14th amendments, including the Equal Protection Clause, he said “I don’t see anything unconstitutional about this,” he said. “The analogy to affirmative action is a poor one.”

UF Jewish community ready to welcome transfers

Aaron Fintz, a 20-year-old UF business administration junior and the vice president of the Jewish Student Union, thinks the order is a very good thing, he said.

Fintz has seen disturbing antisemitism from universities in other states, especially among Ivy League schools, over the past months. He’s grateful to attend UF, where he feels

Street. Bike lanes will be added in both directions, according to the news release.

The next will address a section of Northeast Ninth Street.

Reina Saco, a Gainesville city commissioner, said Gainesville has limited control of roads in the city. Still, finding ways to make Gainesville streets safer is important, she said.

“Making our streets, our sidewalks and our bike lanes safer for everyone is one of the best investments we can make with these funds,” Saco said.

The city will continue to gather input through “community engagement” to decide on future projects, according to the press release.

Jason Lokkesmoe, a 45-year-old Gainesville resident, was a professional cyclist in the early 2000s when he lived in California. He still regularly commutes to work by bike.

Lokkesmoe often chooses to avoid busier roads and opts for multi-use paths off of the roads when he can’t avoid them, he said. Still, not all paths are in good shape. A stretch to the side of 23rd Avenue is an example of this, he said.

“The multi-use path is really dangerous because it’s uncared for,” he said. “The roots

comfortable wearing his Star of David necklace and hanging a mezuzah on his door, he said.

After spending two months last summer interning in Israel, watching his “home away from home” be torn to pieces has been hard, he said. But the university’s large, supportive Jewish population makes its campus one of the best places to be a Jewish student even in challenging times, he said.

Any Jewish students transferring from out of state will find support at UF, he said — whether by attending services at the university’s two temples or joining groups like UF Hillel.

“You will feel very safe,” he said. “We still want to be careful because it is such a big university and it just takes one person to make a comment or misjudge you. I would say if you focus on who you're surrounding yourself with, you should have a very easy time making that transition.”

UF President Ben Sasse and the university administration have made it clear that antisemitism has no place at UF, said Jonah Zinn, the executive director of UF Hillel, in a statement to The Alligator. That commitment is part of what has distinguished UF over the past months as a supportive campus environment for Jewish students, he wrote.

“We look forward to welcoming

have created all of these undulations that are bumps that basically make it very difficult to ride straight, but then it also has moss growing on it.”

One of Lokkesmoe’s biggest concerns is distracted drivers. Drivers may become complacent driving their regular commute routes and may fail to notice bicyclists sharing the road with them, he said.

“If you're unaware as a driver, you're way more likely to hit something or strike something that isn't normally in that spot,” he said.

Lokkesmoe often rides with his son and fears for their safety around inattentive drivers, he said.

“My fear is, with especially my son, that we’re going to be out riding and somebody’s going to be on their phone, and they’re going to swerve over and then that’s going to be it for my family,” he said. “That’s an awful feeling.”

He encourages cyclists to wear flashing lights when riding, even in the daytime. The flashing motion “helps draw attention to it,” Lokkesmoe said.

“Cyclists have the opportunity to help be part of the solution by having lights on their bikes or helmets or wherever they want to put them,” he said.

Tommy Duque, a 19-year-old UF industrial and systems engineering sophomore, generally finds Gainesville a safe place to ride. Still, he believes Gainesville’s status as a college town may contribute to the number of distracted drivers on the roads, he said.

“I think my biggest concern is probably people under the influence of something, whether it be alcohol or any other substance, because we do live in a university setting,” he said.

“There’s a lot of young people who might make stupid mistakes.”

While cyclists might be doing all they can to stay safe on the roads, there will inevitably be drivers that aren’t, Duque said.

“Even if you're following all the safety precautions, you still have to be vigilant of other people like drivers who aren't, necessarily,” he said.

any students who are looking to engage with Jewish life on campus,” he wrote. “We are fortunate that UF is a place where Jewish students know they belong and are valued."

UF transfer students typically need at least 60 transferable semester credit hours and competency in a foreign language to apply.

The foreign language competency requirement and the state’s definition of a transfer student as “students who have earned twelve or more semester hours of transferable college credit since receiving a standard high school diploma” are waived under the order.

The order also offers tuition and fee waivers to students experiencing financial hardship and waives application date deadlines — but not enrollment deadlines — for transfers.

Waiving application deadlines will be helpful for out-of-state students navigating the transfer process, said Brittney Gianantonio, a 24-year-old UF education sciences senior and president of Tau Sigma, the national transfer student fraternity.

“I think if I was in a situation that they are, where they're not feeling safe on campus currently … it could be helpful,” she said. “Sometimes you miss a deadline because there's just so much going on. So I do think it can be really beneficial.”

@BaileyDiem bdiem@alligator.org

When she transferred to UF in 2019, the university did a good job making her feel welcome among its existing student population, she said. Getting into the groove was difficult initially, but from participating in transfer student welcome week to joining Tau Sigma, she’s found a great connection to the campus, she said.

The university is similarly accomplished in welcoming its Jewish students and has done the best it can in supporting his community over the past couple of months, Fintz said.

UF makes a point of giving everyone a voice — Fintz appreciates that he can table for Jewish organizations in Turlington Plaza right next to the table for Islam on Campus, he said. At the end of the day, he just wants everyone to respect each others’ points of view, he said.

“I feel like you have to stay informed and realize that you’ve got to pray for everyone,” he said. “And just be happy that we're in a place that we feel comfortable.”

The order went into effect immediately Jan. 9. UF has not yet responded for comment on how it will carry out the “expedited review” process of transfer students. @zoeythomas39 zthomas@alligator.org

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2023 www.alligator.org/section/the_avenue

FOOD

Muñecas hosts grand opening for new location at 4th Ave Food Park THE ROARING ‘20S-THEMED EVENT FEATURED MEALS, MUSIC AND MIXERS

By Bonny Matejowsky Avenue Staff Writer

A 1920s-themed grand opening party drew a glitzy and glamorous crowd Jan. 14, with many event-goers looking the part. Guests donned shiny flapper dresses, vintage fur coats and three-piece suits and lined up through the parking lot, ready to attend the grand opening of Muñecas Taco Garden and Bar. The restaurant serves Miami-inspired cuisine and has now found its second home at 317 SW 4th Ave. Previously located downtown, the business moved a few minutes away to 4th Ave Food Park and held a soft opening Sept. 21. After three months of getting used to the new space, it launched the event at 6 p.m. Jan. 14 to formally open and celebrate its new bar and restaurant.

With a background in working for restaurants and a passion for sharing food from her hometown in South Florida, 33-year-old restaurateur Emily McClure founded Muñecas in 2017 with her then-partner, now husband, Art Guy. The pair met while McClure was in the process of starting her own res-

taurant. She needed a kitchen to cook in, and Guy’s restaurant, Steamers, offered just the spot. After taking over Steamers, the restaurant eventually evolved into what it is today: a Latin, Asian and Caribbean fusion restaurant.

“I started by using a lot of the ingredients that were already at his restaurant,” McClure said. “That’s how we developed the menu ... trying to be creative with what we had available to us.”

The restaurant’s theme of family doesn’t stop there. The name, which means “doll” in Spanish, came from McClure’s nickname given to her by her late father-in-law.

“He always told me that you’re an architect of your future…and that you can do anything that you want to do,” McClure said. “So I named it in honor of him.”

What started as a taco cart developed into an outdoor restaurant, previously located in the corner of Bo Diddley Plaza.

Though recent concerns were aired about Gainesville’s small business economy, Muñecas has stood the test of time.

McClure credits Muñecas’ outdoor seating arrangement for helping the business withstand the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which disrupted the operations of restaurants across the country.

4th Ave Food Park is more than

six times the size of Muñecas’ former spot, McClure said, giving it the capacity to support additional features like a cocktail bar and catering services.

Among the guests in attendance at Jan. 14’s grand opening celebration were Lauren and Michael Dean, Gainesville natives who enjoy Muñecas’ cuisine. After trying the night’s menu, the pair looks forward to trying out the business’ new catering option.

“We’ve been here since they’ve been in this building a few times, so we knew the food was going to be great,” Michael Dean said.

The event also featured raffles for baskets of 4th Ave Food Park gift cards and Harlem Globetrotters tickets, a live DJ and an all-you-can-eat taco station to showcase its catering chops.

Proceeds made from the raffle benefited Porter’s Quarters Farm, a community effort that works to combat food insecurity and promote selfsufficiency by teaching Gainesville’s Black community members how to grow and store their food.

“We’re in this community now, we just moved in and we want to make a connection with who our neighbors are,” McClure said. “We want to incorporate some of [Porter’s Quarters’] ingredients in our menu too, once we get things rolling here.”

Access to fresh food is a driving

Ben Nielsen // Alligator Staff

An employee prepares food at Muñecas Taco Garden and Bar on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. force for Muñecas. All of its ingredients and dishes are made in a scratch kitchen, McClure said.

“It feels like a lot of people are starving for high-quality food,” McClure said. “I know when I go out to eat I have a hard time finding that.”

Caroline Glynne is a Gainesville resident and employee at Muñecas.

With 11 months of experience working for the business, she enthusiastically greeted customers while donning a gold flapper’s getup.

“My favorite part is that the culture is very positive [at Muñecas],” Glynne said. “I feel like all the coworkers are actually friends. It’s actually a good sense of community and family.”

The new location is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday to Sunday. @bonnymatejowsky bmatejowsky@alligator.org

FOOD

Millhopper Bagel Bakery remains open following series of violations REVERED GAINESVILLE HOTSPOT FOR BAGELS, COFFEE WAS SET TO CLOSE FOLLOWING FAILED HEALTH INSPECTION

By Emilia Cardenas-Perez Avenue Staff Writer

Breakfast restaurant Bagel Bakery will stay in business after passing a follow-up health inspection Jan. 10. It was temporarily closed by an emergency order following a health inspection Jan. 5 that reported 25 violations.

Bagel Bakery owner Ken Rembert confirmed the restaurant’s reopening after the mandatory 24-hour call-back inspection. The restaurant’s management hasn’t released a public statement addressing the violations

and the temporary closure as of Jan. 15.

Rembert said it is “not closing” and confirmed this on Bagel Bakery’s Facebook with a post captioned, “Come see us any day, we’re here from 7-2!”

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation categorizes violations as basic, intermediate and high priority based on how much of a threat is posed to public health and safety. Out of Bagel Bakery’s 25 violations, 13 were basic, five were intermediate and seven were high priority, Rembert said.

Among the high priority violations were “toxic substance/chemical improperly stored” and “live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area,” according to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

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The restaurant at 4113 NW 16th Blvd. is registered with the department under the name, “Bagel Company.” The recent closure was a first for Bagel Bakery, with inspections before Jan. 5 reporting compliance with health standards.

Bagel Bakery is one of the most frequented breakfast spots in Gainesville with a 4.5/5 rating from more than 400 Google reviews.

The restaurant opened its doors in 2000 as part of a franchise, according to its website.

Joshua Robrahan is a 21-year-old UF marketing senior. He said he goes to Bagel Bakery once a week, usually with a group of friends.

“When I heard Bagel Bakery was closing, I actually got very upset because this is one of my go-to breakfast brunch spots in Gainesville,” Robrahan said.

He said he found out the restaurant could

potentially be closing from a friend.

“I always thought it was one of the best restaurants around, so the fact that it may close made me really sad,” Robrahan said.

“If they stay open, I’ll be relieved and happy.”

The inspection is not going to affect his love for the restaurant, he said. While the potential health issues concern him, he trusts the restaurant will amend any violations.

“I honestly probably will still go,” he said.

“Though hopefully they will be properly addressed so issues like this aren’t run into again.”

After learning Bagel Bakery passed a follow-up inspection and will stay in business, he said he is eager to return. @emiliaandreaa ecardenes-perez@alligator.org

Prescribed fires

Gainesville parks make efforts to conserve ecosystem. Read more on pg. 7.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 ALLIGATOR 7

NATURE

Gainesville parks, organizations perform prescribed fires to conserve the ecosystem PRESCRIBED FIRES LOWER POTENTIAL WILDFIRE RISK, MAINTAIN SPECIES POPULATIONS AND HELP FLORIDA ECOSYSTEMS

By Molly Seghi Avenue Staff Writer

With swamps and nature parks galore, Alachua County is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes. While many recognize the scenic beauty of the local environment, the practice that makes this remains commonly unexplored: prescribed fires.

A prescribed fire is the use of fire on a landscape under specific environmental conditions to accomplish land management objectives, said Tracey Sleek, a 37-year-old assistant director of the Ordway-Swisher Biological Station at UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Science.

The ecosystems of Alachua County, such as the wetlands and wiregrass habitats, have naturally evolved to rely on fire as a result of lightning. Prescribed fires mimic the natural rhythms of lightning from Florida summer storms that burn the landscape during the year, Sleek said. The natural communities adapted to fires depending on the seasons and the storms they receive.

While prescribed fires may seem destructive, the act of mimicking natural occurrences lowers the risk for potential wildfires, maintains species populations and helps the overall ecosystems of Florida, Sleek said.

“By applying fire tips [prescribed to] the landscape, or mimicking those natural disturbances, we are benefiting all of the different species that have evolved in Florida with fire,” Sleek said.

Local parks continue to value prescribed fires in land management, one of them being the Morningside Nature Center, at 3540 E

Courtesy to The Alligator

Controlled burn at Ordway-Swisher Biological Station on Tuesday, Dec. 5th, 2023.

University Ave. The Gainesville park performs cooperative burns with trained community members in-house and at Boulware Springs.

Jane Cummings, a 53-year-old nature center education supervisor for the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, has been a member of the burn team since 2016. She compares prescribed fires to medical prescriptions for the land.

“If we think of environmental ecosystems as an organism, we have a baseline of what’s healthy for us,” Cummings said. “Sometimes things go awry, or we’re sick and we need a prescription to get us back at baseline.”

The extensive operation is done meticulously and methodically over a 12- to 16-hour

day, Cummings said. Burn crew members meet at a briefing prior to the burn where they discuss the “prescription” for the fire, such as expected weather conditions, possible hazards and safety routes.

“Every time that we burn, no matter what the organization is, a very detailed prescription is written depending upon which area in the designated area you’re burning and what ecosystems lay within that,” Cummings said.

Next, they develop a burn plan and burn the area in zones with two teams: the ignition team that lights the fire and the mock-up team.

Burn days may happen about five or six times a year depending on the size of the agency and land they manage, Cummings said.

Prescribed fires protect urban interfaces by reducing fuel loading, Cummings said. Without it, a rapid accumulation of batteries on the ground would become a fuel source dangerous to human developments.

“As you drive around our beautiful state, you see a lot of things that would catch on fire very easily,” Cummings said. “And if that did… it shuts down roads and it damages other areas.”

As she watched many prescribed burns over her eight years working at Morningside, Windy Wood, a 42-year-old nature assistant, learned the importance of prescribed fires and admired the public’s dedication to it.

“We’re actually very lucky in Florida we have a lot of people who understand the importance of fire and prescribed fire, not only amongst your agencies but also amongst the public who live here,” Wood said.

The practice of prescribed fire in the area has been performed for centuries, Wood said.

Native American groups such as the Timucua people and their ancestors utilized fire for land management as well as warfare and cultural practices.

Florida leads the nation in prescribed fire,

said Alachua Conservation Trust’s 29-year-old fire management specialist Rachel Townsend.

The Alachua Conservation Trust, an accredited land trust, is one of multiple local organizations dedicated to land conservation. It blossomed out of the Alachua county’s slogan “Where Nature and Culture Meet.”

The organization aims to limit urban developments and preserve as much habitat as possible through conservation, land management and outreach and communications. Its efforts range from land acquisition to education initiatives with children.

“We need to protect these things that make up our history, make up our current times and hopefully make up our future,” Townsend said. “Gainesville is kind of at the heart of all of that.”

ACT works to restore altered communities through its prescribed fire program. The array of natural communities in Alachua County makes prescribed fires so important, Townsend said.

Caleb Bohrer, a 20-year-old UF anthropology freshman, recently completed a gap year with AmeriCorps and Triple C, working with the United States Forest Service in the Southeast.

With wildfire response skills and knowledge in his back pocket, Bohrer appreciates the local commitment to the cause.

“Being in Gainesville with so many different state parks and other public lands around it makes me want to work with those organizations and help out where I can,” Bohrer said.

The lasting impression of prescribed fires and the local loyalty to conservation will continue to touch Gainesville for generations to come. @molly_seghi mseghi@alligator.org

HISTORY

Historic buildings, modern problems: Gainesville’s oldest buildings

Hippodrome Theatre’s broken elevator reignites debates on historic building preservation

By Bea Lunardini Avenue Staff Writer

The Hippodrome Theatre went from a humble post office in 1911 to one of Florida’s most successful historic preservation projects in just over 100 years. Work on it isn’t finished yet, and if the next 100 years are anything like the previous, it may never be.

Historic preservation is an endless process that is individually tailored to each space, but Jay Reeves, a 64-year-old architect, references a common set of guidelines for each project.

“Looking at historic buildings has to do with the significance to the community, the history of the building [and] who was associated with it,” Reeves said.

The Hippodrome’s original form as a post office didn’t hold major cultural significance, but its location in the center of Gainesville’s downtown was crucial to its success, Richard Gartee said.

Gartee, a 75-year-old historian and novelist, chronicled the theater’s rise to prominence in Gainesville.

After putting on its first play in January 1981, the theater boasted 5,000 regulars by 1984.

“That means 5,000 people came down here eight times a year, at least, who would probably never come downtown,” Gartee said.

“It served as this focal point that drew people to downtown.”

The Hippodrome was a muchneeded landmark for a dilapidated Gainesville, said 71-year-old lawyer and developer Linda McGurn.

“The storefronts were empty,” McGurn said. “The businesses had moved out to shopping centers.

We had 0.05% of the people living in Gainesville, and we had 13% of the violent crime, 23% of the robberies.”

McGurn and her husband, Ken, took a chance on the downtown area that had been all but abandoned and built the Sun Center, a four-year project aimed to complement the Hippodrome’s signature architecture and revitalize Gainesville.

The Hippodrome’s design is one of the biggest reasons why it is a key target for preservation. A building’s architecture must be indicative of local or regional styles to warrant the costly process of restoring it. Amanda Rodriguez Demaria, a 44-year-old economic developer, has led the process for

the Hippodrome over the last year.

“Historic preservation, when done correctly, is not cheap,” Demaria said. “It’s not meant to be cheap. It’s meant to last. These buildings were created to last forever.”

Demaria specializes in small, historic municipalities like Gainesville, where she’s found a small area doesn’t necessarily mean a small budget.

For instance, the City of Gainesville allotted $500,000 of its 2023 fiscal budget to the preservation of the Historic Heritage Trail in the Fifth Avenue and Pleasant Street neighborhoods, more than triple the money from the previous year.

Historic buildings have no shortage of challenges, the greatest of which is to pay homage to the past while embracing the future.

One approach is structural, in which architects and developers pursue grants that reward climatesmart preservation and make strategic changes to lower maintenance costs.

The other approach emphasizes the rich cultural history of the buildings, led by people like

Phillis Filer, 68-year-old vice president of Cotton Club, a museum dedicated to the preservation of Black history in Gainesville. A long-time Gainesville resident, Filer has invested years into community awareness and participation.

“The community should always be engaged in projects that affect their lives and their lifestyles,” Filer said. “Having someone come in and say, ‘This is what it’s going to be,’ without understanding the dynamics of that community or their preservation or the history of it makes it hard for people … to identify with it.”

Filer’s work with the Cotton Club Museum has opened her eyes to some of Gainesville’s lesser-known historic buildings, especially those home to its first Black residents. Accessibility to underserved populations has been a cornerstone of Gainesville’s buildings, but contemporary accessibility is somewhat limited, Filer said.

The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, putting forth a comprehensive list of civil rights guaranteed for Americans with disabilities, but a major omission was made. Properties listed on or eligible for the National Reg-

ister of Historic Places are allowed alternative requirements to meet obligations for accessibility, which lowers the standard of access disabled people are ensured.

Measures to improve accessibility can be harmful to some buildings and impossible for others, like the Hippodrome, architect Jay Reeves said. The space boasted an elevator for 112 years, described by some attendees as Gainesville’s greatest thrill ride, but the elevator’s recent failure has left Bob Robins, a 61-year-old Hippodrome facility manager, with a handful of problems.

“Every time we open a hole, that just opens a Pandora’s Box,” Robins said. “It’s endless… the bigger the hole, the bigger that box becomes. The problems compound each other.”

Despite the seemingly constant stream of problems historical buildings bring, Filer said she is certain that they are worth the work they demand.

“It’s always good to know your history in order to know why you are where you are,” she said, “and how to move forward.” @bealunardini blunardi@alligator.org

El Caimán

MARTES, 16 DE ENERO DE 2024 www.alligator.org/section/elcaiman

¿La exención de los requisitos de transferencia para estudiantes Judíos por parte de DeSantis puede ser denominado acción afirmativa?

EXPERTOS LEGALES DE UF INCIERTOS AL ORDEN PARA LAS UNIVERSIDADES DE FLORIDA Por Zoey Thomas Esritora de El Caimán

Traducido por Eluney González Esritora de El Caimán

Siete meses después que Gob. Ron DeSantis felicitó a la corte suprema de los Estados Unidos [United States Supreme Court] por su resolución a acabar que las admisiones de las universidades fueran basados en la raza o origen étnico, su órden ejecutivo más reciente lanzó acusaciones que él está pasando la misma legislación que criticaba.

DeSantis anunció en su discurso del Estado de la Unión el 9 de Enero que las universidades de Florida iban a prescindir ciertos requerimientos de transferencia, incluyendo horas de crédito y fechas de entrega para aplicaciones, para estudiantes fuera del estado que experimentan

antisemitismo u otra discriminación religiosa en sus campus.

El órden ejecutivo, firmado por el canciller del sistema universitario estatal de Florida, cita una encuesta lo cuál indica que el 73% de los Judíos que son estudiantes universitarios han atestiguado una forma de antisemitismmo desde el principio del año escolar 2023-2024.

DeSantis introdujo el órden por señalar el apoyo continuo de Florida hacia Israel desde que la guerra de Israel y Hamas empezó el 7 de Octubre. El estado se alzó en defensa de estudiantes en Escuelas Diurnas Judías y en campus de universidades contra amenazas de violencia, pero muchas universidades fuera de Florida han fallado en hacer lo mismo, él dijo.

Mientras que muchos Judíos Floridianos han felicitado el órden, lo cual da la bienvendia a cualquier estudiante universitario quien busca transferirse a una universidad Floridiana por un “miedo justificado de antisemitismo o otra discriminacion religiosa”, otros lo llaman una forma problemático de acción afirmativa.

Acción afirmativa, definido por la administración de Florida [Florida Board of Governors] como a las

preferencias durante el proceso de admisiones en base de la raza, color, origen nacional, discapacidad o sexo, ha sido prohibido en Florida desde 1999. La Corte Suprema de los EE.UU. llegó a los titulares en julio cuando rechazó la práctica a nivel nacional.

“No hay cuestión que es acción afirmativa”

Danaya Wright, profesora de UF de leyes de la constitución y silla presidencial del senado de facultad [Faculty Senate chair], cree que la ley es claramente una forma de acción afirmativa. La cuestión es si esta forma de acción afirmativa en particular es “sospechosa” o “no sospechosa”, ella dijo.

La Corte Suprema ha ordenado en contra de categorizar estudiantes basados en raza, pero universidades todavía pueden utilizar admisiones con el estilo de acción afirmativa para dar preferencia a estudiantes en otras categorías — por ejemplo, estudiantes de tradición académica con padres alumnos, dijo.

“No hay cuestión que es acción afirmativa”, dijo. “No permitimos acción afirmativa en base de raza, si lo permitimos en base de tradición

académica. ¿Dónde debe caer esto en ese espectro? Si se acerca a la raza, entonces digo que no está bien”.

Si alguien supone un reto a la ley, las cortes van a navegar territorio inexplorado mientras que decidan por primera vez si la religión debe ser aceptada como justificación para acción afirmativa, dijo.

Dar privilegios especiales a estudiantes Judíos en las admisiones se convierte en un problema bajo la Cláusula de Igual Protección [Equal Protection Clause], que establece que cualquier ley que haga una distinción entre dos grupos de personas debe lograr un objetivo justificado, dijo.

El órden de DeSantis técnicamente puede aplicar a todos los que experimentan persecución, no solo estudiantes Judíos. Pero el objetivo declarado del órden a proteger estudiantes Judíos complica su legalidad, dijo.

“El lenguaje del órden es un poco más amplio para intentar que sea bien”, dijo. “Pero que él diga que esto es para estudiantes Judíos, que realmente es solo para combatir antisemitismo, eso entonces se hace, creo yo, muy problemático”.

“La analogía con la acción afirmativa es débil”

John Stinneford profesor de leyes en UF no está de acuerdo con los que dicen que la ley discrimina en base a raza o religión.

El alto miembro del centro Hamilton [Hamilton Center] dijo que la lengua inclusiva de la ley hace que sus beneficios sean aplicables a todos los estudiantes y no crea categorías discriminatorias en el proceso de admisión.

“Un estudiante musulman que enfrenta amenazas basándose en su fé islámica también sería calificado para recibir estos beneficios”, Stinneford escribió en un correo electrónico al Alligator.

Tracey Maclin, otro profesor de UF de leyes, está de acuerdo en que marcar el órden como acción afirmativa es una comparación defectuosa.

Lea el resto en línea en alligator.org/section/elcaiman. @zoeythomas39 zthomas@alligator.org @Eluney_G egonzalez@alligator.org

Muñecas organiza gran inauguración por su nueva ubicación en la cuarta Ave Food Park EL EVENTO TEMÁTICO DE LOS FELICES AÑOS 20 CONTÓ CON COMIDAS, MÚSICA Y CÓCTELES Por Bonny Matejowsky Esritora de El Caimán

Traducido por Laura Quintana Esritora de El Caimán

Una gran fiesta de inauguración con temática de la década de 1920 atrajo a una multitud deslumbrante y glamorosa el 14 de enero, y muchos de los asistentes al evento lucieron el papel. Los invitados se pusieron vestidos brillantes, abrigos de piel antiguos y trajes de tres piezas alineados en el estacionamiento, listos para asistir a la gran inauguración de Muñecas Jardín de Tacos y Bar [Muñecas Taco Garden and Bar].

El restaurante sirve una cocina inspirada en Miami y ahora ha encontrado su segundo hogar en la Calle 317 Suroeste Ave No. 4.

Anteriormente ubicado en el centro, el negocio se mudó a unos minutos de la Cuarta Ave. El parque de comida y suave [Food Park and soft] abrió sus puertas el 21 de

septiembre. Después de tres meses de acostumbrarse al nuevo espacio, inauguró el evento el 14 de enero a las 6 p.m. para abrir formalmente y celebrar su nuevo bar y restaurante.

Con experiencia trabajando para restaurantes y una pasión por compartir la comida de su ciudad natal en el sur de Florida, la restauradora Emily McClure, de 33 años, fundó Muñecas en el 2017 con su entonces socio y ahora esposo, Art Guy. La pareja se conoció mientras McClure estaba en el proceso de abrir su propio restaurante. Ella necesitaba una cocina donde cocinar y el restaurante de Guy, Steamers, ofrecía el lugar perfecto. Después de hacerse cargo de Steamers, el restaurante finalmente evolucionó hasta convertirse en lo que es hoy: un restaurante de fusión latina, asiática y caribeña.

“Empecé usando muchos de los ingredientes que ya estaban en el restaurante”, McClure dijo. “Así fue como diseñamos el menú… intentando ser creativos con lo que teníamos disponible”.

El tema familiar del restaurante no termina ahí. El nombre, que significa “doll” en inglés, viene del apodo de McClure dado por su difunto suegro. “Él siempre me dijo que eres

Mantente al día con El Caimán en Twitter.

Envíanos un tweet @alligatorElCaiman.

el arquitecto de tu futuro…y que puedes hacer cualquier cosa”, dijo McClure. “Así lo llame en honor a él”.

Lo que empezó como un carrito de tacos se convirtió en un restaurante al aire libre, previamente ubicado en la esquina de la Plaza Bo Diddley [Bo Diddley Plaza].

Aunque recientemente se expresaron preocupaciones sobre la economía de las pequeñas empresas de Gainesville, Muñecas ha resistido la prueba del tiempo.

McClure le da crédito a la disposición de los asientos al aire libre de Muñecas por ayudar al negocio a resistir los efectos de la pandemia de COVID-19, que interrumpió las operaciones de los restaurantes en todo el país.

El Parque de Comida en la Cuarta Ave [4th Ave Food Park] es seis veces el tamaño de la antigua ubicación de Muñecas, dijo McClure, dándole la capacidad para respaldar características adicionales como un bar de cócteles y servicios de catering.

Entre los invitados que atendieron la celebración de la inauguración el 14 de febrero estaban Lauren y Michael Dean, nativos de Gainesville que disfrutan la cocina de Muñecas.

Después de probar el menú de la noche, la pareja espera probar

Men’s basketball

Gators gear up for Tennessee test. Read more on pg. 11.

la nueva opción de catering del negocio.

“Hemos estado aquí desde que ellos han estado en este edificio algunas veces, así que sabíamos que la comida iba a ser excelente”, dijo Michael Dean.

El evento también incluyó rifas de canastas de tarjetas de regalo de Parque de Comida en la Cuarta Ave [4th Ave Food Park] y boletos para los Trotamundos de Harlem [Harlem Globetrotters], un DJ en vivo y una estación de tacos de todo lo que puedas comer para mostrar sus especialidades de catering.

La ganancias producidas de la rifa beneficiaron a la Granja del Cuarto de Portero [Porter’s Quarters Farm], un esfuerzo comunitario que trabaja para combatir la inseguridad alimentaria y promover la autosuficiencia enseñando a los miembros de la comunidad negra en Gainesville cómo crecer y almacenar sus comidas.

“Estamos en esta comunidad ahora, nos acabamos de mudar y queremos hacer una conexión con quienes son nuestros vecinos”, dijo McClure. “Queremos incorporar algunos de los ingredientes de [Porter’s Quarters] en nuestro menú también, una vez que pongamos las cosas en marcha.

Acceso a comidas frescas es una

fuerza motriz para Muñecas. Todos sus ingredientes y platos están hechos en una cocina casera, dijo McClure.

“Se siente como si las personas están muriendo de hambre por una comida de alta calidad”, dijo McClure. “Se que cuando salgo a comer pasó un momento difícil encontrándolo”.

Caroline Glynne es una residente de Gainesville y trabajadora de Muñecas. Con 11 meses de experiencia trabajando para el negocio, ella saluda con entusiasmo a los clientes mientras usa un atuendo dorado de flapper.

“Mi parte favorita es que la cultura es muy positiva [en Muñecas]”, dijo Glynne. “Siento que todos los compañeros en el trabajo son realmente amigos. Es realmente un buen sentido de comunidad y familia”.

La nueva ubicación está abierta desde las 11 a.m. hasta las 10 p.m. de martes a viernes, y desde las 10 a.m. hasta las 10 p.m. de sábados a domingos. @bonnymatejowsky bmatejowsky@alligator.org

Síganos para actualizaciones

Para obtener actualizaciones de El Caimán, síganos en línea en www.alligator.org/section/elcaiman.

@LauraCQuintana1 lquintana@alligator.org

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For Rent

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10

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arising from contacts made through advertising. We suggest that any reader who responds to advertising use caution and investigate the sincerity of the advertiser before giving out personal information or arranging meetings or investing money.

For Sale

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answer on page 10 Release Date: Tuesday, January 16, 2024 Release Date: Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Los Puzzle Los Angeles Angeles Times Times Daily Daily Crossword Crossword Puzzle Edited Edited by

by Patti Patti Varol Varol

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Real Estate

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NEW CONDOS-WALK TO UF For Info on ALL Condos for Sale, Visit www.UFCONDOS.COM or Matt Price, University Realty, 352-281-3551 4-22-24-15-5

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CLUE: ____ ____ opened on Oct. 1, 1971.

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solution on page 10

10 ALLIGATOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

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1. Sportscaster Roy Firestone hosted the 1995 "Al Tommie Aaron, brother Hank, hit Bundy's 1.Sports Spectacular" specialofepisode of what how many home runs in his seven-seaFOX sitcom? son Major League Baseball career?

2. What2.Eastern Michigan Eagles Bill Chadwick, the quarterback NHL’s firstdid the DetroitU.S.-born Lions selectreferee in the and second round of the 1998 later a broadcaster for the New York Rangers, went NFL Draft? by what nickname?

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League Baseball

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4. Jim Covert and Ed Sprinkle, two

of the Pro Football Hallandof Actual 5. Themembers Overall Distance Standard (ODS) Class(ALC) of 2020, spentintheir entire LaunchFame Conditions are used testing the rules playing with what NFL franconformance of careers what sports equipment? chise?

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7. Who is6.theFloyd NHL's all-time leader inJr.games played with Mayweather defeated 1,779 what over 23mixed seasons from 1997-2001? martial arts superstar in a 2017 boxing megafight in Las Vegas?

7. What Croatia-born basketball player won three NBA championships withanswers the Chicago Bullsbelow from 1996-98 and was the 1996 NBA Sixth Man of the Year?

Trivia Test answers Answers 1. 13. He hit eight of them in his 1962 rookie season.

2. The Big Whistle.

3. The Simpsons.

4. The Chicago Bears.

5. Kendo.

6. Conor McGregor.

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2.3. GEOGRAPHY: Lake Okeechobee is in which LANGUAGE: What does the Latstate?“sub-” mean in English? inU.S. prefix U.S.PRESIDENTS: PRESIDENTS: was adopted the 3.4.U.S. Which Who president only president to serve two nonconthe expression, secutive terms?"Speak softly and carry a big 5. LITERATURE: Which 20th-censtick"? tury movie star penned the autobiogra4.

Actor/singer Jared Leto also is the phyMUSIC: “Me: Stories of My Life”?

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8. MOVIES: Which sci-fi movie has 6. SCIENCE: element the symbol the tagline, Which “Reality is ahas thing of the Pb? past”?

7.9.GAMES: What is the destination in the board GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What gametheCandy was nameLand? of the United States’ first nuclear-powered submarine?

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Answers 9. U.S. STATES: What is the capital of Alaska?

1. 63,360 inches 10.

LITERATURE: Who is the author of the 2. Search for extraterrestrial intelliautobiographical work "I Know Why the Caged gence 3. Below Bird Sings"?or insufficient 4. Grover Cleveland 5. Katharine Hepburn ©Tower, 2023 King1906 Features Synd., Inc. 6. Devils 7. The Philippines below 8. “Theanswers Matrix” 9. The USS Nautilus 10. Pennsylvania, Short Line, Reading and B&O

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 www.alligator.org/section/sports

GYMNASTICS

Freshman talent floods Gators gymnastics’ season opener THE NO. 2 PRESEASON TEAM HOPES FOR SUCCESS WITH ITS NEWCOMERS AS IT BRACES FOR SEC PLAY

By Krisha Sanghavi Sports Writer

Falling shy of the 2023 NCAA Championship, the Florida gymnastics team is resolute in its pursuit of clinching the coveted title this year. The loss of prominent veteran gymnasts All-American Trinity Thomas and Kayla DiCello reshaped the landscape of Florida’s 2024 roster.

In their first meet of the season, the Gators debuted five freshmen in their lineup. The meet recorded the most UF freshmen in competitive lineup since the 2004 NCAA Super Six team final.

“It was an evening filled with a lot of freshmen routines, which was really exciting,” head coach Jenny Rowland said. “[I am] extremely proud of every team member.”

Rowland is embracing the wave of new talent. She prioritized creating a culture on the team that extends support during tough times and celebrates wins in shining moments, she said.

It's the chemistry and excitement she believes will be a driving force behind the team's success.

“The very first meet that you compete as a freshman in the O’Dome can be a little overwhelming,” Rowland added. “Yet, they all handled it with a lot of grace, a lot of poise, a lot of confidence.”

Freshman Alyssa Arana scored an 8.45 on the uneven parallel bars. Her first two attempts were butchered due to untimely falls, but she renewed her talent and presented a graceful bars routine on the third attempt.

Ryan Friedenberg // Alligator Staff

Freshman Anya Pilgrim performs her vault routine in the Gators’ season opener in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024.

Gabby Disidore secured a 9.825 on the uneven parallel bars. Notably, her performance equaled that of junior Leanne Wong, and both gymnasts shared the fourth spot in the apparatus rankings.

Skylar Draser competed in three of four exercises holding off bars. She earned a 9.85 on both vault and floor, but her strongest performance was on the balance beam, where she scored a 9.875. Junior Bri Edwards and Draser were in a four-way tie for third in the vault exercise.

Danie Ferris opened her collegiate career on the vault. Her seamless routine awarded her a 9.825 and a split-seventh ranking with junior Sloane Blakely.

“We understand and the team understands

this is a year of growth and development and learning,” Rowland said. “I have all the confidence in the world that this team’s going to have success.”

But it was freshman Anya Pilgrim who left as the talk of the program.

Pilgrim shined in every apparatus with a 9.85 or higher. She earned the all-around award with a collective 39.525 –- the highest ever for a Gator freshman in the first meet of her career.

“I think overall it went really well,” Pilgrim said. “I made some improvements on every event.”

She took the top spot in the vault, bars and floor exercises. Her strongest performance of the night was on the floor where she scored a 9.925.

“Floor, I was really, really proud of because that’s usually my event I need to work a little harder on," Pilgrim said. “So for that to be my standout tonight was really great.”

The newcomers bring a blend of skills, but it's the veterans who lead the team to fill the gaps the freshmen are still working to build.

The balance beam was the only apparatus that wasn’t flooded with rookie wins. Senior Ellie Lazzari claimed first place with a near-perfect 9.975. Wong followed close behind with a 9.925 in the second rank.

“This preseason, I really focused on building a really strong foundation,” Lazzari said of her routine. “I feel really strong mentally [and] physically, and I am super excited.”

She earned her ninth beam title ever and her first one since 2022. She matched her collegiate career high which she last set as a freshman in 2021.

While Lazzari's individual performance was an impressive standout, she holds pride in the team’s collective performance, particularly the freshmen’s contributions throughout the night.

“This team is so special, and for the majority of it to be freshman class, they did such a good job,” she said. “They just look like veterans out there. I just had so much trust in them.”

The gymnast is hopeful for the future and views the preseason and night’s performance as a testament to the team’s capabilities, she said. Both Lazzari and Rowland feel confident in the freshmen’s talents and strength, especially as SEC play looms on the horizon.

“I’m really proud of them, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store,” Lazzari said.

Florida will begin SEC competition on the road Friday at 6 p.m. against the Auburn Tigers. The meet will be broadcast on the SEC Network. @krishasang ksanghavi@alligator.org

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball have competed with top teams — it needs to begin taking them down THE GATORS FACE NO. 6 TENNESSEE AT 5 P.M. IN A CRUCIAL ROAD MATCHUP

By Bennett Solomon Sports Writer

In the second half of the Florida Gators men’s basketball team's game against the Arkansas Razorbacks Jan. 13, Riley Kugel fought for a loose ball, out-jumping every Razorback on the court. He secured the ball and fell to the ground after a foul on Arkansas.

Immediately after the whistle blew, head coach Todd Golden ran partially onto the court, softly punching Kugel’s legs. Golden was fired up, and rightfully so. The Gators

dominated the Razorbacks all game to secure a 22-point victory and their first conference win of the season.

“I thought in the Arkansas game, start to finish, probably the most complete effort all year,” Golden said Jan. 15. “Good moment for us to obviously get off to such a great start and maintain it for the whole game.”

But what lies ahead may be Florida’s toughest test of the year so far.

At 5 p.m., UF is on the road in Knoxville, Tennessee, where the program hasn’t won since 2014, to face the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers.

To make matters worse, Florida is just 5-64 all-time on the road against AP Top-10 opponents, and the program has lost 17-straight road games to these opponents.

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The odds don’t favor the Gators, but they must make a statement soon. They’ve shown they can compete with the best teams in the country. From losing by two points to then-No. 6 Kentucky at home in a game where UF led for over 28 minutes, to refusing to go away against now-No. 9 Baylor in Brooklyn, the Gators have had their chances.

They need to secure a major win to boost their resume as March quickly approaches. But they’ll have their hands full in Knoxville, where they won’t be hearing many cheers.

Instead, they’ll be hearing boos from a fanbase that doesn’t speak kindly of any Gators sport.

“We're going to have to be mentally tough to go out there and play really well,” Golden said. “I'm ex-

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cited, though, for our team and our guys to kind of get this challenge, especially after last week.”

If one thing is certain, it’s UF can’t afford to repeat its performance against Ole Miss Jan. 10. The team was dominated in the second half, ultimately losing 103-85 in Oxford.

However, Golden’s squad rebounded with its performance at home against Arkansas. Kugel played just four minutes against the Rebels, but bounced back and scored 20 points off of the bench in his most recent outing.

Florida freshman forward Alex Condon said the Ole Miss performance “wasn’t us,” and the team has been preparing in practice for the rowdy Volunteers crowd.

“In practice we were turning up

the volume, like putting in a fake crowd in the background just to get used to running offense with a loud crowd,” he said.

Tennessee comes into the contest with four losses and is undefeated at home. Similar to Florida, the Volunteers fell on the road Jan. 10 to Mississippi State but returned Jan. 13 with a comeback win against the Georgia Bulldogs.

UF’s potential is sky-high. The players know it, too. The team dominated Arkansas from start to finish, refusing to take their foot off of the gas. Though, the squad’s best win of the year may have come against the Razorbacks, earning its first Quadrant 1 victory of the season. Its next

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SEE BASKETBALL, PAGE 12

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hour)

12 ALLIGATOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

Tennesse Test BASKETBALL, from pg. 11

Ryan Friedenberg // Alligator Staff

Sophomore guard Riley Kugel shoots a layup in the Gators' 90-68 win over Arkansas on Saturday, January 13, 2023.

best win: against Michigan in Charlotte, North Carolina, Dec. 19.

Now, that victory may not be as impressive, as the Wolverines have procured a 7-10 record on the year.

Florida needs to start earning wins against ranked opponents. It’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so, and Tennessee would be a definitive start.

The team fell to Kentucky despite holding the Wildcats to just 25% from beyond the arc. However, free throw woes and a late scoring drought ruined any hopes of an up-

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set.

Against Ole Miss, the team gave up 59 points in the second half, an area where Golden urged the team to improve. It did so, holding Arkansas to just 35 points in the second half.

“Our goal was to go out there and make sure that doesn’t happen again,” graduate student forward Tyrese Samuel said after the Arkansas win. “We made sure it didn’t happen again, and we came away with a win.”

But come March, the resume matters, and Florida’s isn’t impressive. On their remaining schedule, the Gators have three ranked opponents lined up in Tennessee, the Auburn Tigers and a rematch against the Wildcats. But that’s it. Teams

may certainly rotate into the rankings, but Florida has to quickly begin beating top teams before it's too late.

“I think the sky's the limit for this team,” Condon said. “I think we're definitely a late March team.

Whether that's this year or next year, I think it's just we need to put the pieces together, keep playing as a team.”

It’s early in SEC play, with the Gators only having three conference games under their belt. And with a statement in Knoxville Jan. 16, the narratives on the Gators could turn towards the right direction at the right time. @B_Soly11 bsolomon@alligator.org

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