Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023

UF Honors Program forms committee to seek new director

POSITION EXPECTED TO BE FILLED BY MID-MAY

By Halima Attah Alligator Staff Writer

The UF Honors Program has officially begun a search for the replacement of former director Mark Law, who Provost Joe Glover fired in August.

Law, who had held his position within the Honors Program since 2014, was fired to the surprise of the Honors Program community. He was notified of his termination a month before the effective date — Aug. 15. That day, he broke the news to the Honors community himself via email.

“Unfortunately, we found his plans lackluster across the board — from admissions and recruitment to academic and student life programming,” said Mori Hosseini, UF Board of Trustees chair, during his State of the University Address in August.

Law expressed disagreement with Glover’s decision and wrote in an email to Honors students and families that the UF Board of Trustees provided the former director with no reason for its action.

program, has assumed the role of interim director since Law’s termination.

An established search committee will find a permanent director by mid-May, said Angela Lindner, associate provost for undergraduate affairs and search supervisor. Each committee member confirmed their intent to participate in the search for a new director by mid-December, Lindner wrote in an email.

All of the committee’s meetings will be open to the public — contrary to UF’s presidential search, which was largely conducted behind closed doors until the Board of Trustees announced a sole finalist.

However, the online presence of the search will remain muted.

“Keeping a public site about the search process is not typical for a search at this level of position,” Lindner said.

The committee will update members of the UF community of its finalists as the search develops, Lindner said.

“As with all traditional searches, the search committee will announce on-campus interviews of the finalists,” Lindner said. “These too will

16, 2023. Find

6.

Melissa Johnson, the former senior associate director of the

Marston Science Library returns to 24/7 schedule

roughly two years for 24-hour library operations to return.

By Amanda Friedman & Alissa Gary Alligator Staff Writers

After two years of student advocacy, 24-hour library services will soon return to UF's campus.

UF Student Government announced Jan. 13 Marston Science Library will once again offer 24-hour services with funding directed by the office of the provost.

While the library used to operate on a 24-hour schedule, the COVID-19 pandemic paused those hours indefinitely, leaving many students wondering whether they would return. Newell Hall has been the only 24-hour study space for students since

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT

Fall 2021.

Marston Library’s extended hours will start in March, Student Body President Lauren Lemasters wrote in an email. Provost Joe Glover has agreed to fund overnight access at the library to collect data on student usage to help inform future funding decisions, she added.

“Since the beginning of my term, I have heard students wanting 24/7 library access,” Lemasters said. “My team and I benchmarked overnight access at UF with other peer institutions and collected data from the University Libraries to share with the provost.”

Lemasters didn’t provide further information about funding issues or why it took

It’s unclear as of Sunday evening whether university leadership is considering extending the hours of other libraries.

Angela Ornelas, a 21-year-old UF political science senior, said she was glad to see the hours return. She often does schoolwork late at night and gravitates toward the library that’s open the latest, she said.

“I'm really happy to have it open 24/7 because everybody is on a different schedule,” Ornelas said. “It's really important to accommodate for everybody's different schedules and lifestyles and responsibilities.”

Sen. Grace Shoemaker (Change-Engineering) sent her first email regarding the 24-hour library initiative in 2021, she said. Since then, she has presented statistics and

Sony Pictures acquires UF professor’s film

information regarding the initiative several times to the Student Senate.

Although she didn’t have a direct hand in completing the project, Shoemaker’s glad it’s finally become a reality, she said.

“I thought this might be something we would see in a few years, or be a project that would at least take until next year,” Shoemaker said. “To have an announcement that it’s starting now in spring before I graduate was just insane. I seriously didn’t believe it for a moment.”

Shoemaker plans to partner with the library system to conduct research on Marston’s usage and financial efficacy, she said, so Glover can evaluate whether the initiative is sustainable for a long period of time.

“The reevaluation is where I say it’s not quite over,” Shoemaker said. “But it’s a great start.”

While Minority Party Leader Faith Cor-

Story description finish with comma, pg#

Jaden Rashada is yet to enroll at UF Florida’s drop/add deadline was Friday. Read more on pg. 11.

Iman Zawahry has worked on the film for nine years, pg. 5

Hundreds celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day The downtown Gainesville parade returned to full capacity for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, pg. 6

Rae Chan // Alligator Staff

Attendees march down East University Avenue for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebratory parade Monday Jan.

this story on page

US Rep. Kat Cammack co-sponsors

‘Born Alive’ abortion bill

FLORIDA RESIDENTS WEIGH IN ON LEGISLATION

By Claire Grunewald Alligator Staff Writer

Rep. Kat Cammack co-sponsored the “Born Alive” abortion bill, a piece of legislation that has sparked controversy among lawmakers and activists alike.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed Bill H.R.26, the BornAlive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, with a 220-210 vote Jan. 11. Cammack, who represents the district that encompasses Alachua County and is a co-chair of the House Pro-Life Caucus, announced the reintroduction of the bill along with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) Jan. 9.

Incoming UF President and former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse introduced the Born Alive legislation in 2015 and reintroduced it in January 2021. It passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 248 to 177, but failed to receive 60 votes to break a Democratic filibuster in the Senate.

The bill proposes to ensure health care practitioners take proper care of a child who survives an attempted abortion. Practitioners who don’t follow the bill’s requirements could be subject to fines or up to five years in prison.

“This isn’t about pro-life versus pro-choice,” Cammack said. “This is about protecting those most vulnerable.”

In July, a Florida law that prohibits abortions after 15 weeks with only a few exceptions went into effect. Prior to this, state law allowed abortions up to 24 weeks.

A premature infant has a chance of survival if born at 24 weeks, while most born before this cannot live because their vital organs aren’t developed enough, according to Hackensack Meridian Health.

During the House’s debate on the bill Jan. 11, Cammack spoke out in support of the bill.

Federal law currently recognizes children who survive attempted abortions as people, but it fails to outline any requirements after the infant is born. H.R.26 would rectify this, she said.

Cammack spoke about a woman who had an abortion procedure to terminate her 23-week pregnancy that led to the birth of an infant boy in Hialeah, Florida, in 2006. When the boy began to breathe and move after the abortion, the clinic owner

reportedly cut the umbilical cord and zipped him into a biohazard bag where he died, she said.

In the case Cammack referenced, the child was actually a girl, according to NBC News.

The practitioner faced criminal charges for unauthorized practice of medicine resulting in serious bodily injury and tampering with evidence, but the charges were later dropped.

“In Florida alone, just last year eight babies were reported to have been born alive during an abortion attempt,” Cammack said.

In 2022, eight out of 68,217 abortions in Florida resulted in infants being born alive, according to the Agency for Health Care Administration.

Along with Cammack, 12 other Florida representatives co-sponsored the bill.

Opponents believe the bill isn’t necessary because it’s already illegal to cause harm to an infant after birth.

Lily Kalandjian, a UF College Democrats spokesperson, is against the bill and thinks it’s only a maneuver from the Republicans after Roe v. Wade, she said.

“It's already considered homicide in the U.S.,” Kalandijan said. “So this just continues to further stigmatize abortion.”

To see Cammack, who represents Gainesville residents, support the bill is disappointing, she said.

“As people on a college campus with a lot of students who are passionate about reproductive rights, it's upsetting to see that our representative is not supporting us in what we believe in,” Kalandjian said.

Local college students such as Catarina Provenzano, a 21-year-old UF psychology junior, want more Florida representatives, such as Cammack, to advocate for abortion rights, she said.

“The more Florida representatives being pro-choice,” Provenzano said, “The more comfortable I feel living here.”

Local organizations like North Central Florida Indivisible are against Cammack’s position on the bill.

Director Jyoti Parmar was disappointed to hear that lawmakers are trying to take away women’s autonomy, she said.

“This effort is an attempt to intimidate medical providers from providing abortion care in late and catastrophic pregnancies,” Parmar said.

The Republican Party has had a

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practice of silencing and shaming women — including Republican women — who seek abortions, she said.

“Kat Cammack has a history and pattern of ignoring the voices of many of our constituents,” Parmar said.

Proponents of the bill believe it’s necessary to have these protections if an abortion is not properly carried out.

Lynda Bell, Florida Right to Life president, believes the bill would restore some dignity and protection to infants born alive after an abortion, and she is shocked that anybody could vote against the protection of an infant born alive, she said.

“It’s one thing to say that you're pro-abortion or you're pro-choice,” Bell said. “But it's another thing to say we don't even want to protect babies that are born alive.”

Bell and the organization believe Cammack is the future of the party and are proud she is co-sponsoring the bill, she said.

“We have some very powerful, strong pro-life Congresswomen in Congress, and we couldn't be any more pleased,” Bell said. “I think [Cammack’s] a great future of the party.”

Matt Turner, UF College Republicans president, said regardless of anyones’ views on abortion, any life should be afforded the same privileges as any other life.

“I think that there should be punishments if there's not a reasonable standard of care that's applied to a child that has been born,” Turner said.

UF College Republicans has a friendly relationship with Cammack and work with her often, he said.

Cammack has a large hand in this bill,” Turner said. “So we're very much in favor of the bill.”

The bill will now move to the Senate, where Democrats have the majority.

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‘African Americans In Gainesville’ exhibit showcases local Black history

EXHIBIT AVAILABLE DURING JANUARY

By Aidan Bush Alligator Staff Writer

People filtered in and out of the A. Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center, crowding around a handful of text displays making up its new exhibit.

While modest in physical scale, the museum aims to offer a comprehensive picture of minority culture in Alachua County, from its people to the buildings they lived in.

The “African Americans In Gainesville” exhibit, which premiered Jan. 10, examines prominent civil figures in Gainesville throughout history and features historical homes from the city’s Pleasant Street and Fifth Avenue areas — historically Black neighborhoods in East Gainesville.

Belay Alem, a 34-year-old Gainesville attendee and UF anthropology Ph.D. candidate, said the joint focus of people and the land at the time offer a greater understanding of the area’s culture.

By focusing on the local community — especially its former look — the presentation allows researchers and locals to better connect, Alem said.

“Every story is tied to space — people’s experiences of memories,” Alem said.

Multiple local organizations collaborated with the museum to create the exhibit.

A written timeline introduces attendees to the exhibit, covering prominent people and organizations within the local area that affected civil and social progress throughout history — dating back as early as colonial times.

The timeline was contributed by the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, a UF-based research center that focuses on preserving historical accounts through interview recordings.

Marcus Chatfield, 53-year-old coordinator of the timeline and UF history Ph.D. candidate, said about 15 UF student members made the

timeline in 2019 with the goal of local outreach. The new exhibit marks its first appearance at the museum.

“The timeline was meant to be something useful for the Gainesville community and something that would be beneficial beyond the UF campus,” Chatfield said.

NKwanda Jah, the executive director of the Cultural Arts Coalition who coordinates the Fifth Avenue Arts Festival, said she requested the timeline’s creation.

The exhibit was necessary to preserve information when physical artifacts — whether buildings or people — were gone, Jah said.

“I want in 100 years for there to be information about this community that is accessible,” Jah said.

In addition to the timeline is a series of historic photos of the property on Fifth Avenue and Pleasant Street, which Gainesville Neighborhood Voices cites as the city’s oldest intact Black neighborhoods. These were contributed by the Pleasant Street Historic Society, a nonprofit centered around preserving the district.

Dale Harris, PSHS president, said the imagery was valuable as many of the properties have since been destroyed or are currently uninhabitable.

“Pretty much all of those houses are gone,” Harris said.

New exhibits like these are created regularly as a preview to Black History Month in February, said Carol Richardson, museum coordinator.

The exhibit and other features help highlight the important role local communities play in civil rights movements, Richardson said.

“These are people that have affected Gainesville as it comes to law as educators or teachers, janitors, babysitters, midwives,” Richardson said.

The exhibit will be available for the rest of January. Afterward, it will be periodically swapped in and out of rotation.

@aidandisto abush@alligator.org

Bruce Capin, longtime UF fencing coach, dies at 60

He emphasized compassion, spirituality and environmental advocacy

By Sophia Bailly Alligator Staff Writer

To end the opening practice of the Fall semester for UF’s fencing club team, Nicholas Van Nimwigen remembers how Bruce Capin sat his group down in a circle and repeated his lifelong advice.

“How do you know you’re going to wake up tomorrow?” he said to Nimwigen and his teammates. “You have no guarantee that there’s any future. Make the most of what you’re living right now.”

Capin, who spent 22 years as UF’s fencing coach, died Nov. 28 at the age of 60. Under his leadership, UF fencing was more than a team or a club — it was a family.

Capin mastered all three forms of fencing — foil, epee and saber — while most who fence only master one. He taught social sciences in Compton, California, until he realized he hated teaching. Prior to coaching at UF, he coached at New Mexico State University and California State University, Long Beach. While at UF, he also helped coach Clemson University’s fencing team.

Not only was Capin adamant about shaping skilled fencers, but he also deeply cared about students’ well-being off the fencing piste. Van Nimwigen, a 21-year-old UF math junior, said Capin’s passion and commitment to the team helped students through the pandemic.

“We’re not top in the nation, and we’re not trying to be,” Van Nimwigen said. “But we’re trying to be the best that we can be. That almost family-type environment was fostered by him.”

Velyn Wu, a 41-year-old assistant foil coach, said Capin balanced being kind-hearted and compassionate with being tough.

“On the outside, he probably seemed rough,” Wu said. “But on the inside, he was just one big, soft teddy bear. You’d never know how far he went in fencing until you talk to his friends.”

As a club program, UF’s fencing team welcomed anyone, regardless of experience. For Capin, anyone had the potential to be an amazing fencer.

Damien Lehfeldt, a 36-year-old fencing coach and referee, met Capin when he started his high school fencing career in Tampa. The two remained fencing friends for years, and Capin continued to motivate Lehfeldt even after graduation.

“I’ve never seen a better club coach in terms of his ability to take somebody who had never fenced in their life, and by the end of four years at the University of Florida, turn them into viable, legitimate fencers,” Lehfeldt said.

Madeline Stewart, a 21-year-old UF sustainability and political science junior, said Capin never tolerated bullying and embraced an inclusive atmosphere for the team of 50 to 60 members.

“When I first met Bruce, he really reminded me of a rougharound-the-edges coach,” Stewart said. “All he wants is for me to get better, but he’s going to kind of be a jerk every once in a while. But everything came from a good place.”

Dawn Schwartz, a 28-year-old UF alumna, remembers the team’s annual trip to Temple University’s fencing tournament.

Capin would ride the bus with everyone else to ensure the team was having fun. After the tournament’s first day, he would take the team out for Philly cheesesteaks and hot chocolate.

“No matter what your background, Bruce was happy to have you on the team,” Schwartz said.

Capin told Schwartz stories about when he was younger and couldn’t afford to enter a fencing tournament and pay for a hotel. So, he would pay to fence and sleep in his car.

“He knew the struggles of college students who don’t have a lot of money that want to do sports but couldn’t afford to,” Schwartz said. “He made every effort that he could…to help gather the money to reduce the cost of these trips.”

Born into a Jewish family, Capin later became devoted to Native American spiritual beliefs. He would provide spiritual

mantras and lessons to his students, Lehfeldt said.

“Bruce was this deeply spiritual person,” Lehfeldt said. “When you sat down for a conversation with him, it was like he was staring into your soul.”

Capin’s love for animals and nature was also well known to everyone around him. He owned two wildcats with his wife, Erika, and spent more than 20 years and about $200,000 maintaining an animal sanctuary with her, according to a 2019 edition of The Alligator.

Lehfeldt said Capin built meaningful interactions with people and animals alike. Lehfeldt remembers watching a video of Capin playing a pan flute while a cougar sat by his side and licked him.

“He treated those cats that he rescued like his own children,” Lehfeldt said.

During a national fencing event, Lehfeldt noticed Capin showed up covered in scratches, as if he were in a fight. He asked Capin what had happened.

“He turns to me, and he goes, ‘You know, I entered the cat’s domain, and I didn’t show it enough respect,’” Lehfeldt said. “It was just one of those insightful things that he said.”

Fencing is a small community, Lehfeldt said, but Capin made everyone feel involved and valued.

“He was the kind of guy that when he asked you how you were doing, it was not a perfunctory question,” Lehfeldt said. “It was him being genuinely invested in almost everybody that he came across.”

Aidan Bush // Alligator Staff

Museum attendees walk through the A. Quinn Jones Museum’s “African Americans In Gainesville” exhibit Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023.

Sam Thomas // Alligator Staff Bruce Capin.

Student organizations’ leaders criticize funding model

UF AD HOC COMMITTEE HOLDS FIRST FORUM

By Amanda Friedman Alligator Staff Writer

From grievances over $80 cheese and crackers to a $225,000 cut from the student organization budget, students didn’t hold back their frustration with UF's current funding model at the Student Organization Funding Review Ad Hoc Committee’s first public forum Jan. 11.

The Ad Hoc Committee was formed to provide a platform for representatives of student organizations to express their concerns and ask committee members about the funding process.

Roughly 30 students and only four of the seven committee members attended the meeting. Student speakers belonged to organizations as varied as Young Americans for Freedom, Pride Student Union, Liquid Propulsion Development Team and Gator Motorsports.

Caitlyn McCoy, chairman of the Young Americans for Freedom, a conservative student organization, expressed frustration with the group being denied travel, event and operational funds for Summer A 2022, Fall 2022 and Spring 2023.

“Josh Richards received $60,000 to rap about his sex life,” she said. “If this money exists in such vast amounts, why are only certain organizations receiving money?”

McCoy condemned Student Government for its excuse that YAF’s funding problem is because they ran out of money, when other groups, like ACCENT Speakers Bureau, were given a large amount of funding.

A common complaint was perceived unfairness of the SG’s current funding model. For each funding cycle, student organizations must submit a base funding request beginning at 9 a.m. on a specific date. Funding is then awarded to organizations on a first-come-firstserve basis.

Student representatives stressed this method allows some student organizations to receive a higher, and sometimes unnecessary, amount of funding only because they submitted a request faster than other organizations. Students also echoed criticisms for the

classification framework that went into effect July 1, which categorized student organizations as either General Registered Student Organizations or University Sponsored Student Organizations.

The policy states that GRSOs can receive funding from SG but not from university departments. USSOs cannot request funds from SG, but can only receive funding from departments.

Sydney Swartman, president of UF’s Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (oSTEM) chapter, discussed her organization’s need for more funding due to the rise in catering prices after UF’s switch of catering services last year: from Classic Fare to Palm & Pine.

“For a cheese and cracker spread, we used to pay $20, now we pay $80 because [Palm & Pine] requires you to purchase a certain minimum amount,” she said.

She also mentioned she was excited that the Ad Hoc Committee was formed with bipartisan support, but disappointed in the lack of bipartisan representation among the committee who all serve in the Gator Caucus.

The last student to speak was Jack David, president of Gator Motorsports, who expressed frustration with the new classification framework. It terminated SG's funding of his organization in the Spring due to Gator Motorsports being classified as a University Spon-

sored Student Organization, meaning it cannot request funds from SG.

“Why is this university okay with approximately 20% of its student organizations on campus losing their funding?” David said. “Particularly when roughly 40 of those organizations are engineering-focused design teams that compete at a national level.”

Last semester, David said former Senate President Elizabeth Hartzog told him the UF Board of Trustees dismissed an SG proposal to increase the activity and service credit hour fee from $19.06 to $20 last summer, which would have increased the SG’s budget by roughly $3 to $4 million if approved.

Additionally, the student organization funding budget was cut by $225,000 this fiscal year.

David highlighted these events to propel his message that UF is choosing to ignore the financial needs of student organizations.

Hartzog also told him UF doesn’t have the resources to fund all student organizations due to new organizations emerging every year while the credit hour fee stays the same, David said.

While SG leaders said they didn’t have the funds to support student organizations, they were fine with financing a nearly $350,000 Roddy Rich concert at the O’Connell Center in February 2022. Only 3000 of the 6500 available seats in the venue were filled, he said, referencing The Alligator.

Like McCoy, David also critiqued the ACCENT Speakers Bureau's approximately $500,000 budget used to hold their speaking events with TikToker Josh Richards and television personalities Barbara Corcoran and Stephen A. Smith in 2022.

“Is the UF student body getting half a million dollars in value from these speakers coming to our campus?” he asked. “Is allocating funding to these areas worth eliminating funding to students?”

Vice-Chair Sen. Shelby Schultz acknowledged that most of the discussion hovered around critiques of the current funding model and urged attendees to suggest alternative funding methods that the committee could take into consideration.

All funding decisions for student organizations should be made on a needs basis, David said.

Search committee list revealed

• Kris Klann, assistant dean and director, student life, new student, parent & family engagement

provide a window that will be open to the public.”

Led by chair and mathematics professor Kevin Knudson, the search committee features an assortment of UF faculty members and officials. Knudson shared the names of the search committee members with The Alligator, who include:

• Connie Mulligan, professor of anthropology, CLAS

• Sarah Westen, clinical assistant professor of clinical child and pediatric psychology, PHHP

• Ryan Good, affiliate faculty, geography and UF Water Institute, SNRE, CALS

• Lauren Hodges, associate professor of viola, School of Music, COTA

• Mary Parker, VP enrollment management and associate provost

• TehQuin Forbes, coordinator, Honors recruitment & transitions

• Tina Horvath, senior director, housing & residence life

• Jason Mastrogiovanni, assistant provost, UF Student Success

• Matthew Fiore, assistant director of development, UF Advancement

• Ann-Marie Derias, UF Honors Program student

• Gitchimber "Jojo" Gay, UF Honors Program student

• Ian Lai, UF Honors Program student

• Valerie Sheehe, UF Honors Program student

• Radhika Subramanian, UF Honors Program student

• Search Consultant – Devan Brown, talent consultant, Strategic Talent Group

The future UF Honors

Program director must meet the standards outlined in the position description, now posted on the UF Human Resources website. Potential directors must possess at least 10 years of relevant experience and a doctorate degree.

Five UF Honors students will take part in the search, each representing “various aspects of the Honors program,” Lindner said.

Of the five students on the search committee, three didn’t respond to The Alligator and two declined to comment.

Moving forward, more UF students will be able to get involved in the search, Lindner said.

“The committee will provide opportunity for students at large to participate in the on-campus interviews,” Lindner wrote.

With advice from Knudson and Honors staff, Lindner chose the committee members, who have

Sen. Connor Panish (Change-Yulee) said $400,000 of student organization funding allocated in the Fall wasn’t used and rolled over to the Spring’s funding cycle. He believes fixing the funding model should involve holding organizations accountable for not spending the money awarded to them.

“If an organization continually requests $3,000, for example, and continually fails to use $3,000 they should be actively punished for that,” he said.

Panish suggested limiting or terminating funding for organizations that continuously request money they don’t use.

When asked by students about the extent to which SG fights to negotiate budget increases with the Board of Trustees, Schultz noted that SG passed a 3% increase to the budget for the following fiscal year this past summer. However, the increase must be approved by the Board of Trustees and Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Senate President Olivia Green joined the conversation to reaffirm Schultz’s statement that DeSantis is the ultimate decider in expanding SG’s budget.

“Once it goes past the school it really is up to the governor,” Green said. “I know it seems like people are not doing enough, but [SG leaders] are advocating year after year… and it’s just not happening.”

When asked about what would come from this meeting, Schultz said what has been discussed will only be used to execute changes for future budget cycles and that no changes will be made to funding decisions that have already been decided.

Although there is much more work ahead, Schultz said the forum was a successful first step in addressing concerns about SG’s funding model. The committee plans to review the grievances and suggestions presented by students and seek ways to improve the funding process.

Sen. Oscar Santiago Perez (Change-District D), who spoke at the forum as the Pride Student Union treasurer, said he’s disappointed this meeting is the first action taken by the committee since its establishment was announced Nov. 1.

“I really hope that this committee can hear the opinions and concerns that were expressed in this meeting,” he said. “I hope to see some sort of change in terms of the funding model.”

@afriedmanuf afriedman@alligator.org

met once since the committee was created.

Honors students like Kayla Booth, a 19-year-old UF anthropology sophomore, emphasized the importance of more student involvement in the committee moving forward. Students could benefit from participating in the search process, she said.

“The director is going to be a key point in our undergraduate career,” Booth said. “It would be nice to give some input to the search.”

Yet, some UF Honors students remain in the dark about the search committee’s existence and current progress in finding a new program director.

Isabella Cratem, a 19-yearold UF electrical engineering sophomore in the Honors Program, noted the committee could improve on how informed it has been keeping students on the search.

“I would say they’re not doing that much of a good job there,” Cratem said. “I could not tell

you what’s happening right now, which I think kind of speaks volumes.”

Aiming to find a director by May, members of the search committee will continue to meet periodically throughout the coming months.

The possibility of the current UF Honors interim director being a candidate for director can’t be shared at the moment, Knudson said.

To Abigail Stelmashenko, a 19-year-old UF psychology sophomore in the Honors Program, the option of having interim director Melissa Johnson serve as a permanent director would be optimal, she said.

“She’s amazing — I really like her,” Stelmashenko said. “She goes out of her way to help her students.”

The search committee will meet next on Jan. 27 in Tigert Hall, and the meeting is open to the public.

Caia Reese // Alligator Staff

Cassie Urbenz (Change-Fine Arts) asks about student organization funding Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.

UF lecturer’s film ‘Americanish’ acquired by Sony Pictures

Romantic comedy navigates lives of 3 Muslim women

By Amanda Friedman Alligator Staff Writer

When Iman Zawahry walked into the one-woman show “Dirty Paki Lingerie” in New York City September 2013, she didn’t know she'd also be embarking on a nineyear-long film project with the play’s star.

A lecturer at the UF College of Journalism and Communications, Zawahry was inspired by actress Aizzah Fatima’s comedic yet heart-wrenching performance as a Pakistani American Muslim woman and her life in America.

Zawahry approached Fatima after the play and suggested she adapt the show into a film. The two shared an immediate bond and started writing the screenplay by January 2014.

“Americanish,” Zawahry's directorial debut feature film, premiered in 2021 and has recently been acquired by Sony Pictures International Productions. Zawahry received the news that the deal went through in an email when she was on UF campus, she said.

“I was walking outside of Weimer … and I just started screaming and jumping up and down,” Zawahry said.

She describes the romantic comedy as a story of three women — Sisters Sam (Aizzah Fatima) and Maryam Khan (Salena Qureshi), and their cousin Ameera (Shenaz Treasury) — who tackle the everyday challenges of love, life and career in New York City through the unique perspective of Muslim women in Jackson Heights, New York.

Zawahry teaches classes such as Narrative Collaborative Filmmaking and Islam, Media and Pop culture. Teaching is her greatest source of fulfillment outside being

a mother of two, Zawahry said.

Ayla Babanikos, a 22-year-old media production, management and technology senior and Zawahry’s student, said Zawahry always makes herself accessible to her students.

Being half Turkish, Babanikos said she was happy to see a positive, comedic representation of Muslim women when watching “Americanish” for the first time last year.

“It was just really refreshing to see [Muslim women] portrayed as just women trying to figure out their lives like we all are,” Babanikos said. "There’s really not many films about Muslim women centered around comedy. They're all pretty dark and hard to watch."

As a Muslim woman, Zawahry said “Americanish” symbolizes her dedication to improving Muslim women’s representation in the film industry and portraying them in roles that aren’t focused on tragedies.

“Muslim women are not a monolith,” Zawahry said. “We have agency of our own lives and our own stories.”

For the next four years, Zawahry and Fatima juggled writing the screenplay and raising funds to produce the film. They accomplished their goal to have the film fully funded by the Muslim community. While the film began production in December 2017, the two faced an uphill battle with many obstacles in the way: run-

Student-led effort

bett (Change-District C) is happy to see 24-hour library services return to UF’s campus, she’s disappointed by the lack of details included in the announcement.

Gator Caucus was unwilling to collaborate with the Change Caucus on the initiative, she added.

Corbett also emphasized the student body’s integral role in advocating for the reinstatement of 24-hour libraries.

“This must have been an issue that Gator wanted to savor for themselves,” Corbett said.

Director of External Affairs Noah Fineberg is proud of the Lemasters administration’s push to make 24-hour Marston a reality, he wrote in an email.

“Anyone can shout from the rooftops

that they want 24/7 libraries, but it took a dedicated group of people working diligently for a long time to get the job done,” Fineberg said.

Many UF students are looking forward to taking advantage of the change.

Jenny Munaweera, a 19-year-old UF freshman, spends more than 10 hours a day at the library, she said. While she normally studies at Newell, she said, she’s more likely to study at Marston once it’s open for 24 hours because she finds it less crowded.

“Marston feels more homey to me,” Munaweera said. “I just like it better.”

@afriedmanuf afriedman@alligator.org @AlissaGary1 agary@alligator.org

ning out of funding in the middle of production, edits to the storyline and the COVID-19 pandemic, all of which disrupted the film’s completion for years.

“Everything went wrong in making this movie,” Zawahry said. “One of my students said, ‘Every feature is a miracle’ and it’s so true.”

Zawahry and her team’s drive for sharing the story pushed the film past the finish line, she said. When she saw the film screened and the audience’s reactions for the first time, she knew all the hardships had been worth it.

“I’m really proud of us because I know many people would have quit,” she said.

“Americanish” has won 25

awards, including the Audience Award at the San Francisco CAAMFest film festival, where it premiered in 2021. With sold-out theaters and teary-eyed crowds throughout the film’s festival cycle, Zawahry said she was shocked by how many viewers other than Muslim women resonated with the film's themes.

“Everybody was able to relate to it,” she said. “I was just very surprised at how much it touched individuals.”

Fatima believes although “Americanish” tells a story about Muslim women, its themes focus on common life struggles, allowing it to resonate with people of many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, she said.

“That’s the beauty of creating work that is very specific,” Fatima said. “It has a universal appeal.”

Executive producers Mohannad Malas and Tarak Ben Ammar began negotiating with Sony Pictures International Productions for the studio to acquire global rights to the film after the film’s premiere.

The news was a long-awaited reward.

“We really were able to show that there's an audience for this film,” Fatima said.

After working on “Americanish” for nine years, Zawahry and Fatima hope the film will find a home on a streaming service later this year, by virtue of the Sony acquisition.

Zawahry and Fatima are excited to celebrate “Americanish’s” acquisition and attend a panel at the Sundance Film Festival, the largest independent film festival in the U.S., Jan. 22.

@afriedmanuf afriedman@alligator.org

Courtesy to The Alligator

Iman Zawahry teaches media production, management and technology at UF’s College of Journalism and Communications.

Kamryn Bailey // Alligator Staff

From left to right, Sarah Toomey, Carina Swenson, Madison Hendrikse and Kyle Hopwood gather around a table at Marston Science Library to study Monday, Jan. 16, 2023.

Hundreds march in Gainesville Martin Luther King Jr. parade

Event returns fully for first time since COVID-19 pandemic

By Aubrey Bocalan Alligator Staff Writer

Matthew Bowman III, a 14-year-old Gainesville resident, marched down East University Avenue declaring “I am a man. I have a dream.”

Bowman is a mentee of the 100 Black Men of Greater Florida GNV, Inc., which is a group dedicated to improving the lives of African Americans. He was one of hundreds who participated in the King Celebration Annual Commemorative Parade Monday.

He joined high school groups, churches, the NAACP, college students, political groups and local businesses in holding up banners and signs rallying behind the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

“I think that the crowd is a testimony to the desire of so many people to get back and commune with real humans,” said Bowman III’s father, Matthew Bowman Jr.

The parade has been a Gainesville annual tradition since 1982, but it was temporarily halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic — being canceled in 2021 and organized on a smaller scale in 2022. This year, the march returned at full force, beginning in front of City Hall on East University Avenue and ending at Citizens Field on Waldo Road.

It’s important to deepen the discussion about King, Bowman Jr. said. King advocated for issues of poverty, racism, war and education.

“As a parent of three children who live in Gainesville, those are things that resonated with [King] in 1967,” Bowman Jr. said. “And they still resonate with me today.”

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission of Florida and the City of Gainesville sponsored the celebration to honor the life and death of King. Planning for the celebration is a yearlong endeavor, but the commission started to focus on the parade in August, said Rodney Long, president and founder of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission of Florida.

Long planned the first commemorative parade in 1982, when he was a student at UF. Since then, the celebration has faced several changes, including adding shuttle buses to transport participants back and forth between City Hall and Citizens Field and making the entertainment more familyfriendly. Before, participants of the parade had to walk the full distance from their vehicle to downtown.

Carolyn Ross, 63, has been driving buses for 40 years, beginning with Regional Transit System and now with Gainesvillebased transportation service Candies Coachworks. Her job has taken her across the country, from Tennessee to Louisiana, but her latest assignment had her stationed at the heart of Gainesville.

Ross was one of the shuttle drivers for the MLK celebration. She’s grateful to have taken this job because she had never

participated in the parade before, she said. It’s a new adventure for her that felt a little closer to home.

Though Ross was there for the first time, other groups and organizations have participated for several years.

Cox Communications was a sponsor of the parade. They have marched alongside hundreds of others for more than a decade. Market Vice President of Cox Communications Aimee Pfannenstiel, 61, said she felt energized by the event, especially following the pandemic’s hardships.

“It’s solidarity,” Pfannenstiel said. “It’s being together with people who are like-minded. …

We want to be there to support our community.”

Derrick Frazier, a 48-yearold Gainesville resident, has participated in the parade for 12 years and also recognized the passion of Gainesville.

“It’s almost like the fire and energy really hasn’t died away,” said Frazier, the secondary math curriculum specialist for Alachua County Public Schools.

Ray McKnight is the president of 100 Black Men of Greater Florida GNV, Inc. and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the fraternity Martin Luther King Jr. was also a member of. Both organizations participated in the parade.

“I think that folks need this

to one, unify, and secondly, to try to get some normalcy back,” McKnight said.

Several commissioners also marched in the parade, including Commissioners Bryan Eastman, Ed Book and Casey Willits, who were sworn in at the beginning of January.

Willits was thrilled to be marching alongside friends, colleagues and neighbors, especially now that he’s an elected official, he said.

“I think it’s important to physically put boots to the street and march in solidarity,” Willits said.

Mayor Harvey Ward also joined the parade and said it was great to be almost back to pre-coronavirus numbers.

Before the parade, the commission held a Hall of Fame Enshrinement Program where Makayla Flanders, a 17-yearold Eastside High School senior, accepted the 2023 Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Scholarship.

Like Bowman and Long, Flanders sees the value of youth in terms of pushing for social justice.

Despite the hardships she and the community faced during the pandemic, she’s honored to be given the opportunity to speak up and speak out to inspire the younger generation, she said.

“Seeing so many young people out here, this is exactly what we need, is for them to be involved, to show up,” Flanders said. “Because we have the older generation getting older. A lot of them can’t march like they used to, so it’s time for us to step in.”

@aubreyyrosee abocalan@alligator.org

Jiselle Lee // Alligator Staff

Cynthia Mingo, an 80-year-old Micanopy resident, hands out brochures at the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday celebration at Citizens’ Field Monday, Jan. 16, 2023.

Rae Chan // Alligator Staff

“A parade participant holds an American flag and a sign while marching down East University Avenue on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023.”

Jiselle Lee // Alligator Staff

People gather and march for a parade in commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, Jan. 16, 2023.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 www.alligator.org/section/the_avenue

MUSIC

7 local bands compete at Destination Okeechobee’s Gainesville showcase

WINNING BAND TO PERFORM AT OKEECHOBEE MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL

By Loren Miranda Avenue Staff Writer

A self-titled “manic pixie nightmare girl,” Anna “Xarissa” James has been playing shows in Gainesville since she was a teenager. Auditioning for Destination Okeechobee was the next logical step in following her dream of becoming an artist.

When she lost in 2017, she was relieved.

“If we had won by audience votes, made it to Okeechobee and played, we probably would have totally bombed that show,” James said.

At 21, her musicality and stage presence weren’t at the level she wanted them to be. Now, five years later, she’s looking forward to trying it out again — but with a better repertoire that feels more true to her authentic self.

On Friday, seven local bands will line Vivid Music Hall’s stage. Though varying in music niches and instrument styles, they’ll all still bear the same goal in mind: put on the best performances of their lives.

Several north central Florida bands will compete in a battle-of-the-bands-style concert Friday. They will be judged based on musicianship, stage presence, originality and crowd participation. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to perform at the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival.

Additional Destination Okeechobee competitions to scout local Florida bands will take place in St. Petersburg and Miami.

Gainesville funk band Dionysus took the stage by storm last year to secure the win and represent north Florida at the festival. Other previous winners include The Savants of Soul and The Delta Troubadours.

From Kris Heironimus’ ‘60s-inspired oneman-show Velvet Meadow to Sooza Brass

FOOD & DRINK

Band’s six-piece brass ensemble, audience members are in for a night packed full of experimental talent that can only originate from Gainesville’s musical hub.

For many local bands, the opportunity to play alongside over 120 artists – including big names like Earth, Wind & Fire; Lil Yachty; and even Gainesville’s own flipturn – is the prospect of a lifetime.

The chance to grow an audience and become discovered is a window of opportunity that could be the next step to grow in these artists’ careers: among the hopefuls to compete and win include Bambii Lamb, Driptones, Jupiter Troupe, OUTEREDGE, Sauce Pocket, Sooza Brass Band, Velvet Meadow and Xarissa.

Xarissa, a 26-year-old singer-songwriter with relatable lyrics behind a soulful rock rhythm, said she hopes she can take the experiences she’s gained in the five years since her first audition to work on her next dream: moving to Los Angeles.

“It’s always been a life dream of mine to play a well-known music festival,” James said.

“It’s a bucket list item.”

After carefully curating her next solo project with originally written songs, James feels much more secure in the quality of her craft.

James has been rewatching iconic Charli XCX performances and doing cardio exercises in preparation for this year’s audition, she said.

Other artists, like conceptual high-production pop singer Grace Lamerson, are rehearsing Friday’s setlist like usual, staying true to their roots to show fans their authentic selves. Lamerson cites surreal landscapes, like dreams, as her muse and the vision she plans on executing for the audience this weekend.

The 20-year-old songwriter, known as Bambii Lamb, opened for fellow Florida-born artist Ethel Cain this summer at High Dive. Lamerson looks forward to potentially attending her first music festival this March – both as a concertgoer and a headliner.

“If my first music festival was me playing at

the festival, I think that’d be really cool,” Lamerson said. “I’m always trying to get myself out there.”

Sooza Brass Band, made entirely of current and former UF School of Music students, has been practicing every day in anticipation of the audition day to put all their energy into their 15-minute audition set.

“All gas, no breaks energy all the time,” said Brian Burwell, 26, Sooza’s trombonist and stage manager. “It’s been a lot of effort figuring out which three or four songs are the best representation of our sound and how to get the best experience for the crowd.”

The instrumental band, inspired by acts like Moon Hooch and Lucky Chops, is excited to introduce the audience to the world of instrumental music they refer to as the “Gunk

Palace.”

Sooza also hopes to reintroduce themselves to the Okeechobee soundstage after Gainesville band Matcha invited three members to play as additional players for their Destination Okeechobee set in 2022, Burwell said.

The instrumental band hopes to take the crowd on a customizable journey where each audience member can create their own interpretation of the upbeat brass beats.

Whether from whispers in the local music scene or sharing the same venues in live performances, the competitors know one another and will cheer each other on.

But there can only be one winner.

@LorenMiranda13 lmiranda@alligator.org

Falafel King owner Ghassan Chehab dies at 74

CHEHAB OWNED LOCAL LEBANESE FAVORITE

Xenia Teju Avenue Staff Writer

Soraya Sus and her two daughters have been customers at Falafel King since 2009. Treating them as more than just customers, the restaurant’s owner and founder, Ghassan Chehab, would always personally greet them and give the girls free desserts.

He interacted with them beyond the food transaction, providing a human connection beyond just service.

“When I went alone, [he] always asked me about them by their names and sometimes even [sent] the sweets with me,” Sus said.

Chehab died Dec. 10, 2022 at 74.

After running a restaurant with his brother in Daytona, Chehab decided to move in 1984 to Gainesville — back then, a developing town perfect for raising his four children, now all adult-aged.

Taha Chehab, Ghassan Chehab’s son, remembers him as a humble and patient man. Above all, he was also generous and always willing to help the homeless and feed the needy.

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In 1984, he opened the authentic Lebanese restaurant Falafel King, now located at 3252 SW 35th Blvd. Placed on what was then a soccer field, Falafel King became a food staple in the city. For Chehab, it was more than just a restaurant — it was his second home.

“He loved that store,” Taha Chehab said. “He passed doing what he loved doing.”

Being a personable and handson owner allowed him to build connections between himself and his customers. His energy radiated his warmth and good-natured character.

His passing affected not only friends and family, but also the tightknit local Muslim community.

For Yasmine Choudar, a 26-yearold senior sales and marketing associate in real estate at The Bozzuto Group, Chehab was her first boss and mentor, offering her the opportunity to work and make her own income at the age of 15.

The three years she spent there drastically changed her life trajectory and allowed her to pave the right path for her career and academic goals.

“It impacted my ability to finan-

Gators men’s basketball wins third SEC game in a row Florida’s victories over LSU and No. 20 Missouri moved the Gators to 3-2 in the SEC. Read more on pg. 11. Scan

cially self-determine,” Choudar said. “The job gave me a sense of responsibility. I learned how to manage my money and how to save.”

Working at Falafel King was Choudar’s first step toward independence, she said, saving enough money for her first big purchase: a MacBook computer she intended to use for university.

Read the rest online at alligator.org/seciont/the_avenue.

Diego Perdomo // Alligator Staff

Gainesville artists reflect on AI in art

Artists weigh in as AI trend gains popularity

By Lauren Whiddon Avenue Staff Writer

When Sofia Aguirre first got to UF, she experienced a revolution.

The 20-year-old digital arts and science junior had been interested in art as a child, but she wasn’t able to fully explore this interest in school due to a lack of a good art program.

In college, she found the Digital Worlds Institute, a College of the Arts program that combines digital arts and sciences, and she has been thriving there since.

Aguirre is also passionate about upcoming technologies such as crypto, NFTs and blockchain. The development of AI-generated art intersects Aguirre’s two interests.

“This is definitely going to revolutionize the art world,” Aguirre said. “It’s no longer going to be the same as it was before.”

Artificial intelligence is a field of study that uses algorithms and data to create technology that can be used in lieu of human labor. AI has been implemented across medicine, education, social media and more. But as AI continues to advance, artists have mixed feelings about how this technological development will affect the art world.

Art generated by AI is created by collecting data from other images that is later used by the AI to create new images. Many AI art platforms create images based on text prompts given by the user.

MUSIC

Aguirre has tried several mediums of art, but she’s recently been focusing on digital art, 2D and 3D animation and 3D modeling.

AI art can be especially helpful when creating time-consuming 3D models, Aguirre said, but programs like GET3D help create models from user-provided prompts.

“All you have to do is type in what you want, and it just does it right for you,” she said. “A 3D model like that would probably take an artist a week to do, and the artificial intelligence does it in two seconds — so it’s pretty powerful.”

While some artists fear AI art may replace them completely, Aguirre recognizes that AI art can actually help artists continue to create art in new ways. AI can create images quicker than an artist alone could, she said, but pieces still require time, energy and effort.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t come down to just art,” Aguirre said. “It comes down to creativity.”

Johnny Nguyen, a 21-year-old UF management and economics senior and local artist, sees both a positive and negative side to the development of AI technology in art.

“It is going to change the art scene, for better or worse,” he said. “It forces current artists of this day to innovate beyond what they can currently do to match up with this new trend.”

Nguyen typically creates physical art like sketches, illustrations and paintings, which he sells at lo-

cal markets in Gainesville.

While he understands both sides of the debate, he said, he thinks AI art can take away the human elements of art. For instance, using AI art may eliminate some of the context behind a painting, such as time period or social issues, he said.

One of the reasons he loves art so much is that he loves seeing an artists’ individuality and intentional choices, he said.

Alyssa Leong, a 20-year-old UF psychology junior and digital artist, is also concerned about the ethics of AI art — particularly artists not being fairly compensated for their work.

“If it’s used to be fed into these AI machines, they’re not getting paid for it at all,” she said.

This is especially frustrating because some AI generators cost money to use, Leong said, so the company will make money off the art but not the artist. There’s also no official way for artists who publish their work online to opt out of having it used in AI systems, she said.

However, Leong believes this may change in the future. Since AI art is fairly new, there are not many laws about what can and cannot be used — but this may not be the case forever.

One solution is an opt-in system, she said, meaning an artist could sell their art with copyrights to AI companies and be more fairly compensated.

Another issue with AI art is the bias that comes with many of its data sets. AI data sets are made up of images that are fed into them. Because humans are the ones making these sets and humans often have biases, these biases can then be present in the art generated by AI.

Amelia Winger-Bearskin, a UF AI and the arts associate professor, said AI data sets typically include more Western media rather than diverse, inclusive images.

“It’s harder to find images that are based on cultures from all over the world,” she said.

Because this technological problem comes from its humanity, its solution will also come from its human elements, Winger-Bearskin said. Having more inclusive AI comes down to being intentional about the data it’s fed from the start.

“I hope we can someday have truly unbiased models — or at least less biased models — from the beginning of the creation of these algorithms,” she said.

@Laurenwhid lwhiddon@alligator.org

MusicGNV sponsors new radio show to highlight local Gainesville artists

LOCAL RADIO STATION AIRED FIRST EPISODE

By Loren Miranda Avenue Staff Writer

On a drive with her daughter one morning, visiting UF faculty member Maggie Clifford, 36, paused and turned on her car radio, tuned to Gainesville’s 90.1 The Wombat.

The sound on the speaker felt familiar to the Gainesville-based folk artist. Only after a couple of seconds, she realized it was her song playing.

“To hear it on The Wombat … It was very surreal,” Clifford said. “The song started right as I turned on the radio.”

The Wombat released the first episode of its newest radio show, RadioGNV, Jan. 6 to highlight past, present and future local Gainesville artists’ work and host select premieres for new music.

Airing at 5 p.m. the first Friday of every month, the show features local bands and performers with a focus on only Gainesville-based artists. The lineup ranges from classic oldies like Charles Bradley to up-and-coming rappers like FARO.

One of multiple rotating hosts, RadioGNV producer Brandon Telg, 33, said the episodes will include a variety of contemporary Gainesville artists to introduce the underground

music scene to outsiders who might not know how broad the local music scene is.

“We’ve got some real niche music, you’d be hard pressed to find a niche that isn’t served in some way,” Telg said.

From country singer-songwriters to experimental electronic music, Gainesville boasts a host of local artists that redefine exploratory styles by breaking boundaries to fit the creative niche they want to fill.

Dylan O’Bryan, a 21-year-old UF music composition senior, also hosts RadioGNV. Most students, he said, aren’t familiar with the creative hub Gainesville has attracted in the underground music scene.

“There’s a renaissance happening right now,” O’Bryan said. “I wouldn’t say a ton of people at UF know about it, that’s why I think this would be an interesting story and I would love to change that.”

A founding member of the band The Housing Crisis, O’Bryan hopes his segment will inspire other small artists to take their craft more seriously and open themselves to more illustrious opportunities, he said. He recalled smaller promotions, such as interviews with GHQ-FM, feeling bigger at the moment because it was exciting to feel like his work was taken seriously.

RadioGNV co-host and 4Bits Records cofounder Emily Smith’s segment will focus more on the retro aspects of the city’s music scene.

The 2006 UF alum plans on digging past only recognizing Tom Petty and Sister Hazel as the hallmarks of Gainesville’s music scene.

“I was very involved in the music scene back then,” Smith said. “I have a kind of historical knowledge of the underground music scene — bands that have left and gone on to do very well in the indie world.”

Smith’s DJ sets will feature Gainesvillebased bands like Less Than Jake, Morningbell and Humbleseat for an inside look at how Gainesville has consistently, though discreetly, been an epicenter for cultural musical expression.

The curators of The Wombat bought a “We Are MusicGNV” compilation from MusicGNV, of which 100% of proceeds generated from sales were split between all contributing artists.

The nonprofit discovered some of the featured artists in the compilation through MusicGNV’s recording grant awarded yearly. In its mission to grow Gainesville’s music scene, The Wombat offers the winning artists time to record at a professional studio.

Most recipients will leave the experience with at least two professionally recorded and mixed tracks. For a smaller artist or band that may not have high-quality portfolio material to show future producers, the grant is a tremendous starting point for local artists to refine their material and distinguish themselves from

other hopefuls, Telg said.

Previous grant winners include Gainesville favorites rugh, Madwoman and Breakfast for Dinner. The grant acts as a launching pad for many of the winners, polishing their existing work and offering opportunities for further growth and connections within their community.

The grant is offered quarterly with the last cycle every year focusing on hip-hop and rap artists.

A previous MusicGNV grant winner herself, Clifford encourages artists who take advantage of the wealth of available music distribution services, no matter how successful they may be at the beginning of their journey.

Clifford’s most streamed song on Spotify, “Earth My Body,” was recorded in 30 minutes with her sleeping daughter on her chest, and she didn’t even intend to record it professionally, she said. Now, with over 1.3 million streams, Clifford emphasizes the importance of releasing music for the artists’ own sake, rather than recognition or profit.

“It’s a beautiful thing to contribute with soul to that patchwork,” Clifford said. “I encourage young, aspiring artists and musicians to work on that craft.”

Matthew Cupelli // Alligator Staff

A graphic depicting artist making art using artificial intelligence.

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by Fifi Rodriguez

1. GEOGRAPHY: What is the second-longest river in North America?

1. MEASUREMENTS: How many inches are in a mile?

2. MOVIES: Which 1973 movie advertised itself as a place "where nothing can possibly go wrong"?

2. ASTRONOMY: What does the acronym SETI mean to the scientific community?

3. GAMES: Which party game claims that it can "tie you up in knots"?

3. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin prefix “sub-” mean in English?

4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms?

4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was the first to appoint an African American as a member of his Cabinet?

5. HISTORY: When was the Warsaw Pact between the Soviet Union and seven Eastern Bloc countries signed?

5. LITERATURE: Which 20th-century movie star penned the autobiography “Me: Stories of My Life”?

6. HISTORY: What was the first National Monument proclaimed in the United States?

6. TELEVISION: Which TV game show often uses the phrase "Survey says ..."?

7. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the island of Luzon located?

7. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a female peacock called?

8. FOOD & DRINK: How many meals do Hobbits eat in a day, according to the movies?

9. ADVERTISING: Which product used a manicurist named Madge in its advertisements?

8. MOVIES: Which sci-fi movie has the tagline, “Reality is a thing of the past”? 9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What was the name of the United States’ first nuclear-powered submarine?

10. MEDICAL: What is a common name for the condition called septicemia?

answers below

1. What University of Illinois Fighting Illini football star scored a kickoff return touchdown, four rushing touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass in a 1924 game vs. the Michigan Wolverines?

1. Tommie Aaron, brother of Hank, hit how many home runs in his seven-season Major League Baseball career?

2. Bill Chadwick, the NHL’s first U.S.-born referee and later a broadcaster for the New York Rangers, went by what nickname?

3. The name for the Albuquerque Isotopes Minor League Baseball club was inspired by a fictional team from what TV comedy series?

2. Who compiled a 15-17 record as head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2005-06?

3. The Mean Green is the nickname of what Conference USA school's athletic programs?

4. Jim Covert and Ed Sprinkle, two members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020, spent their entire playing careers with what NFL franchise?

5. What traditional Japanese martial art is literally translated as “the way of the sword”?

4. What baseball executive resigned from the Boston Red Sox on Halloween in 2005 and left Fenway Park wearing a gorilla suit to avoid reporters?

6. Floyd Mayweather Jr. defeated what mixed martial arts superstar in a 2017 boxing megafight in Las Vegas?

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

5. Name the filmmaker who directed the 2016 comedy "Everybody Wants Some!!", which was inspired by his time playing baseball for the Sam Houston State Bearkats in the early 1980s.

Answers

6. In the 1951 "Shot Heard 'Round the World" National League playoff game, the New York Giants' Bobby Thomson hit a walk-off home run against what Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher?

7. What university became the 11th member of the Big Ten Conference in 1990?

1. 13. He hit eight of them in his 1962 rookie season. 2. The Big Whistle. 3. The Simpsons. 4. The Chicago Bears. 5. Kendo. 6. Conor McGregor. 7. Toni Kukoc. © 2020 King Features Syndicate, Inc.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 www.alligator.org/section/sports

MEN'S TENNIS

Gators tennis loses second straight season opener to No. 8 Texas

FLORIDA LOST ITS 2022 SPRING SEASON OPENER TO TEXAS CHRISTIAN 4-3

By Kyle Bumpers Sports Writer

The Florida Gators men’s tennis team was 9-1 in season openers under head coach Bryan Shelton. That record dropped to 9-2 after a run-in with the No. 8 Texas Longhorns.

Florida (0-1), which is ranked No. 13 nationally, had lofty expectations after the team’s strong performances in the Fall season. However, Florida was overwhelmed by Texas (1-0), 5-2, at the Alfred A. Ring Complex Sunday.

The Gators beat the then No. 3 Longhorns Jan. 16, 2022, but Texas got the best of Florida this year.

“For us to battle them as hard as we did, with such a

MEN'S BASKETBALL

young squad,” Shelton said, “I thought that was a sign of good things to come for us.”

Fall matches don’t count toward a team’s record, but it gives players the chance to warm up before the season officially starts. And warm up, they did.

Florida’s freshmen burst onto the scene. Freshman Jonah Braswell beat four ranked opponents — a team-high — in the Fall semester.

Braswell also earned the most Fall wins by a Florida freshman in 30 years. His play moved him to No. 93 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s singles ranking and No. 43 in doubles alongside senior Lukas Greif.

Braswell went into individual play as the most energetic Gator on the court. He played Texas sophomore PierreYves Bailly and won the first set 6-2. He fell down four

TENNIS, PAGE 12

Florida’s defense plays key in 3 game winning streak

GATORS FINISH WEEK WITH WINNING SEC RECORD

By Jackson Reyes Sports Writer

The Florida Gators have turned a corner after starting Southeastern Conference play with back-to-back losses. They’ve rattled off three straight conference wins to earn a positive SEC record.

The Gators (10-7, 3-2 SEC) continue to build momentum as they head past the midway point of the season. Florida secured its first SEC win against the Georgia Bulldogs and followed it up with two more wins against Louisiana State and Missouri. Its defense has been a point of emphasis over the winning streak.

Florida played LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Tuesday night. Allowing opponents to get ahead early has been an issue all season for UF, and the game against the Tigers was no different.

“We’re really consistent at being bad in the first four to six minutes of the game,” said Todd Golden, UF head coach. “We need to stop digging ourselves holes.”

The Gators trailed 7-0 before sophomore guard Kowacie Reeves scored the team’s first points. Florida trailed 28-25 at halftime after an abysmal shooting performance — the team shot just 8-28 from the field.

The Gators’ defense and improved shooting helped them overcome LSU 67-56 to secure their first SEC road win.

Florida forced 16 turnovers. It stifled the Tigers down with eight blocks. LSU was held to 32.2% shooting. UF headed back to Gainesville to take on the then-No. 20 Missouri Tigers Saturday. Florida started poorly and fell behind 11-0.

The Gators rallied back to tie the game at 28 apiece going into halftime. They finished the first half 9-22 from the field despite missing their first five shots.

Missouri and Florida traded baskets to start the second half, but efficient shooting helped UF pull away. The Gators finished the second half 15-29 from the field and put the Tigers away, 73-64.

Graduate student forward Colin Castleton was the driving force behind Florida’s success over the three-game stretch.

Castleton got to the charity stripe time and time again against LSU; he finished 12-15 from the free-throw line. He scored with 18 points and collected five blocks in the win.

The 6-foot-11-inch forward compiled 16 points, 13 rebounds and six assists against Missouri. His scoring performance helped him surpass 1,000 points in his collegiate career.

His presence in the paint has also helped the Gators win games — his 3.1 blocks per game rank third in the country, according to ESPN. Castleton was named SEC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week Monday.

“I really love defense,” Castleton said. “So I’ll take pride in it.”

Another key factor behind Florida’s recent success was its defense.

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The Gators rank 14th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency as of Monday, according to KenPom.

The Gators tamed both Tigers from 3-point range in their past two games — holding LSU and Missouri to under 20%. Florida was also a presence in the paint with 5.9 blocks per game, which is tied for the seventh-best average in the country, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

“It’s a great backbone to have in your program, to be a great defensive team,” Golden said. “You’re going to give yourself a great chance to win more often.”

Florida graduate student guard Myreon Jones has emerged as a key contributor. He only played more than 20 minutes in a game once in the team’s first 12 games. However, he’s played 27 minutes or more in every game of the Gators’ threegame winning streak.

Jones dropped a season-high 13 points in UF’s first SEC win against Georgia. He put up eight points against LSU. He played a massive role against Missouri and finished with eight points, five assists and four rebounds.

“You’re able to do different things with [Jones] on the floor,” Golden said. “He’s been fantastic.”

Florida’s next game will be on the road against the Texas A&M Aggies at 7 p.m. Wednesday in College Station, Texas. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.

@JacksnReyes jacksonreyes@alligator.org

FOOTBALL

2023 4-star QB Jaden Rashada misses registration deadline

RASHADA IS FLORIDA’S HIGHEST-RATED RECRUIT IN 2023 CLASS

By Jackson Reyes Sports Writer

Florida quarterback signee Jaden Rashada was expected to enroll early and join the Gators after the Under Armour Next All-America Game Jan. 3, Florida head coach Billy Napier said on early signing day.

Come the Jan. 13 drop/add deadline, the No. 56 overall player still wasn’t enrolled in classes at UF. Rashada reportedly requested release from his National Letter of Intent from the Gators Friday, according to On3 reporter Pete Nakos.

Harlen Rashada, Jaden’s father, said Rashada didn’t file a request for release from Florida, according to reporting from 247Sports reporter Brandon Huffman.

“We’re in constant talks with Florida in regards to his enrollment, but I’d like to think if he’s not enrolled by Friday there will be some challenges there to proceed as planned,” Harlen Rashada said in an interview with 247Sports. “We're working through some things right now with Florida and hoping that they get resolved soon.”

The decision to request a release came from missteps in Rashada’s NIL negotiations, which caused a breakdown in his trust in the university, according to Nakos.

The Pittsburg, California, native

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ranks as the seventh-best quarterback in the 2023 class and is the highest-ranked player in Florida’s 2023 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

He initially committed to the Miami Hurricanes June 26 but flipped to the Gators Nov. 11.

“I have watched this season and Coach Napier and his team are building something very special in The Swamp and I want to be a part of it,” Rashada said on Twitter when announcing his commitment to Florida.

A majority of Florida’s 2023 recruiting class enrolled in classes and moved down to Gainesville in the first week of the spring semester. 16 of the Gators’ 20 signees enrolled early, including top-100 recruits defensive lineman Kelby Collins and receiver Aidan Mizell.

Florida’s starting quarterback this past season, Anthony Richardson, declared for the 2023 NFL Draft in December, and backup quarterback Jalen Kitna was dismissed from the team following criminal charges. The Gators brought in junior Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz and preferred walk-on Parker Leise in addition to Rashada.

Redshirt freshman Jack Miller III started for Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl against Oregon State. Freshman Max Brown redshirted this past season, and the Gators also have redshirt sophomore walk-on Kyle Engel.

@JacksnReyes jacksonreyes@alligator.org

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Ryan Friedenberg // Alligator Staff Gators Axel Nefve (left) and Will Grant (right) share the court in their doubles match during Florida’s 5-2 loss to Texas Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. Nefve and Grant lost to the No. 7-ranked pair of Longhorns Cleeve Harper and Eliot Spizzirri. SEE MEN'S

Men's tennis season opener

games to one in the second set but came back to force a decisive 13th game. He lost the set 7-6 (4) and got out to a 3-1 lead before the final set was retired, and he was named the winner.

Freshman Gators Togan Tokac and Tanapatt Nirundorn played every Fall doubles match together. They put on a monstrous performance in the ITA AllAmerican Championships — their first tournament together — in which they won six matches.

Florida’s No. 10 ranked freshman pair was tied with Texas senior Chih Chi Huang and junior Eshan Talluri before their match was stopped, and the doubles point was awarded to Texas.

Tokac and Nirundorn played well in their doubles match, but both walked away with losses in the singles round. Tokac lost to Texas redshirt junior Cleeve Harper 6-4, 6-2. Nirundorn was defeated in a three-set match against Huang 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

“Always good to see our freshmen out there getting that type of experience so early in their career,” Shelton said.

Florida junior Will Grant was the only Gator to win a full-length match against the Longhorns. He competed against No. 30 Micah Braswell, brother of Jonah Braswell. Grant won in two hard-fought sets, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

Shelton was proud of Grant’s victory over Braswell, who he called a “tough out” and “one of the better college tennis players in the country.”

“Really proud of Will,” he said. “He's someone who has had to kind of wait awhile to have his turn out there.”

Graduate student Axel Nefve joined the team as a graduate transfer from Notre Dame and opened the Fall season as ITA’s No. 34 ranked singles player. He played on court one against ITA No. 3 Texas junior

Eliot Spizzirri. He upset Spizzirri to win the first set but lost the last two sets, and the game, by a final score of 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2.

Florida lost its first match of the season 5-2.

Shelton thought the Gators didn’t play a clean enough game, something they need to improve against Central Florida Saturday, he said. There were too many doublefaults and serves not put in play, he said.

“That's something we will focus in on,” Shelton said. “The serve and the return of serve.”

The Gators’ next match comes against UCF at 5 p.m. Saturday in Orlando.

@BumpersKyle kbumpers@alligator.org