Monday, March 27, 2023

POLITICALLY DIVIDED TOWN COMES TOGETHER ACROSS PARTY LINES

By Jack Lemnus Alligator Staff Writer

Draped in rainbow flags, the historic, small town of Micanopy thronged to the polls on election day — on the ballot: a review of the community’s stance on LGBTQ inclusivity.

After the year began with controversy, the town’s electorate decided to reconsider its values and look toward new leadership. The last election was the first time in years more than 54% of the voting population participated, newly appointed Micanopy Mayor Jiana Williams said.

On March 14, Micanopy, a town of less than 650 residents 12 miles south of Gainesville, ousted Commissioner Mike Roberts, whose alleged anti-LGBTQ remarks made the LGBTQ owners of gift shop Restless Mommas decide to leave town out

Labor union leaders oppose legislation

PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEE UNIONS TARGETED

By Claire Grunewald Alligator Staff Writer

Tyler Foerst was working at the Gainesville Regional Transit System when an audit was issued accusing him and a coworker of not following procedures.

At the time, the audit’s language couldn’t have applied to Foerst because he had only worked at RTS for six months, he said. With the help of the Amalgamated Transit Union 1579, Foerst, a 33-year-old Gainesville resident, was able to keep his job.

“I don't think they would have listened to me just as a worker, unless I had that union backstop

with me,” Foerst said.

Now, with a pair of bills making their way through the Florida legislature, many state public employees may not receive the same support Foerst did.

Over the years, Florida Republicans have introduced bills targeting the ways public employee unions operate.

Most of the previous bills haven’t been able to cross the threshold into becoming laws. But some union leaders fear that might change this legislative session.

Florida Senate Bill 256 prevents union members from using paycheck deduction to pay dues and requires 60% of the union to pay dues or the union will be de -

By Lauren Brensel Alligator Staff Writer

When Sage Martin’s menstrual cycle unexpectedly began at school, she was scared.

The 12-year-old had her first period months prior, so she knew what was happening with her body. But without any pads on hand, she was forced to ask her teacher for help.

“Imagine not having that knowledge and finding out you can start your period at school,” Martin said. “It must be even more scary.”

of concern for their safety.

The unusually crowded town hall erupted into applause as the vote was called.

In a landslide victory with 63% of the vote, John Ken Wessberg, a Micanopy resident of only two years, beat incumbent Roberts, a second-generation commissioner whose father served for over 40 years.

Wessberg, a retired firefighter from New York, was approached by community leaders who urged him to run after word quickly spread of Roberts’ alleged behavior.

“I wasn’t going after him personally,” he said. “But his values and my values are different.”

For seven weeks, Wessberg spent every day knocking on doors and listening to his neighbors. The safety and inclusion of all residents was one of the top concerns, he said.

But for Wessberg, one reason for running was more personal than political dif -

A new Florida bill could make that a reality.

Rep. Stan McClain, R-Ocala, is the sponsor of House Bill 1069, which would also limit discussions of sexuality, reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases to grades six through 12. The bill passed through each of its committees and will be heard on the Florida House of Representatives floor March 30.

When presenting the bill to the House Education Quality Subcommittee March 15, McClain clarified that it would also prohibit conversations about menstruation, too.

Democratic state Rep. Ashley Gantt asked McClain about young girls seeking period aid from teachers, to which he said he’d “be amenable to having a conversation about it.”

The bill wasn’t intended to penalize teachers, McClain added, and it was something he didn’t think about.

But Martin’s mom, Melanie Pennock, said she’s worried how the bill would impact teachers.

“We already have a mass exodus with educators leaving the workforce,” Pennock said. “I think it would just be another restraint that teachers are facing.”

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT

Story description finish with comma, pg#

Miguel Leal moves to Gainesville to pursue college golf career

Leal committed to UF in 2020.

Read more on pg. 11.

Marston Science Library begins 24-hour schedule

Students laud the change as a much-needed resource, pg. 5

EL CAIMÁN: Locutor de radio motiva a la comunidad latina Elio Piedra es el fundador de Tu Fiesta Radio, pg. 7

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Micanopy votes out anti-LGBTQ commissioner, appoints first Black female mayor in election

Pause the period: State bill would ban mention of menstruation in elementary schools

Rae Chan // Alligator Staff Jim Dalton prepares for take off in a T-34B Mentor ahead of the Gator Fly-In and Armed Services Appreciation day at the Gainesville Regional Airport Friday, March 24, 2023. Read more on pg. 6.

Alachua County students, faculty concerned

UF Honors Program approaches selection of new director

Committee chose 3 finalists

By Ella Thompson Alligator Staff Writer

The UF Honors Program search committee will interview three finalists between March 20 and April 15, including current Interim Director Melissa Johnson.

The Honors search committee narrowed its search from six to three finalists in mid-March, leaving students curious about the future of the program.

Johnson hosted a Q&A session March 24 with honors students. She spoke briefly about her role as interim director and possible future director.

“In this director role and even as interim director, you finally have that position where you can implement a vision,” she said.

Johnson wants to boost the Honors Program’s reputation because most people are unaware of the opportunities it provides, its infrastructure and its budget

needs. She also personally guaranteed all students will feel welcomed in Honors, no matter what happens during the current legislative session.

“We will work through the parameters we have and make sure all of our students, regardless of who they are, feel welcome in any part of this program,” she said.

To apply for the position, candidates were required to submit a current curriculum vitae and a letter of interest defining why they want the position.

“Due to my extensive background in honors education and at the University of Florida, I am confident in my ability to transition to the next phase of my administrative career,” Johnson said in her interest letter.

Johnson has served as the interim director since August. Before that, she served as the associate senior director of the

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program.

Shortly following the student Q&A, Johnson gave a presentation and participated in another Q&A through a password-protected Zoom call.

Michael Blandino, assistant dean of Louisiana State University’s Ogden Honors College, and Kathy Cooke, founding dean of the University of South Alabama’s Honors College, will give a presentation April 3 and April 10, respectively. Blandino has served as the assistant dean of Ogden for the past 11 years.

Kathy Cooke is a professor of history who was the founding dean of both Quinnipiac University’s honors program in 2005 and the University of South Alabama’s Honors College in 2017.

Cooke stayed as the founding dean until March 2022. She applied to the UF Honors director position after coming off a brief stint when she took a step back for family health issues.

“I am reinvigorated, confident in family health, and refreshed with my research in the humanities and social justice,” Cooke said in her letter of intent. “I am eager to bring that experience back to leadership in honors at the University of Florida.”

The finalist will be selected after April 15.

@elladeethompson ethompson@alligator.org

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bar

Midtown staple of 27 years will close in early May

By Peyton Harris & Ella Thompson Alligator Staff Writer

Friday nights at Grog are a staple for UF freshmen. It has been a place for endless Jolly Ranchers, incoherent texts to situationships and the drunken tumble down the stairs at the end of the night while “Mo Bamba” blares.

Traversing the Grog stairs has been a rite of passage for UF students since the establishment’s opening in 1996, but future freshmen won’t get to have the experience.

After 27 years in business, Grog House Bar and Grill announced March 21 it will close its doors May 6 — leaving behind a legacy of sticky floors, Pink Whitney hats and early 2000s music. One of the only 18-and-older bars in Gainesville, Grog featured All You Can Drink Ladies Nights every Wednesday, a favorite UF students will miss.

Nathan Sagnip, a 20-yearold UF sports management and marketing sophomore, described Grog as a “freshman sausage party.” Still, he said, the owners did a good job of creating a positive atmosphere to college students of all ages.

“All of us had memories — or a piece — of Grog in some form or fashion,” he said.

Sagnip is sad to see Grog go, he said. Despite a plethora of bars to choose from for 21-yearolds, he said, underage students have significantly fewer options.

Grog’s closure will eliminate one of the last 18+ bars in the Midtown strip, a loss for freshmen across campus.

People hated Grog for its ste-

reotype as a freshman-only hangout, Sagnip said, however, attitudes toward the bar shifted after it announced the closure.

“It’s just funny how once it starts closing down everyone cares about it all of a sudden,” he said.

Grant Henderson, a 21-yearold UF marketing graduate and Grog’s barback, said he loved the camaraderie he created with his coworkers.

“It was always a great time going to work,” Henderson said. “It basically was like going in to hang with a bunch of your friends and then kind of partying on the side.”

While he’s sad about Grog’s

impending closure, he said it didn’t come as a surprise.

“I think it’s honestly just a sign of the times,” he said. “A lot of the older bars … close and they get relocated … a lot of the older classic places that many people know and love.”

Other members of Grog’s staff, like the 28-year-old general manager Tara Astoske, left a more personal mark on the UF community. A UF animal science graduate, Astoske was known by students as “Midtown Mom.”

Her coworkers at Grog were like family, she said.

“I’m definitely sad because it’s been such an impact in my life,” Astoke said. “We’ve all just be-

came so close.”

But despite its reputation, students of all ages found themselves on Grog’s dance floor.

Mickey Suarez, a 23-year-old UF alum, frequented Grog during his last two years of college. Although it can be unusual to be an upperclassman at Grog, Suarez said, he taught the freshmen how to be a Florida Gator.

“Grog was for the common man,” he said. “Whether you partied too much as a sports management major or didn’t party enough as a construction management major, Grog was home.”

Unlike many, Suarez wasn’t a victim of the Grog stairs. The steps — beautifully imperfect —

add to the memory and legacy that is Grog, he said.

“I’ve seen people sliding down past me as I’m leaving Grog,” he said. “That just adds to the magic of the establishment.”

Suarez is saddened by the Grog closure, he said, but he values his years there.

“To the owners of Grog House,” Suarez said, “Thank you for your service. We salute you, and we hope that you open another bar in the future.”

peytonlharris pharris@alligator.org

@elladeethompson ethompson@alligator.org

‘Grog was home’: UF community says goodbye to iconic freshman

Alligator File Photo

Small town inclusivity

vote,” she said.

“I think the way that we interact with each other is how I’d like to see the town interact with each other,” Putansu said.

ferences: His daughter and brother both identify as gay.

Wessberg wasn’t the only proponent of LGBTQ inclusivity, however.

On election day, 400 miniature pride flags were planted around town, along with a sign stating their purpose as a “protest of Commissioner Mike Roberts and other anti-LGBT+ behaviors that have taken place.”

Roberts didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment via email and phone.

In a town that prides itself on tradition, `not only did voters denounce Roberts’ anti-LGBTQ views, but the commission board also appointed its first Black woman as mayor: former commissioner Jiana Williams.

During her lifetime as a Micanopy resident, Williams said she’s never seen the town leadership change so quickly and diversely.

“It makes me feel good to be a true child of Micanopy and see this change,” Williams said. “To know that my grandmother lived here at a time when the idea of a Black woman being mayor would have been laughed at or worse.

To say ‘Hey, I’m here now,’ is hopeful.”

One reason the status quo has persevered for so long is a lack of voter turnout and civic engagement, Williams said.

“Prior to last year, we were happy if we got 100 people to go

Going into her new term, Williams plans to restore public trust in the town commission by revisiting outdated policies and removing “any language that may leave room for gray areas,” such as the ordinances previously used to restrict the display of pride flags.

Like many who were shocked by the revitalized conversation around inclusivity, the newly elected commissioner for seat four, Kevin Putansu, was tired of being an “informed bystander,” he said.

“What happened with Restless Mommas was something that I really didn’t feel like had a place in Micanopy,” he said. “That really was the catalyst for me to go ahead and decide to run.”

But Micanopy doesn't have to lose its charm to be more forward-looking, Putansu said.

In a time when partisanship glares in the face of compromise, part of Micanopy’s appeal is the neighborliness that perseveres despite differences in political views among residents.

Putansu and his neighbor differ in everything from the president they voted for to the signs they put in their front yards, but they still share tools, watch each other’s houses and meet in the street to chat.

When Putansu told his neighbor he was running for commission seat four, he told him: “Tell me what day, and I’ll be down there to vote for you.”

Unions under fire

certified and the collective bargaining agreement voided. The bill is on its third reading in the Senate after it was filed at the end of February.

Its companion bill, House Bill 1445, would also impact the way public employee unions collect dues and their certification processes. The bill is currently in the State Affairs Committee after it was filed at the beginning of March.

Both bills would impact teachers, librarians, sanitation workers, linemen and more. They both notably exempt law enforcement, firefighters and correctional officers.

Other states such as Tennessee and Idaho have passed legislation that restricts public unions’ collective bargaining rights.

About 414,000 public and private sector employees in Florida belong to unions as of 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These bills could potentially affect collective bargaining contracts — negotiations that establish terms of employment, created between unions and employers.

Across the state, Florida union leaders are speaking out against the bills. Some from Alachua County traveled to Tallahassee to urge lawmakers to vote against the bills.

Foerst, who is now a North Central Florida Central Labor Council field representative, works for several unions on state and local levels.

He was expecting the bills to be introduced this legislative session but was shocked at the rate the bills have moved through the legislature, he said.

“At most of the committee hearings, the chairs are limiting debate down to a minute or two because most of the public is opposed,” Foerst said.

Town leaders agree Micanopy resembles what a less divided America could look like.

A special mix of factors enable such a coexistence: a continued increase in diversity while maintaining a sense of community; strong relationships between neighbors; and knowledge of its own history.

While not everyone gets along in Micanopy, it’s still a hospitable place for unlikely friendships, like Putansu and his neighbor.

This is also true for Joy and Kat Drawdy, the LGBTQ owners of Restless Mommas, a shop they said they decided to relocate following Roberts’ targeted comments.

When they were deciding whether to leave town, their closest ally was their neighbor America Gordon, a registered Republican and self-proclaimed “Trumper.”

Gordon led the fight for Joy and Kat, attending commission meetings and voicing concerns to the town manager about Roberts’ alleged discriminatory behavior.

When the Drawdys finally decided to close shop, Gordon was devastated to see her friends of 20 years leave, she said.

“In the last month they’ve been gone, talk to any vendor on this street — business has dropped,” Gordon said. “They brought a bunch of people to our town.”

But the election of new town leadership is a sign of hope for Gordon.

“It is a story of redemption,” she said.

She looks forward to a time when LGBTQ people can feel safe and welcome to do business in Micanopy, because while the Drawdys’ choice to leave was what ultimately sparked change, they weren’t the first LGBTQ business owners she knows of who moved due to discrimination, Gordon said.

Gordon and the Drawdys are adamant their neighbors have

At the first committee stop for the Senate bill, there were 36 public speakers opposed to the bill, with only three speakers in support, Foerst said.

Foerst encourages public sector employees to join their respective unions and to rally against the bills.

“We're not backing up and going away,” Foerst said.

Crystal Tessmann, the Alachua County Education Association service unit director, originally joined her union as an elementary school teacher to gain a sense of security and peace of mind within her job, she said.

Tessmann’s union has over 60% membership paying dues, but she worries this number could drop with payment changes outlined in the proposed legislation, she said. There are 2,300 active members.

“That's a lot of people to move into electronic funds transfer, and there are some people who aren't comfortable with electronic funds transfers,” Tessmann said.

As a Florida educator, Tessmann is familiar with advocating for the rights of her coworkers.

“The education unions are largely dominated by women, and a lot of the police, firefighters, those [jobs] are not dominated by women,” said Tessmann, 38. “It does feel like an attack on women and our jobs.”

Jenn Powell, an organizer for the CWA 3170, which represents employees of the Alachua County Library District, Gainesville Regional Utilities and more, is worried about the future of her union. It currently falls short of the requirement for membership outlined in the bills.

“A lot of people's livelihoods are on the line,” Powell said. “We are only at 34% right now, and with 34% you don't have a lot of bargaining power.”

Powell, a 45-year-old Gainesville resident, said she only knows of one CWA organization in Florida that has passed the 60% threshold, while the rest fail to meet it.

Powell believes Florida Republican lawmakers have an ulterior motive: breaking up the working class. If these bills go into effect, Powell will have to race against the clock to rally citizens to join unions to meet the membership requirements.

more in common with each other than not, and if they’d allow more room for conversation, a friendship between a Republican and a lesbian woman wouldn’t be so unusual.

“We’re people, not politics … I have a lot to learn from her,” Joy Drawdy said of Gordon. “We don’t have to agree on everything to be friends. When did that change in the world?”

@JackLemnus jlemnus@alligator.org

“I really feel this bill is set to destroy unions,” Powell said. “Right now, they have the fire and police carved out, but I doubt that will be the case next time.”

Despite first responders being left out of the bills, some first responders’ unions are also speaking out against the legislation.

Nick Gonzalez, the Gainesville Professional Firefighters union president, and his union recognize the effects these bills could have.

Gonzalez, a 39-year-old Gainesville firefighter, believes his unions can not only improve employees’ lives but also the state of the city they work for, he said.

“If we weren't exempt from this bill, if this were to go into law, we would be blocked from offering a multitude of discounted services, many supplemental insurance policies and collection of dues,” Gonzalez said. “These benefits are convenient to both members and employers.”

In predominantly Republican counties, other union leaders are also worried for the future of their unions.

Kim Hudson, Levy County Education Association president, has been a part of the union for the past 21 years.

Hudson, a 52-year-old Joyce Bullock Elementary School teacher, spent her spring break advocating for unions in the state’s capitol. She’s seen legislation attack teachers, but it’s different this time because the bills attack more than just teachers, she said.

When Hudson became president in May, she was nervous about potential legislation and made it a priority to bring up her union’s 50% membership rate to over 60%.

But Hudson’s union doesn’t represent the majority of Florida unions, and many who don’t meet the 60% majority could cease to exist if the bills become laws.

“When these legislators are elected, the majority [is] 50% plus one. There's no 60%,” Hudson said. “Why are you holding on to a different standard than you hear out to?”

Jack Lemnus // Alligator Staff Joy Drawdy, America Gordon and Kat Drawdy (left to right)

A late night at Marston Science Library

Library finishes first week operating 24/7 since 2020

By Amanda Friedman Alligator Staff Writer

Fuzzy blankets. Taco Bell boxes. Monster energy drinks. Study Edge packets.

These are a few of the common objects found surrounding the half-asleep or overly caffeinated UF students during the first week of late-night hours at the newly 24/7 Marston Science Library. It’ll become UF’s only afterhours library when Newell Hall ceases its late schedule April 1, said Valrie Minson, assistant dean of assessment and student engagement and chair of Marston.

Marston Library began to offer 24/7 services March 19 through a pilot study funded by Provost Joe Glover. The study, which will fund the expanded hours for the remainder of the Spring and Fall 2023 semesters, will collect data on overnight hour usage to advise future funding decisions.

While Marston’s late-night traffic cannot rival the thousands of students flooding the building during the day, hundreds of students are happily taking advantage of the expanded hours.

Minson was thrilled by the enthusiasm she has observed from students for Marston Library’s 24/7 services during the past week. A group of students camped out at the library with blankets for the first night of expanded hours, she said.

Having conducted an overwhelming number of interviews, Minson said, her staff had to race to hire and train overnight staff members in time for the launch of 24/7 operations.

“I'm happy to be the space that students come to,” Minson said. “I'm just so proud of my staff who worked really hard to make the deadline.”

The re-establishment of 24/7 libraries at UF has been a hot-button issue for students and UF Student Government since the services were revoked in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing debates between SG leaders and university administration about who should fund 24/7 libraries — SG or the university — delayed the resource’s return to campus.

Usage fluctuates throughout the overnight hours. Only roughly 370 people were in the building at 2 a.m. compared to the 1,000 there at 11 p.m. Minson said, referencing data pulled from March 23. However, when Newell cuts

its hours, Minson expects late-night usage at Marston to increase.

Minson’s staff will also begin to gather data about which floors are occupied most and if study rooms — a feature Newell doesn’t have — are popular during late-night hours in April.

Besides slight issues with one of the elevators, the first week of 24/7 services at Marston has been problem-free, she said.

“If that's the extent of our troubles, then I'll take it,” she said.

To encourage students to take study breaks, Minson hopes to set up cornhole and a TV that'll play captioned series and movies somewhere in the library.

Multiple UF students, who have already made Marston Library their new midnight study spot, expressed gratitude and relief about 24/7 libraries returning to campus during the late-night hours of March 25.

Leaving Marston at 2:30 a.m., Arthur Coughlin, a 24-year-old UF natural resource conservation senior, said he enjoys the convenience of a 24/7 Marston. When he isn't in class, he spends his days working at Maude's Cafe, a coffeehouse in downtown Gainesville.

“It's really beneficial to me that the library is open so late,” he said. “I don't have a great place to study in my house, and there's not really anywhere else open 24 hours besides Krispy Kreme.”

Coughlin also prefers the quiet, spacious layout and cozy seating of Marston to the crowded, uncomfortable Newell during the overnight hours, he said.

Before coming to UF, Coughlin attended Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, and would frequently use Florida Atlantic University’s 24/7 library. A 24/7 library resource should be standard at any well-regarded university, he said.

“I really hope the pilot study is successful because it's a godsend for me,” he said.

Sabrina Lopez, a 22-year-old UF health science senior, who walked out of Marston around 2:50 a.m. after studying for an upcoming biochemistry exam, said the library has been her go-to place to study since starting UF in 2019.

“When they announced on Instagram that they were going to do 24 hours, I was praying and hoping that they would do it before I graduated,” she said. “No hate to Newell, but I am so Marston-biased.”

Stigma worries persist

PERIODS, from pg. 1

Pennock, 46, is the head of school at Laniakea Montessori School in Gainesville, where her daughter is in seventh grade. Because it’s a private school, sex education would likely remain untouched — a luxury she doesn’t take for granted

In Florida, sex education isn’t mandated in schools, though information on teenage pregnancy is, according to Sex Education Collaborative, a collective of 23 organizations that advocates for high-quality, school-based sex education. Parents are also allowed to opt-out their child from sex education lessons. In 2015, Florida ranked 47th in the nation for sexual health, according to Sexual Health Rankings’ Safer Sex Index.

Parental rights are important in

schools but only to a certain extent, Pennock said.

“I think there are ways to have parent involvement without … banning education,” she said.

Forbes dubbed HB 1069 the “Don’t Say Period” bill, because it expands on the book banning taking place under the Parental Rights in Education, or “Don’t Say Gay,” bill passed in March 2022. If HB 1069 passes, materials used for sex education would have to be vetted by the Florida Department of Education.

“It feels wrong,” Martin said.

The average age a girl’s period starts is a little over 12, according to a study published in the National Library of Medicine. But girls are experiencing puberty earlier than they used to, though scientists haven’t agreed there’s a definitive

Although Lopez likes studying at Newell, she said it was sometimes almost impossible to find seating in the building during the latenight hours when Marston used to close in the evening. She appreciates the spacious and peaceful environment Marston provides.

“During the day, I tend to treat myself and get a little lazy,” she said. “When the nighttime anxiety kicks in…my apartment just won't cut it.”

With classes and extracurricular activities consuming students’ schedules during the day, Lopez said she hopes Marston Library continues to offer 24/7 services past the pilot study's conclusion.

However, some sense students may be getting too comfortable.

Friends Chelsea Flint, a 19-year UF anthropology sophomore, and Rose Haile, a 21-yearold UF chemistry junior, who exited Marston around 3 a.m. with their sleeping bags and mu-

sic speaker, have observed unusual behavior throughout Marston’s first week of late-night hours.

A few nights ago, Flint witnessed two students making out in the Marston Library basement.

“They weren't even in a study room,” she said. “I was like ‘It’s 2 a.m., go home.’”

Other students are walking around the building barefoot and sleeping on top of tables, Haile said.

“They really make themselves at home now,” she said. “They act like they pay rent.”

With Provost Glover stepping down from his role in July, Minson is unsure about the future of 24/7 libraries at UF. She presumes the pilot study findings will be used to decide whether Newell or Marston will continue as the 24/7 study space on campus for Spring 2024, she said.

“It's nice to have a 24/7 library,” Minson said. “While I wouldn't highly recommend students study overnight… the reality is that it happens, and the libraries are perfectly happy being a safe space for students to study.”

@afriedmanuf afriedman@alligator.org

reason why.

As a result, menstruation education is crucial in younger classrooms, said Radha Selvester, chair of Alachua County’s chapter of Days for Girls International.

“Kids that have cats and dogs learn a little bit about where babies come from,” she said. “That's just biology. It should not be left out.”

In grades where sex education is present, HB 1069 would classify reproductive roles as “binary, stable and unchangeable.” Students would also be taught “the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage.”

“The kids all have phones, and they have social media, and they're seeing all kinds of perversions of sexuality — things that are probably very corrupting,” Selvester, 63, said. “Just to talk about how your uterus is going to flush off the blood once a month, that's like nothing compared to what they've seen on TV or YouTube.”

Most parents don’t teach their kids about menstruation, said Johnelly Green, supervisor of health services at Alachua County Public Schools.

“It's a hard subject to talk about if you're not comfortable talking reality and body parts with your child,” she said.

Green, who was a nurse at High Springs Community School for six years, said it was extremely common for young girls to come to her wide-eyed, seeking help during their first period. In the older grades, she said, girls go to the clinic daily to get a pad.

“Not being able to talk about this in the school is going to be such a hindrance on the girls,” she said. “We won’t be able to help them during the day.”

If the bill passes, Green said, it’s likely nurses would send girls home if they needed help.

There’s also shame associated with periods that would be ex-

acerbated if this bill passes, said Juhyung Seong, a 14-year-old freshman at Eastside High School and a volunteer at Alachua County’s chapter of Days for Girls International.

“There shouldn't really be any social stigma surrounding talking about just growing up in general,” he said.

Martin said she’s also noticed the stigma of periods, hearing her male peers comment about some of her other friends who’ve been unprepared with their periods at school. And this isn’t limited to Laniakea Montessori School.

“I learned that some parts of the world, they think the color red is disgusting because of that,” she said. “They think that the color red is horrid, gross, sinister — all the bad adjectives but just because of blood in periods.”

Kamryn Bailey // Alligator Staff

A new sign outside the entrance of Marston Science Library advertising its 24-hour schedule is seen Sunday, March 26, 2023.

Gainesville residents take flight at Gator Fly-In

Event honored legacy of UF alum

By Aidan Bush Alligator Staff Writer

Bright yellow planes and sleek, black helicopters trekked over Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, across campus and even through Gainesville’s swamplands.

Hundreds of Gainesville residents hit the tarmac March 25, looking to celebrate UF military alumni, see planes up close and take to the skies themselves.

Gainesville Regional Airport and the University Air Center hosted their seventh annual Gator Fly-In and Armed Services Appreciation, set to honor the legacy of Col. Joe Kittinger, a UF alumnus integral to the country’s space travel.

Erin Porter, Gainesville Regional Airport’s spokesperson, said Kittinger’s love for Gainesville and closeness to the staff pushed them to preserve his memory.

“We remember him so much in our hearts,” she said. “We will always dedicate this event to Joe.”

Kittinger was a U.S. Air Force veteran, prisoner of war and UF graduate whose work pioneered the way for the U.S. Gemini and Apollo space programs. After continued success in fighter aircraft, Kittinger participated in Project Manhigh and Excelsior, which looked to test if humans could survive in space.

To help test this, Kittinger skydived from 102,800 feet in the air, formerly breaking the world record for the fastest speed reached in free fall.

He also held the world’s highest skydive record for over half a century.

The event, which went from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., hosted live music, vintage vehicles and aircraft tours alongside ceremony events honoring Kittinger.

Attendees could go inside large military C-130s brought to the center and take pictures.

They could also take “swamp tours” around Gainesville in a two-seater plane or in a modern helicopter for $50. For $250 to $380, they could take longer rides in a World War II-era T-6 plane.

Daniel Lobo, a 20-year-old UF computer science junior, said he got into aviation after seeing the movie “Top Gun: Maverick.” The lines for the plane rides were too long, he said, but he was thrilled to see a variety of military aircraft.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “We never see this.”

Pilots, loved ones and other military members honored the death of Kittinger through ceremonies and fundraisers.

Those close to him said, among his love for skydiving and piloting, was a passion for Florida.

Before the main event, a free pancake breakfast was held, and donations would go to Kittinger’s favorite charity, the International Skydiving Museum and Hall of Fame.

The Buchholz High School color guard opened a formal ceremony with the UF Gator Guard, and several speakers gave speeches both on Kittinger and

military aviation experience in general.

Pilots also conducted a special flyover ceremony to commemorate him. Beyond military recognition, many hobbyists and private pilots brought their planes for people to see.

Dana Cheffield, a Chiefland resident and aviation enthusiast, brought a 1966 gyrocopter — a machine similar to helicopters that use a propeller engine and wind for thrust — to the show. He was raised on an airport west of Gainesville, where he learned to fly planes at age 14; he said

making it to the Fly-In when possible was nostalgic.

“This is mostly homecoming for me,” he said.

But the private planes weren’t just brought for show. Two contests judged the event’s planes, in which the “People’s Choice: Best Aircraft” award allowed attendees to vote for their favorite.

Harold Locay, a local Gainesville doctor and pilot of five years, brought a new 2023 Bristow two-seater plane, able to cruise at 150 miles per hour and climb 2,000 feet per minute.

Locay was confident the plane

was one of the best at the show, he said.

“I think it’s the top contender,” he said.

An hour later, he was proven right: The vehicle won the event’s “People’s Choice: Best Aircraft” award.

After a day of views from thousands of feet up and live music, Gainesville residents left the city’s airport with an appreciation for a lesser known figure in the city’s history.

@aidandisto abush@alligator.org

Gabriella Aulisio // Alligator Staff

An aerial view of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium taken from a helicopter prior to the Gator Fly-In and Armed Services Appreciation day Friday, March 24, 2023.

Gabriella Aulisio // Alligator Staff

Georgia Air National Guard C-130 Hercules taxis into Gainesville Airport transporting 6 soldiers who flew from Savannah Friday, March 24, 2023.

Rae Chan // Alligator Staff

Jim Dalton pilots a T-34B Mentor over Gainesville Friday, March 24, 2023.

El Caimán

Locutor de radio Elio Piedra celebra y amplifica la voz de la comunidad Latina

Piedra trae la fiesta a Gainesville

Por Valentina Sandoval Escritora de El Caimán

De pequeño, Elio Piedra quería ser futbolista. Su carrera en la música y el mundo del entretenimiento fue una casualidad.

Su madre era la secretaria de la Casa de la Cultura en Cuba, una organización local que enseñaba y promovía las bellas artes. Un día lo hizo completar un examen de aptitud musical.

Piedra tenía 7 años y los resultados le abrieron un mundo de posibilidades que desconocía.

“Fue más como que la música me eligió a mí”, Piedra dijo.

Así fue como empezó su trayecto en el mundo musical que lo llevaría a graduarse del Conservatorio Nacional de Música en Cuba, armar una banda llamada Elio’s Quartet, componer y tocar música a través de los Estados Unidos, y eventualmente, a formar la primera estación de radio latina en Gainesville: Tu Fiesta Radio.

Piedra dijo que su plan nunca fue mudarse a EE.UU., pero terminó haciéndolo por quien sería su futura esposa. Ambos se conocieron porque fueron compañeros de clase en la escuela secundaria en Cuba, donde su esposa tocaba el clarinete.

Tiempo después, ella se mudó a Gainesville para estudiar en UF y su relación fue puesta en pausa. Sin embargo, un par de años más tarde, en 2010, se reencontraron en Cuba, la llama revivió y Piedra decidió dejarlo todo y seguirla.

“Fue realmente el amor”, Piedra dijo.

Durante sus primeros años en el país, el artista se enfocó en construir su marca personal. Piedra relató que ha viajado a más de 25 estados y trabajado con varías compañías productoras como Arts Management Associates. Piedra también fue un miembro votante de los Latin Grammys entre 2015 y 2018 y conoció a músicos y personas importantes en la industria, incluyendo al productor Rudy Pérez, el fundador de los Latin Grammys, Oscar D’León, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Rubén Blades, entre otros.

En sus inicios, Piedra formó una banda llamada Elio’s Quartet, con la que tocó en festivales y eventos y ganó el Festival Internacional de Jazz en la Havana, Cuba, en 2009. Después de la pandemia de COVID-19, Piedra dijo que se separaron, pero que la ruptura creó nuevas oportunidades para su carrera.

La estación de radio Tu Fiesta empezó en 2021 como una manera de crear un legado, expresó Piedra.

“Siempre pienso cómo podemos hacer algo que el día de mañana uno no este y

pueda quedar un legado que sea para la comunidad”, el dijo.

Su experiencia en la música lo ayudó a crear una emisora de radio prestigiosa, Piedra explicó, una que fuera la “casa de los latinos”, de todos los latinos que necesiten abrigo o sentirse parte de una comunidad.

La emisora puede ser sintonizada en la 97.3 FM HD2, pero también está disponible a través de su aplicación para Android o Apple. Piedra y su equipo también comparten contenido en sus redes sociales, incluyendo Facebook, Instagram y YouTube.

A través de grupos de Facebook y promociones en la emisora, Tu Fiesta promueve y trabaja con varias organizaciones sin fines de lucro en la ciudad, como el Rural Women’s Health Project y Children Beyond Our Borders.

Piedra es parte de la Cámara de Comercio de Gainesville y dijo que el colectivo lo ha ayudado a conectar con organizaciones comunitarias y patrocinadores para la radio como Campus USA Credit Union, quienes han ayudado a inmigrantes con sus finanzas en el país. Él resaltó que estas conexiones son lo que ha hecho posible ayudar tanto a la comunidad latina.

María Fernanda Camacho, 31, la locutora del “Show de La Mañana” en Tu Fiesta, dijo que se siente llena de emoción por el impacto de la radio en la comunidad hispana.

“La comunidad hispana necesitaba tanto ser escuchada como a la misma vez escuchar”, dijo Camacho.

La radio ayuda a unir la comunidad a través de la música, dijo Camacho, y también provee información sobre recursos existentes; los guían en cómo llegar y conseguir una licencia de conducir, cómo conseguir servicios médicos y cómo avanzar en sus procesos migratorios.

A parte de su compromiso con informar y ayudar a la comunidad, el mayor próposito de la radio es conectar a los latinos en Gainesville a través de eventos especiales.

El eslogan de la radio y de Tu Fiesta Media fue inspirado por su mentor, Freddie Wehbe Piedra dijo, y se convirtió en lo que es hoy: “Bringing the fiesta to you”, o “Trayéndote la fiesta” en español. Piedra explicó que quería un eslogan bilingüe para representar la conexión de los latinos en este país.

Piedra cree en llevar diversión y buenas vibras a donde vaya, por eso separa la definición de ser un músico a la de ser un animador. Un animador, según Piedra, siempre va más allá para crear buenos momentos.

“La gente no se va a recordar lo que tu tocaste, pero si se va a recordar como tú la hiciste sentir”, dijo Piedra.

José Ariet, 57, resaltó que la cualidad

Mantente al día con El Caiman en Twitter. Envíanos un tweet @alligatorElCaiman.

de ser un animador es la que hace a Piedra alguien carismático que pone su energía y conocimiento en todos sus proyectos.

Ariet, a quien todos conocen como “Tuti”, es el gerente general de Tu Fiesta. Él dijo que ha sido amigo de Piedra por muchos años y aunque su trabajo principal es como vendedor de seguros, empezó a involucrarse con la radio desde el festival que tuvieron a finales de 2022.

El impacto que tiene la radio, según Ariet, es el ser un medio de comunicación para dar información y romper barreras del idioma que existen en la comunidad. Piedra da todo su esfuerzo en hacer esos roles posibles, agregó Ariet.

“La habilidad de tener esta plataforma ha sido gigante, no solo para nosotros sino para la comunidad latina de Gainesville”, Ariet

dijo. “[Elio] no solo está haciendo un papel, él de verdad quiere hacer un impacto”. Piedra piensa que otra parte importante de su misión es mostrarle a la comunidad latina que tienen un espacio en el que pueden crear y crecer. Su mayor consejo para las personas que acaban de emigrar es aprovechar todas las oportunidades que tienen.

“Hagan lo que es difícil”, Piedra dijo. “Trate de superarse [...] Trate de ser la mejor versión de usted mismo y yo creo que esa mejor versión de usted mismo puede hacer lo mejor por nuestra comunidad.”

Find this story in English at alligator.org. @valesrc vsandoval@alligator.org

Síganos para actualizaciones

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

Flocked music collective brings filmed concerts Gainesville bands enjoy intimate, NPR “Tiny Desk” style. Read more on pg. 8.

Gabriella Aulisio // Alligator Staff Locutor de radio Elio Piedra anuncia la próxima canción que saldrá al aire en Tu Radio Fiesta. Jueves, 2 de marzo, 2023.

Flocked brings ‘Tiny Desk’ style concerts to Gainesville

Gainesville collective supports bands statewide

By Lauren Whiddon Avenue Staff Writer

The morning after a house show can leave its residents with a daunting task: restoring last night’s concert venue to a habitable space. However, for some of the members of Flocked, cleaning up the morning after is actually the best part.

Flocked is a collective in Gainesville for artists and bands to work together for promotion, booking and performances. Founded around last November, the organization has helped artists book statewide tours, held a benefit show and started “Live from the Tavern,” a video series of intimate house shows.

After the shows, all the instruments have to get put in one room. The table barely fits through the door. The furniture has to get rearranged. It gets messy — however, for Kendall Kelly, 21, who works on Flocked’s media team, cleaning up is a reminder.

“Everything’s done, you did a good job,” she said.

Putting the house back together gives Kelly a feeling of satisfaction — like a reset, she said. It’s a physical reminder of the hard work put into the show from the night before, and a motivator to go and edit footage in the day to come.

The video series shows artists playing in The Tavern, where Flocked founders Trevor Griffin, Clay Dixon and Dylan O’Bryan also live. “Live from the Tavern” shows, borrowing a page from NPR’s “Tiny Desk Concert” style, feature a live audience crowded onto the floor of the living room.

So far, the collective has featured shows from local artists such as The Late Night Losers, Trevor and the Travelers, Clay Dixon and the Piccadillies, Confession Kids and Emma Lou.

Flocked began with its name. Griffin had been playing shows with a yard flamingo on his drum kit, and it began to become a part of all the projects he worked on,

he said.

When Dixon came to Griffin wanting to create a group to produce media under, the image of the flamingo and the tightknit culture of Gainesville artists inspired the name.

“It’s like a play on, ‘OK, we’re part of the flock,’” Griffin said. “Flocking together to be part of this community.”

That community extends beyond the musicians to all the people on the production side of Flocked as well.

A typical shoot day for Cal Hildenbrand, 20, the media team lead, consists of setting up The Tavern for the show, doing a soundcheck with the band and audio engineers, and then

recording during the show.

Learning video skills has been fun for Hildenbrand because it has allowed him to get out of his comfort zone of photography, he said.

“It just keeps stretching and stretching my skills and, of course, I just love it because I’m here for the music — just like everyone else is,” he said.

In the Gainesville music scene, many bands are still making a name for themselves, so they don’t have the resources or funds that more established bands may have.

But Flocked doesn’t want this to stop anyone from playing their music, Hildenbrand said.

“We do it as cheaply as we can,” he said. “None of us really

make money from it, but it’s just for the love of music. ”

Flocked has started to charge smaller amounts or pay-whatyou-can for some live audiences, Hildenbrand said, which allows it to pay musicians for their work.

In addition to supporting artists financially, Flocked recently held a gala with the goal of reaching new musicians who would be taking over the scene after some of the current members leave Gainesville.

“The idea was to support the community for the years that we were gone, like the upcoming generation of college kids coming in to start bands,” Griffin said. “It’s about continuing the scene. It’s about expanding on what we’ve started, or what the people

who brought us into the music scene started.”

This inviting presence has inspired bands from out of town to trek up to Gainesville to perform in The Tavern. This has included Stillblue, a Miami indie-folk band that played at The Tavern Feb. 10.

“They were some of the nicest people we’ve ever met,” Griffin said. “That was a really cool moment, to be able to meet these people because of this thing we started doing.”

The morning after their show, Stillblue came back to The Tavern for breakfast — yet another enjoyable post-show experience.

@LaurenWhid lwhiddon@alligator.org

Florida baseball wins second SEC series behind strong bats Gators sweep Rebels to move to 5-1 in conference play. Read more on pg. 11.

Matthew Cupelli // Alligator Staff

The Housing Crisis performs at The Tavern Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023.

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UF redshirt freshman golfer Miguel Leal takes his fate into his own hands

PLAYER TRANSFORMS HIS LIFE TO PLAY GOLF

By Madilyn Destefano Sports Writer

Redshirt freshman Miguel Leal was awarded Southeastern Conference freshman of the week Feb. 9 after turning his life upside down to play golf at Florida.

Leal moved to Gainesville from Guatemala City, Guatemala, by himself to play Division I golf after high school. For years, he made trips to the U.S. to compete in several amateur tournaments annually in hopes of getting noticed by recruiters.

The level of competition is immensely different here, he said.

In Guatemala, Leal didn’t get to practice as much. There aren’t personal trainers for golf like there are in the U.S. Golf is also more popular in the U.S., he said, and there are a plethora of opportunities to play.

Leal always knew he wanted to play college golf. He’s been playing since 2008, when he was 6 years old. He has four brothers and two older cousins who played in Guatemala before they also moved away to play golf.

“Guatemala being such a small country, my tournaments over there were at most 10

BASEBALL

players, 12 players” he said.

In the U.S., it’s typical for a golf tournament to have over 100 participants.

Leal thought he wouldn’t be heavily recruited if he only played in Central America, he said. After committing to UF in 2020, Florida has become a special place for him. He’s grateful for the opportunity UF gave him, he said.

“It’s great to be here as a Gator,” he said. “Being able to learn and get better every day is something I’ll probably always remember.”

Leal’s dedication to the game is something Florida men’s golf head coach J.C. Deacon acknowledged when considering him for the team.

The first thing Leal did when the Guatemalan airports reopened after COVID-19 was play in five consecutive U.S. tournaments.

Deacon liked that Leal reached out to him first, he said.

“One of the things that I always look for in recruiting is guys that want to play [at] Florida,” he said.

When players open that line of communication themselves, it shows him how much they want to be here, Deacon said. They have a better chance of staying strong through tough times, he said.

SEE

Florida bats bring the goods in conference play

GATORS SLUGGED 15 HOMERS IN FIRST 2 SEC SERIES

By Topher Adams

Sports Writer

Florida sophomore first baseman and two-way star Jac Caglianone took to the batter’s box for the seventh time in the series March 25.

The nation’s top home run hitter drove two out of the park in game one; he took the Ole Miss Rebels long in the second game for his third of the day. Caglianone’s power stroke accentuated the Gators’ secondstraight series win in conference play and continued the team’s elite start to the season.

The No. 3 Florida Gators (22-4, 5-1 SEC) swept the No. 13 Ole Miss Rebels (15-9, 0-6 SEC) in a three-game series. UF started the Southeastern Conference season with a series win over the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Bama series was a proper pitcher’s duel instead of Florida’s

usual offensive firepower. The two teams traded five scoreless innings to start the series opener March 16.

UF freshman second baseman Cade Kurland delivered the decisive blow in the sixth inning. The Tampa product bashed a two-run homer to give Florida the lead, and junior right-hander Brandon Sproat finished the job with his shutout.

Sproat delivered the best performance of his career. He tossed a complete-game shutout and earned national pitcher of the week honors.

“I just go out there and throw the ball as hard as I can every time,” Sproat said. “It works for me."

Clutch hits have become a staple of this Gators team over the last week.

In game two against the Crimson Tide, Florida trailed by one run heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Junior third baseman Colby Halter drilled a leadoff home run to tie the game. A single and hit-by-pitch put two runners on base for junior shortstop Josh Rivera.

The Avon Park, Florida, native is in the midst of a career year. Rivera set new career highs with 11 home runs and 39 runs batted in despite playing just 26 games. Rivera delivered arguably his biggest hit of the season to date against Alabama March 17.

The junior infielder took a strike then hit a weak chopper in front of home plate. While the contact was far from perfect, it was enough for the winning run to score and secure a series victory for the Gators.

Clutch offense powered Florida in a midweek road trip to face rival Florida State March 21. The Gators trailed 5-4 heading into the eighth inning, but the bats came alive and rattled off a five-run rally to secure a comfortable rivalry win.

“[We] started the game a little bit slow,” Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “First time we've been on the road in a while, but we hung in there.”

UF continued its road trip with its first weekend road stint of the

season: a three-game series against reigning national champion Ole Miss.

After severe weather postponed the series opener March 24, Sproat returned to the mound for game one of a Saturday doubleheader. The junior ace didn’t replicate his dominance against Bama.

Sproat allowed five runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings before sophomore left-hander Philip Abner relieved him. Abner pitched 2 1/3 scoreless frames, and he gave the Gators a chance to rally back.

Rivera started the eighth inning with a solo homer to cut the lead to two, and Kurland scored a trio of Florida baserunners with a double. Caglianone added a solo shot — his second of the game — in the ninth as the Gators took game one.

Kurland’s game-winning double was his first hit of the game. The freshman struggled in his first three plate appearances with two strikeouts and a groundout, but he delivered in the biggest moment of the afternoon.

“The bottom line is the game always seems to come back to you,” O’Sullivan said. “The game called him at that time, and he came through — and obviously that was really, really big.”

Florida clinched the series and swept the doubleheader. The Gators got off to a much better start at the plate and took a 6-0 lead after the top of the third. Ole Miss battled back with a five-run frame, but UF never wavered.

The Gators scored six runs down the stretch — including three in the top of the ninth — to secure a 12-8 victory that clinched another series for Florida. UF secured its first SEC sweep of the season with a 7-4 win March 26 — the Gators’ first sweep in Oxford, Mississippi, since 1988.

Florida will face the Seminoles for the second time this season March 28 in Jacksonville. The Gators will then host the Auburn Tigers in a threegame weekend series starting March 31. The midweek showdown with Florida State will be broadcast on ACC Network, and the Auburn series will be streamed on SEC Network+.

@Topher_Adams tadams@alligator.org

Courtney Culbreath // Courtesy of UAA Communications

Florida redshirt freshman Miguel Leal swings his club in the Sea Best Invitational Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.

Guatemala to Gainesville

Leal began his career with the Gators in 2021 as a freshman. However, he redshirted and never got the opportunity to play meaningful time until his sophomore year.

“He wasn’t even close to being ready for this level,” Deacon said.

Leal and Deacon had a conversation about where he needed to be to continue as a Gator.

His work ethic and academic

performance improved following the talk, Deacon said. He worked hard on his pitching and chipping and became more comfortable on the team.

“He flipped the switch, and he's been incredible for the last 14 months,” Deacon said. “His game continues to improve, and he’s had some really tremendous results.”

Along with his technical skills, Deacon spoke highly of Leal’s character.

“Miguel is just a wonderful

young man — always has a smile, always positive,” he said. “He brings a really good energy to our culture and to our team.”

Leal’s best friend, roommate and teammate, redshirt freshman Matthew Kress, said Leal is the most friendly, easygoing guy he’s ever met.

“We came into a different situation with COVID where we both kind of were the odd ones out,” Kress said. “We both didn’t get to come visit … basically, we

only had each other to latch onto.”

Their experiences early in their college careers created a bond between them, he said, with the time they spent living together contributing to their friendship more than golf did.

Kress believes his teammate will go far in his golf career one day. He wouldn’t be here if people didn’t think he could succeed, he said.

“He’s really transformed his whole life, and it’s obviously showing with his results,” Kress said.

Leal hopes to continue his journey with golf after college, he said. However, he doesn’t like to

think about the future much; he’d rather focus on where he’s at right now, he said.

“My main goal … is to win nationals, leave this place with my name on the wall, have a ring and have a great time with my teammates,” he said. “If things go my way, maybe I’ll play on tour.” While he plans to make his mark as a Gator, he recognizes he has three or four years left before he graduates.

“I’m just focusing day by day,” Leal said.

@DestefanoMadi mdestefano@alligator.org