Monday, March 14, 2022

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MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 26 Not officially associated with the University of Florida

Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

Students experience first Spring Break since pandemic shutdowns SPRING BREAKERS NAVIGATED TRAVELS AMID ONGOING REGULATIONS AND THE DEVELOPING RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR

By Fernando Figueroa & Maia Botek Alligator Staff Writers

Students enjoyed their first Spring Break since March 2020 exploring Florida, traveling out of state and visiting hometowns. As this year’s Spring Break commences, so does yet another unexpected global conflict.

Two years ago, UF students returned from Spring Break to a fully online university. The pandemic postponed flights, canceled events and had students studying from their beds until Fall 2021, when in-person classes returned.

Last year, UF students did not partake in their long-awaited Spring Break. Administration canceled the break “for the purpose of making the

Spring semester as successful and healthy as possible” and instead gave students an extra week of Winter Break.

This year, students’ mid-semester break from March 5 to 13 came amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine invasion.

Milo Murrell, 23, a UF international student from the Royal Holloway, University of London, was eager to explore more of Florida .

“I think it's really easy to be here and be able to put the blinkers on and not think about it,” Murrell said.

“Sitting in Florida, surrounded by palm trees, millions of miles away from anything.”

She hadn’t experienced a typical spring since the beginning of the pandemic.

During the break, Murrell and four other international students enjoyed the beach under the Fort Lauderdale sun.

“The internationals are really keen on seeing Florida,” Murrell said.

After her quick stint in Fort Lauderdale, Murrell visited more beach-

​​ oksolana Myktiuk, 25, a non-degree seeking R UF women’s studies exchange student (left) and Sasha Nelson, 19, UF microbiology sophomore lead a group of about 30 in a moment of silence for the Ukrainian lives lost in their ongoing Russian invasion on Thursday, March 3. Read this story on pg. 4.

Esha Nair // Alligator Staff

SEE SPRING BREAK, PAGE 4

MEN'S BASEKTBALL

Mike White’s tenure comes to an end AFTER SEVEN SEASONS UNDER WHITE, FLORIDA WILL BEGIN THE SEARCH FOR ITS NEXT HEAD COACH

By Joseph Henry Sports writer

With the end of his seventh season at the helm, former Florida head coach Mike White, 45, has stepped away from the Gators, filling the vacant head coaching position at the University of Georgia.

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT How Clifford Taylor IV made it

Calls for his job were deafening and failing to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since his 2015 inaugural season Sunday only amplified the already nauseating frequency.

The news was first reported by CBS Sports insider Jon Rothstein via Twitter Sunday and later confirmed by Georgia’s official athletics account.

White is leaving Gainesville due to a toxic environment created by the fanbase and fear it would begin to affect his five

Story description finish with comma, pg# The UF alum scored a social media and design position with the Rams June 2021.

Find this story on pg. 11

young children, according to a tweet from the Associated Press’ Mark Long.

Georgia brings in White to replace Tom Crean, who was fired March 10 after an abysmal 6-26 season. The Bulldogs posted a statement from White Sunday evening.

"I am extraordinarily grateful to the leadership of Scott Stricklin and to the entire Florida Athletics staff for an amazing experience during my tenure," White said. "Thank you to each

and every one of our current and former players. Your hard work, commitment and dedication was and continues to be an inspiration. I will cherish our relationships forever.”

After losing to Texas A&M in the second round of the SEC Tournament Thursday, White called the overtime defeat “a twohour microcosm of the season.”

Taking the comparison further, this season was representative of his entire UF tenure.

Both have now come to a close.

White is the third Florida head coach to leave the university after

Former fraternity member accused of sexual violence by mulitple women

receiving a contract extension.

On June 1, White, former football head coach Dan Mullen and former women’s basketball coach Cameron Newbauer were granted extensions. Mullen was canned after a mediocre season and Newbauer exited with allegations of an abusive program looming.

White’s tenure was a full circle story, his final season playing out similar to his first.

This season’s Gators and the 2015-16 team finished with an under .600 regular-season

SEE WHITE, PAGE 11

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Two UF students speak out, pg. 6

Fitness for all Gainesville fitness instructors uplift plus-sized community, pg. 10

@FloridaAlligator @TheAlligator_ @FloridaAlligator @TheAlligator_ @TheAlligator @alligator_newspaper @alligator_newspaper

2 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022

Today’s SG opposes recentWeather parking changes STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT PROTESTED TAPS DECISIONS TO CONVERT 40 SPACES TO FACULTY PARKING

By Maia Botek Alligator Staff Writer

UF’s Transportation and Parking Services will convert 40 parking spots in Norman parking garage from student to faculty parking. Student Government leaders protest.

The Student Body president and Student Body presidentelect released a statement via Instagram and Facebook Saturday opposing the decision.

President Cooper Brown was notified of the decision in an email Thursday, he wrote in a text message. TAPS Director Scott Fox’s email returned an automatic response stating that he is out of town until Mar. 15.

TAPS oversees parking, transportation-related fees and services on campus. Parking is designated through decals sold

by TAPS. Decal colors correspond to locations where students and faculty can park.

The spots were originally designated Red 3 for students who live on campus and have completed less than 50 credits.

They will become orange for faculty and staff members.

The change comes amid ongoing campus construction that has caused detours and road closures. The Office of Business Affairs sent an email to students acknowledging challenges and thanking them for their patience Friday.

SG’s post also acknowledged these inconveniences but wrote that punishing students is not the right answer.

The decision went against SG’s

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 26

NEWSROOM:

By Maia Botek Alligator Staff Writer

Student Government’s Gator Party widened its supermajority last UF Senate meeting, grabbing one more seat in a tiebreaker and filling one of two open member-at-large positions.

The March 1 meeting marked the beginning of the legislative session. The second member-at-large position will be voted on Tuesday.

UF Senate swore in its batch of 50 newly elected senators and chose a new Senate president and president pro-tempore at the meeting. It was in the process of electing the members-at-large when the meeting was cut short, as the Reitz Union building closes at 11 p.m.

The election results bring few changes to the chamber. Gator Party remained the supermajority while Change party remained the minority party.

Gator Party’s candidates also won the election for Student Body president, vice president and treasurer, who will take office in April.

Senators elected last Spring said their goodbyes, including the former Senate President Annabelle Groux and Senate President Pro-Tempore Noah Fineberg, both members of Gator Party.

“Coming to work each day doesn't feel like a job and I am very sad to be leaving this post,” Fineberg wrote in an email. “I hope my successor will carry on the proud legacy of this office. The job of the President Pro-Tempore is often misunderstood, but it is extremely important.”

Newly elected Senators were sworn in, and Elizabeth Hartzog (Gator, Accounting) and Olivia Green (Gator, District A) were elected as the Senate president and Senate president pro-tempore, respectively. They ran unopposed.

Both served in the Budget and Appropriations Committee, with Hartzog as former chair and Green as former vice chair.

The nominations were supported unanimously by senators from both parties.

The Senate president serves as the Senate’s chief executive and administrative officer and is responsible for overseeing and leading meetings. The pro-tempore serves as the president’s right-hand and is the chair of the Replacement and Agenda Committee, which reviews the meetings agenda and replacement senators’ applications.

Lianna Hubbard, lhubbard@alligator.org

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Asta Hemenway, ahemenway@alligator.org

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mission to expand the garage’s student parking and increase safety. The post encouraged students with concerns to contact Fox. The post was shared over Facebook and Instagram and had more than 1500 likes and 30 comments on the two platforms

by Sunday afternoon. @BotekMaia mbotek@alligator.org

Throughout their speeches, Hartzog and Green set initiatives like establishing relationships with each Senator, making Senate inclusive and representative and re-organizing the website Docutraq, which is used for student funding.

Senators also voted in two senators from a tiebreaker and a member-at-large position.

Senators broke the tie for one Liberal Arts and Science seat. Mohammed Faisal (Change) and Justin Lanzuela (Gator) both received 877 votes during the elections last month.

Lanzuela won the seat in a Senate vote of 58-18.

Both candidates gave a brief speech before answering five minutes of questions.

Lanzuela talked about initiatives for first-generation students and his high school leadership experience.

“I like to work towards more programs that help first generation students who share the same problem of not knowing where to start, and really helping them all succeed as a Gator,” Lanzuela said during his speech.

Faisal spoke about his previous time and achievements as a Senator, his bipartisanship and his goals if he were elected, like editing the 800 codes that define funding for student government organizations to be more easily understood. He is happy other Change Party Senators like Grace Shoemaker and Gabriela Montes won their seats but using Senate votes to determine tiebreakers can lead to majority parties retaining their power, he said.

“60 plus seats are seated to Gator party,” he said.

“We see time and time again that Senate tries to do work sometimes, but it's blocked by this partisan mindset.”

For the member-at-large positions, Change Party’s Faith Corbett and Gator’s Christine Locascio ran for one open seat. Locascio won in a vote of 54-15, but because the two seats are separate positions, Corbett plans to run again to fill the second seat, she said.

Members-at-large serve as nonpartisan representatives in the Replacement and Agenda Committee and help represent the overall goals of Senators.

Senate President Hartzog announced the election of the second member-at-large position and remaining agenda items would be postponed until the next meeting.

The next Senate meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Chamber on Tuesday. There will also be a mandatory orientation for new Senators March 15 at 6:30 p.m. @BotekMaia mbotek@alligator.org

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MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022 ALLIGATOR 3

4 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022

Students visit crowded beaches SPRING BREAK, from pg. 1

es in the Florida Keys.

She said COVID-19, now being treated like the flu by UF, was not a main concern.

UF recommended that students get their booster shots before going on Spring Break in a UF Health Facebook post released on March 1.

The post also recommended travelers choose outdoor destinations, adhere to travel guidelines that require the use of masks and plan ahead for COVID-19 testing requirements.

“I haven’t even considered COVID as a factor in my Spring Break,” Murrell said. “I’m not concerned that I’m going to have my AirBnB canceled because suddenly there are lockdowns.”

Some students are using the break to educate themselves on the Russia-Ukraine conflict happening overseas.

“We are in the middle of an informational pandemic,” said Ukrainian international student and admin of the @ufukraine Instagram account Roksolana Mykytiuk.

As for COVID-19, Mykytiuk believes that everyone has their priorities. Talk about pandemic has lost the fervor it once had, and it is time for the Russian invasion of Ukraine to get more coverage.

Erin Hu, a 21-year-old digital arts and sciences senior, sympathized with those affected by the Russia-Ukraine war and was fortunate her spring break plans were not affected by the

conflict.

Hu and three others also secured a rental house for the week-long break and visited Joshua Tree National Park in California.

“I'm definitely excited to experience that California desert vibe,” Hu said. “Plus to just relax, rejuvenate and reconnect.”

Hu has not experienced a single Spring Break the entire time she’s been a student at UF because she took a gap semester during what would’ve been her first Spring Break on campus.

Hu and her group of friends contemplated leaving the country but decided against it because of COVID-19. She did not want to catch the virus and complicate her return to school.

Even if this year’s Spring Break does cause a COVID-19 spike, Hu believes it won’t change much in terms of policies.

“I don't think UF takes COVID seriously,” Hu said. “Even if it does get bad again, I'm sure it will be swept under the rug and moved on from.”

Gabrielle Adekunle, Change Party’s Minority Leader in the Senate, noticed changes compared with her breaks as a freshman and sophomore, when COVID-19 was first beginning and later in full-swing.

“I’m actually able to go out and do things and enjoy Spring Break and not feel as guilty about it,” she said. “Now we have the vaccines, we have masks and everything so we're able to properly protect ourselves.”

Adekunle, 21, feeling safer with COVID-19

Minca Davis // Alligator Staff

regulations, was looking forward to spending time with her family after the Spring SG elections.

“I definitely felt a lot better about this Spring Break and getting to enjoy it,” she said.

Student Body Treasurer-elect Sierra Kantamneni, 21, also usually uses the break to relax with family. After winning the Spring election alongside President-elect Lauren Lemasters and Vice President-elect Daniel Badell, the three wanted to take a break before starting

the transition into office, she said.

“With elections and everything like that I was really tired, so I wanted a week to myself,” she said. “I’m excited to go back and hear everyone's stories and what they did and where they traveled. It was a really good break.” @fernfigue ffigueroa@alligator.org @BotekMaia mbotek@alligator.org

Ukrainian students stand together against invasion happening back home Students organize demonstrations, spread awareness

By Gregorio Ruiz-Perez Alligator Staff Writer

Roksolana Mykytiuk, 25, stood alone at Turlington Plaza Feb. 28.

She held a poster: “Stand with Ukraine.” As hundreds of students passed through the mid-campus hub, she noticed a girl with braids intertwined with blue and yellow fabric walking toward her.

Mykytiuk and Sasha Nelson hugged each other, crying for five minutes before uttering a word.

The conflict in Ukraine has displaced more than 4 million Ukranians and gained worldwide media attention.

UF’s Ukrainian students have felt the negative effects of the invasion back home. Their loved ones are under attack and while their community in Gainesville is small, it has brought them closer together. There are only three Ukrainian international students at UF, Mykytiuk said.

Students like Mykytiuk and Nelson have family and friends living in Ukraine and can only watch as their nation, families and friends suffer through a war. They’ve found solidarity in each other and hope to help their country by spreading awareness. They are sharing fundraising efforts and trying to encourage Americans to become activists in whatever way they can.

Russian President Vladimir Putin justified the invasion by claiming it was an act of self-defense. The Russian media portrays Ukrainian leadership as anti-Russian and Nazi, claiming that there is a genocide happening against ethnically Russian people in the Donbass region of Ukraine. Putin claims he is protecting Russians in Ukraine, but Ukraine and most of the world say these ac-

cusations lack any support.

East Slavic countries including Russia, Belarus and Ukraine share a common language, culture and are traditionally tight-knit, Michael Gorham, a UF Russian Studies professor, said.

“The idea of one of their countries invading the other country is virtually unheard of,” Gorham said.

“So it's a very difficult time.”

Mykytiuk, a Ukrainian exchange student at UF, wants people to understand that the conflict did not begin recently. It has been going on for eight years; the media is covering it now because it has escalated to a war.

“Our children are being killed right now,” she said. “Our women are forced to give birth in basements, our grandmothers are suffering, our schools and hospitals have been destroyed.”

She was born and raised in Ukraine and arrived at UF’s campus in January. When the invasion began, she was alone, new to the United States and unable to connect with other Ukrainians.

This isolation continued until she took her sign and protested in Turlington Plaza, where Mykytiuk met Nelson and Anna Meltsaieva. The trio formed their own club, created an Instagram account and organized a demonstration on March 1 to spread awareness.

“We're hoping to just raise awareness and also collect donations because what's going on right now is really a humanitarian crisis, and people need donations,” Nelson said. “We're trying to do what we can to help our loved ones back in Ukraine.”

Donations would help families in need, like the Svirskyi family.

Anton Svirskyi, 20, a member of

the UF diving team and the Ukrainian Olympic team, was born and raised in Ukraine. His family moved to the U.S. in 2015 to escape the 2014 conflict.

Some family members returned home two weeks ago to fight. His grandparents are feeding soldiers and volunteers; his uncles are in territorial defense; his friends have been building barricades; and those with large cars are distributing humanitarian aid supplies throughout the country.

“The Ukrainian people are just coming together and are trying to stop what's happening,” he said.

Svirskyi has been able to continue in classes and athletics but with some difficulty, he said. His fellow Olympic athletes in Ukraine have stopped training.

“I don't think it's fair to them.

They didn't start the war, but they're the ones defending,” Svirskyi said.

“They had to sacrifice their education and their sports.”

You learn to cherish the people around you because anything can happen, he said. He never thought his friends would have to pick up AK-47s to fight the Russian Army as civilians. People need to realize that it is taking a toll on everybody, he said.

“Even right now, a week after the invasion has happened,” Svirskyi said. “It sort of feels like a bad dream. I still can't believe it, my family can’t believe it, nobody can believe that this is happening. That this is the new way of life that they have to endure.”

He hopes people in the U.S. will not be ignorant and will realize that every bit helps. His worry is that people get too caught up with hearing two sides of the story.

“A lot of people are hung up on

Russia's side of the story,” he said.

“But it's all propaganda.”

Anna Meltsaieva, 24, is originally from Donetsk, an industrial city filled with coal mines. She said her hometown has been under occupation for the last eight years.

She, like thousands of others who did not want to live under the Putin regime, fled the area after 2014. She was only 16. Her family still lives in the Donetsk region, but they are proUkrainian. Her grandma had lived there for 80 years and has lived in her current home for 52 years.

“She said that she would rather die than leave her own house,” Meltsaieva said.

Her brother is the only person in her family that has access to the internet, and even his connection is unreliable. Every day she hopes to get a text message from him.

Ukrainians living in other countries are limited in the support they can give to their loved ones and country. They are all trying their best to advocate and help efforts to fight back.

She believes most people who live in that area support Russia because of the propaganda that they have been fed.

She studied in Ukrainian schools with pro-Ukrainian teachers. None of them support Ukraine anymore, she said. They’ve been told for eight years that the Ukrainians have been the ones bombing them.

A friend of hers, who lives in Russia, called her to ask if the U.S. was bombing Ukraine. She explained that Ukraine was at war with Russia.

He was in disbelief because that was not at all what he had seen on TV. He believed that Russia was only attacking military bases to stop Ukraine from joining NATO, not bombing civilian areas.

“Even though no one knows what’s going on,” Eltsaieva said,

“On TV, whatever is happening, they always blame Ukraine.”

Iryna Kanishcheva, 40, has a sister who is stuck in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, and cannot cross the bridge to the other side of the city to see her daughter. The roads leading there are all closed.

The Warrington School of Business graduate said the panic in Ukraine reminded her of Floridans preparing for a hurricane. People grab all the food they can find, because they don’t know if there will be any later.

Family members are hiding in basements every night as alarms ring through the city.

“I don’t know what to do,” she said. “It seems to be surreal.”

She was born in Ukraine and moved to Gainesville nine years ago. Her family still lives in Kyiv and western parts of Ukraine.

She and another Ukrainian friend went to the demonstration led by Mykytiuk, Nelson and Eltsaieva.

“We’re just like everybody else who are trying to find ways to help,” Kanishcheva said. “Demonstrations are one of the ways we can raise awareness, get attention and show that we are against it.”

Kanishcheva said the only way to stop the war is to be harsh on Russia’s businesses.

One country cannot just easily invade another country while the whole world is looking and doing nothing, she said.

She encourages people not to be silent and to express their opinions.

Students can help by posting in support of Ukraine, using hashtags and donating to the several resources available. She urges students to help because “United we have power,” she said. @GregRuizPerez1 gruiz-perez@alligator.org

MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022 www.alligator.org/section/opinions

Column

Moving Past COVID-19

T

he pandemic hit our state hard over the past two years. We’ve lost nearly 70,000 Floridians to the virus, our children’s schooling has been interrupted and supply chain problems have made everything more expensive.

But we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. And while we may never eliminate COVID-19 like the flu, we should be able to live with it without a major disruption to our lives.

Finally, it’s time to think about moving forward.

We got here because while some of our leaders played partisan politics, others got to work — and together, we all did our part. We developed the best vaccines in the world in record time and distributed over 250 million of them to Americans. We passed legislation that kept small businesses open and put money in people’s pockets to ride out the crisis.

Local leaders made the tough calls to keep people safe despite intense political interference from Tallahassee.

But there’s still a lot of work to do to strengthen our economy and our state.

We have to help our children make up for the learning loss from two years of COVID-19.

We have to fix the supply chain issues that are jacking up prices and making basic necessities like gas, clothes and food hard to get.

We have to help workers get off the sidelines by getting them reliable childcare and sick leave so they can get back to work easier and faster.

And as a precaution, we need to prepare for the next pandemic. We need to stockpile basic lab testing materials and medical clothing and equipment now, so if we need them again, we aren’t caught off guard. And we need to move this manufacturing to the Unit-

ed States, so we aren’t reliant on China in the event of a future crisis.

Finally, we need to keep promoting vaccines and boosters to the millions of Floridians who still haven’t Charlie Crist Former Governor gotten the shot. Other states and countries are already doing this. Florida needs to catch up.

And it’s clear Gov. DeSantis isn’t up for the job. Our governor opposed the American Rescue Plan that saved our economy from the kind of crash we experienced during the Great Recession. And instead of championing lifesaving vaccines, he catered to anti-vaccine and anti-mask conspiracy theorists — even appointing one as Florida’s Surgeon General.

Today, Florida has one of the lowest rates of booster shots for seniors, and the Omicron variant has killed more seniors than most states.

And right now, the Governor is doubling down on his war on our schools, trying to strip $200 million from schools that disagreed with him on masking efforts, promoting “Don’t Say Gay” legislation that discriminates against Florida kids and trying to silence the teaching of our nation’s heroic civil rights struggle because it makes him feel “discomfort.”

I don’t know about Gov. DeSantis, but my parents raised me to follow the Golden Rule, to tell the truth — to be kind to others.

I’m running for Governor of our great state, because I’ve led our state out of tough times before.

It’s time to end these politics of division.

We can and will come together to build a Florida that works for everyone — not just for some. It’s time to turn the chapter on this pandemic in our state; it’s time to rebuild and restore our Florida. It’s time we get new leadership back in Tallahassee.

Column

Student Government overspends on Roddy Ricch

​​​​A

s a graduate student and tickets to see Roddy Ricch.

This is because we worked a leader in the Gainesville with industry professionals and music community, seehired a local booking agent that ing that Student Governnegotiated reasonable rates for evment Productions recently spent ery artist involved. Working with $350,000 on one performer professionals who have decades of shocked and appalled me. industry experience would generThat also doesn’t include the Brandon Telg ate much better results than the opener fee, venue fees, staff or Co-Leader, MusicGNV current situation at SGP. any other expenses — so one can There is a lack of transparency safely assume the total cost of the regarding how student funds are used for event was even higher. concerts through SGP. I also question the logSG paid Roddy Ricch to perform at the ic of having college students who do not apO’Connell Center Feb. 8. In 2021, UF Student pear to know the ins and outs of the concert Government transferred $1.55 million from booking industry choosing where hundreds its reserves to improve the student experiof thousands of dollars of other students’ ence “as in-person activities return[ed].” Of money goes — all without an industry vetthat money, $750,000 went to SGP. eran at the table to advise them.

I don’t have an issue with Roddy Ricch as The $750,000 allocated for SGP alone is a performer. In fact, I was at the show. But more than the annual budget of many profesas someone who has worked in live event sional music organizations. With this amount production for years, I can tell you that’s an of money, financial responsibility is key. obscene amount of money for one act — esAlternative models exist for using stupecially given the turnout of the event. dent entertainment fees. With this budget, According to The Alligator, of the 6,500 rather than simply booking a small number seats available, only about 3,000 were filled. of shows per year and massively overpayEven if every one of those 3,000 tickets ing artists for half-sold concerts, SGP could were sold at the non-student price of $20 partner with a professional booking agent (they weren’t — students paid $10-15), UF and downtown music venue within walking would have still lost upwards of $290,000 on distance of campus.

Roddy Ricch’s fee.

If it really wanted to, SGP could divide For reference: In 2017, SGP spent $130,000 that $750,000 into numerous concerts of nato bring Snoop Dogg to the university and tionally-touring acts throughout the year that only $91,500 to book Tory Lanez in 2020.

UF students could attend for free.

A few years ago, I helped run a multi-day, This model is how FSU runs its “Club multi-venue music festival in Gainesville.

Downunder” concert series. They partner The total budget — including talent fees, with professionals and local venues to book venue rentals, staff costs, marketing and all shows but still have a strong student board other fees — was around $117,000 (to be and student presence in the decision-making. spent on the event annually). Over a few Spending $350,000 and not even selling half years, we booked artists including Big Freeof the available tickets is an irresponsible dia, Japanese Breakfast, Talib Kweli and the way to use the money students are entrusting Preservation Hall Jazz Band. them with, especially when there are profesAny given year, we had a much larger sionals in the area operating with a fraction turnout than the 3,000 people who bought of that — and doing much more with it.

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Students do their clerkships and electives in the hospitals in Israel, the U.S. and Canada. One of these hospitals, Sheba Medical Center, was selected by Newsweek magazine as one of the top 10 hospitals around the world for the last three years.

Graduates participate in the National Resident Matching Program and return to the United States for their residency training. Since its commencement in 1976, over 2,100 alumni have completed their residency training at the most distinguished hospitals in the United States and Canada. www.sacklerschool.org provides extensive information about the Program.

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6 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022

Where’s the Line: UF’s entire campus qualifies as a free speech zone ANYONE CAN DRAW A CROWD ON CAMPUS IN ALL OUTSIDE AREAS

By Ashleigh Lucas Alligator Staff Writer

Plaza of the Americas has always been a quieter part of UF’s campus. Students come in waves every weekday afternoon to buy vegan lunch sold by the Hare Krishnas, read a book or leisurely relax on a hammock.

Thanks to legislation passed in 2018; however, Plaza was everything but tranquil on Monday, Feb. 7.

Waving a bright red communist flag, vigorously shaking a sign that reads “Welcome to the Whoring Grounds,” and screaming chants like “Ho No Mo” at the top of their lungs, more than 500 UF students egged on a controversial TikTok internet sensation, Sis-

Leo Ramsey-Watson // Alligator Staff

See the full multimedia project at wheresthelinefreedomofspeech.alligator.org.

ter Cindy, 63. Cindy Smock, better known as Sister Cindy, is an evangelist with more than 360,000 TikTok followers who draws crowds at universities across the country.

“Welcome to the Ho No Mo’ revolution,” she shouts, as students holler in unison.

Despite the rowdy crowd that dwindled throughout the day, campus police were nowhere to be found.

Freedom of speech is one of the fundamental rights protected by the First Amendment, along with freedom of the press, assembly, religion, petition and expression.

Florida public universities are obligated by law to protect First Amendment rights and cannot deny people anyone’s right to vocally — and visually — express their opinions on campus.

Specific areas known as “free speech zones,” used to be designated to those like Smock who wanted to come to campus and express their views.

As of 2018, though, choosing just one space on campus to be a free speech zone would be outlawed.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Campus Free Expression Act in March of 2018, forbidding the establishment of designated free speech zones and instead made all spaces accessible for free speech demonstrations.

Clay Calvert, a UF law professor and director of UF’s First Amendment Project, said the law transformed the scope of where outsiders could come onto UF campus to draw crowds.

“The notion that free speech is confined to a particular area on campus by state law — that’s invalid,” Calvert said. “Public spaces outside grassy areas, sidewalks, public areas

Ashleigh Lucas // Alligator Staff

Over 500 UF students stormed Plaza of the Americas to catch a glimpse of “Sister Cindy,” a TikTok famous, slut-shaming evangelist who has over 380,000 followers and 6.4 million likes on Monday, Feb. 7. There was no police presence that Monday because the space is dedicated as a free speech zone. like that. All of those are really considered areas where students can engage in free speech.”

The University Police Department did not respond to requests for comment via phone and email.

UF spokesperson Cynthia Roldan affirmed the university’s commitment to protecting free speech on campus.

“UF does not restrict free expression rights to specific areas of campus,” Roldan wrote in an email. “Rather, UF considers outdoor

areas of campus as traditional public forums.

In those areas, any person can engage in spontaneous or contemporaneous expressive activity so long as the person’s conduct remains lawful.”

Read the rest online at wheresthelinefreedomofspeech.alligator.org @ashlucas01 alucas@alligator.org

Former fraternity member accused of sexual violence by multiple women TWO UF STUDENTS SPEAK OUT

By Elena Barrera Alligator Staff Writer

Editor’s Note: This story contains graphic depictions of sexual assualt and rape by coercion. Read with caution.

A former Delta Tau Delta fraternity member has been accused by multiple women of sexual violence.

The Alligator spoke to two female UF students who accused the same man of sexual violence.

Their identities remain anonymous to protect their privacy and safety.

One of the women came forward and filed a police report and a Title IX. There are more than two women The Alligator did not speak with who made similar claims over social media.

The Alligator’s three month investigation shows that the University Police Department investigated the fraternity member but ended the investigation on Jan. 20 due to the victim withdrawing her complaint. UPD Captain Rick Taylor and Detective Bonnie Boland declined to comment on the investigation.

Delta Tau Delta Fraternity’s president declined to comment on the investigation, but said the man was a member of the fraternity

until December 2021. The victim’s accusations that sparked the investigation occurred while he was a member.

A 20-year-old electrical engineering junior was the first to file an investigation against the man through Title IX and UPD. They went out, they laughed and they talked, she said. By the book, she thought everything went well.

Not long after, she said she received the text everyone waits for after a good first date.

When are you free again?

The UF student said she was excited for her second date with him in October.

That evening, she said, she had her first kiss. What should have been a memory to treasure, she said, became a recurring nightmare.

“We’re kissing and then all of a sudden he pulls me on top of him,” she said.

In the Title IX report, she accused him of pulling off her dress.

She told him she would not do anything else after having her first kiss, according to the report.

Instead of stopping, he started making deals.

It’s just your dress; you can keep everything else on and I’ll take off my shirt.

Without much say in the matter, the report states he

removed her remaining clothing and sexually battered her.

The victim said she remembers being stressed and unsure of how to make him stop.

He eventually stopped, she said, and started to be romantic by picking her up, spinning her around and kissing her forehead.

Confused and in shock, she said she didn’t realize she had been sexually battered until weeks later.

“It really took a toll on me mentally,” the victim said. “I remember thinking: ‘I’m so smart, how could I have let this happen to me? I should have known better.’”

Since the first victim came forward, at least three other women said they had similar unreported experiences with the same former fraternity member.

The Alligator emailed, called and texted the accused man more than 10 times. The Alligator reached out to his lawyer listed as Kozlowski in the police report. The Alligator emailed Ron Kozlowski, a Gainesville lawyer who declined to comment on whether he was involved in the Title IX or UPD case.

Sexually explicit Snapchat messages and screenshots of an Instagram post were included in records given to The Alligator by UPD. The victim messaged the fraternity president, Ryan

Erickson, over Instagram on Nov. 30.

Screenshots the victim gave to The Alligator show she direct messaged him detailing the sexual violence.

“I’m horrified to hear about this and am so sorry … we do not take anything like this lightly, and if we ever learn about it, we take swift action to remove and disgrace the brother from the chapter,” Erickson wrote.

His words were promising, but then he stopped replying, she said. After four days of silence, she told him she had to get the police involved.

He responded Dec. 10, accrediting his delayed response to a stressful exam, she said. He wrote the issue would become an external investigation, and he could no longer directly communicate with her, she said.

Any reports brought to the Interfraternity Council are taken seriously and reported to the appropriate offices, Reid Marlett, UF’s Interfraternity Council president, wrote in an email.

But the council itself has no authority to bring repercussions to a fraternity for reports about a member.

Individual chapters, however, may take action against an individual member, he wrote.

The victim said she knew she had to do something but was

hesitant to go to the police without concrete evidence; she did not believe they would help.

Capt. Taylor said when students don’t report sexual violence until months or weeks after they occur, it becomes harder for UPD to investigate.

“If you see something, please contact us immediately,” Taylor said. “If you feel as though you are a victim, contact us immediately.

Report it to us.”

All sexual violence cases from last year involved a suspect the victim already knew, Taylor said. Perpetrators are often acquaintances or people met online and at bars.

The victim and fraternity member met on Bumble, an online dating application. On Jan. 6, three months after the violence, she filed a police report and Title IX complaint.

When she told the police what happened, officers told her it wasn’t sexual assault. Police told her that what happened is known as sexual battery, according the state’s definition.

“I cried last night because I was like: ‘Oh my gosh I was raped,’ which is a scary thing to think about,” she said.

Read the rest online at alligator.org. @elenabarreraaa ebarrera@alligator.org

MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022 ALLIGATOR 7

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BUY IT. SELL IT. FIND IT. 373-FIND MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022

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St. Francis House is a homeless shelter located in downtown Gainesville.

Our mission is to empower families with children to transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency by providing case management, housing, food, training and educational resources in a secure environment.

If interested in volunteering please contact the volunteer coordinator at 352-378- 9079 ext 317 or sfhcoor@stfrancis.cfcoxmail.com St Francis House depends on monetary support from individual donors and community businesses in order to provide meals to the homeless and the hungry.

To make a donation by mail, please send checks payable to St. Francis House P.O. Box 12491 Gainesville Fl 32604 or our website at Stfrancishousegnv.org

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6

7

CLUE

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How to play

____ ____ is about 1 million pounds.

Complete the crossword puzzle by looking at the clues and unscrambling the answers. When the puzzle is complete, unscramble the circled letters to solve the BONUS. 2022 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

& Hoyt Designs. All Rights Reserved.

ANSWERS: 1A-Attain 5A-Pecan 6A-First 7A-Glider 1D-Aspire 2D-Tactful 3D-Ignored 4D-Pester B-Space Station

Send comments to TCA - 160 N. Stetson, Chicago, Illinois 60601 or DLHoyt@HoytInteractiveMedia.com

solution on page 9

©2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

answer on page 13 Release Date: Monday, March 14, 2022 Release Date: Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Los Puzzle Los Angeles Angeles Times Times Daily Daily Crossword Crossword Puzzle Edited Lewis Editedby byRich RichNorris Norris and and Joyce Joyce Nichols Nichols Lewis

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ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE: PUZZLE: ANSWER TO PREVIOUS

By Jerry Edelstein ©2022 Tribune Content By Zachary David Levy Agency, LLC ©2022 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

02/28/2022 03/01/22

03/14/22

03/01/22 03/14/22

MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022 ALLIGATOR 9

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CrytpoQuote answer

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MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022 www.alligator.org/section/the_avenue

HEALTH & FITNESS

Fitness for all: Gainesville fitness instructors uplift plus-sized community INCLUSIVE FITNESS AND DANCE CULTURE PERVADES GAINESVILLE

By Jared Teitel Avenue Staff Writer

For about seven years, Leila Nogueira was out of the fitness scene. Her pregnancies, back injury, busy work life and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic kept her from daily lunges, squats, core exercises and cardio.

Even before, the 31-year-old docketing clerk avoided public fitness studios. The idea of being the only one in the room with her body type and disability has fed the insecurities she faces.

“I really felt like I need to be active — I need to get back and work on my health,” Nogueira said.

Nogueira recognizes the judgment her and plus-sized individuals are vulnerable to within fitness environments for failing to meet the image of what ‘healthy’ or ‘capable’ people look like, making it hard to commit to a workout regime.

“Of course, I can get looks, and I can get small comments,” she said.

“It can exist and that can really tear a person down.”

The world is beginning to embrace plus-sized beauty in the media and fashion industry. Some Gainesville studios and personal trainers are advocating for inclusivity.

Local studios and personal trainers dismissed the atmosphere of anxiety and pressure that may often penetrate public, commercial gyms.

Nogueira found her inspiration for getting back into fitness with Blanca Fernandez, a 28-year-old physical therapist assistant who turned her work as a personal trainer into a virtual endeavor once the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

With three yoga mats and a car, Fernandez took to teaching fitness in local parks in 2017 to pay off her student loans. Five years later, her work has since expanded into Built

by Blanca, a business tailored to body confidence.

Nogueira began her fitness journey at Fernandez’s Zoom class for plus-sized patrons along with Curvy Confidence, a Gainesville-based social organization for plus-sized individuals. Nogueira has credited the organization and Fernandez for making exercise comfortable again.

“That made me feel like, okay, other people that are going through similar problems — that might have the same abilities or disabilities are going to be doing this, too,” Nogueira said.

Although she said that she had to start from square one due to her back injury, Fernandez has since reinvigorated her sense of mobility that has changed Nogueira’s perception of herself.

“Mentally, she has given me a lot of confidence,” she said. “I felt more comfortable going out more

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— I felt really good.”

Prone to injury from a life revolved around athletics, Fernandez knows first-hand what it’s like to feel incapable. Having overcome these setbacks, she has since sought to leave an imprint of strength and determination within her students that may share similar sentiments.

“No matter what life throws at you, all you got is yourself. Keep going, keep moving, keep taking care of yourself. And that applied to things I was going through at that time,” Fernandez said.

Outside of personal training, Gainesville’s inclusive fitness community has grown to include other forms of staying active — with one being dance.

Jacqueline Valdez, 49-year-old instructor and owner of Jacqueline Valdez Dance, teaches classes ranging from adult ballet to pole dancing. Living with Sjögren’s syndrome and surviving multiple car accidents —of which she had developed spondylosis — inspired her to begin her business.

“I was told to give up my fitness career,” she said. Not only was she determined to continue bettering her own health issues, but she set out to equally help others fight their battles.

Clients of Valdez attest to what she preaches, who have gained a reinvigorated confidence in both body and mind.

While on a cross-country road trip, Natalie Warriner, a 37-year-old

dog trainer, was on a search to find a dance studio she was comfortable committing to.

But, the studios Warriner did encounter whilst traveling the country added to her discomfort, flaunting single body types and tight sportswear that discouraged a positive body image. In fact, some of the studios posed health hazards to her as a plus-sized individual.

“It felt a little bit like all the girls who were flexible, a bit skinnier, a bit prettier were focused on because they were going to be competing, and they were going to be the ones representing the studio — to the point that I would often injure myself because no one was watching or helping me,” she said.

As a serendipitous encounter with Gainesville’s inclusive fitness scene, Warriner stumbled upon Jacqueline Valdez Dance during her quest to find pole fitness and aerial silk classes that were best for her.

“By far, she was the least of the cliquey places we went to,” she said.

Returning home to Virginia, Warriner and her husband knew they had found the perfect place to relocate to. Valdez’s one-on-one instruction was the attention she needed to truly take care of her body.

Since attending the studio last Fall, Warriner has not only a newfound confidence through her body and health, but her perspective of

Track and field claims second NCAA Indoor National Championship The latest title is the 11th in UF program history. Find this story on pg 12.

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what fitness should look like has been shaped by the diverse clientele.

“There is this kind of stigma,” she said. “Look at all the competition people — look at the people that go on America’s Got Talent.

They’re not really representing normal-sized people, in my opinion. They’re the kind of people that we’re meant to look up to.”

Struggling to feel content in her body, Kimberly Toske, a 34-yearold information technology technician, began pole conditioning and pilates in November 2021. These classes have since become the source of strength she had been looking for entering the studio.

“It’s done wonders for my confidence level. I’ve been wearing shorts more often – tank tops,” she said. “Everybody’s so happy to see you; they don’t care if you make a fool of yourself. It’s just a great environment.”

Sonya Alexander, a 35-year-old stay-at-home mother of four, was initially hesitant to begin classes at Valdez’s studio. However, Valdez’ teaching style has shaped her approach to fitness, having long avoided it because of her shyness.

“I absolutely love it,” she said.

“She helps you with your body confidence, and at any size you have to have body confidence.”

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MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022 www.alligator.org/section/sports

FEATURE

UF walk-on turned Super Bowl Champion: How Clifford Taylor IV made it THE UF ALUM SCORED A SOCIAL MEDIA AND DESIGN SPECIALIST POSITION WITH THE RAMS JUNE 2021

By Madeline Lawson Sports Writer

Clifford Taylor IV attributes his success to one thing.

“There’s no Rams without the Florida Gators,” Taylor said.

Taylor, 22, walked on to the Florida football team in Summer 2019. He never saw any game time, but his determination and resilience proved to be his biggest asset. Taylor became the LA Rams social media and design specialist in June 2021 by having a knack for finding closed doors, knocking on them and getting an answer.

“I always tell people: ‘not bad for a walk-on, huh?’” Taylor said.

The Charlotte, North Carolina, native came across his life-changing opportunity while meandering around social media.

“I saw the Rams post on Twitter looking for a social media coordinator,” Taylor said. “So, I hit them back with the eyes emoji.”

At that time, Taylor had already completed an internship with Wilson, a sporting goods manufacturer. Wilson reached out to the Rams via Twitter on his behalf. A few days later, the Rams were requesting Taylor’s cover letter.

Taylor wasted no time introducing himself to the staff.

“Before I got an interview, I was talking to everybody from player engagement to PR, to ticketing and marketing,” he said. “The more

people I connect with the better, and I recommend that to anyone trying to work in sports.”

The interview process was strenuous. The candidate list dwindled from 400 to 14. Once again, Taylor had just barely made the cut.

The Rams informed Taylor they couldn’t give him the coordinator role, but they wanted him for social media and design instead. He received a degree in graphic design Aug. 2021, which helped prepare him for the position.

Before the Rams made the call, an old Florida teammate spoiled the news while Taylor was enjoying a double tasty from Relish, a Gainesville burger joint.

“Van Jefferson actually spoiled it for me,” Taylor said. “I was at home [Gainesville] when he texted me ‘Congrats my boy’ and I was like, ‘congrats on what?”

About five minutes after receiving Jefferson’s text, Taylor got a call offering him the social media and design position.

“I thought, ‘I guess I’m going to LA,’” Taylor said.

Taylor had just signed with agent Michael Raymond whom he began making arrangements with.

“My parents thought it couldn’t get any better than playing football,” Taylor said.

Things have only taken off for Taylor since he hung up his pads.

While still in Gainesville, Taylor created his TikTok account Nov. 18, and it has grown to 334,000 followers with 12.5 million total likes.

“If it wasn't for coach Mullen, if it wasn't for this team, if it wasn't for these [UF] experiences, I wouldn’t have a TikTok platform,” he said.

Taylor made a promise to the Rams social

media team to grow their TikTok following to 1 million, a goal that was hit on Super Bowl Sunday. After Odell Beckham Jr. joined the team in Nov. 2021, Taylor said the wide receiver helped him create more exciting and enticing content.

As of Thursday, the Rams have 1.2 million followers.

“I feel like the media’s most wanted now,” he said. “I told my bosses, ‘I’m going to get us to a million, and I promise you that.’”

A typical day with the LA Rams

On a typical day working for the Rams, Taylor went over content plans, community events to visit or stops by practice to get more content.

“They’d have us driving around and killing that gas,” Taylor said. “That’s one thing about LA, I’d never recommend living there unless you got it because it costs a grand to live in the trenches.”

Taylor also designed the endzone for the Rams home game against the Chicago Bears Sep. 21. A game Los Angeles won 34-14.

Reminiscing on the Rams season and playoff run, Taylor recalls playing the Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card Round.

“They smacked us in SoFi [Stadium] to begin the season,” he said. “We were all kinda looking around thinking we might be done.”

Taylor remembers when the Rams picked up star wide receiver OBJ from the Browns and got the team's spark back.

“In my mind, I thought we’ve got the talent, it's just a matter of making no mistakes,” Taylor said. “Play your best football for the next month and a half.”

The Rams went on to defeat the Cardinals, followed by the 49ers in the NFC Conference

Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff

Clifford Taylor IV returns to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium after the Los Angeles Rams victory in the 2022 Super Bowl.

Championship, sending them to the Super Bowl.

Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/sports. @MadsLaws mlawson@alligator.org

Coach White departs for UGA

WHITE, from pg. 1

Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff

Former Florida head coach Mike White leads his team during a timeout Feb. 19. White accepted a job with the Georgia Bulldogs Sunday. alligatorSports has a podcast!

The alligatorSports Podcast releases episodes every Wednesday and can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your other preferred streaming platform.

record, a 9-9 conference record and got bounced from the SEC Tournament by the Texas A&M Aggies.

In his first season, White failed to lead Florida to the NCAA Tournament.

He brought the Gators into the 68-team postseason tournament four times during his eight-season stint. The last three appearances resulted in UF winning just a single game and getting eliminated before the opening weekend concluded. The trend became an infamous trait of White’s teams.

His best season came in 201617. The Gators forged a deep run into the NCAA Tournament, knocking off Wisconsin in the Sweet Sixteen on one of the most iconic plays in Florida basketball history: a miracle shot by guard

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Chris Chiozza. The Elite Eight appearance was his best result while at UF. White was always in the shadow of his predecessor, legendary head coach Billy Donovan.

During his 19 seasons, Donovan’s Gators made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, mixing in seven Elite Eights, four Final Fours, a runner-up finish and two-consecutive national titles.

There’s a reason the court in the O’Connell Center will forever bear his name.

Prior to this season in August 2021, UF Athletic Director Scott Stricklin spoke about the trajectory of the program under White.

“I think Mike has an incredibly bright future,” Stricklin said.

“Mike is going to win a ton of basketball games and he’s going to be on teams that cut down

nets. I think the Gators are really fortunate to have him at such a young age.”

With Sunday’s developments, he will have to start from scratch.

“The search for the next Gator men’s basketball coach has already begun,” Stricklin said.

“I look forward to identifying a leader who will embody the UAA’s vision of providing a championship experience with integrity.”

Florida named Al Pinkins, a longtime assistant of White, interim head coach for the National Invitation Tournament.

The Gators were selected as a No. 3 seed Sunday and will host Rick Pitino, who is a former mentor of Donovan, and the Iona Gaels in the first round. Tipoff is set for Wednesday at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.

Follow us for updates

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

@Josephhenry2424 jhenry@alligator.org

12 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022

TRACK & FIELD

Florida claims first NCAA Indoor National Championship in three decades The latest title is the 11th in UF program history

By Ethan Eibe Sports Writer

They say Disney World is the place where dreams come true. For Florida Gators Track and Field, that place is Birmingham, Alabama.

The No. 1 Florida women’s program captured its first indoor track championship since 1992 Saturday night, ending a 30-year drought.

The Gators earned 68 team points to cement its 11th title in the program’s history.

Florida finished 12 points clear of No. 3 Texas, with Kentucky, Arkansas and LSU rounding out the top 5. UF surged to the title with impressive performances on the second day of competition, clinching the top position with just three events remaining.

Sophomores Anna Hall and Jasmine Moore shined on the first day at the Birmingham Crossplex. Hall followed up her record-setting pentathlon performance at the SEC meet by recording the first individual pentathlon championship in Gators history Friday.

The Highlands Ranch, Colorado, native earned the pentathlon title with 4,586 points.

She placed first in the high jump and 800-meters, second in the shot put and 60-meter hurdles and seventh in the long jump.

Moore leapt to the first ever Florida championship in the long jump with a 6.57-meter showing. Moore and Hall’s domination resulted in a combined 20 competition points, translating into a one-point advantage for Florida over Ole Miss heading into the final day of events.

“I was very proud of [Hall and Moore],” head coach Mike Holloway said. “A little bit of pressure on both of them being the No. 1 seed but they both came in and performed well and got the job done.”

Florida captured three more individual titles on day two, bringing the weekend total to five — the second time any school has achieved that mark in NCAA meet history.

Sophomore Grace Stark tied the collegiate record with a 7.78-second 60-meter hurdles.

Freshman Talitha Diggs recorded a 50.98-second time in the 400-meter race to grab her first individual national title.

“To win the 400 title was a dream come true because I prepared for the moment and visualized it happening,” Diggs said. “To get the win for me, my coaches and my team was the best.”

Moore followed Diggs with her second individual title of the meet, a 14.57-meter first attempt in the triple jump that broke her own collegiate record. Her initial leap was all she would need to bring home the 10 championship points.

Moore’s two NCAA solo titles tied the knot on an incredible indoor season. The Grand Prarie, Texas, native broke two school records, took down a national benchmark and garnered a pair of SEC titles.

Senior Natricia Hooper tacked on eight additional points by placing runner-up in the triple jump (13.99-meters), allowing the Gators to comfortably watch the final three events before

Courtesy to The Alligator

The Florida women’s indoor track and field team surrounds head coach Mike Holloway and celebrates its second national title in program history. celebrating their long-awaited national championship.

“It is a blessing to have all our hard work come out at the best time,” Diggs said. “Our team made sacrifices and truly did it together.

To be team champions is a display of our togetherness and love for each other.”

This is the 10th national championship for the program under the leadership of Holloway, who became the 10th Division 1 track and field coach to hit the double-digit title mark. He is also one of only two Black head coaches in Di-

vision 1 history to reach ten team championships.

The Gators now shift focus to the outdoor campaign, which takes off on March 23 and will last until mid-June. Florida’s next action will be a pair of away meets to ring in the outdoor season at the University of Texas and North Carolina State University from March 23-26. @EthanEibe eeibe@alligator.org

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