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MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021
VOLUME 115 ISSUE 31
Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida
Not officially associated with the University of Florida
Four temporary speed tables will be built on West University Avenue
It is Florida’s first state road to have speed tables By Maya Erwin Alligator Staff Writer
Sam Schaffer // Alligator Staff
A Jeep Cherokee crosses the first in a series of speed tables heading west on University Avenue on Saturday, May 8, 2021. Speed tables were installed between Northwest 13th Street and Northwest 22nd Street in response to community outcry over recent traffic deaths on University Avenue.
UF graduates attend first in-person commencement ceremonies since 2019 ALL CEREMONIES FOLLOWED CDC GUIDELINES
By Makiya Seminera & Isabella Douglas Alligator Staff Writers
When Madisun Murphy was 9 years old, her parents took her to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to watch UF play against the University of
Kentucky. The game ended with a victory for the Florida Gators, 48-14, with the stands going wild. In awe of the bright colors and enthusiastic crowd, Murphy knew she wanted to one day attend a game as a UF student. Eleven years later, Murphy walked across the stage of the O’Connell Center to receive her bachelor’s in psychology. “I don’t think it really hit me
yet,” Murphy said. “But then when we turned our tassels, that’s when it became real.” From April 29 to May 3, around 10,000 students graduated in the Class of 2021 — the first class since December 2019 to have in-person graduation ceremonies. The following weekend, 3,000 graduates from spring, summer and fall of
SEE UF GRADS, PAGE 4
The Florida Department of Transportation is building four speed tables on West University Avenue in response to recent crashes and rising pedestrian safety concerns. FDOT spokesman Troy Roberts said the four speed tables will be built along University Avenue and each will be 3 inches tall and cover the entire 21-foot width of the street. Construction began May 4 and is expected to be completed within the next week. “Speed on University Avenue is an issue,” he said. “This is an easy and quick way to be able to lower the speed limit. Speed tables are designed for 25 mph, so vehicles that are traveling faster than that will probably slow down.” Speed tables differ from speed bumps in that they range from 3 to 6 inches high and are intended to slow drivers to speeds of less than 10 mph, according to FDOT. Speed bumps are considered “severe treatments” and are only used on private or residential roads. Roberts said the speed tables are a temporary solution to the issue of speeding, and their installment will act as a test to determine if other safety improvements, such as lowering the speed limit or redesigning the road, will be needed in the future. “The FDOT is committed to safety,” he said. “We are all working toward a common goal, which is providing safety to not just pedes-
trians and cyclists but motorists as well. All of these changes that we have been implementing will further that goal of safety and improve our roadways.” This Fall, crosswalks will be installed at both 16th and 19th Street allowing for a safer passage across University Avenue and FDOT plans to install two raised crosswalks with pedestrian signals and lighting upgrades along West University Avenue, according to a campus brief sent to UF students and faculty on May 7. Gainesville City Commissioner David Arreola said the deaths of multiple UF students this past year created public pressures that urged the FDOT into taking action on University Avenue. “We have been asking for these changes for years, and the real difference this time around was just the sheer number of people all across the state being so impacted by the deaths of two students,” he said. “It was an unbelievable amount of pressure put on the department to finally do something because they hadn’t really done anything until then.” Speed tables are frequently installed on streets belonging to the city of Gainesville, but this is the first state road in all of Florida to have any installed, he said. Several Alachua County citizens and UF students are grateful for the attention West University Avenue is receiving.
SEE TRAFFIC, PAGE 4
Alachua County will not be immediately affected by Gov. DeSantis’ new executive orders GOV. DESANTIS SIGNED TWO EXECUTIVE ORDERS LIMITING LOCAL GOVERNMENT’S POWER TO REQUIRE FACE COVERINGS
By Alexander Lugo & Joelle Wittig Alligator Staff Writers
Gov. DeSantis signed an executive order invalidating local emergency COVID-19 orders requiring masks and social distancing around the state, but Alachua County will not be affected by the change. DeSantis also signed a bill that would make the executive order permanent starting July 1.
SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT Why so serious?
Rap helps Story description former finish Gators with comma, wide receiver pg# Kadarius Toney focus on football, pg. 11
He signed a separate executive order that prohibits the requirement of vaccine passports for everyday activities and ended Florida’s state of emergency. A vaccine passport is documentation proving that someone has been vaccinated. Some have discussed the possibility of requiring them to visit certain places. “In Florida, your personal choice regarding vaccinations will be protected, and no business or government entity will be able to deny you services based on your decision,” according to a public statement from the Governor’s office. Alachua County’s emergency order, which included mandatory masking and restrictions on gatherings, was set to expire May 12. Be-
cause the order was already set to expire in a week, Alachua County won’t be drastically affected by the Governor’s orders, Mark Sexton, Alachua County’s communications and legislative affairs director, said. “We made the transition from mandatory to voluntary masking,” he said. “People in this community are very mindful of the science and CDC recommendations.” He said he expects people to continue wearing masks indoors, such as in restaurants, bars and gyms where it’s recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexton said businesses can still impose their own masking and social distancing requirements.
New graduate school dean
Nicole Steadman will start June 1, pg. 6
SG semester review
Recapping Student Government’s Spring, pg. 5
“A business can require shoes, shirts and masks,” he said. Although pandemic policies are easing, Sexton said he wants the community to understand the importance of getting vaccinated and continuing to take precautionary measures. “It’s still important for all of us to do our part,” he said. “While it has gone from mandatory to voluntary, this pandemic and this virus are very real.” Jackie Johnson, the director of communications at Alachua County Public Schools, said the orders will not affect any procedures in the public school system for the remainder of the school year. The orders exclude the school system, so
SEE DESANTIS, PAGE 4
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2 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021
UF will have full capacity classrooms and Today’s Weather relaxed COVID-19 protocols during Summer B THE SUMMER SEMESTER WILL PROVIDE A TRANSITORY RETURN TO NORMALCY
By Makiya Seminera Alligator Staff Writer
UF is planning to loosen COVID-19 restrictions and return to full capacity classrooms as early as Summer B, with Summer A and C classes remaining mostly virtual. Summer A and C classes will maintain many of the same COVID-19 policies seen during Spring and will serve as a transition period to in-person classes starting May 10. This time will allow staff and faculty to make necessary preparations for their classrooms and allow the UF community time to get vaccinated, UF spokesperson Cynthia Roldan wrote in an email. Currently, it is expected that 80% of students and 90% of faculty at UF have been vaccinated, UF’s Director of Screen, Test & Protect Dr. Michael Lauzardo wrote in an April 28 COVID-19 update. Summer B will see the lifting of social distancing policies and increased campus facility capacities, according to UF spokesperson Steve Orlando. Summer B classes will begin June 28. Many courses will remain online during Summer A and C, with some classes being taught in-person with limited seating capacity or in HyFlex format — a course design that allows students to attend in-person while others engage remotely. Summer B is expected to return to normal pre-pandemic classroom capacities, Orlando said. On-campus facilities like gyms and libraries are also expected to expand their capacity during the term. The university expects to run summer athletic day camps throughout summer with the guidance of UF Health. Student athletes who are not vaccinated have
to continue to follow SEC Medical Taskforce testing protocols. “As we have throughout the pandemic, we continue to work UF Health, campus leadership and the SEC Medical Guidance Taskforce for guidance on protocols,” Senior Associate Athletics Director Steve McClain wrote in an email. With the return to 100% capacity in classrooms, students and faculty will also be able to pursue more research opportunities. Even so, programs like the P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School — a public school partnered with UF to develop innovations to improve the K-12 education — will adhere to state rules and regulations rather than university guidelines, Associate Dean at the College of Education Tom Dana, Ph.D. said. “We are fully operational [at the College of Education], except for some of the research folks being unable to do the same level of work that they would have before [the pandemic], and that’s a problem,” Dana said. Orlando said UF is currently discussing potential updates to its oncampus mask requirements, in light of recent updates to CDC guidelines regarding vaccinated people who no longer need to wear a mask in uncrowded outdoor areas. UF has not yet released any updates to its face covering requirements. This is not the first time the UF administration has needed to revisit its COVID-19 policies in recent months. In early April, UF updated its Campus Events and Gatherings Policy to include provisions about in-person events for the upcoming summer semester. The updates continued the maximum indoor capacity of 50 people and outdoor capacity of 250 people through Summer A. It also anticipated the reduction or elimination of social distancing
VOLUME 115 ISSUE 31
ISSN 0889-2423
Not officially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications Inc., of Gainesville, Florida
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requirements in Summer B. The policy further outlined the expectation of an indoor face covering requirement through Fall semester, but the policy may be revised. Lauzardo also outlined changes to UF Health policy surrounding routine COVID-19 testing in its April 13 COVID-19 update. After students report their first dose of the vaccine to the health screener on ONE.UF, they will be exempt from biweekly and return-to-campus COVID-19 testing. UF does not plan to require vaccinations, despite over 100 US colleges and universities committing to placing requirements on students to be vaccinated. “Only the state can make vaccine mandates,” Cynthia Roldan wrote in an email. “However, we are strongly encouraging all members of the UF community — students, faculty, and staff — to get vaccinated.” Despite the updated COVID-19 guidelines for Summer, 19-year-old mathematics and statistics thirdyear Jude Flynn expressed concern in returning to campus for Summer B. “I would rather not [return to full capacity in Summer B], but I also understand that there are a lot of logistical concerns that go into that decision,” Flynn said. @makseminera mseminera@alligator.org
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MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 ALLIGATOR 3
Santa Fe College graduates attend drive-thru graduation by motorcycle, limousine and decorated cars GRADUATES SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH SANTA FE COLLEGE’S IN-PERSON GRADUATION
By Antonia LaRocca Alligator Staff Writer
With the crackling sound of black tires on gray gravel, a white limousine crawled to a stop at the in-person graduation ceremony’s stage. An excited graduate had arrived. After a brief conversation and the flash of a few cameras, Alexander McCollum emerged from the limousine’s sunroof and held a paper scroll that organizers passed to him high above his head in celebration. With the approval of an organizer, the 19-year-old Associate of Arts graduate pulled off his purple mask for more photos. McCollum is one of over 250 graduates who chose to roll up to graduation in person at Santa Fe College’s Drive-Thru Grad Walk held under the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall awning April 29 and April 30. “We wanted to do something else and try to have another kind of celebration and recognition for their work,” communications manager Jay Anderson said. Each graduate was allowed to have two vehicles attend the event with them, and both vehicles had to stay together while on campus, according to Santa Fe College’s website. McCollum shared the limousine with his girlfriend, grandparents, mother, stepfather and two siblings — all of whom were glowing with proud smiles from the inside of the vehicle. He said he learned he would be attending the drive-thru graduation in a limousine the day of the event. “I was like, ‘Don’t get a limo. Just bring two vehicles. I’m allowed two vehicles,’” McCollum said. “And then they’re [his family members] like, ‘Yeah, we got a limo anyway.’” The morning of McCollum’s graduation wasn’t as grand as the ceremony. He said he met his family in a Walgreens parking lot
to hop into the limousine and drive to the Fine Arts Hall after studying and taking an anatomy final and strolling through a Publix to buy a Glacier Cherry Gatorade less than 30 minutes before the ceremony. During the event, graduates exited their vehicles to walk across the stage where they could remove their face masks for photos. Sometimes, only the graduate was permitted onto the stage. Other times, with the discretion of the event organizers, parents, friends and family dogs were allowed on the platform with graduates for pictures. When the cameras flashed, tails wagged. Smiles shined bright. Gift bags containing items like lanyards, pens, pennants and key chains were thrust into graduates’ hands before they departed for the exit. “It was just way more of a fun experience than I was expecting,” McCollum said. “It blew my expectations out of the water.” The Santa Fe colors of white and blue were splashed everywhere as signs bowed with the wind and cars decorated with celebratory signs, metallic balloons and temporary car paint wound around the roundabout. Mask-clad graduates dressed in sparkling medallions, twirling tassels and swaying honor cords waited their turn to climb out of shining cars to strut to the stage for their graduation walk. Ayedria Miller, an 18-year-old Associate of Arts graduate, said she was proud to be a first-generation college graduate. Along with walking across the stage, she said she enjoyed the opportunity provided by the graduation selfie station in the Rock Garden behind the Fine Arts Hall to have photos taken of her and a graduation bear that wore a blue cap and a blue and gold 2021 stole. Her grandmother had gifted her the stuffed animal that day. Her experience with the drive-thru graduation felt like a flash in time compared to the 75-minute drive from Green Cove Springs to the college, she said. “I really think they did it the safest way
they could,” she said. “And I really appreciate they did anything for us.” Along with the Drive-Thru Grad Walk, Santa Fe College held three virtual graduation ceremonies on April 29 and April 30 for the Nurses Pinning ceremony; Bachelor of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science and Certificates ceremony; and the Associate of Arts degrees ceremony, according to the Santa Fe College’s website. Santa Fe College’s Student Body President Trevor Mathisen said although virtual ceremonies are nice, he enjoyed the in-person graduation. “It was very energizing,” he said. “It kind of brought me back to life to actually be able to see the student leaders and see the graduates and see everybody come together to celebrate at least the best we can.” Although not required, Carlos Joubert, a 24-year-old Associate of Arts graduate, wore a black cap and gown, a My Brother’s Keeper silk and shining red stole and a black and multicolored scarf that read “Black Grads Matter” over his tailored black, tan and orange plaid suit. Joubert said he had to visit the hospital the morning of his graduation due to a headache he’d had for a couple of days and blurry vision. However, he was determined to attend the first day of the drive-thru graduation. “I just wanted to make it here to graduation,” he said. “You know, it is a moment I don’t want to miss. Especially with me, you know, at a point in time wasn’t in school, wasn’t able to take classes, lost financial aid. So it’s a major comeback for me.” Joubert said his college experience had not been smooth due to factors like working two jobs and having financial difficulties. While some drove through by car, Gabriella Metelits, a 23-year-old Associate of Science in Nursing graduate, took a different approach. She rode in on her black and silver Yamaha MT-03 motorcycle with red-rimmed wheels in a power white pantsuit and iridescent green high heels on the event’s first day.
Antonia LaRocca // Alligator Staff
Alexander McCollum, 19, a Santa Fe Associate of Arts graduate stands through the sunroof of a white limousine with his hand holding a paper scroll raised in the air in celebration during Santa Fe College’s Drive-Thru Grad Walk ceremony on Thursday, April 29, 2021. “I think a lot of people can appreciate the fun that a bike can offer,” she said. “And, you meet a lot of fun people, have a lot of interesting conversations with different people that you wouldn’t necessarily think to talk to when you’re on a bike. So, I like to bring that energy wherever I go.” Metelits’ original plan was to have her father ride on the bike with her. But she said she was a bit out of breath after practicing in the parking lot of her place that morning and climbing up and going down the stairs at her home on the third floor. Instead, Matelits rode solo, proudly and confidently around the college roundabout. Her father followed behind in a subcompact hatchback car, while cameras, smiles and conversation greeted her. The corners of her eyes creased as she smiled behind her surgical mask, and tears misted her eyes as she descended the ramp when exiting the stage. “I think it’s really beautiful that they managed to come up with something like this for us,” Metelits said. “And I think it just proves that this school really does care about us.” @antoniarlarocca alarocca@alligator.org
4 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021
Fire disrupts stadium watch party UF GRAD, from pg. 1 2020 registered to return to UF’s campus to attend in-person commencement ceremonies, UF spokesperson Cynthia Roldan wrote in an email. Due to climbing cases of COVID-19 and the uncertainty regarding vaccine rollout in 2020, UF opted to host a virtual graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 at the time students completed their degrees. This left many 2020 graduates disappointed in the indefinite postponement of an in-person graduation. However, in February, UF announced Spring 2021 graduation ceremonies and 2020 make-up graduation ceremonies would be held in-person at the O’Connell Center. In the months leading up to the Spring 2021 commencement ceremonies, some graduates were not confident that UF would follow through. Among them was Kayla Ratnasamy, a 22-year-old UF political science senior, who was happy UF was able to host a smooth and efficient in-person ceremony while still abiding by CDC guidelines. “I had a lot of doubts that UF was going to hold in-person ceremonies,” Ratnasamy said. “I’m just really grateful that UF was able to do this during a pandemic.” Both the 2021 and make-up 2020 graduation ceremonies were heavily modified to follow UF Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention health and safety protocols. This included precautions such as masks and social distancing requirements in
Credit
UF President Kent Fuchs addresses graduates during the 2021 commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 1, 2021.
the O’Connell Center and an invite limitation of two guests per graduate to adhere to its 20% seating capacity limit. Graduation watch parties were also modified to COVID-19 safety protocols. During the ceremony, graduates were allowed to remove their masks for stage photos and videos. Handshakes between graduates and faculty on stage were not permitted. Safety measures like temperature checks for attendees were not implemented prior to the commencement ceremonies. Additionally, only commencement faculty and staff were required to undergo COVID-19 screening to be cleared for campus. “I felt very safe,” Sidharth Sharma, a 21-year-old UF chemistry junior, said. “They had really good protocols to keep everyone six feet apart with masks.” While some students appreciated the safety measures provided by the COVID-19 regulations in place, others felt the seating capacity in the O’Connell Center was too limited. “There was way too much space,” Murphy said. “It was just kind of a bummer because I had four additional people that were there, but had to sit in the stadium.” In an email, Roldan wrote that the ceremonies averaged 550 students per class of 2021 ceremony and 300 graduates per 2020 makeup ceremony. The COVID-19 protocols implemented not only kept the ceremony safe but quiet as well. The vastly empty O’Connell Center made it difficult for attendees to imitate the boisterous crowds present at previous in-person graduations, resulting in lone cheers absorbed by empty seats. In addition to the drastically reduced number of attendees compared to a pre-pandemic ceremony, graduates and their families were encouraged to exit the building after crossing the stage to avoid any unnecessary crowding. Chad DeRigo, 46-year-old father of UF class of 2021 graduate Hailey DeRigo, had taken note of the comparatively low energy during the 2021 graduation ceremonies. “I would say maybe the biggest downfall to something like that is that you don’t have as many people there clapping and applauding,” Chad DeRigo said. “That type of energy when somebody is walking across the stage sticks with them for life. That feeling of having hundreds of people in the auditorium clapping and cheering, even if they don’t know you.” “It was a wonderful ceremony,” Ratnasamy said. “I honestly kind of teared up when President Fuchs was singing ‘I Won’t Back Down’ by Tom Petty. That was such a tender moment.” Outside of the O’Connell Center, family members who exceeded the two-person ticket limit could celebrate in the stadium. A
Commission meetings still masked DESANTIS, from pg. 1
public schools in Alachua County do not have to make any changes. ACPS ended its outdoor facial covering requirement and temperature checks on April 23, and masks will be optional on all ACPS campuses starting this summer. In an Alachua County commission meeting on May 4, commissioners discussed the possible easing of pandemic protocols during commission meetings. Because all commissioners are vaccinated, commissioner Kenneth Cornell proposed to not require masks in commission meetings. He also asked whether the commission wanted to keep offering online access to commission meetings. All the other commissioners
agreed the meetings should continue in a hybrid format, which allows citizens to attend and comment remotely. They urged the importance of requiring masks in the meetings for both citizens and commissioners. Some residents welcome the easing in the requirements. Chris Rose II, a 32-year-old swimming pool technician and Alachua County resident, said he doesn’t consider himself an anti-masker. He said he adheres to mask requirements when he cannot avoid them but has boycotted events that require masks. “I understand that it’s only a mask but the way that it was brought actually demanded the public’s attention,” Rose said. CDC studies found that multilayer cloth face masks can block up from 50% to 70% of droplets exhaled from a person with a mask.
Makiya Seminera // Alligator Staff
UF graduates stand and sing along to Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” during the 2021 graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 1, 2021. livestream of the graduation ceremony was displayed on the video boards in the stadium for family members and friends of graduates to watch. For the 2020 makeup graduation ceremonies, watch parties were not held in the stadium. On May 1, UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates for the 7 p.m. graduation ceremony received an email 40 minutes before the ceremony stating the stadiums’ video boards would be offline due to a minor electrical fire inside one of the generators. This canceled the watch party and upset some graduate students who had family and friends eagerly waiting to watch their loved ones receive their diplomas on the big screens. UF 2020 graduate Shane Washburn, boyfriend of graduate Kayla Ratnasamy, planned to attend the watch party before he heard the news. Disappointed, he realized he would have to go back to his girlfriend’s apartment to watch the video without it buffering. Before he left, he watched as friends and extended family of the graduates, who had been waiting since the stadium opened, left in a dismayed manner. “I think some people just seemed a little bit upset that it was canceled,” Washburn said. On the other hand, Washburn understood that technical difficulties could arise. “Given the scenario, I don’t think anyone can really blame them,” Washburn said. “I don’t think the fire was something that they could have predicted and they said they seemed to send out an email as soon as they knew about it.” The shutdown of screens did not affect the ceremony in the O’Connell Center directly, but some graduates’ families and friends became upset to be unable to watch the ceremony from the screens in the stadium. As a solution, faculty offered 101 addition-
Although he appreciates lawmakers erring on the side of caution, he said he wishes county officials would have made masks a recommendation instead of a requirement. On the other hand, Violet Vergara, a 71-year-old receptionist and Alachua County resident, thinks the governor’s mask mandate restrictions came too soon. Vergara said she hopes the city and county continue to make it clear to businesses that they still have an obligation to keep people safe. “I’ve had both of my vaccinations, and will continue to wear the mask,” she said. “I do this out of respect for others who may not be vaccinated.” @alexlugo67 alugo@alligator.org @JoelleWittig jwittig@alligator.org
al tickets for people who were originally following the event from the stadium to go into the O’Connell Center for the remainder of the ceremony. Murphy referenced her boyfriend, 19-yearold Ocala resident Rayfe Marquis, who texted her saying he was waiting in line to enter the O’Connell Center — UF officials turned him away. “I wish I could have been there with her to see her,” Marquis said. Marquis waited in line to receive one of the available guest ticket spaces that remained, but was too late and had to head back to the stadium to watch with his family. At 9 p.m. another email was sent out to graduate students alerting them that one of the screens at the stadium had restored power. “Technicians worked swiftly and both monitors got fixed and tested by 11:30 p.m. on Saturday,” Hessy Fernandez, UF’s director of issues management and crisis communications, wrote in an email. The watch party occurred on schedule for the 9 a.m. graduation ceremony on May 2. Aside from the minor electrical fire in the stadium, both the 2021 and 2020 graduation ceremonies operated smoothly and many graduates were energized about having their graduation in-person. For many UF graduates, their graduation ceremony marked the last time they would set foot on UF’s campus — at least in the near future. “I’m feeling really great,” Sharma said. “I’m very proud of myself and I’m very happy and thankful to everyone who has helped me get here.” @makseminera mseminera@alligator.org @Ad_Scribendum douglas@alligator.org
Students feel unsafe on University Avenue TRAFFIC, from pg. 1 Among those students is Matthew Chertok, a UF chemical engineering sophomore who created an online petition in January advocating for speed bumps. It gained more than 15,700 signatures. “I was upset that so many other students were getting hurt or even killed, and nobody ever did anything meaningful about it,” he said. “I am happy about the speed tables and glad they took this issue seriously.” Victoria Moltzan, a UF public health freshman, said she did not feel safe near the road and often avoided it. “Every time I cross, even in the daytime, I am very cautious and
scared,” she said. “I realize that even if I am not really close to the street, I can still get hit and potentially die.” However, the speed tables are not enough to squash all fears instilled in pedestrians. “Building speed tables is a step in the right direction, and hopefully it will make University Avenue safer but I think that more things need to be done to ensure the safety of students,” she said. “This is a pattern that has been happening, so maybe if they redesigned the intersections, that may be able to help.” @mayaerwin3 merwin@alligator.org
MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 ALLIGATOR 5
Here’s what you missed in Student Government this Spring WITH ONLINE SENATE MEETINGS AND A SUPERMAJORITY OF GATOR PARTY, DEBATES BECAME RARE
By Carolina Ilvento & Grace Stoler Alligator Staff Writers
Tuesday nights looked a little different last semester. Long and controversial meetings that marked the Senate chamber slowly became brief virtual meetings, as ideological debate among senators decreases every week. Throughout Spring, Senate passed a total of 19 bills — 11 of which were resolutions, which by definition are an expression of the Senate’s sentiments on behalf of the Student Body. No bills enabling direct change were passed. Here’s what happened in Student Government this Spring:
Traffic Safety Bills
In response to car accidents on University Avenue killing three faculty members and students, Senate passed three resolutions to address the issue. The first commemorated the lives of Margaret Paxton and Sophia Lambert. The other two requested the State of Florida to take measures addressing traffic safety in and around campus and advocated for the implementation of a school zone speed limit and flashing traffic beacons on University Avenue, from Northwest 13th Street to Gale Lemerand Drive. The resolutions did not specify how the proposed changes would take place, as some went against Florida State Statutes specifying school zones can only be implemented around K-12 school buildings and enforced 30 minutes before and after school. Senate did not pass any further legislation to address traffic safety on campus. Meanwhile, the executive
branch worked to advocate for traffic safety by discussing improved measures with university and state officials. Former Student Body President Trevor Pope met with local and state officials in a Tallahassee conference in February to address the issue.
involvement in SG projects, Gator Party won the executive ticket for the second time with Cooper Brown, Faith Maniti and Giovanna Mompremier as Student Body president, vice-president and treasurer, respectively.
Gator Party seized second executive ticket and supermajority in Senate
With COVID measures still in place, Accent Speakers Bureau virtually hosted seven guests through Zoom-moderated conversations and Q&A sessions. The student-funded organization runs on a budget of $500,000 a year. Spring Accent speakers consisted of entertainment celebrities who brought smiles to UF students during stressful pandemic times. Some of these celebrities include YouTubers David Dobrik, Cody Ko and Noel Miller, and actresses Tiffany Haddish and Tabitha Brown. Other guest speakers included Dave Portnoy and Guy Fieri.
Events
Gator Party won 46 out of the 50 seats up for election in Spring, resulting in a supermajority in Senate with 79 Gator Senators. This year’s Spring elections had a potential of a five-party breakdown, with Gator, Change, Progressive, Union and Keg parties having initial intentions to run for the executive ticket. After Union and Change merged into one, the only candidates for the executive ticket were from Gator, Change and Keg, which did not run for any Senate seats. With a centralized focus on traffic safety and increased student
Portnoy’s appearance received mixed feedback from some students who weren’t comfortable with his previous misogynistic and racist comments. On March 26, more than 1,000 students attended UF’s first inperson event since the COVID-19 shut down last year, with livemusic performed by indie bands Mt. Joy and Flipturn. The event was originally planned to host the band COIN, but after the band had to reschedule the show to a later date, Flipturn replaced the performance. Held by Student Government Productions, which is also funded by student fees, the event was free for all UF students. Social distancing measures and mask requirements were enforced throughout the entire event, with enclosed pods allowing up to six students to enjoy the show together. @CarolinaIlvento cilvento@alligator.org
Former UF public relations professor Kathleen Kelly dies at 77 THE PROFESSOR HAD A LASTING IMPACT ON MANY STUDENTS AND CHANGED THE WAY PUBLIC RELATIONS IS PRACTICED
By Camila Pereira Alligator Staff Writer
As a professor and prolific researcher who inspired countless students in Weimer Hall, Kathleen Kelly helped reshape how public relations is practiced today by introducing the nonprofit sector into the field of study through her love for research. Kelly, who was a former UF public relations professor and advisor for mass communication Ph.D. students, died April 28 in her St. Augustine condo at 77. “She had a passion for teaching and for research that was contagious, and she was genuinely interested in people and building relationships,” Christopher Wilson, a 46-year-old associate professor at Brigham Young University, said. “Who she was made everything else that she did better. It made her research, work, and it made her teaching effective and memorable.” She had been struggling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a severe inflammatory lung disease that causes airflow blockage and breathing issues, according to the UF College of Journalism and Communications article. Kelly is survived by her husband of 60 years, George F. Kelly, daughter Jodie Anne Funderburk, granddaughters Sarah and Catherine Levy, brother Russell Mehram Jr. and many cousins, nieces, nephews, close friends, students and professional associates, according to the UF CJC article. She retired from the UF CJC in 2019. During her nearly 16 years at UF, Kelly taught and advised public relations students and served as the public relations
department chair during her last three years in the college. Her influence within the public relations industry was not limited to UF, as her work and research reached many people across the nation. Richard Waters, 45, associate professor in the school of management at the University of San Francisco, said Kelly’s knowledge and dedication for why public relations principles worked in fundraising motivated him to get his Ph.D. with her at UF. He was Kelly’s first doctoral advisee. “I would never have pursued studying nonprofits and nonprofit communication if it wasn’t for her,” Waters said. “She was one of the most influential person in defining public relations for me.” In her research, Kelly focused on organization-public relationships. Particularly looking at donor relations, which led her to produce 70 articles, book chapters, monographs, referred papers, and author of two award-winning books on fundraising, one being the first academic textbook, “Effective Fun-Raising Management.” She was the recipient of the 2004 PRSA Outstanding Educator Award, the PRSA Foundation’s Jackson, Jackson and Wagner Behavioral Science Prize in 1999, and the Institute for Public Relations’ 1995 Pathfinder Award, three of the highest awards in public relations teaching and research for her years of work. She ultimately revolutionized the public relations field of study by expanding and elevating the college’s curriculum and emphasized the importance of fundraising as a specialization in public relations. Kelly received her bachelor’s in journalism and news-editorial, master’s in journalism and public relations, and Ph.D. in public mass communications with a specialization in public relations at the University of Maryland. Prior to coming to UF, she taught at
the University of Maryland for five years and was a professor and coordinator of the public relations program at the University of Louisiana for 10 years, where she held a research professorship. Kelly was also an elected member of Public Relations Society of American’s (PRSA) College of Fellows and member of the Arthur W. Page Society, an invitationonly, professional association made up of notable figures in some of the world’s largest, leading corporations and public relations agencies. “She’s kind of one of those people where you don’t want to let them down,” Wilson said. “Her standards and her expectations were so high that every time I would go to meet with her, it’s like, man, I don’t want to let Kathleen down.” Although she was extremely meticulous, especially with writing, she was a strong advocate and supporter to her students. Weiting Tao, 34, assistant professor in strategic communication at the University of Miami, said she will never forget the support she felt as an international graduate student in Kelly’s public relations fundamentals class. Tao holds onto a vivid memory of the day she ran into Kelly while rushing through Weimer Hall worried about her applications to a Ph.D. program. “She asked me if, ‘Did you hear any good news?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I’m still waiting.’ And she said, ‘Oh you’ll be fine, I spent like five hours writing the recommendation letter and that’s never happened before. I usually spend that much time to write a book or anything but not a recommendation letter so you’ll definitely get in,’” Tao said. For Wilson, Kelly was not only his advisor when pursuing his Ph.D., but a friend to his family who had moved to Gainesville. “She was as worried about our enjoyment of Gainesville, our kind of
experience and our well-being as people, just as much as she was about my personal academic progress,” Wilson said. Kelly’s charismatic personality and passion Kathleen Kelly was not only reflected in her work and teachings in the classroom, but also in her wardrobe. “Her style of clothing is still very memorable, even to this point,” Tao said. She often wore colorful monochrome outfits and accessories, and every year in the Spring for Mardi Gras, Waters said she would wear a large, brightly colored hat that resembled a Kentucky Derby or Sunday church hat. “It’s just such a thing that is so tied to her,” Waters said. “I have actually ordered one of those to hang up in my office in San Francisco by my UF diploma to honor her.” Waters said he is currently working on a paper with a team of UF doctoral graduates for a research journal, and upon hearing of Kelly’s passing, they decided to dedicate their work to her. “It was something that very shocked and saddened me, but it was empowering at the same time because we are going to honor her in that way,” Waters said. Wilson said he has a number of pictures that rotate as his wallpaper on his computer, one of them being a picture of his family and Kelly on his graduation day. “I’ve had it up for a while and now it pops up every couple of days, and it’s just, it’s sad to know she’s gone, but at the same time, I feel really blessed that she was a part of our lives,” Wilson said. @CamilaSaPereira cpereira@alligator.org
6 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021
Nicole Stedman to be new dean of UF’s Graduate School HER ROLE INVOLVES UNDERSTANDING GRADUATE ISSUES, ADMINISTERING POLICIES AND ADVOCATING FOR THE GRADUATE STUDENTS
By Isabella Douglas Alligator Staff Writer
Graduate students have been unsatisfied with UF’s administration and lack of transparency, but UF’s new Graduate School dean intends to give graduate students a voice within the university. Nicole Stedman, soon-to-be associate provost and dean of UF’s Graduate School, will be responsible for understanding the current issues the Graduate School faces and administer communication between the university and graduate students. She was chosen for the role over two other finalists. Current Graduate Dean Henry Frierson will leave the position late May, and Stedman will take over June 1. The Office of Academic Affairs began searching for the next Graduate School dean early February when Frierson announced his decision to step down from his position. With this new appointment and obligations also comes high expectations. Complaints about lack of transparency and effective communication have been a top concern following a proposed decrease in graduate and family housing capacity and mistreatment of graduate students —
which some believe led to the suicide of Huixiang Chen in 2019. Stedman said she plans to address these issues by spending her first 60 days focused on connecting with graduate students and staff. She said she plans on establishing direct and constant communication with the Graduate Student Council to better understand how she can help the graduate school as a whole. “I really want to help our graduate students strengthen their voice and strengthen the opportunity they have to speak out about the issues that they’re experiencing,” Stedman said. Graduate Student Council President Jonathan Orsini described his advisor, Stedman, as energetic, motivated and polished. Orsini is a strong advocate for graduate students who have lost trust in UF’s administration. According to Orsini, President Fuchs asked the provost to include Orsini in the original committee to decide which candidates were chosen to be interviewed. Orsini said Stedman took the time to investigate the pressing issues influencing graduate students and address them clearly and concisely during the interview. “She’s a good person who has all the professional requirements you would want to see for somebody in this position,” Orsini said. “I don’t think you could have a better candidate.”
Stedman has been a part of the Gator community for about 20 years. She graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in family, youth and community sciences, Master of Science in agricultural education in 2001 and her Ph.D in agricultural education in 2004. From there, Stedman has taught classes for the department of agricultural education and communication and is a current associate chair. As a three-time Gator alumna and former UF professor, Stedman said she understands the importance of feeling heard. She said she wants to give back to the students of the school that has provided so many opportunities for her. “I want to be very sensitive and very supportive of those students who are struggling and who are having difficulties,” Stedman said. “Trying to figure out how we can make their experience here at the University of Florida the best possible.” Stedman said being both a past UF graduate student and a faculty member, she is able to understand the more contemporary issues that graduate students are facing. Stedman said she wants to not only focus on communication but also on ensuring students’ needs are met through their fellowships, scholarships and funding opportunities. Elaine Turner, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences dean, was also a part of the search screen committee where she re-
viewed applications and made recommendations to the provost. “I think she’ll bring a lot of energy to the role,” Turner said. “I think she’s gained insight from all of those roles and responsibilities that she’ll bring to the position.” Following lack of transparency toward graduate students, organizations like Graduate Assistants United and Graduate Student Council are demanding change in the form of communication, housing and in the way UF handled Chen’s suicide. Amanda Pritzlaff, a representative for Graduates Assistants United, feels the dismissal by the Confidential Report of Investigation of an abusive work environment is a big oversight. “It’s showing that UF’s intellectual property, which is viewed as precious, is prioritized over the graduate worker’s life,” she said. Stedman said she will approach her new position from a very strategic standpoint to ensure the Graduate School is working as effectively and efficiently and it can. “I am excited about being able to champion graduate programs and our graduate students for the university,” Stedman said. “I’m excited about working with the graduate school staff and making what we do better. You know, it’s just so profoundly important to me to do this well.” @Ad_Scribendum idouglas@alligator.org
ACPS teachers work hard to succeed within the classroom, despite a global pandemic TEACHERS FROM ALACHUA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS INITIALLY STRUGGLED TO ADAPT TO NEW HYFLEX FORMAT
By Maya Erwin Alligator Staff Writer
When Maryse Alexis first stepped foot into her classroom, she was not met with a large group of hyper children ready to learn and have fun. Instead, she was the only person in the room. Alexis was hired as a new fourth grade teacher at Lake For-
est Elementary School this year, and HyFlex has been her only experience in the classroom. “When I got hired, there was no one in the room but me,” she said. “I began teaching on Zoom and then students have slowly started coming back, so I have two in-person students.” The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in March disrupted daily in-person classes and introduced new safety regulations such as temperature screenings and mask mandates in Alachua County Public Schools. ACPS teachers adjusted to smaller
class sizes, instructing on Zoom and changing mask mandates all while trying to ensure students were still learning. While it’s not the traditional teaching experience, Alexis said she feels comfortable knowing she impacts the lives of her students, whether in person or online. “This year has just been a learning experience,” she said. “It has really taught me the definition of flexibility and being open to learning and change because things are changing.” HyFlex classes offer students
Alex Brown // Alligator Staff
flexibility in how they choose to learn, but many teachers had to overcome the hurdles of this new style of teaching. Chelsea Bowlin, a first grade teacher at Lake Forest Elementary School, said adjusting to the digital aspect of HyFlex teaching was very difficult. “I am glad parents have the opportunity to do that and feel safe, but it was still the most challenging part of this year,” she said. While some teachers were provided two weeks of paid training that taught them how to use the new online format and platforms, Bowlin said the real difficulties of HyFlex classes came from the additional planning and effort required of teachers every day. Teachers like Bowlin put in additional unpaid overtime to learn the ins and outs of the technology their students would depend on, including creating Zoom sessions, uploading assignments to Canvas and interacting with parents through ClassDojo, she said. “I do a lot of work after school. Sometimes in the evenings, sometimes one day on the weekends,” she said. Bowlin said her coworkers frequently work Wednesday afternoons because school gets out about an hour earlier and they have more time. While teachers normally work unpaid overtime,
some have had to do additional overtime because of the HyFlex teaching. However, this extra unpaid work has not deterred all teachers. Nancy Selph, a second grade teacher at Lake Forest Elementary, is still passionate about her career. “I will continue to teach because I love teaching,” she said. “As teachers, we have always had to be flexible, so we know how to deal with what comes our way.” Kirk Tapley, a sixth grade teacher at Howard Bishop Middle School who has been teaching since 2016, shares Selph’s optimism. Tapley said he is extremely impressed with the county’s efforts to listen to teachers’ concerns about HyFlex teaching and provide everyone with the proper protection and equipment to feel safe. “My job has changed in a positive way from the standpoint that I knew I was always surrounded by resilient, amazing, creative individuals within my faculty and staff, but then seeing the way that they have adapted to this and made their classrooms much more user-friendly has been so cool to watch,” he said. @mayaerwin3 merwin@alligator.org
MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 www.alligator.org/opinions
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Column
MUSIC Aly & AJ enter a new musical era with latest album THE DISNEY ALUMS TAKE THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE WITH A RELEASE PRIMED FOR SUMMERTIME
By Heather Bushman Avenue Staff Writer
A pair of early 2000s icons have ushered in a sunny new era of music just in time for summer vacation. Sister duo Alyson and Amanda Michalka, professionally known as Aly & AJ, released their new album “a touch of the beat gets you up on your feet and then into the sun” May 7, marking their official entrance into a more indie and alternative landscape. Commonly known for launching their music career on Disney Channel, the pair has turned a musical corner with the new record, offering a more mature and musically sophisticated sound with lyrics dedicated to life on the California coast. “A touch of the beat” is the duo’s fourth full-length album, but in some ways, it feels like their debut. It’s an album that sounds wide open, taking up enough space to officially cement the sisters’ arrival to this new era. With a sound AJ described as “quintessential California” in an interview with The Cut, the new album is poised to be the summer soundtrack. The singles — especially the acoustic groove of “Pretty Places,” the synth pulse of “Listen!!!,” the catchy, clean guitar licks and the steady bassline on “Slow Dancing” — sound like they’re meant to underscore a summertime adventure. Fans like Vanessa Vasquez, a 20-year-old UF educational leadership graduate student, are making room for it on their summer playlists. “Listening to the album once through, I can already tell that this is going to be a record that I’ll play while taking a road trip,” she said. “A lot of the songs have the perfect sound for riding by the beach or through the mountains.” The record brings out the sisters’ discovery of a more nuanced sound, but even in earlier eras, fans noticed how Aly & AJ stood out from the crowded field of their Disney contemporaries. For listeners like Vasquez, this nonconformity instantly caught their ears. “It was fun listening to music that wasn’t your standard bubblegum pop,” Vasquez said. Though technically a pop group, Aly & AJ have never quite fit the label. Tracks on their debut “Into the Rush” are anchored by rock elements like live drum arrangements and power chords on distorted guitars. And though their 2007 album “Insomniatic” takes a more radiofriendly route, Vasquez said the alternative edge was still a deviation from how most pop
Heather Bushman // Alligator Staff
The sister duo released their sixth studio album. sounded at the time. Fast forward 15 years and Aly & AJ’s music has grown up with their fans. The album references more mature subject matter, but even some of their classic cuts have received a contemporary rework. The 2007 mega-hit “Potential Breakup Song,” for example, was rereleased with explicit lyrics last year, offering a risqué take on a past staple suited for teens and tweens. The track’s subsequent ascent to TikTok virality reintroduced the duo to listeners like Reagan de la Cruz, a 19-year-old UF marketing sophomore, who first encountered them in the group’s Disney days. Though only a casual fan when she was younger, de la Cruz said their new sound led her to look more into them, eventually turning her into a full-fledged fan. “Their sound is a lot more relatable now,” she said. “You can definitely tell their music is a lot more mature and has more of an indie sound to it.” The pair has performed at colleges and spoke to student groups across the country to promote “a touch of the beat,” including UF’s Gator Music Industry Club (MIC). De la Cruz, a member of Gator MIC, said Aly & AJ spoke about their shift in sound and subject matter during the conference, touching on the album’s return to the pair’s California roots and alignment with their true musical style. “They’re making music that’s more authentic to them,” de la Cruz said. In essence, “a touch of the beat” is a record centered on revival and encompassing a new sound to support a more introspective, lyrical style. But Aly & AJ aren’t starting from scratch. With over a decade in the industry, they’ve amassed a fanbase that’s grown alongside them and their music. @hgrizzl hbushman@alligator.org
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s Florida finally sinking? The Sunshine State: home to the Everglades, Kissimmee Prairie State Park, Lake Okeechobee, Florida Reef and now an environmental crisis. On April 4, Florida declared a state of emergency due to a toxic wastewater reservoir on the brink of collapse in Manatee County. On April 20, Manatee County commissioners approved a $9.35 million contract to dispose of the wastewater through a deep injection well. Even though action has been taken to fix the crisis, the Piney Point reservoir serves as a lesson for all Floridians to learn from. What is in the water?
The reservoir holds a mix of saltwater, freshwater, wastewater and fertilizer runoff. Even more dangerous than the harmful mixture is a potential 600 million gallons of water leaving the pool in a matter of minutes. Additionally, a natural gas plant that provides energy to millions in the region is also in the flood zone. Not only could this mean no electricity for residents but a break in the pipeline could lead to fires and explosions, causing significant damage to Tampa Bay communities that rely on this water source. Could we have prevented this?
Many environmental advocates said they knew this crisis was coming. Phosphate mining began in 1966 in Florida, and the state produced 80% of the phosphate mined in the United States. Piney Point sits on top of a phosphogypsum stack, which is a massive depository containing waste byproducts of phosphate fertilizer. When these stacks become large and rainwater leaks into them, it could leak and contaminate the environment. Luckily, that’s why we have reservoirs to prevent this from happening, right? However, Piney Point has suffered from multiple issues over the years. In 2006, one pond was drained and dredged material not meant to be held in the reservoir from Port Manatee was put in the gyp stack. In 2011, the plastic liner of the reservoir tore off and allowed millions of gallons of untreated wastewater to pollute nearby harbors and an already fragile ecosystem. How can we move forward?
It is unclear how much of the remaining 303 gallons will need to be drained for engineers to stabilize the pond. However, some scientists and environmental activists believe all the wastewater may have to go, draining an amount of wastewater equivalent to a year’s worth of nutrient pollution.This could be di-
sastrous to marine life and fuel an explosive growth of algae blooms, something Florida is becoming more familiar with over the years. Still, the extent of the damage is still unclear as officials are still testing the water and have not released new information. However, amid dangerous environmental threats such as the one in Manatee County legislators have proposed two bills that would threaten moving toward an energy conscious future. SB 856/HB 839 seeks to limit the ability to expand into clean energy by prohibiting the replacement of gas stations with greener energy options. This means not only preventing building codes from being updated to build electric charging stations for cars, but also hindering a city’s ability to phase out fossil fuels. Another bill — SB-1128/HB-919 — would prohibit cities from committing to 100% clean energy and forbid all current commitments cities have made towards renewable energy. Clearly, this bill would strip local officials’ ability to decide what is best for their cities for conserving energy. About 10 cities have already made a commitment to achieving 100% clean energy, including Tallahassee, Gainesville, Orlando, Satellite Beach, Dunedin, Largo, Safety Harbor, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and South Miami. Both pieces of legislation have the potential to greatly impact Gainesville and the greater Alachua County area, as the city has been actively involved in environmental issues over the past few years. In 2018, the City Commission approved two resolutions to reduce the city’s dependency on fossil fuels. The first was to move towards 100% renewable energy by 2045 and the second was a ban on single-use plastic-bags and styrofoam containers. In 2012, Gainesville was ranked as one of the top 25 green cities in the United States by The Daily Beast. It also ranks as number 37 of the top bike-friendly cities. It is clear the city of Gainesville is working hard towards a 100% clean energy future, but if Tallassee legislators get their way, that future will turn into a distant dream. Why appoint city officials if they cannot decide on what their city’s citizens need? The solution should not be enacting legislation to prevent cities from committing to clean energy but comprehensive bills that would protect and preserve our environment. By not pursuing positive environmental legislation, we risk the chance of more environmental catastrophes like the Piney Point Reservoir leak happening again. Sarah Hoffman is a junior at UF majoring in political science.
8 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021
Weekly harvest provides food for local families LOCAL FARMERS AND VOLUNTEERS WORK TO GIVE BACK TO THE EAST GAINESVILLE COMMUNITY
By Joelle Wittig Alligator Staff Writer
Known as the “veggie girl,” Tuesday Gilliam harvests vegetables at local farms each week to distribute excess food to East Gainesville residents. Gilliam, 40, organized an event at Siembra Farm in East Gainesville on May 4 to harvest the crops the farm did not use. The event began at 6 p.m. and volunteers stayed until 8:30 p.m.
Joelle Wittig // Alligator Staff
UF professor Hannah Mathews, 43, washes kale after volunteering to help harvest vegetables at Siembra Farm in Gainesville on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. She was among many volunteers who worked to harvest extra vegetables to give to local families in East Gainesville.
to pick and wash vegetables and create 110 community-supported agriculture boxes. During the harvest, volunteers split up among rows of crops to pick hundreds of vegetables including carrots, potatoes, kale, collards and mustard greens. The volunteers bundled their crops together with rubber bands for packing and distribution, and they could even take an unboxed pile home before they left. Gilliam said this initiative is incredibly important because East Gainesville is classified as a food desert with limited access to nutritious, affordable food. She said not enough people know about the extreme number of extra vegetables at the four farms in the middle of the area. These white-owned farms are in a predominantly Black neighborhood, which Gilliam said is subject to gentrification. As a white ally, her desire to give back to the community inspired this mutual aid effort. Dina Liebowitz, the UF Field and Fork program coordinator, has helped at the farm for the past two years. “It is just the most meaningful thing I can fathom, especially working on a sustainable farm like this,” she said. “They care about all the things that I care about.” The project, which involves Siembra Farm, Family Garden, Nicoya Farm and Hawthorne Organic Farm, helps reduce food waste, feed the community and foster an environmentally sustainable process through food activism. Linda Williams, a 62-year-old retired surgical technician at Shands Hospital and a member of the GRACE Grows community advisory board, has lived by the farms for 15 years and received food for more than a year. “It’s impacted me to help with the shortage of fresh vegetables,” she said. “I have 17 grandkids, and every other day I cook not only for my grandkids but for the homeless people too and take food out in trays and her [Gilliam] bringing these vegetables and stuff helps me out so much.” Gilliam said she worked with her best friend, Karen Smith, to organize their passion project. Like Gilliam, Smith was an avid activist who cared about giving back to her community, but Smith died in a car accident in November. Gilliam had to continue without her. “I fell apart completely,” she said. “I didn’t even want to look at vegetables, so it’s kind of weird to think of tonight. Out
of the blue, people just started coming. It’s coming full circle. All of this is dedicated to Karen Smith.” The project has been hard for Gilliam, but she said the support of those around her helped continue her goal of providing reparations to the East Gainesville community to combat ongoing gentrification. She said she hopes her efforts on the farm will achieve the opposite of environmental racism, which involves the environmental hazards that disproportionately affect people of color. Carmen Rosa, a 44-year-old vocational rehabilitation counselor, volunteered at the farm for the first time on May 4. “I’m in a position where I don’t need anything, and I have been in the position where I do,” she said. “Now that I feel better in life, I feel like I have to help others that are not in the same position as me, as a way to be grateful for how lucky I’ve been.” Through her volunteer work, Rosa found a community she said is often hard to come by. She said she recently moved to the United States from Puerto Rico and was surprised to see the individualistic presence throughout the U.S. “The sense of community isn’t as strong here in the states versus where I come from, so to see that there are people that are trying to help others and build that community that helps each other, that’s really nice to see,” she said. Gilliam said she has high hopes for the project, and she plans to continue harvesting the excess food every Tuesday until the end of the season in June. However, she is struggling to find affordable housing since apartments are targeted towards students. She acknowledges her privilege as a white person and does not want to buy a house in the area because she says it would further the gentrification she is fighting against. She has been living in a cabin by the farm for two years as a single mother, and she said she wants to move to a nicer place to raise her 13-year-old child. She is nervous about the future of the project if she moves out of the area, but she said she has found a support system that she hopes will continue leading the weekly harvesting project, especially because of how much the project means to her. “We all need it, whether you are a Republican, or a Democrat, or an Anarchist, whether you’re Black or white or whatever, we really all need food,” she said. “In a way, it’s some of the best activism I’ve been involved in in my life.” @JoelleWittig jwittig@alligator.org
Gainesville community rallies to stop discriminatory evictions THE ALACHUA COUNTY LABOR COALITION SAID THE COLLIER COMPANIES IS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST TENANTS WHO PAY RENT WITH HOUSING VOUCHERS
By Samuel Schaffer Alligator Staff Writer
Community members and advocates gathered downtown on the corner of North Main Street and NW Second Avenue on May 3 at 4:30 p.m. to protest what the Alachua County Labor Coalition calls discriminatory housing practices at Bivens Cove. About 25 people held signs and listened to speeches about housing issues in Gainesville. Protest leaders spoke about landlords prioritizing higher paying tenants and ignoring the needs of lower income families. The emphatic crowd clapped and hollered in agreement with the speakers outside of The Collier Companies office until about 6 p.m. “If you can’t cry about something like this, then you need to go back and look inside your soul and find out what happened,” Hugh Suggs, a 62-year-old Gainesville based author, said. Gail Johnson, a Gainesville City Commissioner, spoke to the crowd and expressed her support. “What is going on in this town when it comes to housing and evictions and non-renewal of leases is a
travesty, and it’s absolutely immoral,” she said. Sheila Payne, the ACLC co-chair, said the organization planned the protest in response to a recent situation at Bivens Cove — a Collier Companies apartment complex. She said some residents who pay rent with the assistance of vouchers sponsored by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development were not being allowed to renew their leases. This would be a violation of Gainesville Ordinance 190814, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on, among other things, “lawful source of income”. Payne was made aware of the situation by Sharon Burney, a 56-yearold Bivens Cove resident and program officer for the Council on Information and Library Resources, an organization that focuses on improving education. Burney’s 37-year-old daughter, Tamisha Ferguson, also lives at the complex. Burney said Ferguson moved there so she and her other daughter, who lives with Burney, could check on Ferguson often. Ferguson is on dialysis treatment for end-stage renal failure, which results in seizures, brain bleeding and other issues that landed her in the hospital from June until October last year. While there, she went in and out of a coma twice, Burney said. Ferguson pays $50 of her rent each month, and according to Payne, the rest of the $800 or more
is federally guaranteed to be paid through the HUD housing voucher program. Payne said there is a common narrative that residents who pay their rent with housing vouchers do not take good care of the property, and she believes that it is not true. In February, Ferguson received a notice that Bivens Cove was planning to remodel her apartment and she would not be allowed to renew her lease, Burney said. Ferguson has been a resident there for about five years. When Burney went to the office to ask about the situation, she said she was told that because they needed to remodel the unit, her daughter would have to move out. She said the resident manager also mentioned that Bivens Cove did not want to take outside sources of income anymore. According to a screenshot provided by Payne dated April 27, on the FAQ part of Biven Cove’s website, the complex stated they no longer accepted HUD or Section 8 housing, which is a direct violation of the ordinance. That part of the FAQ has since been removed after word spread about the situation. Burney said her daughter is represented by Three Rivers Legal Services, and it was not until they intervened that Bivens Cove said Ferguson would be allowed to renew her lease. Payne said she knew of six other
residents who use housing vouchers at Bivens Cove who were also told they would not be allowed to renew their lease. They are all veterans. It was not until many members of the community contacted The Collier Companies and the protest was scheduled that Bivens Cove notified those residents that they will be allowed to renew their leases.
Neither Bivens Cove or The Collier Companies responded to multiple requests, both in person and over the phone, for comment. “As a mother, it is my job to fight as hard for her life as she fought twice to stay alive,” Burney said. @samschaf_ s.schaffer@ufl.edu
Julia Coin // Alligator Staff
Hugh E. Suggs, 62, a Gainesville homeowner and author, protests outside of The Collier Company office in downtown Gainesville on Monday, May 3, 2021. Suggs was joined by about 25 other people protesting their landlords’ tendency to prioritize higher paying tenants and ignore the needs of lower income families.
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St. Francis House is a homeless shelter located in downtown Gainesville. Our mission is to empower families with children to transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency by providing case management, housing, food, training and educational resources in a secure environment. If interested in volunteering please contact the volunteer coordinator at 352-378- 9079 ext 317 or sfhcoor@stfrancis.cfcoxmail.com St Francis House depends on monetary support from individual donors and community businesses in order to provide meals to the homeless and the hungry. To make a donation by mail, please send checks payable to St. Francis House P.O. Box 12491 Gainesville Fl 32604 or our website at Stfrancishousegnv.org
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HIRING home/office/apartment cleaners(m-f and every other sat). Day and night shifts available. Must own a car. weekly pay $10.00/hr. if interested please call 352-214-0868. 8-15-21-13-15
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20 Events/Notices NOTICE OF PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLAN OF THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION FOR THE GAINESVILLE URBANIZED AREA
The Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization for the Gainesville Urbanized Area will consider revisions to its Public Involvement Plan at its Monday, June 21, 2021 meeting at 5:00 p.m. in the Jack Durrance Auditorium, Alachua County Administration Building, 12 SE 1st Street, Gainesville, Florida. The Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization for the Gainesville Urbanized Area is inviting interested persons to review and comment on these proposed revisions at this meeting. The Public Involvement Plan document may be viewed at the following website (www.ncfrpc.org/mtpo) and at the Alachua County Library District Branches within the Gainesville Metropolitan Area and at its staff office, 2009 NW 67th Place, Gainesville, Florida 32653 if they are open to the public. For further information, call 352.955.2200. 5-10-21-1-20
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ship after perishing in a crash during practice at the Italian Grand Prix? 4. Opening in 1900, The Hawthorns stadium has been home to what English Premier League football club? 5. What Tanzanian basketball star played for the University of Connecticut Huskies and was picked No. 2 overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2009 NBA Draft? 6. Gino Cappelletti, American Football League MVP in 1964, had his No. 20 jersey retired by what NFL team? 7. Who founded a company that began manufacturing ice-resurfacing machines for skating rinks in Paramount, California, in 1949?
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ScrabbleGrams solution
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MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 www.alligator.org/sports
FEATURE
Why so serious?: How Kadarius Toney and Yung Joka coexist RAP HELPS THE FORMER GATORS WIDE RECEIVER FOCUS ON FOOTBALL
By Payton Titus Sports Writer
Kadarius Toney once played a Pop Warner football game wearing three socks on a single foot. Angela Williams, 51, said her son sliced his foot open while playing with his dad when he was 7 or 8 years old. After doctors stitched him up, she prepared him for the possibility of not playing that weekend. “I was like, ‘Kadarius, let your coach know that you won’t be in Saturday,’” Williams said. “No, he put on three pairs of socks. He still went to the game.” Toney sheathed his wound under those socks. The quarterback refused to abandon his teammates. He found love on the gridiron with his tiny 6-year-old fingers cushioned between the football’s white laces. His father, Dana Toney, said his son was born to play the game. Toney, now a 22-year-old wide receiver, finished his career as a Florida Gator in December when his team lost the SEC Championship game against Alabama despite his best efforts. He was drafted by the New Y o r k
Giants on April 29 with the 20th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. Off the field, though, Toney is a poet and a musician. As “Yung Joka,” his rap alias, he allows his creativity and emotions to run as wild and free as he does between the endzones. While questions circulate around his loyalty to the game, it’s clear Toney’s football fidelity is undeniable. “I’m using my talent, do things you can’t even imagine.” (“Sum 2 Prove,” Warrior II, 2021) Shoulder and shin injuries plagued two of Toney’s first three seasons as a Gator. But he exploded during the final game of his third regular season against the Florida State Seminoles when he juked fellow Reese’s Senior Bowl invitee Hamsah Nasirildeen so hard the defensive back tore his ACL. Toney gained 47 yards on that play. The 2020 season saw Toney become one of three FBS players with a rushing, receiving and punt return touchdown. He led Florida with 70 receptions for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games. In his last home game against LSU, Toney recorded a season-high 182 receiving yards, with his longest catch coming at 49 yards. Peering through unusually dense fog in The Swamp, he darted through throngs of opposing players, finessed his way down the field and owned all 100 yards of real estate between the pylons. When the clock hit zero and the Tigers won by three, he made his way to the middle of the field. He knelt down inside the Gator head logo, pressing his fist into the turf and holding his head in his h a n d . After a surreal senior
Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff
Kadarius Toney, wearing his signature "Joka" chain, throws up a peace sign and smiles for the camera at the Gators' homecoming game versus Auburn on Oct. 5, 2019. AlligatorSports has a podcast. The AlligatorSports Podcast releases episodes every Wednesday and can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your other preferred streaming platform.
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season, he finally felt certain of what his father learned when his son was just 6 years old: Kadarius Toney was preordained to play football. “I guess it really came out my senior year,” Toney said. “Everything just felt different.” “Tryna see me, and they wanna see confidence.” (“Tyedie,” MillionDollarJokez, 2019) When Toney was in high school, children from the area attended his games and would rush the chain-link fence hoping to meet him. “They would call, ‘KT! KT!’ And he would shake their hand,” Williams said about her youngest child. “He’s just humble. Always has been.” Lev Holly, Toney’s coach at Mattie T. Blount High School in Eight Mile, Alabama, met Toney in 2015 and is grateful for the opportunity to have coached the then-quarterback. He appreciated Toney’s parents trusting him enough to mentor their son. “He poured his heart and soul, and I think he’s reaping that benefit now,” Holly said. “Because he gave a lot to this program, a lot to this school and did a lot for this community.” He believes Toney’s good upbringing contributed to his outstanding leadership qualities and work ethic as the team’s leader under center. “I think that anytime that you have mom and dad in your life, I think that’s a positive. And I see (the opposite) a lot in this area — dads are in their lives, but dad’s not there,” Holly said. Armed with his parents’ positive influence, Toney commanded the huddle in high school, Holly said. In honor of his leadership and drive, Blount High School retired Toney’s No. 4 jersey at a pep rally on Jan. 29. Holly called the decision a “no-brainer,” citing Toney’s high school stats — which include nearly 6,500 passing yards, almost 1,800 rushing yards and exactly 100 total touchdowns during his two final seasons — and explaining how he paved the way for future recruits at his alma mater. “He would come around, speak to (the players), give them words of encouragement,” Holly said. “And that’s what you want in a kid that’s done it all, that’s done it right.” The next day, Toney played in the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl set in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama. He earned wide receiver of the week honors on the American team. “You scrape from the surface, I dig a little deeper.” (“Eirene,” Warrior, 2019) Ahead of the draft, some NFL scouts weaponized Toney’s passion for rap to question whether he’s committed enough to play professional ball. “He actually has, like, two (recorded) albums and three additional singles,” one scout told Bob McGinn at The Athletic. “It’s a concern whether he has enough commitment to do it at this level with all the stuff he has going on.” “Music seems to be his passion, more so than football,” another scout added. Toney first flirted with music in middle school, pounding on tables in the cafeteria and classroom. He started formally rapping almost three years ago, releasing his first single, “Fat
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Rue,” in 2019. As of May, Yung Joka is a verified artist on Spotify with 6,837 monthly listeners. His songs have over 56,000 views on YouTube. Holly, his high school coach, grew exasperated reading these reviews of his former player. After all, NBA and NFL figureheads like Kobe Bryant, Damian Lillard (known to his listeners as Dame D.O.L.L.A.) and even Deion Sanders recorded rap albums during their respective athletic careers (although LL Cool J reportedly talked Bryant out of releasing his gangsta rap album “K.O.B.E.” after the all-star played it for him). “As his high school coach and a father figure in his life, did I like that? No, I didn’t, ‘cause I don’t think it’s fair,” Holly said. “And me, personally, I think it’s stereotyping.” Holly felt Toney was singled out and criticized because of stigmas surrounding Black culture and rap music. He doesn’t see a difference between Toney pursuing a rap career off the field and another athlete wanting to play the game while also running a business. “When I first saw that, it was jaw dropping. It was eye opening,” Holly said. “And as his coach, I didn’t respond at the time, but I would love to talk to that reporter.” While the anonymous scouts flagged Toney’s rap career as cause for concern, he feels music keeps him disciplined. Rapping clears his mind, allowing his worries and distractions to fall away. Every bar, every bass drop lightens his load. Then he can focus on football. “It gave me something to do outside of football instead of going to the club,” Toney said. “It’s really a balance.” “All them people that I lost, it still hurt me.” (“Don’t Give Up,” SplitWorld, 2020) Football has always been Toney’s No. 1 priority, Williams said. So her son’s budding rap career initially took her by surprise. Williams believes her son’s love affair with music came after his childhood friend, Ja’Christopher McCants, died in a car crash in 2018, shortly after Toney started at UF. The two knew each other since they were 5 years old, Williams said, and played football together in high school. Rap was how Toney worked through the loss. Charnesia Lumpkin, Toney’s 24-year-old girlfriend, said he doesn’t talk about McCants often because it hurts too much. “That was his right hand,” she said. “When he lost (McCants), he felt like he lost a part of him.” Lumpkin and Toney weren’t dating when McCants died, so she doesn’t know too much about their relationship. She said they started making music together, and after the crash, Toney began taking rap more seriously. Some days, she said, he closes himself in his room for two, three, four hours just to write music. Read the rest online at alligator.org/ sports
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