August 28, 2023

'Bad faith readouts': Sasse disputes previously reported accounts of his vision

By Garrett Shanley

Alligator Staff Writer

UF President Ben Sasse described previous reports of his strategic plan as inaccurate at his State of the University Address Aug. 24, but professors disagree.

The Alligator previously reported on faculty-only presentations given by Sasse across UF’s colleges that detailed his future plan. Sasse’s presentations were summarized by attendees who spoke anonymously to The Alligator because they feared repercussions from disclosing details of the president's remarks.

Anonymous professors said Sasse presented preliminary plans to change tuition costs, reduce the total number of UF departments, eliminate "quiet-retired" faculty and restructure the delivery of education.

Media reports of Sasse’s “roadshows” did not properly capture his vision, he said Aug. 24.

“There’s a very tiny number of faculty who have decided to give bad faith readouts of these,” Sasse said. “Some comments that have been passed along to press outlets are just completely inaccurate.”

A UF spokesperson clarified details of the report that Sasse, who was not contacted for the initial report, believed were inaccurate in a statement given to The Alligator Aug. 27.

The strategic plan does not include changes to tuition, which is regulated by the Florida Legislature, according to the statement.

“[Sasse] has criticized blanket price controls and noted that UF’s economic model is different than all the other institutions in the Top 30,” the spokesperson wrote.

The Alligator previously reported Sasse doesn’t have the ability as UF president to dictate state legislation regarding subsidized tuition or the Bright Futures scholarship program under state law.

An anonymous professor previously told The Alligator that Sasse indicated a need for a reduction in the total number of UF’s 199 academic departments.

“Swamp Kings”

“[Sasse] indicated an ideal number would be far fewer, such as 140,” one professor wrote.

Sasse did not call for department reductions in private meetings with faculty, according to the statement.

“He has certainly called for a more centralized approach to interdisciplinary cooperation and has celebrated both humanities and sciences by asking if we need to broaden and diversify our core offerings,” the spokesperson wrote.

The spokesperson also denied that Sasse called for the elimination of unproductive faculty.

“He’s absolutely called for addressing the problem of ‘quiet retirement’ with more transparency and rigor for teaching, research and clinical tracks,” the spokesperson wrote.

The Alligator contacted anonymous sources across several colleges who reaffirmed their reports of Sasse’s presentations.

Initial presentations were kept private to encourage faculty input, Sasse said Aug. 24.

“We started with these as offthe-record conversations because I wanted people to be able to speak freely,” Sasse said. “I think they’ve been incredibly constructive. I’ve enjoyed them. I’ve benefited from your counsel and wisdom.”

Sasse invited members of the press to two similar presentations which he gave to faculty from the College of Education and College of Dentistry Aug. 25.

Sasse detailed how faculty will be able to contribute toward UF’s strategic plan and clarified his positions on tuition, faculty research and posttenure review.

He did not mention department reductions.

The future of UF’s economic model depends on the university’s ability to justify its spending of stateallocated funds, Sasse told faculty.

“I have been very public in Tallahassee that I think they should lift all of our price controls for out-of-state students,” Sasse told College of Dentistry faculty.

Players, students react to Netflix documentary

Read more on pg. 11

New penalties for bathroom law threaten Santa Fe College students, faculty

DESANTIS APPROVED HARSHER PENALTIES, INCLUDING TERMINATION, FOR COLLEGE EMPLOYEES WHO DEFY HB 1521

By Bailey Diem Alligator Staff Writer

Some LGBTQ+ Santa Fe College attendees fear discrimination after a law prohibiting people from using public bathrooms of their non-assigned sex can now result in firing.

Gov. Ron DeSantis approved harsher penalties Aug. 23 for college faculty and staff who defy HB 1521 passed in May, commonly known as the bathroom law.

With the stricter penalties, Florida college employees can be fired or disciplined if they use a bathroom that does not correspond with their assigned sex at birth twice. The law already requires faculty to discipline students that break the regulations.

Zhamia Richardson, a 19-yearold SFC theatre junior, knew about the law since the day it passed. It, along with similar bills signed in the

latest legislative session, greatly upset her, she said.

“I was both enraged and heartbroken for my queer brothers and sisters being prosecuted for something as silly as which bathroom they feel more comfortable in,” Richardson said. “I feel HB 1521 and other legislation like it are simply desperate ploys to erase queer people’s identity.”

The new penalties were unanimously voted on by the Florida State Board of Education.

The Florida College System, which these penalties directly affect, includes SFC and other community colleges across the state. UF and other major universities are unaffected by these changes.

Before the law was implemented, students and staff said SFC has served as a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ students.

Ryan Lund, an 18-year-old SFC dual-enrollment student, works at the campus bookstore and found the college to be very inclusive.

“The library makes pins for students to just grab and many times they have been pride themed,” Lund said. “The professors tend to ask for preferred pronouns in the beginning with an assignment so

you don’t have to out yourself in front of the class.”

Lund found the bathroom law and its new penalties shocking. The state legislation’s fixation on topics such as this is bewildering, he said.

“The fact that [a] staff member’s job security is at risk for something so unharmful and non-threatening is absurd, and the focus in legislation on these bathroom bills is uncalled for,” he said. “Especially because this is affecting colleges now and not just lower levels of education. To go after college adults with this is incredible.”

For many transgender students, using the bathroom that matches their gender identity is affirming, Lund said.

However, even without the law in place, Lund has been wary of using the preferred restroom, which has always held the risk of violence or harassment for him and others in the same situation, he said.

“This bill just gives transphobes more power and backing so that they can harass trans people without fear of legal consequence on their end,” Lund said. “Which is even more terrifying for the trans

Adriel Bolocon// Alligator Staff

Local dancer Kevin Rodriguez, also known as Woahdizzy, gets down low at the How Bazar block party on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023.

Gov. Ron DeSantis issues state of emergency for Alachua County ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia

THE STORM COULD STRENGTHEN AND HIT THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA BY WEDNESDAY

By Kylie Williams

Alligator Staff Writer

Tropical Storm Idalia, which started brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, is showing signs it could organize into a hurricane. The storm is projected to hit the Florida Big Bend region by early Wednesday, though its exact path is still uncertain.

Idalia, which is sustaining 45 mph winds as of Sunday night, is forecast to strengthen into a lowerend hurricane during the first few days of the week, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 33 counties, including Alachua County, in preparation for the tropical storm’s possible impacts.

“Floridians along our Gulf Coast should be vigilant even if you’re currently outside the cone,” DeSantis said in a press conference Aug. 27. “We issued an executive order yesterday to allow prep time and to stage resources to be able to respond to the storm’s aftermath.”

Alachua County Emergency Management announced a tropical disturbance alert Aug. 25, urging residents to take protective measures and stay cautious.

Storms can be unpredictable, UF Chief Meteorologist Jeff George said, so meteorologists won’t know the exact strength until the system develops further.

Record-breaking ocean temperatures may help fuel the storm and are already contributing to an aboveaverage hurricane season. Ocean temperatures near the Everglades hit 101.1 degrees in July.

The average number of named storms in a season is 14, George

said. By early this week, he predicts that the forecast will show 10 storms for this season so far. Peak hurricane season, he added, won’t even arrive until Sep. 10.

UF is closely monitoring the development of Idalia, said Director of Emergency Management Kenneth Allen. If the UF is forecasted to be in the storm’s path — like with Hurricane Ian in September 2022 — preparations will be in place, he said.

“Whether it's this storm or another storm,” he said. “It's a reminder that we're entering the peak of hurricane season and we should all be prepared.”

Students should be stocked with three days’ worth of nonperishable food and water ahead of the storm, Allen said. It’s important to have a plan in case of emergency, he added, and to stay up to date with the latest weather forecasts.

The Florida Storms app, run by UF, provides information from local officials as well as advisories from the National Hurricane Center or National Weather Service. Updated forecasts, evacuation zones and survival tips are also available through the app.

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“Make sure people are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best,” George said.

Some additional safety tips include:

• Keep the gas tank at least half full in case evacuation is necessary

• Have a battery-powered radio and flashlight on hand

• Refill prescription medications ahead of time, as the storm could lead to unplanned shutdowns

• Be prepared to lose power during the storm

• Stock up on water

• Make sure to have food staples @KylieWilliams99 kyliewilliams@alligator.org

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UF RESIDENTIAL HALLS COVERED A QUARTER OF THE CASES

By Jordan Ramos

Alligator Staff Writer

For the last two years, Dayanita Kumar lived at UF’s Keys Residential Complex — however, she never knew about the three sexual assaults that took place there in the last five years.

Like many students, she wasn’t aware that about a quarter of all reported rape and sexual assault cases in the past few years have happened at UF residential halls.

“Had I known more about the assaults occurring in the dorms, honestly, I would have felt less safe,” she said.

At UF and surrounding campus areas, rape and sexual assault has fluctuated throughout the years. There have been 67 reported cases of rape and sexual assault on UF campus and six for the surrounding campus areas in the past five years, according to data from the UF Crime Map.

21 of the 31 residential halls have reported rape and sexual assault cases, with Jennings and Keys making up 9% of all the cases.

Jennings Hall had the most reported sexual assault

cases over the past five years with four reports, while the Keys Residential Complex follows with three reported cases. Fourteen percent of sexual assault and rape cases happened at unknown locations.

Although the University Police Department hasn’t increased patrols specifically around UF’s residential halls, it has increased its patrol presence several times throughout the year, including game day events and the beginning of the semester, UPD spokesperson Captain Latrell Simmons said. At the beginning of the Fall semester, an increased police presence helped new students get acquainted with campus.

Nelly Liang, a 22-year-old UF architecture senior, said she has heard stories of sexual assault on campus all the time.

“I think this is a huge issue on campus,” Liang said. “It happens so often that it becomes the norm almost.”

Read the rest online at alligator.org.

Zachary Carnell contributed to this report.

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Taking a look at the data: UF’s sexual assault cases over the past five years

UF students create app to connect Student Government with student body

THEY LAUNCHED THE APP TO INCREASE STUDENT GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY

By Vivienne Serret Alligator Staff Writer

Some students stay up to date with UF Student Government through various social platforms, like Instagram and Yik Yak, and word of mouth. However, students may feel as though the issues they are passionate about don’t get adequate attention.

Akshat Pant, a 20-year-old UF computer science junior, and Nishant Nagururu, a 19-year-old UF computer science sophomore, had a vision to design an application streamlining students’ connection with SG.

The app is called Candor — meaning open, honest and sincere. Pant and Nagururu picked the name after realizing they wanted to make an app providing those qualities to the student body.

The app gives students the opportunity to write to SG members directly about initiatives they would like to see on campus.

Constituents can post proposals targeting local issues and can also comment on issues they care about. As representatives work to accept or implement proposals, they will post status changes, according to Candor’s website.

Pant and Nagururu are childhood friends who have known each other since they were 5 years old and share a love for computer science.

They worked on Candor alongside other co-founders who attend UF and other universities like Georgia Tech including Srikar Parsi, Ati Jain, Tanuj Dunthuluri and Rishi Bengani.

It’s an all-in-one app made to allow UF students to propose changes to Senators, collaborate with other students and stay updated on active legislation.

Candor’s main mission is achieving transparency and communication, Nagururu said.

“Student Government impacts every single student,” Nagururu said. “We wanted to make sure students had their voices heard.”

Pant said he and his team felt as though other social media platforms were not providing direct change, leading them to create Candor to put students and leaders on a singular platform.

The app provides a progress bar on the top of every proposal, allowing users to see how far along bills or measures are.

“[The progress bar] can allow ideas to be formed [and] criticisms to be made, but [also] to form something tangible,” Pant said.

Another feature provided by the app includes a comprehensive leader profile, which allows students to quickly grasp what Sena-

tors have done for their communities.

Kevin Avaiya, a 19-year-old UF psychology junior, heard about Candor through a friend. Avaiya was drawn to the app by the idea students could firsthand submit proposals they felt passionate about.

“I look back and I think of some of the issues with UF and SG but I feel as though my voice is not conveyed enough,” Avaiya wrote. “Parking is an issue to this day for UF. The fact that we have so many students with cars and scooters and very limited parking is unfair.”

Other issues Avaiya pointed out include limited or broken water bottle stations, slow Wi-Fi in the library, problems with seating at the Don Toliver concert and much more.

Avaiya believes users of the app have been able to voice these issues on Candor and finally be heard.

“I have actively been using Candor to voice my opinions but also become aware of more issues,” Avaiya wrote. “Doing so has opened my eyes to the political scene more.”

Friends and strangers text them saying they are thankful these issues came to light because they also felt strongly about the same issues, Avaiya said.

Aryan Shah, a 20-year-old UF biochemistry and economics junior, heard about Candor through

friends at UF who already had the app downloaded. They got a flier from one of the developers at a campus event.

Shah believes there are a lot of changes that can be made within UF and SG, ranging from better Wi-Fi in libraries to more comprehensive bus routes on campus.

He personally doesn’t have any consistent source of information about UF politics other than the accounts that they follow on Instagram, which only report so much, Shah said.

“Candor would be an app that is built specifically for that purpose: immersing the student body in a system where communication and political information is thoroughly prioritized,” Shah wrote.

Sashank Mannava, a 20-yearold UF computer science junior, believes a major problem with UF and its politics is the lack of accessibility of information.

They’re not very knowledgeable about events at UF, including SG, Mannava said.

“Student government makes decisions that can impact a student’s daily life and such decisions/bills are never really made easy to find for someone who’s never had experience in politics or who doesn’t know where to look,” he wrote. “This is where I think Candor can help.”

Senate Parliamentarian Ronin Lupien believes while Candor is in its beginning phase, he sees great

promise for the student body.

“I honestly believe if SG controlled a platform like this, it would be corrupted for narrowly partisan efforts,” Lupien wrote in an email. “One needs only look at the fact that only one party’s platform is on the website to see that SG resources and the principles of pluralism can be broken by agency capture.”

Many Senators and student leaders from both Gator Party and Change Party are on Candor, Lupien wrote.

Lupien noted the app’s growth has been slow but steady, and SG is a vicious world where personalities and resumé lines usually get put first and the needs of the student body second.

While the historic dynamic between Change and Gator has been one of finger pointing and each claiming they voice what students want, he said hopefully Candor can be a break from that tradition. Lupien however said he is not optimistic the change will be immediate.

“Leaders can no longer claim they did not hear students’ voices and that is why they did not take action,” Lupien said.

Candor can be downloaded on the App store for iOS devices. Students can contact them at candor. now@gmail.com and its website.

@vivienneserret vserret@alligator.org

Alachua County seeks to expand drug rehabilitation efforts

THERE WERE 1,451 OVERDOSE CALLS IN 2022

By Ella Thompson Alligator Staff Writer

When a local Alachua County farmer had shoulder surgery at 42, she didn’t expect to get addicted to oxycontin. Nine years ago, it wasn’t believed to be an addictive drug.

Opioid use can provide a user with warmth, peace of mind and pain relief, according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

When the high is over, people who use drugs are left with an intense craving for more. For this farmer, it numbed her feelings.

“The abuse was really not until I snorted — until you inhale it, you don’t get the instant relief and stuff,” she said. “You don’t have as many problems but once you have that [instant relief], then it’s just quite bad because it induces a physical and a mental attachment to it.”

In Alachua County, emergency services responded to 1,451 overdose calls in 2022. The previous year there were 1,405 overdose calls with 62 fatal overdoses. In an effort to combat overdoses, Alachua County and the city of Gainesville have implemented multiple services to assist people with addictions seeking help and recovering addicts like the now 51-year-old farmer who requested anonymity.

After her prescription ran out, she started to buy oxycontin from people on the streets. The people she bought from sold part of their prescription for a little over what they originally paid for it, she said.

She’s been clean for four years now, and while she attributes her sobriety to her sup-

port group, marriage and outpatient clinic, she feels Alachua County is limited in their resources for drug rehabilitation.

“Alachua County is limited by its size and funding,” she said. “Gainesville is a quite small town, and they just don’t have the resources available.”

People with addictions should seek help for their mental health, she said. She believes depression plays a big role in addiction.

“Addiction is an out-of-control thing,” she said. “You don’t know when something is gonna happen and it triggers you throwing all your morals to the ground again and going to something to numb.”

Claudia Tuck, director of the Alachua County community support services department, noted the resident therapeutic community, county drug court, outpatient care and syringe exchange programs as services offered publicly and privately in the county.

Metamorphosis, a long-term, high-intensity resident therapeutic community is open 24 hours a day, has a 21-bed capacity and is primarily justice involved, Tuck said. Most of the residents in Meta come from County Drug Court, which offers an alternative for individuals with substance abuse disorders who have felony criminal charges in Alachua County.

Therapeutic community, or TC, models promote overall lifestyle changes, rather than simply refraining from drug use, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. TC models have proved effective for improvements in substance abuse, criminal charges and mental health, NIDA reported.

Meta has been operating in Alachua County for 30 years, Tuck said.

“It’s a resident-driven model where they work together to hold each other accountable,” she said.

Court-identified officers assess individuals in the jail to see if they meet the required criteria for the program. From there, a judge accepts or rejects the individual and they have to follow their treatment plan recommendations and periodic urine tests, Tuck said.

Another possible county program focused on drug rehabilitation is a syringe exchange. Florida passed the Infectious Disease Elimination Act in 2016, but it was amended in 2019 to allow county syringe exchange programs. The act precluded any state or local dollar from funding it, Tuck said.

The program is not yet live in Alachua County, but the IDEA Exchange program in

Miami was the first of its kind in the state and was reported to be successful, according to the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

“It allows for a one-to-one needle exchange with the ultimate goal of twofold encouraging individuals to get into substance abuse treatment and counseling,” Tuck said.

The program would also prevent HIV spread by limiting the number of shared needles, she said.

Read the rest online at alligator.org.

@elladeethompson ethompson@alligator.org

Students across Gainesville struggle with food insecurity

LOCAL K-12, COLLEGE STUDENTS DEAL WITH EFFECTS OF FOOD INACCESSIBILITY

By Jinelle Vazquez

Alligator Staff Writer

When Santa Fe College health sciences junior Tyra Ashley enrolled in classes this semester, she didn’t expect she’d have to switch to online learning so she could work overtime as a daycare teacher to afford groceries.

“I tried to apply for food stamps and was denied,” Ashley said. “To be able to afford the basics of living I had to take online classes so I could work more.”

As the 21-year-old prepares to transfer to UF, she said she worries about how the higher tuition bill will impact her ability to eat.

“I know once I transfer, the cost of tuition will increase, but I will need to work less,” Ashley said. “I will need more time to study and will actually need to be in person for classes.”

Ashley is one of many food insecure K-12 and college students in Gainesville who lack access to reliable, nutritious meals.

Food insecurity refers to the “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially accept-

able ways,” according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

An estimated 48% of students in two-year institutions and 41% of students at four-year institutions reported experiencing food insecurity within the preceding 30 days of the survey, according to Temple University’s Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice.

The food insecurity rate in Alachua County has remained higher than the overall rate in Florida since 2014. A 2021 report from the city based on USDA data identified 11 food deserts

— low-income areas where a substantial number of residents have low access to a supermarket or large grocery store — in Gainesville.

Danielle Guess is a coordinator of UF’s Hitchcock Field and Fork Pantry, an on-campus food pantry that serves any UF student, faculty or staff member experiencing food insecurity as long as they have their UF ID number.

Food insecurity looks different for all UF students, Guess said.

“[It] may look like eating ramen because you can’t afford foods you

consider healthy, nutritious, or appropriate for yourself, to outright skipping meals or eating smaller meals,” Guess said.

The inflation of grocery store products increased by 5.1% in the last 12 months in the Southeast region of the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Food insecurity is not an issue that exists in isolation. Many households that experience food insecurity are also affected by issues such as low wages and medical problems, Guess said.

Anghelo Gangano, a 25-year-old UF chemistry Ph.D. student, sees the Field and Fork Pantry’s popularity among UF community events featuring food as a sign of a significant food insecurity problem among graduate students.

Members of the UF student organization Graduate Assistants United have been protesting for an increase in graduate assistant wages since early 2022, as many graduate assistants have shared their struggles to afford necessities like groceries.

“We simply cannot address food insecurity without addressing pay,” he said.

Graduate students commonly attend community events through organizations like GAU to get a free meal for themselves and their families, Gangano said.

Grey Casandra Castellanos, a 19-year-old UF psychology sophomore, said she is disappointed in

how expensive it is to purchase food on campus.

“The options at UF’s markets are incredibly pricey in comparison to actual grocery stores or drugstores,” Castellanos said. “At times when I have gotten sick in the past and had to get food or soup from [the] market, my wallet suffered the consequences.”

For the 2023-2024 UF academic year, the most popular meal plan among on-campus residents was priced at $2,195 for unlimited swipes and $250 Flex.

The university should provide an affordable or cost-free food delivery service for students when they are sick or physically exhausted, she said.

“Many freshmen and other students may not have anyone to help them while they’re sick, having to deal with the frustration alone with no support,” Castellanos said.

Rachel Roark, a 20-year-old UF health science junior, has a connective tissue disorder and POTS, causing issues like heat intolerance and fainting spells. An estimated 38% of food-insecure households in the U.S. included an adult with a disability, according to the USDA.

Read the rest online at alligator.org. \ @vazquezjinelle

jvazquez@alligator.org

Diego Perdomo// Alligator Staff

Evelyn Miguel// Alligator Staff

The Alan and Cathy Hitchcock Field & Fork Pantry is seen at the Reitz Union North Lawn on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023.

UF Midtown favorites The Rowdy Reptile and Fat Daddy’s to be replaced by Lil Rudy’s

Two late-night favorites close after 12 years

By Alexandra Burns Alligator Staff Writer

Students will shoot their last basketball at The Rowdy Reptile and dance on the bar at Fat Daddy’s for the last time before the bars close Aug. 28. New owners will take charge of the properties and open Lil Rudy’s in their place Aug. 29.

“Both Fat’s and Rowdy have futures, not sure when or where, but they do,” Rowdy’s and Fat’s owner J.D. Chester said.

After 12 years of business, Rowdy’s and Fat’s — located at Midtown on the corner of University Avenue and Northwest 17th Street — announced Aug. 25 they will be closing their doors and reopening under new ownership.

Rowdy’s and Fat’s are more than just bars for many UF students. The bars have been a home to those hoping to forget the stress of classes, meet new friends or sing their hearts out after a breakup on Monday karaoke nights.

The two neighboring bars have become a staple in Midtown nightlife, and many students view it as a rite of passage to visit after turning 21.

Chester said he appreciated contributing to these students’ memories.

“The most gratifying part was building something from scratch that has changed the lives of thousands and thousands of people and created great memories,” Chester said.

The two bars celebrated a final goodbye this weekend with a farewell tour, which included welcoming students to stop by one last time for discounted drinks, blaring music and dancing.

Hundreds of students gathered in line the night of Aug. 26 for “Send Off Saturday” as whispers of disbelief and disappointment about its closure circulated Midtown. Many students said they were visiting Fat’s or Rowdy’s for the first time, hoping to get a glimpse of the place before its closing.

Natan Zeledón, a UF business freshman, who prefers to call himself the “Rowdy Reptile rebel,” said Rowdy’s stands out from any other bar in Midtown.

“I’ve never been to a bar like that: the music, the vibes, the people,” Zeledón said. “I just connect with so many different things. I love all the people there… The vibes are so amazing,

and it separates it from other bars because they’re the best club in Midtown.”

Rowdy’s has become wellknown among students for its sports bar-style food, which makes it a hotspot for late-night drinking and watch parties during football and basketball season.

Aside from the food and variety of drinks, many students said they will miss the bars’ up-to-date music and remixes.

Brianna Boni, a 21-year-old UF business administration senior, visited Fat’s almost every other weekend and is disappointed to see it go.

“I’m going to miss coming with my roommate and dancing our hearts out and having such a great time,” Boni said. “Fat’s is such a vibe. This is the place to go in Midtown … their music is amazing.”

The bars’ decision to close has become disappointing news for many first-year UF students who were looking forward to visiting when they turn 21. Students also shared concerns that the closing will create longer lines and wait times for other Midtown bars.

Caroline Alsina, an 18-yearold UF construction freshman, said she and her friends believe

Rowdy’s and Fat’s are a rite of passage they missed out on.

“I’m honestly really sad that it’s closing,” Alsina said. “It’s very different in the fact that a lot of us haven’t been able to experience it. I feel like for a little bit it’s just going to be The Social and JJ’s, and the lines are going to be crazy.”

Although UF newcomers will

no longer have the opportunity to experience its loud music, slippery floors and beloved basketball hoop, Fat’s and Rowdy’s have provided many upperclassmen with memories that have helped to define their college experience.

@alexaburnsuf aburns@alligator.org

Lawmakers reflect on UF President Ben Sasse’s strategic plan The

By Sophia Bailly Alligator Staff Writer

A new strategic plan proposed by UF President Ben Sasse has sparked skepticism among UF faculty and students, but Florida lawmakers don’t seem too worried.

Sasse discussed his preliminary strategic plan with faculty about two weeks ago. He addressed adjusting tuition prices, eliminating departments and reevaluating professors’ productivity.

While the plan raised concerns about topics like increased tuition and fees with the UF community, Florida legislators from both the majority and minority parties clarified that Sasse’s proposals won’t have an immediate impact on the university.

During his presentation, Sasse mentioned the Bright Futures scholarship program, which he said contributes to underpriced tuition costs.

“We are the only state that loses money on every student,” Sasse said during a presentation. “We should definitely be charging ability-to-pay for children of the wealthiest.”

As the state legislature established Bright Futures, Sasse can’t revise the program. The scholarship has helped more than 950,000 students afford post-secondary education in Florida since launching in 1997.

Florida House Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hin-

son, D-Gainesville, said changes to scholarship programs like Bright Futures could make higher education less accessible to lower-income students.

“It’ll start exploiting a certain demographic of the state that has had access over the years,” she said.

Florida schools’ low tuition has been a leading factor in attracting out-of-state students to the state, which makes acceptance to UF more competitive. Florida university tuition is 17% lower than the national average, and the state ranks No. 1 for tuition and fees, according to the U.S. News and World Report.

UF’s acceptance rate has continued to decline for several years and averages at about 30%.

Hinson does not foresee any tuition adjustments Sasse makes to incite drastic effects on Florida’s academic or financial allure for prospective students.

“I don’t think it’ll make it less competitive,” Hinson said. “The state universities have worked very well for all income levels.”

Hinson plans to eventually meet with Sasse to learn more about his vision for the university.

For the 2023-2024 academic year, UF has the second lowest cost of attendance for on-campus full-time undergraduate Florida residents among the 12 State University System of Florida schools.

As a UF graduate with two children in the school system, Hinson said she doesn’t want to see Sasse, a former senator from Nebraska, add to students’ financial hardship. Keeping student tuition affordable for students from low-income households should not be debated, she said.

“I don’t anticipate a new president coming in from another state not taking the time to get a full understanding and comprehension of the state,” she said.

Florida Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, said those with negative reactions to Sasse’s strategic plan may not have a proper understanding of the president’s goals.

In previous conversations, Sasse and Perry have not discussed raising tuition costs. However, Perry said UF should review its funding distribution practices as the university continues to climb national rankings for higher education.

“The question becomes what is the value of the education versus the cost,” he said.

Universities often rely on general revenue funding because they don’t raise enough money through tuition and fees, Perry said.

Florida tuition has not changed since 2013 with a 1.7% increase. Florida highereducation officials discussed the possibility of raising out-of-state tuition by 15% in June. The plan has since been put on hold.

“One of the things that we’re looking at

review

— and I’m going to work with President Sasse closely on — is how do we make sure that the universities are operating as efficiently and cost-effective as they can,” Perry asked.

Sasse also said he wants to reduce the number of UF departments from 199 to about 140. This decision does not necessarily raise flags about opportunities being removed, but instead focused on consolidating resources, Perry said.

“I think that we always have to look at what things can be consolidated or replaced by AI and other forms of learning,” he said.

Additionally, Sasse highlighted how some professors seem to be underperforming with how many classes they teach and the research funding they obtain.

There needs to be some semblance of an evaluation model in place to differentiate between higher achievers and lower achievers in the workplace, Perry said.

Having a model to follow allows for people like Sasse to make sure employees are paid fairly for the amount of quality work they produce, he added.

“We cannot maintain the best teachers, the best professors, the best scientists, unless we pay them,” he said. “It’s a competitive market. We have other institutions that are looking to steal them away.”

Ryan Friedenberg// Alligator Staff Patrons visit The Rowdy Reptile and Fat Daddy’s on its final weekend open on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023.

plan outlines proposed changes to tuition pricing, curriculum and tenure

Bathroom ban penalties

TRANSGENDER, from pg.1

people being targeted.”

JoJo Sacks, 26, worked as a coordinator for SFC’s LGBTQ+ Resource Center for just under two years. Sacks noted the law will be written into SFC’s conduct code and will rely on students to report cases of anyone breaking the law.

“Instead of it being enforced by the police arm of Santa Fe, it will be enforced by the court of law and the Conduct Committee, who decide other issues like plagiarism or sexual harassment,” they said.

The nature of the law and its enforcement is violating, Sacks said.

“[The bathroom] is an intimate space where we like to hide our own business,” they said. “It’s creating public conversation about something that’s quite private for a lot of people.”

Not allowing transgender people to use the bathroom they are comfortable in can also cause physical harm, Sacks said.

“If you don’t go to the bathroom when you have to go, you can get a kidney infection or a bladder infection,” they said. “If people are not feeling safe enough to use the bathroom, it will have literal physical effects on them.”

The law also leaves out intersex people, Sacks said.

“Lots of people who might have certain anatomy and might not have certain anatomy are left out of this conversation, many of whom may or may not identify as part of the queer community,” they said. “There’s a very interesting necessity to associate biology with a bathroom facility that really feels outdated and it feels alienating.”

Tamára Perry-Lunardo has served as the president of the Pride Center of North Central Florida since 2020 and been involved with the center since 2018. The PCCNCF is a non-profit organization that provides services and hosts events to enhance the well-being and visibility of LGBTQ+ people in the local area, she

said.

Perry-Lunardo said that the law reminds her of the Johns’ Committee, a Florida legislative committee established in 1956 that targeted LGBTQ+ people and forced students and faculty to resign.

“When we bury the wrongs of history — and when we don’t loudly, unequivocally condemn their damage — this is where we end up,” she said. “Harming a new generation in old, insidious ways.”

Perry-Lunardo is also concerned about how the law and similar legislation affects Florida’s higher education system as a whole.

“It is driving bright minds out of our state higher education system,” she said. “It continues the erosion of our standing as a free state.”

Richardson predicts that SFC students and faculty alike will combat the law, even with these new penalties.

“I expect outrage from queer students and faculty and allies,” she said. “I would also expect to see some faculty fired or resigning for refusing to participate in this hateful legislation.”

With this bathroom law and simi-

Faculty raise concerns

SASSE, from pg. 1

Sasse predicts a shift in tuition pricing is necessary for UF’s future, including a reevaluation of the Bright Futures Scholarship Program that provides Florida Lottery-funded scholarships to in-state university students.

“We would like our students to understand what a beautiful gift the Bright Futures program is,” Sasse said. “But the Bright Futures scholarship exceeds the tuition at the university, so I think we should have some longer-term conversations about that.”

Sasse also expressed difficulty in defending unproductive faculty to the state Legislature.

“Dollar-denominated stuff is not all that matters in the world, but it's something that's easy for us to get our minds around together as a community,” he said.

Post-tenure review, a state-mandated process that requires tenured faculty’s position to be reviewed every five years, will help increase overall faculty productivity, Sasse said.

UF policy currently requires tenured faculty

to undergo post-tenure review by their department chair, their dean and the university provost every seven years under the Sustained Performance Evaluation Program.

UF doesn’t plan to factor politics into its review process despite concerns from faculty, Sasse said.

Sasse also expressed a desire to build more Top 10 status programs to compete with institutions like Berkely and UCLA.

Artificial intelligence, agriculture, engineering and space as four top programs UF could achieve Top 10 status in within the decade, Sasse said.

The programs are expected to incorporate AI using HiPerGator, UF’s NVIDIA-powered supercomputer and provide faculty interdisciplinary research opportunities, Sasse said.

A UF spokesperson confirmed in a statement to The Alligator that Sasse will continue to work with faculty in his strategic planning process in the Fall semester.

“We’re planning many more conversations because this community will have a lot of great

lar legislation in place, Richardson believes people can be allies to LGBTQ+ people by listening to them and providing support.

“The best way to support queer people is to simply ask your queer friends [and] family how to best support them,” she said. “But beyond that, just be patient with your queer friends as they are adjusting to this new legislation.”

ideas and feedback,” the statement read.

Some faculty members who attended Sasse’s presentations expressed excitement about his vision for UF’s future.

F. Chris Curran, an associate professor of educational leadership and policy who attended Sasse’s presentation at the College of Education, thanked him for commitment to collaboration.

“I think all this is very exciting,” Curran told Sasse.“It’s great to have the opportunity to be a part of envisioning what the future of UF looks like.”

Faculty could also provide anonymous feedback on the “University of Florida’s next chapter” through the president’s website, Sasse announced Aug. 25.

Data collected and shared in Sasse’s presentations will eventually be made public, a UF spokesperson confirmed in a statement to The Alligator.

Sasse expected pushback to his ideas for UF’s future.

“I am used to the challenges of having to deal with audiences that are going to take some time for us to get to a shared view of it,” he said Aug. 24.

Meera Sitharam, the president of UFF-UF, felt that Sasse’s State of the University Address

The Civic Media Center, TranQuility, Equality Florida, and Unspoken Treasure Society are all local organizations that Sacks and PerryLunardo recommend for sources of information regarding this law and similar issues.

@BaileyDiem bdiem@alligator.org

mirrored previous coverage of Sasse’s presentations.

Sitharam said advocating for reevaluations to Bright Futures, out-of-state costs or held tuition goes against UF’s reputation as an affordable, high-quality university.

“Here's what UF and the State University System are known for: access at low cost to diverse types of hands-on, quality education in class and on campus, academically free scholarship, and curiosity-driven research,” Sitharam said.

She hopes the university remains holistic for the student population it serves, even if it comes at the expense of higher rankings.

“Let us not sacrifice this broad and robust excellence at the altar of narrow one-upmanship, chasing ephemeral status,” she wrote.

Sitharam said the university has a calling to serve the best interest of its students rather than the institution’s own financial incentives.

“We can do better, of course. We shouldn't just be serving at the whim of large top-down firms or chasing the public "research" dollars they have lobbied for,” she wrote.

@garrettshanley gshanley@alligator.org

Isabella Ferrie// Alligator Staff

From UF to Broadway: A look into the lives of theater-student success stories

UF SCHOOL OF THEATRE AND DANCE ALUMNI GO ON TO STAR, DIRECT AND CHOREOGRAPH FOR BROADWAY AND MORE

By Jared Teitel Avenue Staff Writer

The tight confines of the Constans Theatre nestled inside the Reitz Union was the epicenter of performances for theater students at UF. But now, it’s the bright lights and bustling Broadway streets of Manhattan that many musical theater alumni call home.

Bachelor’s and master’s students alike, UF has produced prosperous performers credited for projects such as “Be More Chill,”

destown.”

Thaddeus Pearson

Born and bred in the Tampa Bay area, home to the largest theater competition for high school students, stage actor Thaddeus Pearson sang and danced in showstopping numbers each year in the Florida State Thespian Festival.

Now a Vegas resident with a successful Spanish musical in the works, Pearson looked back at his background in Florida with gratitude and awe.

“The bulk of my learning was on stage doing actual performances where I had the chance to … work with the incredible professors at the University of Florida to bring

the characters to life,” he said. “It really built a bunch of confidence for me to … pursue a professional career in theater.”

UF College of Arts’ School of Theatre and Dance alumni have gone on to work professionally from Broadway to Hollywood, applying what they learned in courses taught by professors like Tim Altmeyer and Tiza Garland and from student organizations like Florida Players.

Before transferring to UF to complete his musical theatre degree, Pearson was an eager performing arts student at the Florida School of the Arts. In 2008, after passing an audition for the UF School of Theatre and Dance at the Florida Theatre Conference, he came to Gainesville as one of the

Environmental assessment

UF IFAS survey seeks to reach Hispanic communities. Read more on pg. 8.

only handful of students selected to attend the program.

“To go from a more small, intimate community college to this whole department that was bigger than the entire school was breathtaking and humbling at the same time,” he said.

At UF, Pearson lavished on a musical theater career in productions such as “Rocky Horror Show,” “Hair,” “Damn Yankees” and “Pippin.”

“To be able to play these iconic shows and work with these amazing artists, it is something I look back on very fondly,” he said.

After graduating from UF in 2011, Pearson immediately took off into a full-time career in professional theater. His senior showcase took place in New York City the

day after his commencement ceremony, he said.

With his college peers, he put on performances for countless talent agents, managers and casting directors in the heart of Manhattan.

“To see that the work that we had done throughout our entire collegiate career can be transferred over into the professional world,” he said, “was incredible.”

Through the UF Actor Showcase, Pearson signed with Judy Boals, Inc. and began a thriving career in the New York theater scene.

Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/the-avenue @jaredteitel jteitel@alligator.org

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Iniciativa de investigación de la UF se junta con otras dos universidades para colaborar con los ciudadanos hispanos

ENCUESTA DE EVALUACIÓN AMBIENTAL USADA PARA RECIBIR RESPUESTAS DE LAS COMUNIDADES HISPANAS EN FLORIDA

Por Nicole Beltrán

Escritora de El Caimán

Para profesor asistente de la UF, Hance Ellington, comprender qué cuestiones ambientales (como la silvicultura, el cambio climático y la biodiversidad) son más apremiantes para un estado con una gran población hispana es una cuestión que requiere más representación. Su encuesta planea abordar los temas más importantes para los residentes hispanos de Florida. También es la primera encuesta integral de evaluación de necesidades en Florida que se centra exclusivamente en las comunidades hispanas, dijo Ellington.

Ellington trabaja como especialista en vida silvestre de pastizales en el Centro de Educación e Investigación sobre Ganadería de Pastizales IFAS en Ona, donde supervisa una evaluación de investigación en la UF que identifica qué recursos naturales, vida silvestre, intereses agrícolas y de bienestar son más cruciales para las comunidades hispanas en toda Florida.

La evaluación, disponible tanto en inglés como en español, está dirigida a adultos hispanos que viven en los tres estados participantes: Florida, Nuevo México y Arizona.

La encuesta es parte de una iniciativa de investigación de Extensión de asociación mul-

tiestatal, en colaboración con la Universidad Estatal de Nuevo México y la Universidad de Arizona. Está financiado por una subvención de 100.000 dólares del Instituto Nacional de Alimentación y Agricultura del USDA, según una publicación de blog de la UF.

La encuesta está categorizada como encuesta de evaluación de necesidades. Este tipo de encuestas se utilizan como medida para los programas de Extensión de la UF y otras universidades.

Los objetivos de Ellington se enfocan en la construcción de un lugar para proporcionar estos recursos de Extensión a las comunidades hispanas, dijo Ellington.

La encuesta incluye preguntas formateadas como escala Likert que preguntan sobre los intereses de las personas en temas ambientales específicos. También pregunta a los participantes con qué frecuencia investigan estos temas.

Ignacio Porzecanski, profesor de la Facultad de Recursos Naturales y Medio Ambiente de la UF, cree que la encuesta es exhaustiva y se expande a varios enfoques ambientales, incluidos cultivos, ganadería y horticultura.

Porzecanski también cree que la encuesta podría enfrentarse a una posible fragilidad al evaluar la demografía. La cultura hispana es un concepto amplio, dijo.

"Creo que es muy diferente tener que comparar la cultura de los inmigrantes recientes de Colombia, de Venezuela, digamos, con la de alguien que se considera latino pero que ha nacido en Estados Unidos", dijo Porzecanski.

El inmigrante reciente puede estar aquí por

razones económicas e incluso políticas, dijo. Están buscando trabajo o solicitando asilo.

"El medio ambiente no ocupa un lugar destacado en su espíritu, en sus tipos de ocupaciones", dijo Porzecanski. "Están ocupados con otra cosa".

Sin embargo, los nietos o hijos recientes de inmigrantes que se han hecho un espacio en Florida han estado involucrados en un proceso de intentar convertirse en estadounidenses e involucrarse en la cultura local, dijo.

Porzecanski cree que la encuesta producirá resultados beneficiosos si se tienen en cuenta estos diferentes fundamentos.

“Debido a que tiene tantas preguntas y tantos ángulos diferentes, la persona que lo llene será alguien que se preocupe por el medio ambiente”, dijo Porzecanski.

David Puente, estudiante de último año de publicidad de la UF, de 21 años, proviene de padres colombianos y admira los esfuerzos de la iniciativa de investigación para reconocer a diferentes comunidades.

"Siempre es peligroso contar una historia desde una única perspectiva", dijo.

La experiencia de Puentes visitando Colombia le ha permitido formular sus propias opiniones sobre diferentes temas ambientales y de infraestructura.

“Al final del día, incluso mi perspectiva no es tan grande”, dijo Puentes.

Luis Torres, estudiante de doctorado en ciencias geológicas de la UF de 27 años, cree que las opiniones ambientales pueden variar mucho según la crianza.

“Estuve expuesto a tanta naturaleza que realmente me interesó y eso fue lo que me

llevó a preocuparme por la naturaleza en primer lugar”, dijo.

Identificar entre entornos urbanos y rurales puede marcar una diferencia significativa en la forma en que los participantes abordan sus respuestas.

"Su grupo demográfico realmente se correlaciona con su exposición", dijo Torres. A pesar de considerar diferentes orígenes al analizar los resultados, Ellington apunta a ampliar los recursos para las comunidades hispanas.

“Los resultados de la encuesta informarán directamente qué recursos actuales de Extensión se traducirán primero y en qué temas se centrará el desarrollo de nuevos recursos de Extensión”, dijo.

Ellington reconoce que la limitación del idioma es un problema principal.

"Las investigaciones han demostrado que, aunque existen múltiples problemas para una extensión exitosa dentro de las comunidades hispanas, quizás uno de los mayores problemas sea el idioma", dijo Ellington en una publicación de blog de la UF.

Ellington espera que la iniciativa aumente la representación dentro de la comunidad de Florida y permita que evaluaciones futuras incluyan más voces.

“El programa de Extensión Cooperativa está destinado a servir a todas las personas en Florida y este es un primer paso fundamental que nos ayudará a lograr este objetivo”, dijo Ellington.

@nicolebeltg nbeltran@alligator.org

UF research initiative partners with two other universities to reach Hispanic citizens

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT SURVEY AIMS TO REACH HISPANIC COMMUNITIES IN FLORIDA

By Nicole Beltrán Alligator Staff Writer

For UF assistant professor Hance Ellington, understanding what environmental issues — like forestry, climate change and biodiversity — are most pressing for a state with a large Hispanic population is an issue that requires more representation.

His survey plans to address the issues most important to Florida’s Hispanic residents. It is also the first comprehensive needs assessment survey in Florida to focus exclusively on Hispanic communities, Ellington said.

Ellington works as a grassland wildlife specialist at the IFAS Grassland Livestock Research and Edu-

cation Center in Ona. He oversees a research assessment at UF that identifies which natural resource, wildlife, agricultural and well-being interests are most crucial to Spanish-speaking communities across Florida.

The assessment, available in both English and Spanish, targets Hispanic adults living in the three participating states: Florida, New Mexico and Arizona.

The survey is part of a multistate partnership Extension research initiative, collaborating with New Mexico State University and the University of Arizona. It’s funded by a $100,000 USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant, according to a UF blog post.

The survey is labeled as a needs assessment survey. These types of surveys are used as a measure for the expansion of Extension programs at UF and other universities.

Ellington’s goals are focused on constructing a framework to provide these Extension resources to

Hispanic communities, he said.

The survey includes Likert scale questions asking peoples’ interests in specific environmental topics. It also asks participants how often they research these topics.

Ignacio Porzecanski, a UF School of Natural Resources and Environment professor, believes the survey is thorough, expanding into various environmental focuses including crops, livestock and horticulture.

Porzecanski also believes the survey could face potential fragility when assessing demographics. Hispanic culture stands as a broad concept, he said.

“I think it's very different to have to compare the culture of recent immigrants from Colombia, from Venezuela, say with somebody who considers himself or herself a Latino but has been born in the United States,” Porzecanski said.

The recent immigrant may be here for reasons that are economic and even political, he said They're seeking a job or seeking asylum.

“The environment does not figure prominently in their ethos, in their kinds of occupations,” Porzecanski said. “They're occupied with something else.”

However, the recent grandchildren or children of immigrants who have made themselves a space in Florida, have been trying to engage themselves and assimilate into American culture, he said.

Porzecanski believes the survey will produce beneficial results if taking these different fundamentals into consideration.

“Because it has so many questions and has so many different angles, then a person who fills it will be someone who cares about the environment,” Porzecanski said.

David Puente, a 21-year-old UF advertising senior, comes from Colombian parents and admires the research initiative’s efforts to reach different communities.

“It is always dangerous to tell a story from a single perspective,” he said.

Puentes’ experience visiting Colombia has allowed him to formulate his own opinions on different environmental and infrastructure issues.

“At the end of the day, even just my perspective, isn't all that big,” Puentes said.

Luis Torres, a 27-year-old UF geological sciences PhD student, believes environmental opinions can greatly vary based on upbringing.

“I was exposed to so much nature I got really interested in and that's what led me to care about nature in the first place,” he said.

Identifying between urban and rural backgrounds can make a significant difference in how participants approach their answers.

“Your demographic really correlates to how exposed you are,” Torres said.

Read the rest online at alligator.org. @nicolebeltg nbeltran@alligator.org

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FOOTBALL

'Swamp Kings' inspires current players, leaves viewers wanting more The Netflix documentary covered the Urban Meyer era at UF

By Lacey Rogers Sports Writer

In the mid-2000s, UF was the epicenter of college football. The team won two national championships over a three-year span but dealt with legal issues and off-the-field scandals.

The new Netflix docuseries “Untold: Swamp Kings” follows Florida’s championship football team under head coach Urban Meyer from 2005 to 2010.

Former Gators Tim Tebow, Dan Mullen and Meyer told the story of the behind-the-scenes events that occurred during this era for the Gators. What’s left unsaid draws the most criticism from students, but the documentary served as a source of inspiration for the 2023 football team.

The team’s legal issues are only covered over a short section of episode three: “Trouble in The Swamp.”

The show mentions when former UF tight end Aaron Hernandez punched a bouncer at The Swamp restaurant after he refused to pay for two drinks. Tebow retells the incident in the show, saying how people used racial slurs toward Hernandez.

“Swamp Kings” leaves out the fact the bouncer was left with a busted eardrum and that Hernandez was arrested eight years later for the first-degree murder of former New England Patriots teammate Odin L. Lloyd. The documentary left out Hernandez’s suicide, his three suicide notes and severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

In 2008, former UF cornerback Jaques Rickerson hit and choked his girlfriend while he used a pillow to muffle her cries for help. He was

SOCCER

dismissed from the football team and arrested for domestic battery by strangulation.

His girlfriend ended up with visible injuries on her neck, upper chest and arm, according to the Gainesville Sun. In 2010, the Gainesville Police Department arrested Rickerson on charges of cyberstalking and domestic battery by strangulation a second time. The documentary did not mention Rickerson’s name.

Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL MVP Cam Newton played for the Gators under Meyer from 2007 to 2008. He left the program after being charged with larceny, burglary and obstructing justice for stealing a student’s $1,700 laptop in 2008.

Newton critiqued the show in a

TikTok video Aug. 24.

“There was so much that they left out,” Newton said in the video.

He complained that the show downplayed quarterback Chris Leak’s impact and commented on the lack of players represented in the show.

“I really wanted to hear from Percy Harvin, Joe Haden [and] the Pouncey twins,” Newton said.

Justin Murray, an 18-year-old UF engineering freshman, felt the show could have covered more.

“I think they did a good job covering how competitive and tough it is to be a new SEC coach, and how that affected Urban Meyer in his first year there,” Murray said. “I think it should have been better. They should have better portrayed Chris

Leak as a quarterback.”

He didn’t realize how hard the players worked for their championships, but he wishes they went more in-depth with people other than Tebow, he said.

Abigail Jatczak, a 21-year-old UF architecture senior, said she enjoyed the documentary at first, but there wasn’t enough substance to keep it interesting.

“The football players didn’t really add much to the story,” she said. “It didn’t really feel like it was worth a whole Netflix TV show.”

While initial reactions mention how much was left unsaid over the series, the documentary inspired current UF football players.

Redshirt senior linebacker Teradja Mitchell said the documentary

showed the team how much work they need to put in to be a championship team.

“The documentary has really just been motivating to the whole team,” Mitchell said in an Aug. 26 press conference. “There's a pride putting on that uniform.”

Senior wide receiver Ricky Pearsall also shared how the documentary inspired the current Gators. “They set that standard,” Pearsall said in an Aug. 26 press conference. “We’re trying to live up to that standard each and every day.”

The four-part series, released Aug. 22, is available to stream on Netflix.

@laceyyrog lrogers@alligator.org

Gators soccer off to a historic start to 2023 season

FLORIDA HAS SHUT OUT EACH OF ITS FIRST FOUR OPPONENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY

By Austin Stirling Sports Writer

Florida Gators soccer is off to their best start in six years.

Following a scoreless draw against the Miami Hurricanes, the Gators currently sit at 3-0-1 and have outshot their opponents in all four of their early matches. UF opened

the 2023 season with four shutouts for the first time in program history.

The last time Gators soccer went without a loss through the team’s first matches was the 2017 season. Florida went 4-0-0 to start and finished with a 17-7 record.

The undefeated start comes after a 2022 season in which the Gators went 2-14-1— the worst record in program history.

Florida dominated in its home opener against the East Carolina Pirates Aug. 17. The Gators outshot their opponents 11 to six and cruised to a 2-0 victory.

Florida junior forward Madeline Pirello

scored the first goal of the season for UF. The Gators dominated possession for most of the game, but the Pirates stayed within reach.

A late goal in the 82nd minute by sophomore midfielder Oakley Rasmussen gave UF some breathing room, and the team held on for the win. The win was a welcome sight for the Gators who were looking to put last season behind them.

“We had 18 new players, and we had 16 days to train,” said Florida head coach Samantha Bohon. “I was excited to finally see them get a result because it’s been well

deserved.”

The Gators returned to Donald R. Dizney Field for their second home match against the Maryland Terrapins Aug. 20.

Florida picked up a narrow 1-0 win thanks to freshman forward Lena Bailey, who scored in the 40th minute. The goal marked Bailey’s first at the collegiate level, and she would go on to be named the SEC Freshman Player of the Week.

Florida then traveled south to take on its in-state rival Miami Hurricanes Aug. 24. Despite the game ending in a scoreless tie,

SEE SOCCER, PAGE 12

Diego Perdomo // Alligator Staff

UF off to record start

SOCCER, from pg. 11

the Gators dominated the scoring opportunity battle. They outshot Miami 14-1 and applied pressure on the Hurricane defense throughout the match.

Miami graduate goalkeeper Melissa Dagenais made six saves and gave the Hurricanes an opportunity to win despite Florida’s relentless offensive attack.

“Obviously, we’re really disappointed because we thought we did enough to win the game,” Bohon said after the match.

A huge factor in the Gators’ early success has been the stellar play of senior goalkeeper Alexa Goldberg. Goldberg has been the team’s starting goalkeeper for the past two seasons and has consistently dominated the leaderboard in saves in the SEC.

She started in all four of the team’s matches so far and has yet to allow a goal on the season. Goldberg’s strong play has served as an anchor and has of-

ten allowed the team to play from ahead.

Another positive for Florida early on has been the performance of its underclassmen. Freshmen forwards Megan Hinnenkamp and Lena Bailey have been bright spots for the team early on and look to be increasing their roles as the season has progressed.

Hinnenkamp started in all four of the Gators’ early matches and has made her presence felt on the pitch. She scored her first two collegiate goals against Stetson within three minutes of each other.

“The environment and culture of the team has been great,” said Hinnenkamp after the Gators’ win against Stetson. “It’s going to be a great season.”

Florida’s dominant 8-0 win over the Hatters marked the most goals in a Gators’ win since an 8-0 1999 victory over Florida International University.

Bailey has also had a major impact on the team’s success. She has typically come off the bench

early on, but it hasn't stopped her from being productive. She scored her first collegiate goal when UF took on Maryland. She also picked up her second goal during Florida’s rout of Stetson.

Despite not starting, Bailey has been able to provide scoring, energy and speed off the bench, which has been an important factor in games. She has seen an increase in minutes in recent games and appears to be flourishing in her role with her new team.

“We’ve just been putting in the hard work and we’re showing it out on the field,” said Bailey following Florida’s victory against Maryland.

The final game of the road trip will be in Tallahassee against the 2021 national champion Florida State Seminoles. It will likely be the biggest test for the Gators so far this season.

The Gators will next be in action against Kennesaw State Sunday at 3 p.m. This will be the first of three consecutive road games for Florida.

@austinstirlingg astirling@alligator.org

Ryan Friedenberg // Alligator Staff

Graduate student forward Molly Grant celebrates her goal in the Gators' 8-0 win against the Stetson Hatters Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023.