Monday, Jan. 30, 2023

ChatGPT: UF community navigates a new frontier

AI tool stirs controversy on campus

By Sydney Johnson Alligator Staff Writer

For one UF computer science freshman, using ChatGPT is simple.

“Write me a summary of ‘Nicomachean Ethics,’” she typed into the blank chat box. Immediately, the box produced its first word. After, a stream of ideas gathered behind a persistent black rectangle.

Approximately 38 seconds later, she was presented with a seven-paragraph essay that was wholly unique and deprived of all merit. “Nicomachean Ethics,” as the bot informs, is a work of

Aristotle: ten books centering on the science of the good human life. Book Six covers intellectual virtue.

She understands the irony.

The student, interviewed under the condition of anonymity, uses ChatGPT so she can focus on subjects she feels are a better use of her time.

“You wouldn't be flagged for plagiarism,” she said. “Even if you wrote the same thing again, it could generate [an essay] completely different.”

She’s a small part of UF’s first steps into a new digital terrain, as faculty and administration

Outgoing UF Provost Joe Glover leaves 15-year legacy Details unclear in death of Alachua County Jail inmate

HE’LL BECOME SENIOR ADVISER TO SASSE IN JULY

By Ella Thompson

Alligator Staff Writer

UF announced Friday morning that Joe Glover, the university provost since 2008, will step down from his position at the end of July.

Ben Sasse, UF president-elect, will begin a national search for the next provost as he transitions into office in the coming weeks, according to a Friday press release. Glover will serve as a senior adviser to Sasse after he relinquishes his position.

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT

As provost, Glover served as the university's chief academic officer, developing university policy, managing budgets and making decisions on faculty tenure. The average tenure of provost positions is four years, according to the UF press release. Glover served through three UF presidents and four U.S. presidents during his 15-year tenure.

“I look forward to working with my fourth president, Ben Sasse, in service to the university as he formulates a vision for UF for the next decade,” Glover wrote in an email.

SEE GLOVER, PAGE 5

Residents skeptical of circumstances

By Aidan Bush Alligator Staff Writer

After over a year of incarceration, Gainesville resident Marcus Goodman was expected to stand trial and return home on probation. Instead, Goodman never returned.

In a statement Jan. 26, Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr. said Goodman, 32, died after suffering a “medical emergency.” The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the

Marston 24/7 funding could run out

cause of death, and the ACSO Office of Professional Standards will also begin an internal investigation.

April Johnson, Goodman’s 33-year-old sister, said his death was alarming given he had no outstanding physical conditions prior.

“Marcus was supposed to be released to go home,” Johnson said. “Not released to an autopsy.”

After talking to a relative and hearing

SEE GOODMAN, PAGE 4

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Florida men’s basketball see both sides of blowouts Gators look to string together wins with NCAA tournament hopes on the line.

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A study will gather data to inform further decisions about extending hours, pg. 4

Free podcasting space opens at Curia on the Drag Studio hopes to uplift LGBTQ podcast creators, pg. 7

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Ashleigh Lucas // Alligator Staff Florida gymnast Trinity Thomas celebrates after a perfect landing from her vault routine against the Georgia Bulldogs Friday, Jan. 27, 2023. Read more in the Sports section on pg. 11

2 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2023

Santa Fe College students weigh in on promise to remove ‘woke ideology’

CURRICULUM WILL BE EVALUATED

By Sophia Bailly Alligator Staff Writer

In compliance with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ aspirations for state education, the Florida College System is evaluating curricula from all 28 state colleges for traces of “woke” ideology.

In a Jan. 18 joint statement released at a Florida State Board of Education meeting, the FCS presidents claimed college coursework emphasizing diversity, equity and inclusion have historically been embraced by the state. But the statement proceeded to urge colleges to reexamine coursework involving discussions of systemic racism by Feb. 1.

It’s not currently clear how curricula might be changed at each school based on the FCS statement. Neither SFC spokesperson Jay Anderson nor college President Paul Broadie II responded to multiple requests for comment via phone or email.

Landon Gonzalez, an 18-year-old SFC first-year sports management student, said although he believes race-related issues should be discussed in the classroom, his friend once felt singled-out during Black History Month discussions.

Gonzalez’s friend, a Black student at Valencia College, received school counseling to address how the lessons made him feel, he said.

“When he was reading about [Black History Month], it made him feel uncomfortable,” Gonzalez said. “He doesn't want to be defined by the past.”

Alan Beck, a SFC political science professor, said faculty and staff don’t yet know how the decision may impact classes.

“We've had a commitment to academic freedom,” Beck said. “And I plan to keep teaching the way I do without any changes.”

As a professor, Beck said his job is to teach realities — including the concepts of systemic racism, Jim Crow laws and redlining in Ameri-

can history. Changing curricula might remove concepts students already struggle to comprehend, he said.

“My sense is that [students] don't have enough of an understanding of just how brutal Jim Crow was and just how oppressive it was,” Beck said.

The statement requested that “woke” ideologies and positions be removed from all 28 state colleges by Feb. 1. According to the MerriamWebster Dictionary, “woke” refers to an acute awareness of societal issues, particularly topics involving race and social justice.

To many in the Florida Education System, it represents an existential danger that must be stamped out.

The FCS presidents said they support Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “vision of higher education, one free from indoctrination, an environment open to the pursuit of truth and the cultivation of intellectual autonomy for all students,” according to the Florida Department of Education’s Jan. 18 press release.

Madison Gumz, a 19-year-old SFC business and finance secondyear student, said she’s already noticed nerves from professors when addressing controversial topics. She remembers her professor exercised extra caution when discussing politics in his lessons.

“He was very restricted in what he could say because it was government class,” Gumz said.

Although she doesn’t yet know how the FCS decision may impact SFC, Amanda Turner-Gibson, a 20-year-old SFC second-year sociology student, said she’s always received a thorough and diverse education from her professors.

“I've always felt like the professors I had did a really good job of keeping it unbiased,” Turner-Gibson said. “It was always, ‘This is what we’re learning, and this is what happened.’ I appreciate that.”

During a history lesson about the civil rights movement, TurnerGibson decided to write an essay highlighting the importance of Black jazz artists. She said her presentation

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received mixed reviews, with some students viewing the project as divisive.

“I don't think you should choose white artists if we're trying to learn about civil rights,” Turner-Gibson said. “I just noticed the students in the classroom with me didn't feel like that.”

Understanding diverse perspectives and experiences through higher education will help her on her career path to becoming a therapist for adolescents struggling with substance abuse, she said.

“I would like to be able to learn all the different kinds of backgrounds,” Turner-Gibson said. “If I'm presented with a patient who I can't relate to, I can pull from something I've learned in school.”

Because students are entering college-level coursework, they should be able to handle adult conversations, Turner-Gibson said.

“It really comes down to an opinion at that point of what you think is controversial,” she said. “For example, the topic of slavery — some might think it's too vulgar and they'll take it out. But that's something that everybody should learn about because it happened and it's important.”

The FCS decision is a part of a broad trend of manipulating higher education to prevent uncomfortable conversations, Turner-Gibson said.

“I don't see why we should change anything,” Turner-Gibson said. “We can't change the past, so why would we cover it up?”

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Advanced Placement African American Studies course sparks controversy

Administration cites intersectionality, queer studies in violation of state law

By Lauren Brensel Alligator Staff Writer

In response to his administration blocking Advanced Placement African American Studies from Florida classrooms, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida “want[s] education, not indoctrination.”

But Jordan Marlowe, Newberry High School teacher and the city’s mayor, said the two don’t coincide.

“Anytime you have government officials with no education background telling people who’ve been trained how to teach, what to teach — that’s no longer education,” Marlowe said. “That’s indoctrination.”

The Florida Department of Education rejected the AP course in a Jan. 12 letter. DeSantis cited topics like intersectionality and queer studies as reasons for why the course violates Florida law in a Jan. 23 news conference.

“When you try to use Black history to shoehorn in queer theory, you are clearly trying to use that for political purposes,” DeSantis said.

AP courses are designed with college-level material and may be used for college credit, depending on the university.

In the letter, the department said it would reconsider the course if the College Board, the organization that creates AP courses, revised it. The College Board said a revised course framework will be released Feb. 1, though the nonprofit hasn’t explicitly said that’s because of the discourse in Florida.

At Newberry, Marlowe, 46, teaches African American history — a course that’s offered in each of Alachua County’s seven public high schools. Marlowe had a hand in developing the course three years ago.

AP African American studies being rejected is unfortunate, Marlowe said.

“We can’t get [politicians] interested in increasing the salary

so that we could get higher caliber college students to think about joining the education career,” he said. “But we can sure generate their interest in writing curriculum.”

The AP course is being piloted at some high schools, but won’t be fully available until the 2024-2025 school year. Its draft of the course framework was first released by The Florida Standard, a right-leaning news publication, Jan. 19, four days before DeSantis publicly commented on the course.

Once the course’s curriculum is finalized, the College Board will make this information publicly available, said Jessica Morey, an African American history teacher at Buchholz High School.

“A parent would be able to peruse it before they allow their child to enroll in the course,” she said in an email. “The course would be an elective, so it would be completely optional for students to take.”

Morey was excited about the course, she said, because it could interest more students in African American studies. AP courses hold more weight than regular or honor ones do, so students sometimes flock to them to raise their GPAs.

In Florida’s curriculum benchmarks for K-12 African American history, there’s no mention of queer studies or intersectionality. But DeSantis shouldn’t scrap the whole course because of topics like queer studies and intersectionality, 18-year-old Newberry senior Addy Lowry said.

“There’s a lot of negative things that happened,” Lowry said. “But you can use that and learn how to move on and have those hard conversations. But by not teaching it and not talking about it, we’re pretending it didn’t happen.”

The rejection of the course comes almost a year after DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education, or “Don’t Say Gay” bill into law, preventing discussion of

sexual and gender identity in elementary schools and discouraging it in all grades.

“This course on Black history — what’s one of the lessons about? Queer theory,” DeSantis said at the Jan. 23 news conference. “Now, who would say that an important part of Black history is queer theory?”

David Canton, director of UF’s African American Studies program, would say so.

“Believe it or not, there are African Americans who are queer and intersectionality deals with race, gender, class and all these different intersections in one in human beings identities,” Canton said.

But if the College Board removed these topics from AP Af-

rican American studies to gain approval from DeSantis’ administration, Canton said students would be behind when they get to college.

“This is what’s discussed on the college level,” he said. “By removing it from the AP curriculum course, you’re doing a disservice to the student.”

There’s a belief, Canton said, that African American studies is whipping students into “social change agents.”

“But that’s not our job,” he said. “Our job is to inform them of all the ideas, all the debates, and then students decide what they want to do with it.”

The UF African American Studies department will discuss the

issue further during a town hall meeting Feb. 21.

There are many topics in Alachua County African American history courses that aren’t covered because of time restraints, said Jon Rehm, the Alachua County Public Schools K-12 social studies curriculum specialist.

Alachua County’s courses are carefully crafted to let students form their own opinions, he said.

“We want to give the students, as much as possible, an unbiased story of history … and let students make their own decisions as to political rightness or wrongness,” Rehm said.

@LaurenBrensel lbrensel@alligator.org

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Internal investigation pending

GOODMAN,

from pg. 1

from inmates within the prison, she now believes a different story, she said. They allege officers tased him three times while at the jail, just before the emergency.

“One of my distant cousins was also in there,” Johnson said. “He said he overheard the popping of the guns and looked over and saw a couple of the sheriffs tasing him.”

ACSO spokesperson Becky Butscher declined to comment on the family’s claim, as well any details of the medical emergency.

The Alachua County Jail has faced similar allegations of poor inmate treatment in 2021, after Erica Thompson gave birth in the jail only for her child to die after her cries for help allegedly went unanswered.

ACSO later disputed the allegations by providing photos of officers checking on her throughout the day, though some community members argued they should have done more.

Goodman was arrested in June 2021 on charges of burglary after stealing over $8,000 in electronics from a Jiffy Lube, according to his arrest report.

Johnson said he’d been suffering from a manic episode prior to the arrest as a result of his PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression and anxiety diagnoses.

“He was in a state of psychosis when everything happened,” she said.

Marston Library’s

By Amanda Friedman Alligator Staff Writer

While the long-awaited 24/7 Marston Science Library will return to UF’s campus, the service may not be back for good.

UF’s student government announced on Instagram Jan. 13 that Marston Library would reinstate 24-hour services after spring break with funding secured through Provost Joe Glover. However, details of the deal reveal the provost agreed to fund the initiative only for the remainder of the Spring and Fall 2023 semesters for a pilot study that will collect data on overnight hour usage to inform future funding decisions.

Dean of University Libraries

Judith Russell, who has worked at UF since 2007, said 24/7 libraries haven’t historically been a part of UF and SG was first in leading the effort.

“When we expanded to doing 24/7, it was because Student Government came forward with the money to do it, and so it began as a student government-funded initiative,” she said.

When asked about the possibility of other 24/7 libraries or study spaces reemerging, like

Library West, Russell said data from a 2018 study conducted about Newell Hall found there were very few periods when traffic was high enough during the overnight hours to overwhelm the space.

“We have never seen enough data to justify the expense of having two or more libraries open [24/7],” she said.

Russell is unsure how the funding of a 24/7 Marston will continue if data collected through the upcoming pilot supports keeping the program long-term, she said. She communicated SG's integral role in funding the initiative in the past to Student Body President Lauren Lemasters.

“My personal belief is that the provost is more likely to participate in the funding if Student Government is also participating,” she said.

It’ll cost $205,826 to fund the upcoming pilot, which includes library staffing, security and cleaning support, Russell said.

Neither Student Body President Lauren Lemasters nor Associate Provost for Undergraduate Affairs Angela Lindner returned multiple requests for comment via phone and email.

Patrick Reakes, senior associate dean of scholarly resources and services at UF libraries, said the deal is similar to those made in the past. The last time Marston Library offered 24-hour services was also through a pilot conducted by the provost in 2018, Reakes said, which halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“There's no commitment on [Glover’s] part beyond the end of December of this year,” Reakes said.

Since the coronavirus pandemic, there have been debates over whether the funding of 24/7 library services should come from central university funds or the SG budget, Reakes said.

The UF libraries department is always happy to provide students with 24-hour services, he said, but the funding to do so has never been available through its budget.

“If we have the flow of money coming in to pay for it, we're always willing to keep doing it,” Reakes said.

While SG has heavily participated in funding 24/7 libraries since 2012, Russell said SG leadership reprioritized funding 24hour services for Newell Hall in 2017 after securing $10 million

Disorders left Goodman incompetent to hold a job, which led to him roaming homeless, no longer taking his medication. The arrest report shows employees were aware of his erratic state, describing him as a problematic loiterer who “acts crazy sometimes.”

As a result, Goodman was soon after transported to North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center, where he spent the majority of his time in custody.

After an evaluation to stand trial, he was expected to leave on probation with his family the day he was pronounced dead, Johnson said.

Local activist Danielle Chanzes said the jail needs to prioritize its inmate conditions proactively rather than only investigating after problems occur.

“Investigations after somebody’s died is a little bit too late,” Chanzes said. “We've already lost a life.”

Johnson said outside of the episodes, Goodman was a normal guy who enjoyed drawing, fishing, basketball and more — the lack of financial and medical accommodations just drove him to a breaking point.

“There’s no resources for young males,” Johnson said.

Goodmans’ family started a GoFundMe to raise funds to cover funeral expenses. As of Sunday night, it has raised more than $1,700 of its $20,000 goal.

@aidandisto abush@alligator.org

may be temporary

from the state legislature for renovations. SG leadership then became more opposed to allocating its budget to 24/7 libraries.

SG currently spends $147,000 a year to fund Newell Hall operations. It’s uncertain whether other parties are involved in the space’s funding.

Unlike a few previous studies, Russell said, the upcoming pilot won't compare data with Newell Hall. Marston Library was chosen for the study because the building’s open floor plan allows for easier data collection, she said.

While Laura Spears, director of assessment and user experience at UF libraries, will organize the study, newly hired staff members will periodically gather data by monitoring the library’s occupancy and student behaviors during overnight hours.

Russell’s interested in seeing the findings drawn from the upcoming study, as it has been five years since new research was published, she said.

Valrie Minson, assistant dean of assessment and student engagement and chair of the Marston Science Library, said she’s excited about bringing back 24/7 hours to Marston Library considering the library’s recent rise in usage.

“Ideally, we really wouldn't

have a need for 24/7,” Minson said. “But the reality is that students have different demands placed on them, and studying late is just something that happens.”

However, she does believe more data is needed to justify the added expense, mostly stemming from overnight staffing.

“I think it's a good thing for us to offer 24/7 to provide a quiet study space,” she said. “But I also do think that that assessment of our data is important because it's expensive.”

Minson plans to hire roughly six new staff members to complete a two-week training program for working overnight hours, she said. The positions are posted on the UF jobs website.

Although Minson doesn’t want to encourage unhealthy study habits, she emphasized the importance of advertising the new service so students understand the resources available to them on campus.

“We shouldn't have students learning about 24/7 by word of mouth,” she said. “If a student needs to have a quiet space at 3 in the morning, then I want them to know that this service is available.”

Courtesy to The Alligator

return to 24/7 hours

Pilot study will inform future funding decisions

UF policy unclear

AI,

grapple with the realities of evolving technology and how it’s used by students.

Marketed to have a dialogue format, ChatGPT was launched in November by OpenAI, an American software company that specializes in artificial intelligence research. ChatGPT incorporates user feedback, improvisational and conversational skills and the internet’s endless supply of information to craft any desired text with any given prompt.

The student recognizes its flaws, though. For example, it doesn’t produce the quality of writing one might expect, she said.

“It's not too sophisticated,” she said. “But it is pretty good at identifying the main points and doing the bulk of the work.”

To the student, this is just another Wednesday.

The standards for machine ethics are constantly evolving, but this UF freshman believes there are more serious ethical breaches in modern higher education.

Applications such as Honorlock, which uses a combination of AI and human proctoring to regulate exams, are constitutional privacy violations, she said.

“Using AI to generate the first paragraph of an essay is nothing compared to that,” she said. Similarly, university professors find themselves on both sides of the debate about the ethics of AI’s academic impact.

Sean Trainor, who teaches professional writing in UF’s Warrington College of Business,

is more optimistic about the technology than others.

“Our general rule is not to tell students not to use [AI like ChatGPT] but how to use them as successfully as possible,” Trainor said.

The business college plans to implement AI within its established curriculum, Trainor said.

Though the process is still in its early stages, business faculty believe text-generative AI tools will help prepare students for the professional world’s rapidly changing landscape. The implementation of ChatGPT within the college is about maximizing productivity.

“[ChatGPT] hopefully allows folks in the workplace and other settings to draft messages more quickly,” Trainor said. “Where the human element comes in is in … [being] able to determine whether the text that the AI generates communicates your message in the most clear and concise way possible.”

But those in the humanities may have more reason to be wary, he said.

“I think Chat GPT potentially complicates some of the tools we’ve traditionally used to assess student learning,” he said. “Essays … and things like that are going to become more complicated.”

At Keene-Flint Hall, these complications have already arisen.

Steven Noll, a UF history professor, said concerns surrounding ChatGPT have found their way into faculty meetings.

“[Cheating is becoming] harder to detect and easier to

do,” Noll said. Noll fears students will resort to using the AI platform to complete work they feel is not essential to their chosen major. In his general education history class, United States Since 1877, he sees ChatGPT’s allure.

“It’s a class that everyone has to take to graduate, so there's going to be people in there who have no desire to be there at all,” Noll explained. “For those people, it will be much more enticing to do that.”

Many professors acknowledge cheating has always been present in academia. In the past, plagiarism has taken many forms. Websites such as Course Hero, Chegg, Quizlet and even Grammarly fall under UF’s definition of academic dishonesty.

UF’s student honor code states a student shouldn’t use or attempt to use unauthorized materials or resources in any academic activity for academic advantage or benefit. It doesn’t, however, explicitly condemn the use of AI.

Noll speculated this may be due to outgoing UF Provost Joe Glover’s commitment to AI’s positive applications within higher education, he said.

Glover has said throughout his tenure his goal is to turn UF into one of the nation’s leading AI universities. The installation of the HiPerGator 3.0 supercomputer in 2021 made UF the first university in the world to work with this technology, proving Glover’s goal plausible.

Since the introduction of HiPerGator, Glover has strongly advocated for AI, saying higher education should mold itself around its presence.

“We know that, for example, right now there are AI systems that will confidently write essays

for you, so what does it mean to ask a student to write an essay and then grade it?” Glover said as a guest on NVIDIA’s “The AI Podcast.” “In a period when a student can turn to his or her computer and say ‘Please write me an essay.’”

In an interview with the New York Times in mid-January, Glover emphasized ChatGPT isn’t yet explicitly worked into UF policy.

“We try to institute general policies that certainly back up the faculty member’s authority to run a class,” Glover said. “This isn’t going to be the last innovation we have to deal with.”

Cynthia Roldan, a UF spokesperson, referenced the UF Honor Code when asked about the platform.

“Using any materials or resources through any medium which the professor has not given express permission to use and that may confer an

“It’s very smart of the president [Sasse] to lean on Joe’s institutional knowledge, even as he chooses a new provost,” Levine said. “Looks like the president is doing exactly the right thing.”

Minca Davis // Alligator Staff

academic benefit for the student is a violation of the UF Student Honor Code and Student Conduct Code,” she wrote in an email. “A student accused of this could be subject to conduct action.”

In the meantime, professors have begun discussing ways to combat the use of AI for schoolwork. Programs such as GPTZero, which can detect the use of ChatGPT in a given text, are becoming crucial to guarding against academic misconduct.

While some professors like Trainor embrace AI’s promise, others like Noll fear the relationship between UF and AI has gone too far.

Noll sees AI as a metaphorical atomic bomb.

“Used correctly, AI can be pretty amazing; used incorrectly, it can be really problematic … I don’t think [UF’s] thinking about that.”

100 faculty members in AI.

Glover feels privileged to have been able to work closely with three UF presidents in his time in the office of provost, he said.

UF spokesperson Cynthia Roldan declined to share more information on Glover’s transition and the upcoming search for a provost. But Roldan clarified that Glover’s departure from the role was his own decision, not Sasse’s.

Glover arrived at UF in 1983 as an assistant professor in mathematics. Since then, he has served as chair of the mathematics department, associate dean for faculty affairs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, associate provost for academic affairs and as interim provost for nine months.

During Glover’s tenure as provost, UF has surged in both national prestige and attention — for better or worse.

While he presided over the university’s academics, UF was named the No. 5 public

university in the country in 2022 by the U.S. News & World Report. In the same year, UF’s online baccalaureate program was also ranked No.1.

Glover also presided over UF academics while the university dealt with controversies over academic freedom and interference from Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Following the 2021 controversy over the ability of UF professors to testify against the state in court, Glover and University President Kent Fuchs created a task force to look at the conflict of interest policy for consistency and fidelity. The task force, with recommendations, changed the policy so that the provost has the final decision on all denied requests.

Alan Levine, a member of the State University System of Florida’s Board of Governors, has worked with Glover since 2011, when Levine served on the UF Board of Trustees. Since 2013, when Levine transitioned to the Florida Board of Governors, he has relied on Glover for advice and questions, he said.

Levine also noted Glover’s sense of humor helped bridge the gap between faculty and the government.

“A lot of people don’t know, Joe Glover can put those dance shoes on, and he can shake up the dance floor,” Levine said. “I’ve watched him.”

Off the dance floor, Glover’s notable achievements include the creation of the Innovation Academy in 2013, the PaCE admissions program in 2015 and his involvement in creating the new Global Technology and Innovation Center in West Palm Beach. The $100 million center will have 1,000 graduate students studying full-time and over 100 academic staff members when it opens.

Glover emphasized his effort to bring UF to the forefront of AI research and technology. Some of his initiatives include introducing the HiPerGator 3.0 supercomputer in 2021, a $70 million partnership with NVIDIA, an AI software corporation, and the commitment to hire

Glover was also a part of the UF Health moonshot proposal, which aims to solve some of the world’s largest problems. The $17 million initiative is attempting to extend life expectancies, cure untreatable diseases and pioneer precision health.

Bruce Floyd, associate director of social media and digital analytics, worked in the office of the provost from 2004 to 2007, where he worked closely with Glover, who was associate provost for academic affairs at the time.

Floyd supports Sasse’s decision to keep Glover at the university, he said.

“For me, it was always a comfort to know he was there and was running things,” Floyd said.

UF credits much of its prestige to Glover’s presence on campus, and he’ll continue to be a largely influential figure at the university he’s been a part of since 1983.

Alissa Gary contributed to this story. @Elladeethompson ethompson@alligator.org

GLOVER, from pg. 1

Strides for progress

Gator Ron performs at a Rockin’ Jukebox Dance Party

FORMER TEACHER TRANSFORMED INTO LOCAL CELEBRITY

By Aidan Bush Alligator Staff Writer

Dressed in a vibrant Florida Gators collared shirt and matching Gators sneakers, 75-year-old Ron Blake wasn’t the typical attendee at a midtown bar. He was, however, the most popular.

When DJs called Blake up to perform the first song of the night Jan. 25, The Social at Midtown’s attendees roared with cheers. Halfway through the song, a crowd of a dozen college students formed near him.

Better known by fans as “Gator Ron,” the retired Alachua County Public Schools teacher has recently risen to local stardom for his karaoke performances, attracting crowds of young adults and elders alike at multiple venues he frequents every Wednesday.

Blake can belt out hundreds of songs from a multitude of artists and time periods, but the crowd favorite remains “Uptown Funk,” he said.

“The one the kids want to hear the most has got to be Bruno Mars,” Blake said.

From participating in middle and high school “Glee” club as a child to hanging up Neil Diamond posters in his classrooms, Blake has been an avid music fan all his life.

His karaoke career began over a decade ago, after Blake began harmonizing with his musician son-in-law while he practiced. From there, his kids persuaded him to try karaoke.

“They got me to go out, got a couple of songs I could feel comfortable with,” Blake said. “That’s just taken off.”

He later met Bradley Searles, a 35-year-old Gainesville resident who performs with Blake. Within the last year, they became the “Human Jukebox Duo,” a pair capable of singing over 200 songs.

At their official events, audience members can flip through an alphabetized binder of their musical repertoire and text Searles a code representing the requested song. From there, the two add the recommendations to a queue.

The idea was Blake’s, who pushed for them to begin taking the performances seriously, Searles said.

“I agreed, we’ll go look for some gigs and launch something,” Searles said.

Blake’s decorated performance history began with nursing home gigs, facilitated by long-time friend and karaoke DJ Michael Davis.

Davis said one of Blake’s largest strengths is his versatility — he’s able to rile the crowd no matter the age of audience members.

“He gets the people going,” Davis said, “That’s all that really counts.”

The nickname “Gator Ron,” Davis added, was his brainchild.

Last year, the duo performed at private parties hosted by 42-year-old Burt Wetherington, a former student of Blake’s who joins him on his Wednesday karaoke adventures.

Wetherington said the events were successful; even County Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler sang alongside them.

“We didn’t realize that she did bluegrass at one time,” Wetherington said.

Music comes second only to the passion Blake has for his supportive family. While his wife Doreen isn’t fond of

bars, she and others close to him always attend his larger gigs.

No one makes Blake happier than his wife, he said.

“No one catches my eye and has captured my heart like you have,” Blake said in reference to her, “I mean that.”

More recently, the duo has performed consistent gigs the first Saturday of every month at Mother’s Pub & Grill from 8 p.m. to midnight. Their first show saw upward of 50 requests and lasted until 1 a.m.

“We never got through all of our requests,” Gator Ron said, “I’m not designed to go to 1 o’clock.”

Blake can also be found every Wednesday at multiple venues. He starts his nights around 6:30 at One Love Cafe or Crafty Bastards, heads to The Social at Midtown and ends at Vivid Music Hall.

@aidandisto abush@alligator.org

Alachua County Crisis Center notes increase in volunteers, youth callers

New national suicide, crisis hotline number increases awareness

By Claire Grunewald Alligator Staff Writer

Over the past six months, crisis centers nationwide have received more attention after the implementation of the new national hotline number: 988. The Alachua County Crisis Center is one of many centers expanding its care.

For decades, the center has been a consistent source of support for the community. The center has a 24-hour crisis and suicide prevention hotline, crisis counseling and an emergency mobile outreach team that works alongside law enforcement.

Thanks to a July change that shifted the hotline number from 10 digits to three, the new number received nearly half a million more messages in five months than the previous number did in a year, according to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration data. Since then, Alachua County’s center has received more funding and experienced an uptick in callers and volunteers.

Christine Alicot, a 66-year-old Gainesville resident, said she sought help from the crisis center 25 years ago. Later, she decided to reciprocate the help she received by becoming a volunteer.

“At some point, I needed the crisis center way before I became a volunteer and was very impressed by the help I got,” Alicot said.

The center, located at 218 SE 24th St., is the only local community center with resources available for everyone in the county. Centers like the UF Counseling and Wellness Center also have 24/7 crisis support, but the CWC is only open to currently enrolled UF students.

Alicot finds it rewarding to connect with the emotions of others and be trained to aid people going through some of the worst moments in their lives, she said. However, it can also be taxing.

“Witnessing the pain and not being able to do anything about it is very hard,” Alicot said. “Not because I don’t have the tools, but because that person doesn’t trust me or

can’t open up to some help.”

Recently, crisis center employees like Alicot have witnessed an increase in younger callers.

Alexandra Martinez, the center’s director, believes younger generations are more aware of crisis and suicide prevention services. The center has noticed a rise over the years in the number of youths seeking help, she said.

“I think there’s a lot more information — good and bad — through social media and online about suicide prevention,” Martinez said.

The center is also in the process of adding new staff, she said. The center currently has 14 employees and about 100 volunteers.

Kevin Sosa, training coordinator, started at the center as a volunteer in 2014 and now works with the new trainee classes. The number of staff members and volunteers is historically high, he said.

The center holds three training programs throughout the year for residents interested in volunteering. Spring training for new vol-

unteers begins at the end of January.

Training is an extensive process that prepares volunteers to receive a variety of calls. The center teaches volunteers how to listen and understand people in ways they never have before, Sosa said.

“It’s all about listening,” Sosa said. “Listening with compassion, listening with empathy and being able to communicate that understanding to whoever you’re speaking to at the time.”

The ability to impact people’s lives and the community that comes from working at the center is rewarding, he said.

“It’s really wonderful working within a community at the center that’s like-minded and has a similar purpose in what they’re wanting to do at that time,” Sosa said.

The Alachua County Crisis Center responds to over 40,000 calls to its hotline annually. The hotline is open to Alachua County residents for crisis and suicide intervention phone counseling at 352-264-6789. Volunteers operate the hotline 24/7.

Courtesy to The Alligator

Gator Ron (left) performs at a Rockin’ Jukebox Dance Party.

Spotify partners with Curia on the Drag to create free podcasting studio

STUDIO WILL HAVE LGBTQ FOCUS

By Loren Miranda Alligator Staff Writer

Local podcaster Olivia Noel took a look around Gainesville and knew something was missing.

Noel, 26, is the co-host of “Girlish,” a podcast that covers the depths of the transgender experience as told by longtime friends Noel and Gage Adkins, who met on Twitter at the beginning of each of their transitions.

When Spotify asked Noel where it should place the next pop-up podcast location, the answer came easily.

“I was like, ‘It has to be Curia… It’s my happy place,’” Noel said. Anchor.fm, Spotify’s free podcasthosting platform, launched its second pop-up podcast studio Jan. 26 as part of its Making Space program. Dedicated to “democratiz[ing] audio” by offering the resource to anyone interested, the program aims to invest in minority- and local-owned businesses for future pop-ups.

Spotify selected Curia On The Drag, a coffee shop located at 2029 NW 6th St., to become the secondever location in the nation to host the complimentary recording space in partnership with Anchor.fm.

Anyone can book a free podcasting session. The link to do so can be found at Anchor.fm’s website through Calendly. Budding creatives can instantly book a one-hour slot at the overflow space across the way from Curia’s coffee shop.

The venue has been a big source of support for the LGBTQ community in Gainesville, Noel said. Between hosting weekly drag brunches and its vegan menu, she said, Curia emphasizes community.

Noel’s excited to begin using the podcasting space to record “Girlish,” she said.

The self-defined “trans culture”

podcast features YouTubers Adkins and Noel. The pair released 26 episodes in 2022 and saw an increase of 565% of listeners, according to Spotify’s statistics.

Using the Anchor.fm app, the pair has amassed over 58,000 YouTube followers combined.

Adkins, 28, works for an insurance fraud adjustment company and co-hosts “Girlish” from her home in Los Angeles, California. Noel, a Gainesville resident, works in learning and development for a payroll company, and they both record episodes from the comfort of their living rooms.

The duo recorded the first episode of their podcast in 2019. Now in their eighth year of friendship, they’ve been sharing their rambling opinions on various queer-related topics ever since.

Having a space like Curia to record a podcast can be helpful, Adkins said. The hassle of securing a quiet space and accessing at-times expensive equipment are often the biggest barriers for beginners when starting out.

“It being here gives so many opportunities to everyone in the community to use it and start their own podcasts,” Adkins said.

Anchor.fm offers two podcasting microphones and two broadcast arms, as well as two sets of headphones and a Rode Rodecaster Pro mixing console to rentees during their time slot.

The recording space will offer opportunities for Gainesville creatives to design podcasts and potentially open space for music artists’ recordings or even stand-up routines, Adkins added.

The pair dives into the importance of a trans-hosted podcast during their episodes. In a space where LGBTQ topics may remain taboo in some households, Adkins said, the pair feels it’s their duty to fill that gap and be role models for younger transgender kids who might be ques-

tioning their identities.

“Our biggest purpose is to be that representation for a newer generation,” Adkins said. “It’s just a way for us to kind of share our own experiences and maybe help other people along the way.”

A podcast like “Girlish” is trailblazing, Noel said. The fact that transgender people can work with a national company like Spotify shows changing values among the public, she added.

With the recent increase of LGBTQ-related issues entering local and national political discourse, the duo hasn’t had any shortage of topics to discuss.

From covering Texas legislation regulating drag queens to recent attacks on the LGBTQ community, the pair said, they feel grateful for their platform.

The recent policies passed by

Florida legislation to ostracize LGBTQ students have had an unfortunate effect on the trans community, Noel said. Concerns with privacy and health when it comes to genderaffirming care have also arisen within the UF transgender community.

“We see news like Ron DeSantis counting trans people,” Noel said. “Or requesting information of trans people within the public universities, which directly affects me. It’s super scary to see that stuff happening.

Noel feels empowered when they reclaim negative instances like these as jokes during episodes, she said. Not only does it offer their listeners a more well-informed view on these topics, but it creates an environment safe enough for an open dialogue with their audience.

“We want to bring a twist to these really awful things and just reclaim it to be something that’s humorous to

us,” Noel said.

Noel believes there will be a large number of Gainesville creatives who will want to utilize the space because of how interactive, accessible and easy the recording space is to navigate, she said.

The pair encourages any podcast hopefuls to take the leap, no matter where they are in the process.

It doesn’t matter if you have a $1,000 microphone or if you record using the Voice Memos app on your phone, like the “Girlish” pair did when they first began their show, Adkins said.

“When we first started, we were a mess,” Adkins said. “But we still ended up here… It’s more important to really be passionate.”

@LorenMiranda13 lmiranda@alligator.org

Gainesville celebrates 4th annual Sunshine State Book Festival Festival

included 150 authors, local food trucks

By Amanda Rubio Alligator Staff Writer

Greeted by collections of books on hundreds of tables, Gainesville’s most devoted readers relished in a fully ‘booked’ weekend.

The Sunshine State Book Festival united readers and writers Jan. 28 at Trinity United Methodist Church, located at 4000 NW 53rd Ave. Authors from Gainesville and other cities across the nation stood by tables inside the church awaiting the opportunity to promote, sell or sign their books for the next local bookworm that came their way.

A total of 150 registered authors in 15 different genres — from nonfiction and children’s literature to mystery and fantasy — presented their works at the festival. This year’s festival was the fourth of its kind and had a waiting list of around 90 authors hoping to be given a spot to share their work with the city’s locals.

Jessica Gonzalez, a 26-year-old freelance writer, tutor and course developer based in New York City, promoted her book at the festival. “Luna, Yes! Luna, ¡Sí!,” a bilingual children’s book, tells a story about having a sister with au-

tism and about the loving relationship that exists between the siblings. It was her first time participating in the book festival.

“I got to network with a lot of authors,” Gonzalez said. “I thought it was a great opportunity to really get your name out there.”

Bethany Gano, a 43-year-old artist, designer and firsttime author-illustrator, also participated in the festival. Born in New Jersey and raised in the Detroit area, she has moved her talents to Florida and is currently based out of Orlando.

Gano promoted “Lulu the Beaver,” her first book as an author-illustrator. It’s the story of a beaver who dreams of being an artist, and it follows her journey of overcoming self-doubt and learning to share her gifts. The Sunshine State Book Festival was her first book fair ever.

“It’s really neat to be able to meet people…hear their publishing journey and really hear what they’re passionate about,” Gano said. “I think that’s one of the most exciting things.”

Along with browsing the authors’ tables, attendees were also able to delight in presentations from participating au-

thors, meals from local food trucks and an address from this year’s keynote speaker: local award-winning author Janis Owens.

The Writers Alliance of Gainesville, a nonprofit organization founded in 2009 by Wendy Thornton and other local writers, organizes the annual festival.

The organization was created in an effort to provide the literary scene in Gainesville with a supportive community of fellow writers in the local area.

With a little over 200 members, WAG serves as an outlet for local writers to receive constructive criticism and positive feedback on their latest literary endeavors.

Pat Caren, 74, is the membership coordinator for the organization and the chairwoman of the Sunshine State Book Festival.

As an author herself, writing under the pseudonym Marie Q. Rogers, she said she appreciates the opportunity the festival offers to mingle with and support fellow writers.

“We get to meet other authors and see what they’re doing and buy their books or get their bookmarks,” Caren said. “Or say, ‘OK, when I can afford it, I’m getting your book.’”

Kamryn Bailey // Alligator Staff

Attendees of the Spotify pop-up podcast studio launch party at Curia on the Drag watch the members of the podcast “Girlish” get mic’d up for the live panel recording Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023.

Free library boxes spring up in Gainesville

Little Free Library boxes run through international organization

By Gracey Davis Avenue Staff Writer

Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves line the walls of Heather Ray’s at-home library, a point of pride for the 48-year-old UF physics professor.

When she finds a title she hasn’t picked up in a while, she’ll place it in a local Little Free Library — one of several community book boxes that have popped up around Alachua County.

Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that works with local community members from over 100 countries to provide free and easy access to literature using sharing boxes. The program follows a “take a book, share a book” mentality, with individuals being expected to donate an item of their own in exchange for whatever they take.

Over a dozen Little Free Libraries are registered in the Gainesville area, according to the website’s virtual map.

Ray started out by donating books to two library boxes by her daughter’s preschool, but she decided to open her own Little Free Library outside her office on UF’s campus three years ago.

“I was having just hordes of students in my office hours, and it was somewhere in that time period when I said, ‘Well, this is ridiculous, why don’t I just start a free little library right outside of my office?’” Ray said. “I have enough foot traffic for there to be high turnover and then I’ll just take my books into campus.”

Initially, Ray said, she didn’t see the foot traffic she expected because classes had moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since classes shifted back in person, Ray has offered more limited office hours, but she said she still sees activity in her library.

“I’m able to see if there’s books that have stuck around for a while,” Ray said. “I’ll actually remove them, and I’ll take them to a different free little library in the hopes that they’ll hit a different market.”

To officially register a Little Free

Library, individuals can purchase a charter from the organization’s website. These charters provide access to register libraries onto the global library map, which allows visitors to locate boxes in their area. Owners are also sent a plaque for their boxes.

Karen Johnson, 70, is one Gainesville resident who manages a Little Free Library outside her home.

Johnson, a retired librarian and elementary school media specialist, said she had wanted to get involved with the organization since first reading about it 20 years ago, but she felt it was too time consuming and expensive to make happen on her own.

“I decided that I was going

to do it one day and just never got around to it,” she said. “It’s a little daunting, the actual construction.”

In 2022, Johnson’s husband and daughter conspired to build the box as a birthday and Christmas gift.

With her experience as a librarian, Johnson is dedicated to bringing classics and good literature into her box and community, she said. An avid thrift shopper, she said she uses her box as an excuse to constantly update her selection and offer something for everyone, from a toddler to a college student.

While many Little Free Library owners purchase a charter to register their box

with the organization, there are also plenty of unofficial boxes, something Johnson said she’s noticed across Gainesville. One of these unofficial libraries is located on the ground floor of the Reitz Union and includes books, movies and CDs exchanged by students and visitors.

Many of these boxes feature classic novels and award-winning texts, Johnson said, but there are also many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

Little Free Libraries are also a way for individuals to revisit parts of their childhood.

April Hines, UF College of Journalism and Communications librarian, grew up visiting the library with her mother. Coming

from a low-income family, Hines said, libraries provided a prime source of entertainment.

Now, as she raises her 8-yearold son, Hines said visiting Little Free Libraries in her neighborhood offers a new way to share literature with him – just like her mother used to do with her. In addition to exploring new genres, Hines has also reconnected with classic children’s books she read when she was younger, she said. Many owners decorate their Little Free Library boxes. These personal touches are a big draw for Hines, she said, because each library has its own unique personality.

“It’s well-loved and well taken care of,” Hines said of her neighborhood box. “That makes a big difference.” @graceydavis_

Florida gymnastics undefeated through six meets The Gators have beaten three ranked teams during its winning streak. Read more on pg. 11.

Caia Reese // Alligator Staff Palm Tree Terrace’s Little Free Library houses a wide range of books for the community to share Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023.

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GYMNASTICS

Florida gymnastics lives up to lofty expectations in front of record crowds

ROWLAND, GATORS GYMNASTS CREDIT WIN STREAK TO TEAM ATMOSPHERE

By Jori Rzepecki Sports Writer

Graduate student Trinity Thomas made history against the No. 17 Georgia Bulldogs. Thomas is the only gymnast in National Collegiate Athletic Association history to get four gym slams.

Thomas was shocked when she heard about her record, she said. She currently has 23 perfect 10s — five short of the alltime record of 28 in a college career. Thomas is confident she will eventually be able to obtain the record.

“[I can definitely get better], no question about it,” Thomas said.

The No. 2 Florida Gators (6-0, 3-0 SEC) have secured five out of their six wins at home in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, including their victory over the Bulldogs Jan. 27. Florida has achieved three sold-out crowds in their five home meets this season; Florida’s meet against the Missouri Tigers Feb. 10 is also sold out.

The Gators now lead the Southeastern Conference with a 25-game regular-season undefeated streak. Florida head coach Jenny Rowland beamed with pride when she was informed of the news.

Thomas became the only gymnast in NCAA history to get four gym slams — when a gymnast scores a perfect 10 on every event — against the Bulldogs.

They’ve beaten two top teams at home this season — Georgia and the No. 5 Auburn Tigers — and earned their highest scores in those meets.

The Gators will run into two top-10 teams in the next few weeks. The No. 8 Louisiana State Tigers and No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners will host Florida.

MEN'S BASKETBALL MEN'S GOLF

Golfer Quentin Debove rises to prominence

Struggle to persevere

By Alyssa Britton-Harr Sports Writer

Quentin Debove wasn’t in the lineup for the first two rounds of the NCAA Regional Championships in Spring 2022.

Head coach JC Deacon gave Debove the start in the final round of regionals as a sub for Tyler Wilkes, who hadn’t been playing up to par. Debove took advantage of the opportunity, playing well enough to earn a starting role for the NCAA Championship.

"Quentin is an absolute beast, mentally and physically,” Deacon said. “He has been through it all here at the University of Florida.”

Debove’s role on the team was to fill in when needed and support his teammates. However, his play from the No. 5 position in the regionals gave him the opportunity to

start in Fall 2022.

Teams only get one sub in the postseason. Deacon gave the opportunity to Debove.

"I struggled so much my freshman and sophomore years, and then the Fall of my junior year,” Debove said. ”But I’m still trying to reach my potential.”

His goal is to hopefully play in the Professional Golfers Association of America Tour and ultimately win an Amateur, he said. The experience over the past two years is what motivates him to get up in the morning and work the right way so he doesn’t fall out of the lineup again.

Debove improved greatly during the Fall season, when he had his best finisher of T5 and his careerlow round of 65, both in the Fight-

SEE MEN'S GOLF, PAGE 12

During the stretch of home games, Gators gymnasts and coaches all said they appreciate the O’Connell Center’s environment.

“When you are in the O’Dome, it feels like family,” junior Victoria Nguyen said.

Graduate student Savannah Schoenherr is currently out with a foot injury. Whether watching in person or on television, Schoenherr stands out as she cheers and encourages teammates before and during their event.

Thomas mentioned her teammates and coaches continuously help make her a better gymnast.

“There’s not a single day that people don’t come in and work hard,” Thomas said. “It’s so cool to be around 16 other girls that are passionate about working towards the same goal.”

Thomas accounts for three of the Gators’ five 10s this season. Florida is still undefeated four meets into the season.

Sophomore Leanne Wong accounted for the other two 10s. Her perfect scores came on balance beam and uneven bars against Auburn Jan. 13. Wong criticized her own performance after the win, but Thomas said she does everything amazingly.

Rowland is proud of the team environment as Florida carries on throughout the season.

“They take ownership of this amazing team … but we’re super grateful to be along for the ride,” Rowland said. Florida’s next meet comes against the Arkansas Razorbacks at 7:45 p.m. Feb. 3 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

@jorirzepecki

jrzepecki@alligator.org

Florida men’s basketball seeks answers on offense after blowout defeat

THE GATORS SIT ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE IN PUSH TO MAKE NCAA TOURNAMENT

By Jackson Reyes Sports Writer

The Florida men’s basketball team started the week with a commanding 21-point win against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Florida ended the week with a crushing defeat on the road against the No. 5 Kansas State Wildcats. Failure to make shots plagued UF against KSU.

The Florida Gators (12-9, 5-3 SEC) are currently listed on the bubble in the “Next Four Out” of the NCAA Tournament as of Jan. 27, according to ESPN reporter Joe Lunardi.

The Gators will need to find a way to make shots as they head into the toughest part of their schedule; their next two games will be against the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers and No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide.

While Florida handled business against the Gamecocks, they missed an opportunity to secure a resumé-building win against the Wildcats to push them on the right side of the bubble.

UF jumped out to an early lead against South Carolina and never gave it up. Five Florida players finished the night with doubledigit points as the Gators defeated the Gamecocks 81-60.

Freshman guard Riley Kugel made his first SEC start against the Gamecocks. He finished the game with 14 points — a careerhigh — on 6-9 shooting.

Kugel stepped up in place of sophomore forward Alex Fudge, who suffered a head injury against Mississippi State Dec. 21.

Florida head coach Todd Golden said Kugel has done a great job becoming a more efficient player. Kugel has improved as a shooter — shooting 39% from 3-point range — and has grown as a defender, Golden said.

“When you put all of those things together, you’re looking at

a guy that’s playing really, really well,” Golden said.

Florida finished the game against the Gamecocks shooting 47% from the field but just 25.9% from beyond the arc. The Gators moved the ball around with a season-high 21 assists and only five turnovers.

The team has been able to trust each other and make the extra pass, Golden said. He emphasized how his team’s style of basketball has helped it win games.

“What I’m most proud about is just the way we continue to be unselfish and share the ball,” Golden said.

UF won five of its last six games heading into the contest against Kansas State. The Wildcats dominated the Gators and led for the full 40 minutes.

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

@JacksnReyes jacksonreyes@alligator.org

Ashleigh Lucas // Alligator Staff

Florida gymnast Leanne Wong makes the landing after her performance on the uneven bars during the meet against the Georgia Bulldogs Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.

Debove’s rise to prominence

MEN'S GOLF, from pg. 11

ing Irish Classic tournament.

He wasn’t in the lineup and was unsure if he would travel with the team all Spring long, he said.

Debove improved his stroke game over the summer. He was able to hit faster, farther and straighter by the start of the Fall season, he said.

He had his best finish, T5, at the Fall season opener, The Fighting Irish Classic. This was the Gators’ first win of the season. Debove finished the tournament strong, earning

a qualifying score.

"UF usually struggles in the Fall, but this year we have won some tournaments and placed second for some,” Debove said. “It is better than what we have done, especially the past three years."

The Gators have multiple soon-to-be professional players, which allows many of the golfers on the team to practice against highlevel competition, Debove said.

His goal is to be number one in the lineup, Debove said. Competing against teammates and alumni, he said, is what helps the Gators continue to improve.

Throughout Debove's time at UF, the players and coaches say he’s been highly motivated and has worked hard to reach his highest potential on the course.

Florida men’s golf senior John DuBois said Debove has always given his all to the team. Debove never passes up an opportunity to get better in the classroom, the gym or the golf course, DuBois said.

“[Debove] wants the best for himself and the team,” DuBois said. “Quentin is the player every teammate wishes to have. Super competitive, a hard worker and never gives up.”

Debove has worked hard on his strength, developed his game on the course and has done well academically, Deacon said.

Debove came to UF to play right away. However, he struggled to crack the lineup un-

til the national championship.

“I always learn the most about our players through adversity,” Deacon said. “Quentin experienced more adversity and struggle than you could imagine.”

Debove's one of the best drivers in the NCAA, Deacon said, and his iron game is nearly as strong. Debove has had an enormous impact on Florida golf, he said.

Debove's working on getting his short game to an elite level, he said. When that happens, Deacon said, he’ll be on an AllAmerican team.

“His response has been a coach's dream,” Deacon said.

@abrittonharr abritton-harr@alligator.org