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MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024

VOLUME 118 - ISSUE 19 Not officially associated with the University of Florida

Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

In single-gender dorms, UF transgender students often feel out-of-place MOST FEEL SAFE, BUT MANY STUDENTS LONG FOR COMMUNITY, THEY SAID

By Sara-James Ranta Alligator Staff Writer

When Eden Kershner walks through the hall of his first-floor dorm, the weird looks and the signs on the bathroom stalls make him feel like his gender is constantly being pointed out to him, he said.

Kershner, a 20-year-old UF engineering sophomore and transmasculine individual, is a student resident assistant on an all female floor. Living and leading have been harder to navigate in gendered dorms, he said.

“It frustrates me that my gender is relevant to my living space,” he said.

With a prominent LGBTQ+ community at UF, including the UF Pride Student Union and the UF LGBTQ+ Alumni Association, gendered housing can be a difficult experience for many students on campus.

Out of 26 residence halls on campus, UF only has one gender neutral housing option — the Lavender Living Learning Community, located in Springs Residential Complex, hopes to create a more inclusive and diverse housing experience.

Lavender is suite-style, with a mix of genders on each floor, and shared bathrooms with locking doors between sets of rooms.

Some UF dorms split genders up

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT

Men's tennis finish with comma, Story description Freshman duo aims for early impact. pg# Read more on pg. 11.

by floor, with communal bathrooms on each end, while others are entire single-gender buildings.

Although not every nonbinary individual identifies as transgender, both are representations of the deviation from a binary gender system and their sex assigned at birth.

Lavender is more expensive than other single-gender dorms, Kershner said. There are 13 residence halls on campus offering traditional single dorms, with an average cost of $3,200 per semester. Because Lavender belongs to the only five residence halls offering suite-style dorms, the average cost is $4,200 per semester.

“Just because I’m transgender and don’t want to live on a floor where there is nobody like me, I would have to pay more,” Kershner said. “Trans people are either there or uncomfortable somewhere else.”

Gendered dorms originated as a safety measure to protect female students from males. However, transgender individuals are over twice as likely to experience violence compared to cisgender individuals, or those who identify with their sex assigned at birth.

But atop the locking doors and the UF Police Department just one call away, the biggest aspect of safety for Kershner is feeling like there is someone to relate to, he said.

“I am uncomfortable being on an all girls floor… but it is just the

SEE GENDER DORMS, PAGE 4

Adriel Bolocon // Alligator Staff

Quail Hollow vocalist Ashley Griffith performs at Playground Music + Arts Festival on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. Read more in The Avenue on Pg. 6.

Florida university faculty, students share mixed opinions on 2024 legislative session academic freedom bills State board of education prohibits public funding for DEI in state colleges

By Diego Perdomo Alligator Staff Writer

As the legislative session ramps up, newly proposed bills that could alter the higher education landscape have faculty and students bracing themselves after last year’s education regulations.

Following the state’s 2023 move to defund public universities’ diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, the Florida State

Laundry grant

Students struggle with financial security, pg. 5

The Avenue: Playground Festival

Musical acts gather at Heartwood Soundstage, pg. 6

Board of Education prohibited the usage of public funds for DEI programs in Florida’s 28 public state colleges, according to a Florida Department of Education news release Jan. 17.

“Higher education must return to its essential foundations of academic integrity and the pursuit of knowledge instead of being corrupted by destructive ideologies,” said Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. in the release.

Last year’s law authorized the establishment of the UF Hamilton Center, restricted the use of funds on DEI initiatives and redefined post tenure review to allow a university’s board of trustees to begin the process at any time.

With the 20 bills currently being reviewed in the Florida Senate and 22 bills in the Florida House, the conversation around academic freedom continues de-

SEE ACADEMICS, PAGE 5

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2 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024

‘It's just kind of odd eating in a tent’: Today’s Weather UF students react to makeshift dining hall

VOLUME 118 - ISSUE 19

The eatery will serve students until Broward Hall renovations finish in Fall 2024

By Zoey Thomas Alligator Staff Writer

When Em Petlev first heard she’d be eating her meals in a tent for the remainder of the Spring semester, she felt like a contestant on the Great British Baking Show.

Other students’ first impressions of the temporary dining hall included “eating in the trenches,” “an interesting experience” and “kind of cute” since its opening Jan. 6. The climate-controlled Norman Field structure will serve UF students while The Eatery at Broward Hall undergoes a full renovation.

The renovation, scheduled for completion Fall 2024, will add 350 seats and 7,800 square feet by expanding the building southward.

The enlarged Broward will feature customizable meals and a “student choice” menu, according to the Florida Fresh Dining website.

In addition to the temporary Norman location, the university’s other two dining halls, Gator Corner and Campus Cravings Kitchen, will remain open throughout Broward’s closure.

Though she originally found the idea of eating in a tent “kind of odd,” Petlev, an 18-year-old UF English and history freshman, thinks the dining team did the best they could with the temporary location, she said. She was relieved to find the structure stabler than that of the Netflix bake-off show, with more securely fastened flaps, she said.

Norman offers three all-youcan-eat meal stations in addition to salad, cereal and dessert bars.

Students can visit seven days per week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.

“They have food that’s edible”

Aaron Winer, a 22-year-old UF business senior, hasn’t branched far from the “Gator Fire Grill” station, where he’s eaten seven hot dogs in the past two days, he said.

As an off-campus student, Winer was excited to see the temporary dining hall built just down the road from his Seventh Avenue living space, he said. He bought the cheapest meal plan to try out the tent and enjoyed the experience — until one distressing encounter, he said.

“I was walking out like I do every time, and the lady asked me if I can walk out the other doors that apparently are the exit doors now,” he said. “She wanted me to walk, like, an extra 20 steps that way just to go out the exit doors.

Meanwhile, they both function the same exact way.”

The designation of “exit doors” makes for an inefficient system, and almost — but doesn’t quite — cancel out his positive opinion of the dining hall based on its hot dog assortment, he said.

Winer also wishes the dining hall would tone down its music, which makes conversation with other eaters difficult, he said.

“They're playing, like, rap, hiphop, all that good stuff that we youngsters tend to like,” he said.

“But really loud… they must be trying to counter the fact that it's a temporary dining hall.”

Winer gave the tent a score of eight-point-eight out of 10, with one of the highlights being it has “food that’s edible,” he said.

Sofia Dinka, an 18-year-old UF journalism freshman, lives at Broward Hall and eats most of her meals on campus using her unlimited swipes, she said. Her peers made fun of the Norman tent on Yik Yak when it first appeared, but the tent exceeded Dinka’s expectations when she gave it a try — as did its facilities.

“The bathrooms are insane,” she said. “It’s like a palace in there. They’ve got, like, a foyer.”

Across from its line of “charming” mobile bathroom trucks, orange banners signal the entrance to the tent itself. Even during the 6 p.m. dinner rush, no line stretches outside the tent as it often did outside Broward. Students have room

Ryan Friedenberg // Alligator Staff

The Eatery - Broward at Norman Field on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.

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to leave empty foldable chairs between themselves and fellow diners as they eat chocolate-chip cookies and chickpea salad off of disposable plates.

While Dinka describes the food as hit-or-miss — sometimes tasting better than the Broward fare she ate last semester, and sometimes tasting like “slop” — the bathrooms at Norman tent are decidedly better than Broward’s, she said.

Dinka’s friend Kali Katz, a 19-year-old UF aerospace engineering freshman, testified to Dinka’s love of the tent.

“We were at [Campus Cravings] just, like two hours ago and she was like, ‘Damn, I miss the tent,’” Katz said.

The two freshmen are “a little bit sad” not to have Broward Dining next to their dorm anymore, but the walk to Norman isn’t too far, and Dinka makes the trip at least once per day for lunch or dinner, she said.

“A little below average”

Norman’s spotty food quality also made an impression on Kameron Lubben, a 21-year-old UF economics junior and Broward resident assistant.

“It’s a little below average,” he said. “I think that’s because of the supplies that get shipped in.”

Lubben appreciates the location opens up the campus by drawing more people into the UF Education Library adjacent to Norman rather than the popular Library West and Marston, he said.

But the tent’s location on Norman Field might also be a hindrance, said Tyler Minnich, a 21-year-old UF psychology junior.

Minnich has friends from a previous apartment who used to enjoy playing soccer at Norman, and he doesn’t think they’ve had space to play after the introduction of the tent, he said.

UF RecSports previously rented out Norman Field for athletic events, but the reservation website now lists Norman as indefinitely closed. Other fields, including Flavet, are still available.

But the location doesn’t bother Minnich personally, whose favorite food at Broward is of the citrus variety.

“I always grab an orange,” he said.

The latest update from UF predicts Broward will be open Fall 2024. The university has not shared its plans for the temporary Norman location as of Jan. 21. @zoeythomas39 zthomas@alligator.org

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MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 ALLIGATOR 3

Gainesville residents, officials reflect on continuous housing crisis THE CITY MOVES FORWARD WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM

By Kairi Lowery Alligator Staff Writer

Jill Dumas was born and raised in Gainesville. As a kid, the city was not much more than Cotton’s Mini Mart, the Southern Showplace Area and Rosie’s Bar. Now, the 46-yearold Gainesville realtor and homeowner contrasts today’s city with that of the past.

Dumas noticed large chain corporations like Walmart and Publix taking over isn’t the only change the city is facing; it’s also facing rising interest rates, causing an affordable housing crisis for potential homebuyers.

The average cost of living in Gainesville is 2% higher than the national average, while the housing cost is 12% higher than the national average.

Gainesville residents aren’t alone as living in Florida can be expensive, with Florida’s more heavily popu-

lated cities like Miami sitting 21% above the national average cost of living, or Orlando, which sits at 5% above the national average.

However, Tampa, a city of nearly 400,000 people, averages a cost of living no different than the national average, according to the United States Census Bureau.

Dumas believes the housing crisis is due to high prices and the emergence of Airbnbs, she said.

“I had friends renting on the edge of the Duck Pond, not what I would call a high price neighborhood, for $725, and then starting to come out of COVID-19 it went up to $925, and next thing you know, it’s $1,200.”

Dumas said. “Nobody’s income went up $500 in that time.”

Short-term rental units through companies like Airbnb have increased after COVID-19. Alachua County currently averages 2,500 active short-term rental units, which increased by 36.4% from 2022.

“One of the things I’ve seen too is with Airbnb, investors take these spaces like a little apartment, a carriage house, a studio — what was affordable housing for people,” Dumas

said. “What I see happen a lot is that some landlords or investors raise rent so high that people can’t afford it. Those people move out and they put in an Airbnb.”

These individuals are then forced to relocate to west Gainesville, a seemingly cheaper and less populated area. However, others are doing the same to build the “newest and biggest,” corporation to cash in, Dumas said.

This practice, she said, only takes away jobs and income that could be put toward those seeking affordable housing.

“We can’t have Gainesville if we don’t have people to work at the gas stations and people to work at the restaurants.” Dumas said.

Along with Dumas, Clay Kears, a 46-year-old Gainesville resident and married father of two, said the changing costs left his family with little disposable income.

“The cost of living definitely impacts our family. Our income is currently enough to make ends meet, whereas before the increase we had extra to use at our disposal,” Kears said.

Gainesville has a population of around 140,000, while Newberry, an adjacent city west of Gainesville, with a population of close to 10,000, doesn’t suffer the same high costs of living, with 7.8% below the national average.

Gainesville needs to be creative to tackle the housing crisis, said Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe.

“You got to be willing to think outside the box. You got to be willing to think creatively. You got to be willing to partner with your business residents on these things and not always try to dictate or legislate,” Marlowe said.

Newberry prioritizes low taxes, utility rates and electric rates, which are among the lowest in the county, Marlowe said.

The city also combats the housing crisis by giving back housing deposits after someone’s first movein as long as they have good credit and paid their bills on time for a year prior, Marlowe said.

In doing so, county workers are able to partner with the residents to give the money back, resulting in the individual spending this money

within the city, instead of it sitting in an account, he said.

“This took some courage by the commission to be willing to do that.

It is certainly a risk that has paid off,” Marlowe said.

Marlowe credits the difference in Gainesville and Newberry to a lack of trust between the Gainesville community and its politicians.

He pointed to the Gainesville City Comission’s vote against exclusionary zoning in February 2023 as an error. While time-consuming and costly, lifting restrictions would have benefited the community, Marlowe said.

Bryan Eastman, the Gainesville city commissioner who originally proposed this new zoning program for the city, said after meeting with various community groups within Gainesville and hearing feedback, the city commission voted to move forward with the program.

Read the rest online at alligator.org. @kairiloweryy klowery@alligator.org

4 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024

Gender neutral housing GENDER DORMS, from pg. 1

principle of being there,” Kershner said. “The biggest issue is that it makes me feel isolated when there is no one else… I feel like an other.”

Setting aside the statistics, Kershner emphasized his feelings of overall safety in his building.

“I do feel safe here,” Kershner said. “Everyone has been very accepting so far. I don’t blame the people I’m living with because it has nothing to do with them.”

Andy Gatlin, a 19-year-old UF sustainability freshman who identifies as nonbinary, lives in an allfemale residence hall.

“For me, it’s more of a sense of community,” Gatlin said. “My roommate is accepting, there are other nonbinary individuals in the building, and my RA is very cool.”

But Gatlin said a standalone building, like Lavender, may not be enough to support the LGBTQ+ community at UF. “I wish there were more gender neutral dorms on campus,” Gatlin said. “I feel like once some are changed it’d be easier and be more

accepted by students and family.”

Safe and inclusive leadership in on-campus housing is crucial, they added.

“UF dorms should make sure all RAs are accepting people to come to,” they said.

Axel Alumbaugh, a 19-year-old UF anthropology freshman and transgender man, lived in Lavender over a summer term and felt accepted.

“Living in Lavender, it’s not just the LGBTQ+ community; there are straight people too,” he said. “I felt safe with my roommate, so it made me feel safe in my dorm.”

UF creates housing accommodations for transgender students on a case-by-case basis. However, the accommodation request is separate from the original application, according to UF Community Standards.

UF encourages students who are currently living in residence halls to speak with their RA or residence life coordinator about gender accommodations, according to its website.

UF Housing and Residence Life

was unable to provide a comment in time for publication.

In comparison, the University of Central Florida also provides accommodations on a case-bycase basis, but its housing application includes a portion that asks whether students’ legal sex corresponds with their gender identity.

While nonbinary and transgender individuals may not experience direct discrimination, several said they experience frequent and common misgendering, or referring to them in a way that doesn’t match their gender identity.

Changing legal forms to his new name has been difficult, Alumbaugh said.

“My dead name is on my email and forms,” he said. “When I applied for a club, they had my dead name instead of my preferred name. I haven’t had a discriminatory interaction, but a lot of people will misgender me.”

Alumbaugh said inclusivity could start as small actions across all UF dorms.

“They should have a floor in each building that is for nonbinary and transgender individuals,” he said. “Every trans person has a different perspective and experience.”

Sara-James Ranta // Alligator Staff

Springs Residential Complex on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.

While the future of dorm living on campus is unknown, the interest of gender neutral housing overall remains as not large enough to strike a review in existing UF policies and procedures. In many ways, the insight of transgender

and nonbinary individuals draws attention to the validation of this ongoing experience. @sarajamesranta sranta@alligator.org

Gainesville community members develop initiatives in wake of gun violence legislation Communication and involvement could guide children in a safer direction, parents believe

By Nicole Beltrán Alligator Staff Writer

Stephanie Scott fought hard for her children’s well-being and still endured the most difficult pain a parent could go through.

She lost her 13-year-old son, Christopher Scott, after he died from a shooting at a birthday party in 2021. She said she always tried to involve herself in her son’s life and often still recalls what she could have done differently.

“I fought so hard for my son,” she said.

“My worst nightmare came true.”

The Gainesville City Commission declared gun violence a public health crisis during a meeting in February. The city’s gun violence is affecting families like the Scott family and instilling fear in many city areas like Gainesville American Legion, the event space where Christopher Scott was shot.

From July 1 to Dec. 31, there were 83 incidents where shots were fired, killing a total of seven people. From Jan. 1 to Jan. 15, there have been 13 incidents where shots were fired, resulting in the deaths of two people, according to a data report shared

by Alachua County’s Criminal Investigation Division.

The city implemented efforts to combat firearm misuse during 2023, yet attempts have continuously clashed with state law.

Rep. Chuck Brannan, R-Macclenny, who represents part of Alachua County, sponsored a bill reducing the age to purchase a firearm from 21 to 18, countering the legislature’s vote in 2018 to raise the age from 18 to 21 following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

But with limited movement in legislation, some Gainesville residents are more concerned with whether violence has less to do with policy and more about discipline.

Parents look to increase supervision

Stephanie Scott is encouraging parents to keep up with their children’s social media accounts, friends and extracurriculars to establish clear communication, she said.

Jarell Whitehead, a 38-year-old Gainesville resident and the co-founder of the nonprofit organization, Strong-MINDed Mentoring, said he also agrees with the need to become more involved.

Strong-MINDed’s mission is to bridge the gap between home and school, giving children and teens the opportunity to engage with role models and encourage healthy activities like athletics and the arts, he said.

Whitehead believes violent reactions start in earlier development and could be prevented with more parental communication, guidance and external resources, he said.

There are children in underserved communities who are experiencing poor living conditions and are deprived of discipline, leading them to be more exposed to harmful influences, Whitehead said.

Whitehead, being a father himself, said it's important for a child to have a role model.

Besides parenting, Whitehead recalls growing up in Gainesville and believes there’s been a drastic shift in resource accessibility for children, specifically community centers like Reichert House Youth Academy closing its doors in 2023.

“It was like our safe haven as kids growing up,” he said. “We don't have that anymore.”

The pandemic also could have limited the guidance children would be receiving in schools, Whitehead said.

Response campaigns

Through his nonprofit, Whitehead also organized “Cease Violence in the Hood,”

an event to educate families on communication barriers and lack of resources leading back to violent responses in children and teens.

“Cease Violence in the Hood” has taken place in Gardenia and Sugarhill, and Whitehead plans to take the event into every high-risk neighborhood in Gainesville, he said.

“We're hoping that every hood will now realize that it no longer needs to be called a hood but a community,” he said.

Remy Ronkin, a 22-year-old UF psychology senior, often recalls their memories at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and describes the shooting in 2018 as “surreal.”

“It made me more politically aware,” they said.

Ronkin was 16 years old at the time of the shooting and still had a “loose understanding of politics.” Losing two friends from their band section drove Ronkin to learn more about policy, regulation and advocacy like attending March for Our Lives in 2018, they said.

Ronkin said they think more regulation is the fundamental concern but understanding students’ responses could also be a factor to consider to prevent violence.

But they also believe violence can be difficult to identify when discussing the relationship between innate nature and modeled behavior, they said.

“I do think it is important to have a good, stable home life,” they said. “But I also believe it would make [gun violence] a lot less common if there was regulation [on] who could obtain a weapon.”

Gwendolyn Saffo, vice president of the League of Women Voters in Alachua County and chair of the Gun Violence Prevention & Safety Committee is currently focusing her work within the committee around supporting stronger legislation, but

she also advocates for an increase in community resources dedicated to help guide children and teens.

“There are no other outlets for them,” she said. “So working on outlets and working on programs that steer individuals in a different direction is what is perhaps needed.”

The Gun Violence Prevention and Safety committee’s first meeting was in December in what Saffo described as a “learning and listening period” to see what initiatives could be started, she said.

Saffo is also working to distribute gun locks to community events, an initiative the committee is modeling after Broward County’s committee branch.

Recognition of behavioral patterns has also been acknowledged within the school system.

Alachua County Public School’s Chief of Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement Anntwanique Edwards said it’s difficult to attribute behavior patterns to only guidance.

“Sometimes it’s about what is being modeled, but sometimes it’s just trauma that kids have endured,” she said.

While it can be different to understand the foundation, there are still patterns they try to identify at school to increase communication within students and reduce aggressive behaviors, she said.

Parents like Stephanie Scott and Jarell Whitehead are hoping the community becomes more aware of the communication and guidance needed in children’s lives.

“If I had all the money in the world, I would go from door to door and see the needs of that mother and see the needs of that father,” Scott said. @nicolebeltg nbeltran@alligator.org

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 ALLIGATOR 5

UF Student Government reinstates laundry grant Students can access $30 worth of subsidized laundry

By Annie Wang Alligator Staff Writer

For students like Ruobin Chen, a 19-year-old UF computer science sophomore and Riker Hall resident, the financial obligations of paying for laundry is a growing burden.

“Although it’s only like $3.20 with washing and drying, when I look at my budget sheet and when I track it, it does add up over the semester,” Chen said.

However, it appears these concerns are being acknowledged with the relaunch of an initiative that was last implemented in 2021. UF Student Government opened and announced applications for the reinstated Stay Fresh Laundry Grant Jan. 15.

The grant will provide each person with about $30 for washing and drying, and applicants will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis until the available funds are depleted.

The Stay Fresh Laundry Grant aims to reduce financial insecurity some students have been experiencing.

Tomas Vazquez, a 17-year-old UF architecture freshman and resident of the Springs Residential Complex, said laundry rates are too high, and doing laundry should be considered a necessity.

“I feel like it is really absurd honestly,” he said. “I feel like it should be free.”

Student Body Treasurer Nyla Pierre said the Stay Fresh Laundry Grant is a response to students’ financial concerns.

“We listened to students when we were running,” Pierre said. “We heard their problems that they were facing. One of them happened to be laundry insecurity, and I think us as an administration this year, we are working to tackle and get our platform points done.”

When the Stay Fresh Laundry Grant was first enacted in 2021, students received a card with preloaded laundry funds. However, because laundry is now paid through an app, the money will be directly uploaded to each student’s account.

Tyeisha Johnson, a 20-year-old UF computer science freshman and resident of Simpson Hall, said she applied

for the grant in hopes of saving some money.

“We’ll see how it goes, [but] I think it’s a really good initiative,” she said.

While some students are optimistic about the grant, others have expressed concerns and are curious to see how it will actually be enforced.

“I wouldn’t be so upset about it if Student Government didn’t have a history of misappropriating funds and

Academic freedom bills ACADEMICS, from pg. 1

veloping.

House Bill 899 is a proposed bill with a goal opposing the State Board of Education’s decision. The bill aims to secure collective bargaining rights for state college and university faculty and protect state universities’ and public colleges’ ability to have DEI programs.

If passed, the bill would remove a section that prohibits the use of funding for DEI among state universities.

Florida Sen. Geraldine Thompson, who sponsored HB899’s companion bill, said the decision in state colleges makes the bill more important.

“We'll have the best and the brightest who want to come and teach in Florida at every level, from K-12 all the way to our state universities,” Thompson said.

“Now you have people who all have wonderful backgrounds of knowledge and their degree, but they look at the policies in place

and say ‘Why would I want to teach in Florida?’”

Those in favor of HB899 believe the bill may struggle amidst a Republican supermajority in the state Senate.

Meera Sitharam, president of United Faculty of Florida’s UF chapter, said she doubts the success of current law making efforts to support academic freedom.

“If we're so exhausted, and we're trying to keep up with the damages that were being created by the previous round,” Sitharam said. “I know nobody has the energy to go and try to do something that you know ultimately is not going to remain.”

UFF-UF, which was the Florida union’s first chapter, uses a faculty working condition survey to track member’s opinions on subjects like the efficacy of collective bargaining promises, perceived support from university administration and their college and academic freedom.

Academic freedom, as detailed in UFF-UF’s 2021-24 collective

spending those funds on things that we don’t need,” said Sydney Engstrom, a 19-year-old UF psychology and sociology sophomore and off-campus resident. “I would be in favor of it if there were more information. There’s a lot of questions that are unanswered.” @wynwg awang@alligator.org

Karis Dunnam // Alligator Staff

bargaining agreement with the UF Board of Trustees, involves the faculty’s ability to discuss all relevant matters in the classroom and speak freely on university governance.

Alexander Tsesis, a FSU law professor who teaches free speech theory and constitutional rights, shared concern over the effect of legislation on the expression of education, though he said it hasn’t affected him during his first year teaching.

“There is an interference with academic freedom; it certainly needs to be called out. But certainly with the law school at FSU, there is literally nothing like that,” Tsesis said.

A sociology general education course was also replaced with an American history course in the Jan. 17 decision.

William Maione, a 21-year-old UF political science senior, recalled taking an Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education sociology course while in high school. Maione has been keeping up with recent developments around academic freedom, and felt open classroom

expression is important for a healthy learning environment.

“I think people should be free to explore a lot of different ideas,” he said. “And I know sometimes some of those [sociology] theories aren't the most popular with everyone, but I think it's important to learn them and find your own opinion on them, rather than just blocking it out.”

Maione wants to pursue a career in public interest law, but between living in Florida for too long and its divisive political climate, he doesn’t want to stay in the state after graduation, he said.

Another proposed bill could increase UF tuition around 4.5 times for students who support foreign terrorist organizations, defined in the bill to include Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad.

Senate Bill 470 does this by changing in-state tuition fees to out-of-state fees, prohibiting federal or state financial aid, eliminating fee waivers for students and reporting involved students to the Department of Homeland Security.

Lauren Carlson, a 20-year-old UF marketing sophomore, said she felt the academic restrictions while helping teach First Year Florida, an introductory course for freshmen.

“It's basically balancing that and recognizing that while there are certain protections in place in this legislation against coming after UF as a university in order to protect our adjudication,” she said. “Unfortunately, targeting student organizations is kind of a workaround.”

Faculty showed fear of retribution through potential email searches related to DEI, Carlson said, so they have been censoring themselves to avoid legal issues.

Carlson believes the legislation is performative and exists to gain favor among other Republicans for Gov. Ron DeSantis, she said.

“It's mostly vague wording in order to be a scare tactic,” she said. “To make people do exactly what they just did — change the sociology course curriculum.” @diegoperdomoaq dperdomo@alligator.org

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 www.alligator.org/section/the_avenue

MUSIC

Twelve local bands perform at sold-out Playground Music and Arts Festival 2024 FLIPTURN HEADLINED THE FESTIVAL AT THE HEARTWOOD SOUNDSTAGE JAN. 20

By Ben Miller & Emilia Cardenas-Perez Avenue Staff Writers

The Playground Music and Arts Festival Jan. 20 featured 12 band performances, food trucks, merchandise stands and clothing vendors. The sold-out event at the Heartwood Soundstage occurred from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., ending with a two-hour set from the group of UF alumni, Flipturn.

Heartwood Soundstage, which usually only has one main stage, added a second stage for the festival. The acts had alternating time slots on either the “See” or the “Saw” stage.

Hundreds of people gathered at the festival organized by Flipturn, Indie Live and Swamp Records. Ticket prices ranged from $40 for presale to $70.

Sejal Ramlogun, a 21-year-old UF public health junior, is a part of the socials and engagement team at Swamp Records. She said her team was responsible for publicizing the event.

“Honestly…I wasn’t really expecting it to [be sold out], so it’s really cool that it did,” Ramlogun said.

She and many others shared a collective excitement about Flipturn returning to Gainesville.

“It’s such a win for [Swamp Records] be-

cause it’s such a cool thing that we can bring Flipturn back here, and we can work with them every year,” Ramlogun said.

The Housing Crisis performed at 2 p.m. on the “Saw” stage for 30 minutes. Dylan O’Bryan is a UF alumnus who started his one-man band during his time as a student. He said although he records his music as a solo act, he has one of his friends volunteer to play other instruments for live shows.

His roommate, Trevor Griffin, played guitar on top of singing backing vocals for the set.

The duo performed a cover of “This Must Be The Place” by the Talking Heads and closed their set with “Do You Wanna Float??,” an unreleased song.

“I was not expecting it at all,” said O’Bryan about being given the opportunity to perform.

As soon as O’Bryan and Griffin’s performance ended, Quail Hollow took to the “See” stage for its 30-minute set. Complete with an energetic performance and an array of fresh sounds, the band also covered a Fleetwood Mac song, “The Chain,” and amped up the energy as a result.

The five members include 20-year-old vocalist and bassist Ashley Griffith, 20-year-old vocalist and guitarist Dominic Fonseca, 20-yearold guitarist Douglas Jaramillo, 20-year-old drummer Augustus Hoff and 22-year-old keyboardist Matthew Butler.

Griffith said the band got involved with Playground through Hoff’s connections at Swamp Records. The band joined Swamp Records in September 2023.

“Everyone [at Heartwood] has just been so

Adriel Bolocon // Alligator Staff

Quail Hollow performs at Playground Music + Arts Festival on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. awesome and saw potential in us and wanted to push us to do greater shows and do greater things,” Griffith said.

Griffith and the rest of Quail Hollow are traveling to Nashville in February to finish recording their second album.

Following Quail Hollow was Coyboi, Early Eyes, Corey Kilgannon, Happy Landing, Easy Honey, Girlpuppy, The Brazen Youth, Trash Panda and Liz Cooper.

The headliner, Flipturn, closed the festival at 9 p.m. Despite the temperature reaching 40 degrees Fahrenheit, hundreds of people filled the lawn at Heartwood for the band. @.men_mbiller bmiller@alligator.org @emiliaandreaa ecardenes-perez@alligator.org

MUSIC

Sunshine Music Festival opens doors to free shows GAINESVILLE BANDS, RESIDENTS EXPLORE OPTIONS FOR LOWERCOST PERFORMANCES

By Bea Lunardini Avenue Staff Writer

Melanie Roddam’s new favorite venue in Gainesville is the dark wooden stage at First Magnitude Brewery. All it took was soundcheck Jan. 19 at Sunshine Music Festival for the 25-year-old drummer to decide.

“I’m not going to lie, it may also be because this is my first show in a while,” she said, “but there really is something special about this stage.”

Roddam is back to playing with Gainesville-based band Trustfall after a brief hiatus, and she was intrigued at the idea of playing the festival.

“I was a little concerned at first when I heard it was free,” she said.

“Most shows charge at least a few bucks at the door, which is how the band gets paid, so we were a little worried about how that’d work out for us.”

As people walked into First Magnitude in droves Jan. 19, Roddam’s concerns quickly dissipated. The festival, which officially began at 6 p.m., attracted dozens of people by 5:30 p.m.

“I was shocked,” Roddam said.

“In a good way, of course. Any worries I had about a big audience were fixed immediately.”

More than 200 people ate, drank and watched the four Gainesvillebased artists who performed at the festival in its first year at First Magnitude. In addition to Roddam’s band Trustfall, the festival had performances from Prizilla, Speakeasy and Ricky Kendall.

Chelsea Giblin, the 31-year-old director of events at First Magnitude, said she was confident the festival

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would attract a large crowd from its conception.

“It was kind of a no-brainer for us here at First Mag that the festival would do well,” she said. “We really have the people of Gainesville to thank for that. This town shows up for its people.”

Maya Reid, a 20-year-old Santa Fe College business administration student, agreed, and said Gainesville’s reputation was a major factor in her move.

“That was one of the biggest things that drew me to Gainesville in the first place,” she said. “Where I’m from, there isn’t any sense of community or town culture like there is here.”

When Reid isn’t in class or studying, she’s making pop art collages with paint and newspaper to sell at markets. Her booth at First Magnitude made over $100 in the first hour, she said.

“I counted the money in my cash-

box, and I was taken aback, then I counted again to make sure,” she said. “It’s so wonderful to see that people like my work and value it the same way I do.”

Reid has sold at more than a dozen markets in the Gainesville area, but she said the Sunshine Music Festival was her favorite.

“I really enjoy being able to sell my work in such a nice place with live music,” she said, “and it’s a big plus that First Mag doesn’t charge vendors a booth fee. There’s nothing worse than having to fork over half of your money at the end of a market.”

Brandon Perez feels the same way about admission fees. The 33-yearold plumber brought his family to the Sunshine Festival Friday night because he knew it wouldn’t break the bank.

“I have two kids and a wife,” he said. “I can’t afford to take them to all of the concerts and shows hap-

pening in town. When my wife heard that this show was free, we knew we could come without having to worry about budgeting.”

Another draw for Perez and parents like him is that Giblin ensured the event was family-friendly.

“It may sound a little odd for a brewery to put on events for kids, but it actually makes a lot of sense for us,” she said. “We have this big open space that kids love to play around in and fun activities to keep them entertained.”

Melanie Roddam doesn’t care if the average age of the crowd is 8 or 80, as long as people are listening.

“It’s getting harder and harder to play music professionally,” she said.

“Places like First Mag opening their doors and welcoming us is what’s keeping us afloat right now, and I’m beyond thankful for it.” @bealunardini blunardini@alligator.org

Immigration laws

Williston church battles DeSantis legislation. Read more on pg. 8.

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MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 ALLIGATOR 7

FOOD

Playa Bowls hosts grand opening for first Gainesville location THE HEALTH FOOD SHOP OFFICIALLY OPENED ITS DOORS AT SOUTHWEST FIFTH AVENUE JAN. 20

By Tanya Fedak Avenue Staff Writer

Although the store officially opened at 11 a.m., guests dressed in sweatpants and blankets braved the cold and lined up at Gainesville’s premiere Playa Bowls as early as 8 a.m. in hopes of earning a free breakfast.

The guests were greeted with a lively ambience upon entering. As the clock struck 11 a.m., more thanover 100 hungry customers filed into the shop, where a DJ welcomed them with lively remixes of popular songs, such as “Like a G6.”

Playa Bowls is a national health food chain corporation specializing in acai bowls, smoothies, chia seed pudding and oat and juice products.

Founded by Abby Taylor and Rob Giuliani in 2014, the brand has over 200 locations and operates in 22 states. Now at 1260 SW Fifth Ave., the location is the company’s first in north central Florida.

For its launch, the first 50 guests in line would receive a free bowl, causing early lines of excited customers.

Gainesville locals have been ea-

Tanya Fedak // Alligator Staff

Playa Bowls officially opened its doors at Southwest Fifth Avenue on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. gerly anticipating the opening of Playa Bowls since construction began around September. Among those patiently waiting was Ashley Kidd, a UF political science freshman.

“I got in line at 9:30 this morning,” Kidd said. “Luckily I was No. 44, so it was worth it.”

She used to frequent Playa Bowls at her home in Boca Raton when she would go to the beach, and she said she plans to continue dining at the Gainesville location.

“I will for sure be a very frequent customer,” Kidd said. “Playa Bowls is going togonna be my new post-ex-

am reward.”

Kidd was one of the many individuals who also participated in the five days of giveaways Playa Bowls hosted via Instagram. Some of the prizes included a one-year membership at Crunch Fitness, $75 worth of credits to Athleta and free classes

at HotWorx, a yoga studio at Southwest 34th Street.

Laeyah Malcolm, the general manager of Playa Bowls, chose to partner with local gyms and other companies because they fit Playa Bowls’ brand of health and wellness, she said.

Malcolm began preparing for her role as general manager since she got hired about four months ago, she said.

“I’ve been traveling, like working in other Playas,” she said. “Coming and using what I saw in the other ones that I was at, putting it into my store so then my employees can have an ease of transition for getting from one spot to another.”

Playa Bowls Chief Marketing Officer Nicolle DuBose said she strategically chose Gainesville as the store’s next location due to the young, college crowd catered to its menu items.

“Gainesville and its lively college crowd is the perfect canvas for the vibrant flavors and high-quality ingredients that define Playa Bowls,” DuBose said. “Our menu … is crafted to resonate with the energetic rhythm of active lifestyles. What better place to find locals with active lifestyles than a college town?”

Playa Bowls is open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. @ttanyafedak tfedak@alligator.org

CULTURE

Gainesville celebrates Black creative expression during Afrofuturism week

The nine-day event features performances, art exhibitions about the Black diaspora

By Molly Seghi & Alexandra Burns Avenue Staff Writers

Amidst the echoes of musical performances and art exhibits, hundreds of people flocked to Gainesville museums, bars and theaters, eager to celebrate Black art and culture.

In honor of Afrofuturism week, the Center for Arts, Migration and Entrepreneurship and the School of Art and Art History invited audiences Jan. 17 for a nine-day celebration of Black diaspora expression.

The events were spearheaded by Porchia Moore, associate director at CAME, and Antoine Williams, UF assistant professor of drawing in the expanded field.

After brainstorming with teams from CAME and SAAH on how to memorialize the time between Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month, Moore and Williams organized Afrofuturism week to highlight Black voices and contributions to society.

Afrofuturism is a movement and cultural aesthetic that features futuristic and science fiction themes to explore the African American experience and connect those from the diaspora with their ancestry, according to the Tate Modern UK. “Afrofuturism is a particular way of looking at the world that draws upon Black creative expression,” Moore said. “It is a tool to think about building other worlds but also serves as a tool to escape and build another reality.”

Natalia Guerrero, a 31-year-old UF master’s student, learned about Afrofuturism on her own. In the UF Master of Fine Arts pro-

gram, Guerrero said she is excited to explore Afrofuturistic artistic representations over the course of the week.

“This is something I want to learn more about,” she said. “The events that are going on this week in the arts, film, music and writing are going to spur a lot of ideas and boost creativity.”

History Dog and Casey Jones II

The celebrations began Jan. 17 with a musical performance by the NYC improvisational troupe History Dog and Casey Jones II, a 24-year-old Gainesville hip-hop rapper, at Baby J’s Bar. History Dog is a newly formed electroacoustic improvisation band from New York, said vocalist Shara Lunon. The band’s electronic music stems from jazz and other Black music traditions.

“We take traditions, our own histories and practices and use it to create something unique and … allow it to shape how future generations can take it and run with it,” she said.

Jones II began exploring music on his own and songwriting in 10th grade as he reveled in the work of rappers such as J. Cole and Tupac.

Jones II says his music deals with themes of Black American unity and identity.

“Right now we’re all dealing with a lot of pain, and a lot of just instability and fear of where we are,” Jones II said. “Black people can identify with it almost the most because of where we’ve been positioned in society, but I think everybody can.”

“Neptune Frost” film screening

The performances continued with a film screening of “Neptune Frost” Jan. 18 at UF Innovate. The event was opened with an introduction to Afrofuturism by Dr. Porchia Moore, followed by a panel discussion.

The screening of Neptune Frost is part of CAME’s Migration in Film series, which celebrates the international experiences of migration.

Set in Burundi, the film follows a group of runaway coltan miners who form a computer hacker group. Moore said the film was chosen because it is a healthy critique of everyday realities and asks the audience to stand up to social injustices.

“It’s one of these films that has so many references, literary and scholarly, but also is an important critique asking us to challenge our everyday realities and to shape change and meaning,” Moore said.

Mouray Hutchinson, a 21-year-old UF African American studies and computer science senior, loved the visuals and themes of the film. She related the film to the Afrofuturism class she is currently enrolled in.

“We were talking about the cyclical nature of Afrofuturism, and there is a quote in the movie where it talks about how Black bodies are floating between us, around us and in the Atlantic,” Hutchinson said. “[Afrofuturism] is the consistent acknowledgement of the present, future and the past.”

an exhibition that explores the erasure of Black history in public education and aims to share untold stories.

The four-day exhibition featured the work of 13 visual artists and included performances such as poems, speeches, dances and live music. The event also supported Black-owned businesses with vendors like Foundational Framework LLC, which sells jewelry and clothing handmade from the local people of Ghana.

Funded by the Reubin Askew research program of the Bob Graham Center for Public Service, the exhibition was curated by Anani Blakey, a 22-year-old UF graphic design senior. Her black-and-white photographs titled “Eclipse” were inspired by her own personal and community experiences, she said.

“There’s a lot of false narratives and hidden stories that we don’t normally see that are not depicted in society,” Blakey said. “It doesn’t really represent who we are as a community and our individual selves.”

Ashley Charley, a 21-year-old UF art senior, also aims to combat the stereotypes and pressures placed on Black artists.

Her work, “A Sacred Sensual Space,” was featured in the exhibition, and it discusses the limitations she felt growing up as a Black female artist, she said.

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

Veiled: Hooden and Hidden Art Exhibition

@molly_seghi mseghi@alligator.org

Afrofuturistic themes could also be seen Jan. 19 at Gainesville Fine Arts Association’s final night of “Veiled: Hooden and Hidden,”

@alexaburnsuf aburns@alligator.org.

El Caimán

LUNES, 22 DE ENERO DE 2024 www.alligator.org/section/elcaiman

Iglesia Puertorriqueña en Williston siente los efectos de las leyes estatales anti-immigratorias CASA DE RESTAURACIÓN SHALOM TRABAJA PARA REDUCIR EL MIEDO, INSEGURIDADES EN LA POBLACIÓN HISPANA LOCAL Por Laura Quintana Escritora de El Caimán

La casa de restauración Shalom es una iglesia situada en Williston, 20 millas al sur de Gainesville, manejada por Puertorriqueños. El aporte de la iglesia a la comunidad hispana se muestra al apoyar la alcaldía de la ciudad.

“Somos colaboradores de la ciudad”, dijo Omar Rosado, un residente de 60 años y el pastor principal de la iglesia desde hace casi 20 años. “Ayudamos a la alcaldía cuando tienen problemas de traducción porque se están mudando mucha gente hispana para este pueblo”.

La población hispana en Williston ha estado en crecimiento debido a la necesidad de trabajadores en la industria agricultural. Alrededor de la mitad de todos los empleados en la fuerza laboral agrícola a nivel nacional son indocumentados, según FWD.us, una organización de defensa de la reforma migratoria.

En la base de datos de Willison, la población Hispana ha

incrementado hasta un 50% desde el 2013, de 200 a 295 residentes.

Los hispanos de cualquier raza constituyen aproximadamente el 10% de la población local.

En mayo de 2023, el gobernador Ron DeSantis firmó la ley de inmigración SB 1718, que penalizaba aún más el empleo de inmigrantes indocumentados, entre otras regulaciones.

Incluso por ofrecer transporte, cualquiera podría enfrentarse a problemas legales.

Omar Rosado no considera que ofrecer transportación usando los vehículos oficiales de la iglesia sea un delito ya que es propiedad de la iglesia y no del Estado.

“Yo tengo varias personas indocumentadas en la congregación”, dijo Omar Rosado, “Hasta ahora no hemos tenido problemas porque ellos tienen sus propios vehiculos, pero el día que uno de ellos me diga ‘Pastor necesito ayuda o que me lleve a una cita médica’, yo voy a ir, sin miedo.

Ahora, no me voy en mi carro; me voy a ir en la transportación de la iglesia”.

Omar Rosado estipula que no tiene miedo a enfrentarse a la ley y pararse ante un juez a presentar sus cargos si estos llegan a ocurrir. Él está dispuesto a enfrentarse y luchar por sus derechos, dijo él.

“Si me detienen, pues yo cogeré la citación”, dijo Omar Rosado. “Y

yo iré a donde el juez, y enfrentaré los cargos, pero yo me voy a defender, sin miedo”.

Personas de su congregación van a donde él con miedo de lo que les pueda ocurrir si son atrapados por la ley.

“No me quiero imaginar esa angustia de estar en todos [los] sitios [y] que [yo] vaya mirando a ver que una gente de la policía vaya a intervenir con uno o no”, dijo Omar Rosado. “Si uno tiene menores que nacen aquí, ellos tiene el derecho de quedarse y a ti te deportan”.

El miedo ha afectado a una gran parte de los congregantes de la iglesia. Esto no quiere decir que se apoyen las infracciones de la ley, dijo Omar Rosado.

“Estoy de acuerdo que entrar a un pais sin documentos es un delito”, dijo Omar Rosado. “Cada caso es un caso. Hay gente que viene huyendo de la muerte, hay otros que vienen por necesidad, que si no vienen para acá se mueren de hambre. Pues usted tiene que coger cada caso y observarlo y estudiarlo y trabajarlo. No es hacer una ley para todo el mundo igual”.

Omar Rosado también compartió como no sentía bienvenido en la ciudad por la discriminación a los hispanos. Era el unico negocio Hispano en Main Street, dijo él, y lo querían sacar de ahí solo por ser Hispano.

En una ocasión le cerraron la puerta de entrada y el sherif no lo dejaba pasar. Despues de que Omar Rosado y su esposa advirtieron de que iban a grabar, el sherif se retiró, Omar Rosado dijo.

Más que 300 personas han pasado por la congregación, dijo Omar Rosado, y ayudan a cualquier persona que pase por sus puertas.

La Casa de Restauración Shalom ha demostrado su apoyo a la comunidad Hispana y no teme enfrentarse a la ley si eso significa defender en lo que ellos creen.

“Tengo dos parejas de Guatemala que son indocumentados”, dijo Omar Rosado. “y una familia de hondureños que no tienen documentos. Los demás están con visa, que están acá hasta que se les venza la visa. Y esos que no tienen documentos, a cada rato tengo que traerlos para alentarlos. Que no se ridan, que mientras estén acá estan seguros”.

Los esfuerzos de los pastores en apoyar a esas personas indocumentedas va más allá del reconocimiento sino a la confianza que tienen en su Dios y en sus valores biblicos. Ellos piensan seguir de pie para proteger y alentar a las personas que siguen luchando por una mejor vida.

“Si tengo que ir preso por esta causa, yo voy a ir preso”, dijo Omar Rosado. “Pero yo la voy a defender”.

Alex Marrero, un residente de Williston de 51 años, es uno de los Pastores asociados en la Casa de Shalom y él también comparte las mismas angustias que Omar Rosado.

“Las personas que entran ilegales están infiriendo con la ley”, dijo Marrero “Pero nosotros como iglesia, nosotros no estamos en contra de ningún tipo de persona. La constitución de los Estados Unidos y la iglesia son dos entidades, pero son dos entidades diferentes, las cuales no se mezclan”.

Otro de los pastores asociados, Ismael Rosado, quien es también parte de la tesorería de la iglesia y el ministerio de la música comparte algunas de las actividades proporcionadas por la iglesia para las comunidades Hispanas en el area.

“Hacemos un tipo de actividad donde podamos predicar el evangelio”, dijo Ismael Rosado.

“Siempre estamos dispuestos para ayudar”.

Los pastores involucrados comparten la misma mentalidad sobre los límites que ha impuesto la ley de inmigración. Continuarán en su lugar en Williston hasta que decidan que están listos para mudarse, pero no por temor a la ley, dijeron. @LauraCQuintana1 lquintana@alligator.org

Puerto Rican church in Williston feels the effects of state immigration laws

Casa de la Restauración Shalom works to reduce fears, insecurities in the local Hispanic population

By Laura Quintana Alligator Staff Writer

The House of Restoration Shalom is a church located in Williston, 20 miles south of Gainesville, managed by Puerto Ricans.

The church's contribution to the Hispanic community is evident in its support for the city's administration.

"We are collaborators with the city," said Omar Rosado, a 60-year-old resident and main pastor of the church for 20 years. "We help the city when they have translation problems because a lot of Hispanic people are moving to this town."

The Hispanic community in Williston has been growing due to the need for workers in the local agricultural industry. Around half of all employees in the farm labor workforce nationally are undocumented, according to FWD.us, an immigration reform advocacy organization.

In the Williston database, the Hispanic population has increased by 50% since 2013, from 200 to 295 residents. Hispanic people of any race comprise about 10% of the local population.

In May 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the immigration law SB 1718, which further penalized employing undocumented immigrants, among other regulations.

Offering transportation to undocumented immigrants could also lead to legal problems. Omar Rosado doesn’t consider offering transportation using the church's official vehicles to be a crime since it is the property of the church and not the state.

"I have several undocumented individuals in the congregation," Omar Rosado said. "So far, we haven't had problems because they have their own vehicles, but the day one of them tells me, 'Pastor, I need help or a ride to a medical appointment,' I will go without fear. Now, I won't use my car; I'll use the church's transportation."

Omar Rosado is not afraid to face the law and stand before a judge to present his case if charges arise. He is willing to confront and fight for his rights, he said.

"If they arrest me, I will take the citation," Omar Rosado said. "And I will go to the judge, and I will face the charges, but I will defend myself without fear."

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Men’s golf

People from his congregation approach him with fear of what might happen to them if caught by the law.

"I can't imagine the anguish of being everywhere I go, wondering if the police will intervene with someone or not," Omar Rosado said. "If someone has minors born here, they have the right to stay, and you get deported."

Fear has affected a large part of the church's congregation. This does not mean that it supports infractions, Omar Rosado said.

"I agree that entering a country without documents is a crime," said Omar Rosado.

"Each case is a case. Some people are fleeing death, others come out of necessity, and if they don't come here, they will die of hunger. You have to take each case, observe it, study it, and work on it. It's not about making a law that applies to everyone equally."

Omar Rosado also shared how he felt unwelcome in the city due to discrimination against Hispanics. He was the only Hispanic business on Main Street, he said, and they wanted to remove him just for being

Gators geared up for spring season. Read more on pg. 11.

Hispanic.

On one occasion, the sheriff closed the entrance door, and would not let him pass.

After Omar Rosado and his wife warned that they were going to record the situation, the sheriff withdrew, Omar Rosado said.

More than 300 people have passed through the congregation, said Omar Rosado, and they help anyone who walks through their doors. The House of Restoration Shalom has demonstrated its support for the Hispanic community and is not afraid to face the law if it means defending what they believe in.

"I have two couples from Guatemala who are undocumented," Omar Rosado said.

"And a family of Hondurans who have no documents. The others have visas, which are here until their visas expire. And those without documents, I have to bring them in regularly to encourage them. Don't give up, as long as you're here, you're safe."

Read the rest online at 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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MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 www.alligator.org/section/sports

MEN'S TENNIS

Freshmen Jeremy Jin and Aidan Kim make early impact for Gators men’s tennis THE DUO LOOKS TO LEAD THE WAY FOR THE GATORS THIS SPRING

By Chandler Hawkes Sports Writer

Following the 2023 spring season, the Florida Gators men’s tennis team lost seven of its nine players on its roster for various reasons, including the departure of long-time head coach Bryan Shelton.

However, two highly touted recruits signed their National Letter of Intent in April 2023 before Shelton stepped down as head coach.

The first to sign was Aidan Kim, the No. 2 player in the 2023 recruiting class, according to Tennis Recruiting Network. The Michigan native grew up watching his dad play professionally and wanted to take after him.

“It was always a dream of mine, waking up early in the mornings, waking them up and wanting to go play in a park,” Kim said about his parents.

Even though he began playing at a young age, it was not until Kim began playing overseas that he realized tennis was something he could pursue.

“Once I started to play more internationally, I was thinking, ‘Hey, I can take this more seriously,’” Kim said. “I think I can have a real shot at playing for something more for myself.”

Kim had a decorated junior ten-

Ryan Friedenberg // Alligator Staff

Jeremy Jin (left) and Aidan Kim (right) deliver a 6-1 rout in a doubles match against Citadel, Jan. 19, 2024. nis career, winning eight International Tennis Federation doubles titles. One came with now-sophomore teammate Tanapatt Nirundorn. Kim would also go on to win three ITF singles titles and achieve an ITF junior ranking of No. 43.

When choosing where to attend college, Kim said UF was always there.

He said that on top of training in Orlando, he also had an existing relationship with Shelton through his dad.

“They used to grow up and train together, so it was always in the back of my mind during the recruiting process,” Kim said.

One of the biggest factors that landed Kim with the Gators was the success of former Gator Ben Shelton.

“Seeing Ben Shelton grow was a big factor to know that there’s a pathway to follow,” Kim said.

The second of the two signees was Sydney, Australia native Jeremy Jin. Jin was one of the topranked players in Australia when he signed with the Gators and was one of the top-ranked Australian juniors according to the ITF junior rankings for the majority of 2022.

He also got his start in tennis because of his parents, but in a different sense.

Jin said both of his parents played, and they always dreamed of him playing as well.

He said that growing up playing junior tennis in Australia was very different than in the United States and Europe.

“Due to the smaller population, there are usually only three or four solid players in an age group, so you always go up through the ranks playing the same players,” Jin said.

“Tennis Australia takes top players worldwide to play on different surfaces and in the different tournaments Australia doesn’t necessarily offer.”

Similar to Kim, Jin said he realized tennis was a future because of the change of scenery when he moved to Spain for one year.

“That’s when I was like, ‘Okay, well, I’m not moving to Spain if I’m just doing this for fun,’” Jin said.

“This is probably going to be the pathway. This is how it is going to be for the next 10-15 years of my life.”’

After his last junior tournament, Jin decided he would play college tennis, and at the top of his priorities list was playing at an SEC school. His top school: UF. “I already knew like half the guys on the team,” Jin said.

“Some of them have actually left now, unfortunately, but I had those connections. I loved what the coaches had to offer when I talked to them.”

During the recruiting process, Jin talked with Shelton about his

future with him and the program, but he expected the former coach’s departure. He still wanted to come here no matter what, he said.

“I love my boys, I love my teammates,” Jin said. “It’s really nice to have that support as well when you’re kind of by yourself as a tennis player.”

Current head coach Adam Steinberg said he’s excited to see the two play this spring.

“They’re, to me, two of the best freshmen in the nation, and that's not overstating it,” Steinberg said.

“We just talked about playing for something bigger than yourself, and I think that is going to bring out their best tennis.”

Since getting on campus in the fall, they’ve struggled with getting adjusted to Gainesville, they said.

Though, they’re starting to settle in with the help of their teammates and coaches.

In the season's first two matches against The Citadel and North Florida, they hit the ground running as a doubles pairing, winning both matches. In singles action, Jin took the court as line one, the top singles spot, in both matches.

Kim took line two, the secondhighest singles spot.

The two will next take the court Jan. 27 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, against No.15 Wake Forest as a part of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Kickoff Weekend. @HawkesChandler chawkes@alligator.com

MEN'S GOLF

Reigning NCAA champions Gators men’s golf set to start spring season AFTER AN UNDERWHELMING FALL SEASON, THE MEN'S GOLF TEAM WILL HAVE THE FIRST TEST OF ITS SPRING SEASON JAN. 22

By Hannah Getman Sports Writer

The course was silent as Fred Biondi lined up his final shot, two putts away from the national title. With a deep breath, Biondi took the putt, rolling the ball slowly across the green, stopping inches from the hole. It was close enough. The hole was conceded.

He was enveloped in a group hug as the team cried and celebrated. The Gators just won the 2023 national championship.

That was the story of last year's team.

Following up the act and repeating as champions may prove to be an even greater challenge for this year’s Florida men’s golf team.

UF will face tough competition in its SEC

slate with four teams in the NCAA top 10: No. 2 Vanderbilt, No. 3 Auburn, No. 6 Tennessee and No. 8 Ole Miss. The Gators also have to handle the loss of their prominent core group of senior All-Americans in Ricky Castillo, Biondi and Yuxin Lin. The fall season was full of ups and downs for the young team. It finished ninth at its first tournament, the Fighting Illini Invitational, and seventh at the SEC Fall Preview.

The Gators quickly turned it around, finishing in the top 5 at the Williams Cup Oct. 10 and winning the Georgetown Intercollegiate Oct. 16. But the fall ended with disappointing match play losses to Florida State and Georgia Tech Oct. 30. at the East Lake Cup. “I think the fall season was definitely a bit of a learning experience,” sophomore Matthew Kress said. “We lost the core of our team from last year and had a lot of new guys in the lineup.”

But Kress saw the adjustment as a posi-

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tive experience.

“I don't think it's anything of a negative.

I think it’s more of a positive,” Kress said.

“A lot of guys took advantage of the offseason months, and I think we have a little bit of a fire burning right now.”

Despite a tough fall schedule, there were positives on the Florida roster. Kress, along with junior Ian Gilligan and redshirt freshman Luke Poulter were persistent parts of the lineup in all five fall tournaments.

Kress had a breakout fall season, finishing with team-bests in stroke average, top10 finishes and top-25 finishes. He had the team's best finish in the fall and claimed first at the Georgetown Intercollegiate.

Gilligan, a transfer from Long Beach State, had the best team round of 65 in the fall as well as four top-25 finishes. At the Fighting Illini Invitational in September, he was the team's top finisher, tying for eighth place, and he recently finished first at the Patriot All-American Invitational Dec. 31.

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Poulter made his collegiate debut this fall and has started in every tournament since. He had three top-25 finishes, with his best finish coming at the East Lake Cup tied for sixth.

“Luke Poulter…helped us a ton in the fall,” head coach J.C. Deacon said in an interview with WRUF. “He played really well as a redshirt freshman.”

All three players will be key pieces to the Gators team for the spring. However, the lineup for this upcoming season remains a mystery.

“I’m probably not 100% sold who the lineup is going to be,” Deacon said. “There’s still a lot to play for, but we're young and I think by March or April if these guys keep learning and getting more experience, we have a chance to be a pretty good team.”

Fifth-year John DuBois will also play a pivotal role for Florida’s team.

Follow us for updates

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

SEE GOLF, PAGE 12

12 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024

Spring preview GOLF, from pg. 11

Courtesy of UAA Communications

Florida redshirt freshman Matthew Kress swings his club during the Southeastern Conference Championships Thursday, April 20, 2023.

Although he only appeared in the lineup twice this fall, DuBois is experienced and earned an honorable mention as a PING All-American last season. He played in 12 tournaments during the 2022-23 season and secured the matchclinching point in the SEC Championship against No.1 Vanderbilt.

Currently, the Gators are ranked No. 21 according to the Golf Coaches Association of America. But the expectations and pressure that come with being the defending champions are not their

focus.

“I don’t really take much time to worry about that,” assistant coach Dudley Hart said. “We just try to keep everybody focused on what we’re doing today and what we’re going to do tomorrow. I’m a firm believer that if you just keep stacking good practices on top of each other and keep learning on the mental side, good stuff is going to happen.”

Junior Ryan Hart, Dudley’s son, echoed his father’s sentiments about the message for this spring season.

“Just working hard,” Ryan Hart said. “Everyone just needs to keep their head down and keep pushing. People probably aren’t think-

ing that we’re as good as we were last year. But I think we just keep working hard and keep all that out.”

Florida will officially begin their season at the Pablo Creek Collegiate Cup Jan. 22. They will go up against Jacksonville University in match play.

The Gators will have a busy stretch ahead of them after the conclusion of the Pablo Creek Collegiate. They will head back to Jacksonville for the Sea Best Invitational Jan. 29 and then host the Gators Invitational Feb. 17.

UF will follow with the Southern Highlands Collegiate at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, the Schenkel Invitational at Geor-

gia Southern and the Calusa Cup at Iowa. Lastly, Florida will defend its 2023 title at the SEC championship in April before the NCAA Regionals with hopes of qualifying for the national championships.

“Sometimes in golf, everybody has different things they have to work on,” Dudley Hart said.

“But there’s also a lot of common things they have to maintain. Fortunately, we got a bunch of guys that want to get better and that’s exciting for us.”

The Pablo Creek Collegiate Cup began at 8 a.m. Jan. 22 at the Pablo Creek Golf Club in Jacksonville. @hannahgetman hgetman@alligator.org