Tuesday, May 28, 2024

UF dining hall workers struggle after sudden layoffs by campus food provider

Employees left jobless and uncertain, relying on unemployment benefits and food stamps amid poor communication

By Grace McClung Alligator Staff Writer

Robin Lalande has fed students in UF’s dining halls for years, but now she’s struggling to feed herself.

She and several other employees of Chartwells Higher Education, UF’s campus food provider, are relying on unemployment benefits and food stamps after sudden mass layoffs earlier this month.

The layoffs, which affected 63 associates according to Florida Fresh Dining District Marketing Director Courtland Thomas, came as a shock to those who assumed they’d still have a job during the summer.

Thomas said nearly 800 associates work during the academic year. Only 297, or about one-third of associates from the Spring semester, are currently working Summer A. That number will change based on summer enrollment fluctuations.

Employees were not aware they would be out of a job until May 3 when they received their layoff letters, which was also their last day of work for the Spring semester. They expected to return for Summer A or B, but the late notice left them scrambling to make up for the income loss.

It takes two to four weeks after filing an unemployment claim to receive a payment and up to 30 days to process a food assistance

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J.C. Deacon leads Gators golf to NCAA. Read more on pg. 11.

application. Without adequate time to prepare for a jobless summer, many workers are facing weeks without a paycheck.

“I feel like it’s a kick in my face,” Lalande, one of the former Broward Hall supervisors, said. “I don’t have a check. Now I gotta sit back and wonder, how am I really going to get paid? How are you going to eat? It’s not right.”

Lalande said she wasn’t supposed to be laid off at all. She and other employees expected to have a job at Cravings Campus Kitchen but learned May 1 the dining location would be closed for the summer. According to Lalande, even Cravings’ executive chef was in the dark about Chartwells’ layoffs and closures until the last minute.

“There’s no communication between corporate and their employees,” she said. “It’s a mess.”

The layoff letter, provided by Lalande, cited a lack of work as the reasoning for the layoffs and told employees they would be required to attend a return-to-work orientation at the beginning of August.

But many employees can’t wait that long. Lalande said more drastic measures will be taken if Chartwells doesn’t listen to their complaints.

“We’re not being heard,” she said. “If push comes to shove, if necessary, we will end up doing a protest.”

Robin Stewart, the director

SEE CHARTWELLS, PAGE 4

Prison reintegration program aids formerly incarcerated amid lack of known resources

ALACHUA COUNTY RANKS NO. 12 IN FLORIDA RETURNING CRIMINALS RATES

By Lee Ann Anderson Alligator Staff Writer

For formerly incarcerated people, transitioning back to civilian life can be difficult, whether it’s finding a job that will take them or finding housing. Released Reentry hopes to close that gap.

Launched in 2023, Released Reentry aims to help formerly incarcerated people through substance use workshops, shared housing, housing and employment resources, individualized mental health treatment plans and therapy groups.

Alachua County ranked No. 12 in 2018 Florida county-

The Avenue: La Selva Art Children create multimedia, pg. 6

Caimán:Restaurantes Latinos

Enfrentan desafíos estacionales, pg. 7

level recidivism rates, according to a 2022 recidivism report. The Florida Department of Corrections describes recidivism as a return to prison by recommitting or violating probation within three years of initial release.

Alachua County Court Services Assistant Director Joe Lipsey attributed the issue to the high student and homeless populations in Gainesville.

“Some of them find themselves away from their parents for the first time,” he said. “We have pockets of low-income residents who may be involved in some criminal activity or substance dependency or homelessness.”

Lipsey said Alachua County court services provide enough resources, including county probation, a reporting program, mental health court and veterans

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Florida Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

Ashley C. Hicks // Alligator Staff

A participant is guided during an Underground Kitchen cooking class on Saturday, May 25, 2024.

Read more on pg. 2.

SEE PRISON, PAGE 5

Today’s Weather

Youth cooking class connects Gainesville community to the culinary industry

INTERNS AGED 12 TO 18 LEARN COOKING SKILLS AND RESTAURANT OPERATIONS

By Sara-James Ranta Alligator Staff Writer

In the heart of Gainesville, a grassroots culinary program is doing more than just teaching kids how to cook.

Chef Empowerment’s Underground Kitchen Cooking Class works with ages 12 to 18 to combine skills such as sauteing, chopping, dicing and meat preparation. This year, each community class is hosted at Gainesville Housing Authority (GHA) properties including Horizon Sunset, Eastwood Meadows, Lake Terrace and Woodland Park.

Groups within each class get their own supplies and hot plates to learn to cook a meal step-bystep.

The program is made through the collaboration of Chef Empowerment’s Underground Kitchen, the GHA and The Links, Inc.

Freddie Jones, the GHA lead resident service specialist, has worked with the organization for two years. GHA is a not-for-profit providing affordable housing to low-income families in Alachua County.

The youth cooking classes originally started at Horizon Sunset as one Saturday every month in October, November and December of 2023, but the organizations aim to schedule them more frequently in 2024, Jones said.

The goal was to “spread the love” and have the youth gain a quality experience with quality food, he said.

“The youth have the experience to cook their own food and try the food that they cook,” Jones said.

Woodland Park hosted the latest class May 25, featuring knife skills, sauteing and food presentation. The class was a taste of a larger intern program for kids ages 12-16 called Chef Empowerment.

Culinary lessons are an important connection to an industry he doesn’t often see in low-income communities, Jones said.

“I just didn’t see a lot of those things growing up,” he said. “They’re afforded an opportunity that they may not even see for themselves.”

Cesar Uriel Cruz, a 14-yearold program participant, learned how to dice vegetables during the course, which he said sparked his

interest in the culinary industry.

“I think I had fun talking to other people [most],” Cruz said.

Chef Empowerment Executive Director Carl Watts said the community-based organization offers mentorship and employment to interns and “at-risk youth.”

Watts’ Underground Kitchen is known for its Southern African American style dishes, featuring creations ranging from blackened catfish to creole shrimp and grits. He posts a daily updated menu to his Instagram page.

Before venturing into the culinary world, the 32-year-old Gainesville resident was a gang intervention specialist with the Gainesville Police Department’s Black-on-Black crime task force, where he specialized in crisis intervention and life skill development. His law enforcement background makes him more observant working with interns daily, he said.

Watts described “at-risk youth” as the circumstances or conditions that negatively impact a child’s academic or social success, including income, ethnicity and other demographics.

He finds himself befriending the interns and relays ways to support them to their parents. Keeping a close eye on them ensures they’re going in the right direction, he said.

“It’s not just about the food,” Watts said. “We have to build up the kids.”

During the pandemic, Chef Empowerment and Underground Kitchen aimed to support community partners like the Working Food Community Center to provide meals for families in need and lay the groundwork for the current youth cooking classes, he said.

Chef Empowerment currently has four interns participating in the youth chef leadership program in collaboration with the Working Food Community Center, and he said an additional 13 are employed by Underground Kitchen.

“The catch with youth is that you have to make this fun,” Watts said.

The Chef Empowerment program teaches interns everything from soups and sauces to baking and desserts.

The most important aspect of Watt’s teaching is nutrition science, he said. Underground Kitchen owns an acre farm in Alachua and a garden on restaurant property, which he said supplies the

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restaurant with ingredients that change with the seasons.

“My days are sometimes so stressful as a chef,” Watts said. “In the morning, it allows me to be in the garden, have some peace.”

Watts’ said morning gardening helps him “make a connection with the food,” emphasizing the respect interns gained from the farm-to-table experience.

“You didn't value it until you had to be out in the sun,” he said. “The goal should be to respect the product that you're giving people and to also create a journey from that seed to the table. That journey should end on the plate.”

Underground Kitchen is currently pickup only, but plans to add a dining area to the property by the end of this year that would provide a space for youth to learn hospitality and restaurant operations, Watts said.

Florida Bridgewater-Alford is the immediate past president of The Links, Inc., an international not-for-profit committed to enriching African American culture through friendship, with a chapter in Gainesville. She has worked with the organization for 13 years.

In March, The Links had a Black family wellness fair, featuring free mammograms, blood pressure checks and Zumba classes.

The Links partnered with Carl Watts in 2023 looking for ways to improve the health of local communities, she said.

“The health of a community is really measured, I think, by sort of the physical, the mental, the environmental and social wellbeing,” she said.

The Links’ theme this year is “fight like a link,” mirroring their overall goals for improving health disparities such as food insecurity. A community is stronger with collaboration, she said.

“We have to do this together,” Bridgewater-Alford said.

@sarajamesranta sranta@alligator.org

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TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2024

www.alligator.org/section/opinions

Blood in the water: A lesson in homogeneity

My name is Anghelo Josh Gangano. My parents gave me a Western middle name as a tribute to one of my white American grandfathers. Both my mother and father grew up as orphans from their respective countries, South Korea and the Philippines, and were adopted by American families as children. My entire life I have been told, “Your middle name doesn’t match,” and I used to be ashamed of it. I even used to wish I had a more Western first name to fit in. I have served many roles at UF over the past several years: an organic chemistry teaching assistant, a graduate student senator, the club tennis treasurer and a Graduate Assistants United officer, but first and foremost, I am Asian American. I can choose my profession and my politics, but I will never be able to choose my ethnicity. As a chemist, I would like you to engage in this brief scientific thought experiment. Imagine a homogenous mixture, a combination of particles

that is uniform throughout, such as the blood in your body. Now imagine you have a nosebleed, and you lean over a sink full of water. The blood will disperse throughout the water and change from dark red to bright red to pink as it gets less and less concentrated. The sink now contains a homogeneous solution of blood and water. Chemists love to work with homogenous solutions because they are predictable, well-behaved, obedient. But while it might be ideal for chemical reactions, homogeneity poses significant risks to our society.

If our society was homogenous, with a uniform distribution of thoughts and beliefs, how would we challenge each other to do something never done before? How would we break the sound barrier or eradicate disease? How would we grow?

How would we fall in love with new food or music? How would we learn to be kinder to one another? A homogenous society does not provide room for thoughts or ideas that chal-

lenge the status quo.

I love teaching students who disagree with me. It is a beautiful battle of logic, reasoning and peerreviewed citations, waged to convince students of complex concepts that may be counterintuitive at first glance. A student’s background, ethnicity, beliefs, religion, sexuality, priorities, value system and life experiences all contribute to how they as an individual view the world and the classroom, and exposure to a diversity of these viewpoints is critical for learning. If all my students and peers and I were to think and act the same, we would rarely learn anything new, about ourselves or about the universe.

These days, I worry that the values of diversity are coming under fire, and that Asian Americans are situated among those most vulnerable to the fallout. I sense that others worry about this too.

In just the last couple of years, how many laws have been enacted that prevent Asian Americans and

other minority groups from being welcomed into this university, city or state?

In the 2022-2023 school year, Florida led the nation with the most book bans from public schools and libraries. One of the most cited subject matters included “themes of race or racism”.

In 2023, UF bans students and postdoctoral candidates from seven “countries of concern.” China and North Korea make the list.

In 2023, UF bans the use of several internationally-owned apps from campus Wi-Fi and campus systems, including Chinese-owned WeChat and TikTok.

In 2023, Florida bans Chinese citizens from purchasing land in Florida, and imposes fines for realtors or landowners who sell to Chinese citizens illegally.

In 2024, UF bans all DEI programs and faculty, leaving dozens jobless and pulling 5 million dollars out of DEI initiatives.

I have always believed diversity is my strongest trait. To be Korean, Filipino and American has provided me with experiences and opportunities that I cherish. It should be cele-

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Alligator.

brated, not shunned, and while it’s getting harder to do, I try to wear all my names with pride.

Anghelo Gangano opinions@alligator.org

I have heard international students worry about their visa status, about “how long until I’m not allowed here anymore.” I have heard professors who are frustrated because they cannot recruit top talent for fear of retribution by the state. I am worried this environment of anti-Asian sentiment will generate hate not unlike the hate we observed in the wake of COVID-19: 40% of Asian -Americans reported they personally know someone who was attacked or threatened because of their race following the pandemic.

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

Anghelo Josh Gangano is a Chemistry PhD candidate at UF.

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Gainesville law enforcement, researchers weigh the impact of rising online scams

Florida ranked third in national internet crime in 2023

By Lee Ann Anderson Alligator Staff Writer

When 80-year-old Richard Thomas got a call from his grandson from jail asking for $5,000, he told his son, Ernest Thomas. Thomas immediately began the drive to Gainesville from his home in Miami to grab his son.

There was only one problem: the grandson, 21-year-old UF student Nathan Thomas, wasn’t in jail. He was studying in his room and never called his grandfather.

“My grandfather got a call from somebody who sounded like me,” he said.. “It wasn't me…my grandpa told him to ask my dad for money.,” he said.

Richard Thomas narrowly avoided falling for a scam call, one of many fraud techniques seemingly growing in the digital age. In 2023, over 40,000 people reported online scams in Florida. From online investment to malware, Floridians lost millions last year, according to an FBI internet crime report.

The FBI ranked Florida third in internet crimes reported and subsequent monetary losses amassed in the nation. The state suffered $874 million in losses from cybercrime, almost $30 million more than the previous year, according to the 2022 and 2023 FBI internet crime reports.

Gainesville also ranked 50th in fraud rates, including online scams, for metropolitan areas out of the 374 total in the U.S., and submitted over 4,000 reports of fraud last year, according to the 2023 Federal Trade Commission databook.

UF psychology professor Natalie Ebner said people 65 and older are more susceptible to certain

scams due to a lack of internet savviness, making Florida’s large older adult population a contributor to its high rank in related crimes.

Older adults made up 21% of Florida’s population in 2021, which was the second-highest concentration of residents 65 and older in the country, according to the Population Reference Bureau.

Adults 60 and older lost over $290 million last year, the highest quantity out of every other age demographic, according to a 2023 internet crime state report. The U.S. Department of Justice found that only 15% of these offenses are reported annually.

“There is a lot of shame with being scammed, particularly among older adults who already feel like they are cognitively declining and people have low opinions about their abilities,” Ebner said.

The lack of reporting due to personal embarrassment leaves law enforcement agencies unaware of the high threat level, she said.

“They’re holding back information about being victimized,” Ebner said. “It’s really hard for agencies to basically come in and take down the scam if they are not even aware this is happening.”

Nick Ferrera, a Gainesville Police Department financial crimes unit detective sergeant, said when people are scammed online, local law enforcement like GPD struggles with a lack of resources.

“There's so much anonymity to see where that money goes,” he said. “You have to use these tools that cost a lot of money to use that the police department doesn't have money for.”

Campus layoffs

CHARTWELLS, from pg. 1

of administration and finance at UF Business Services, said layoffs are typical in the summer due to the decrease in campus traffic. She also said UF Business Services tries to notify employees about layoffs as early as April.

Decisions about who stays and who leaves are made in partnership with UF based on skill set, work performance, preference and the length of time employees have been with the company, according to Stewart.

She also said employees are made aware of the summer layoff program during onboarding. The program allows employees to continue receiving medical benefits and file for unemployment, and it offers “a guaranteed return to their position when classes resume in the Fall,” Stewart said. Lalande, who didn’t receive a layoff letter until May 16, said she and others expected there to be some layoffs in the

A lot of cybercrime happens overseas, which Ferrera said is a limiting factor for local agencies that can’t afford to send personnel out of the country, therefore leading them to seek federal organizations like the FBI.

Even when cybercrime is reported, he said federal investigations don’t take place unless a large sum of money is lost.

“It’s usually in the several hundreds of thousands if not into the millions,” Ferrera said.

The most common scams in Gainesville include those involving threats of legal action for fabricated offenses including missing

jury duty, unpaid traffic tickets and found DNA, he said.

Scammers reside in different parts of the internet, which he said can range from dating websites to career-oriented platforms like LinkedIn.

Marilyn Horta, a UF social cognition and aging research scientist, works with Ebner to analyze decision-making among older people. She found scammers commonly play on the loneliness of people, particularly in older individuals.

“They’re relying on their initial impressions more,” Horta said. “That has the potential to increase their susceptibility to deception and specific scams that

are trying to tap into their connections with other people.”

Horta said her and Ebner’s work focuses on older adults, and they aim to translate deception risk into policy development and other effective methods to mitigate the rising scam threat.

For Nathan and Richard Thomas, the scam call was close but unsuccessful.

“It's insidious that these people target the elderly, who are the most vulnerable to this, that we really should be making sure that those people have access to better resources to improve their media literacy,” Nathan Thomas said.

@LeeAnnJOU landerson@alligator.org

summer but had never heard of a layoff program.

Susan Paez, a food service worker who’s worked at UF since 2012, was also unaware of a layoff program. She said it’s unclear what employment in the Fall will look like even with a guaranteed return.

According to Paez, her manager warned her of tighter Fall hours. Now she’s wondering if she should look for another job.

“Everything’s hanging in the balance,” she said. “We don’t know if we’re coming back. We don’t know what we’re doing.”

But Paez said leaving UF is the last thing she wants to do. To her and many other dining service employees who have invested years into the university and its students, it’s more than just a job.

“I love what I do because of the students,” she said. “If I have to leave that, it’s really hard.”

With only six weeks left of unemployment benefits, Paez said she’s struggling to make it to July.

“I also have to survive at my household here, so I may have to make that bad choice of finding another job, and I shouldn’t have to,” she said.

Paez also expressed her disappointment for the students. Between frequent food shortages and short-staffed dining halls, she said it’s the students who pay the price.

UF, which partnered with Chartwells in 2022 after ending the 13-year contract with the previous food provider, Aramark, is not the only school that has been affected by Chartwells policies and practices.

Chartwells, a subsidiary of Compass Group, has a history of scandals. The company was forced to pay millions of dollars to New York and Washington, D.C. in 2012 and 2015 respectively for school catering quality issues and financial mismanagement. In 2014, a Connecticut high school boycotted its Chartwells lunches. In 2020, NYU students were appalled by subpar quarantine meal deliveries. And in 2021, Chartwells was involved in a UK controversy surrounding free school meals.

Chartwells may already be in hot water at UF. According to Paez, 20 evening shift employees walked out mid-shift at Gator Corner April 20 because they were shortstaffed. She said promises to hire more people were made but never honored. After the walkout, operations returned to

normal, and employees were told not to speak about it.

“The employees, especially during the night, they’ve been crying out for help,” Paez said. “It’s all hush-hush.”

She blamed Chartwells’ management for the employees’ silence. Stewart said UF Business Services is not aware of a walkout.

Theresa Parsons, a food service worker who has worked on campus for nearly 20 years, said attempts to take grievances to HR have been futile and a petition they drafted in the fall with other employees went nowhere.

She, Lalande and Paez are now spearheading the fight against Chartwells. They hope they can convince the company to sit down and talk with their employees.

“We’re in limbo,” Parsons said.

“We need to get the word out,” Robin Lalande said. “They’re really not doing their employees right.”

@gracenmcclung

gmcclung@alligator.org

Nicole Borman // Alligator Staff

Reentry help

court, but the formerly incarcerated don’t take advantage of them.

However, Alachua County Jail Director Jeff Cloutier said the county programs are not properly advertised.

“I think we need to do a better job collaborating and trying to make sure that all resources are in the same room so that we know what's available,” Cloutier said.

Released Reentry Founder Emily Westerholm was formerly incarcerated herself decades prior. She created the program due to the lack of reentry support in Alachua County for people released from prison, which she said contributes to high recidivism rates.

In 2018, the Alachua County recidivism rate was 29.2%, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. This rate surpasses the statewide rate of 21.2%.

People who’ve been incarcerated on burglary, sexual offenses and robbery were also more likely to be rearrested in Florida.

“I knew that there was a gap in services here,” Westerholm said.

With the reintegration program, Westerholm aims for a 2 to 5% reduction in county returning criminal rates.

The 49-year-old Gainesville resident said she wants to navigate people in the right direction, as readjustment can often be a large transition. People participating in the program don’t transform overnight, Westerholm said.

“People get overwhelmed when they come home. There's a lot of trauma, so sometimes they need another voice,” she said. “You really need to meet people where they are when they're coming home and try to empower them.”

Released Reentry aims to meet this goal by supplying resources for social security cards

and food stamps, which allows for personal employment and housing advocacy. These plans are individualized to meet each participant’s specific needs, Westerholm said.

For the past 10 years, Alachua County's incarceration rate has surpassed the state incarceration rate, and it also had the 11th highest poverty rate among Florida counties in 2022, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Incarceration rates correspond with poverty levels, Westerholm said.

Just Income GNV, an income pilot guaranteeing income for the formerly incarcerated, was launched in 2021. The program awarded an initial $1,000 to those selected and $600 thereafter for a year, according to a Just Income GNV news release.

“Despite diminished economic opportunities, justice-impacted people are often required to pay fines and fees for probation, mandatory classes, court costs, and electronic monitoring, to name a few. An inability to pay fines and fees can result in reincarceration — effectively criminalizing poverty,” according to the news release.

Around two in ten Alachua County residents lived below the poverty line in 2022, according to the Florida Department of Health.

“Alachua County has a really, really high poverty rate,” Westerholm said. “A lot of times when people are poor and struggling, they want to survive.”

Released Reentry volunteer Leonides Morales has volunteered with the program for roughly three months.

Formerly incarcerated in Pennsylvania for 24 years, Morales now assists Westerholm and works alongside other justice-impacted participants of the program, which he said provides them with direction.

Readjusting following incarceration is difficult, Morales said, but having access to people with similar experiences makes the reentry process clearer.

“It’s a little easier when you talk to someone who’s already been through that,” he said.

While some people can readjust after serving time, others have been too impacted by prison life to succeed, Morales said. Of the approximate 100 participants in the program, he said most come willingly with hopes of learning to navigate life beyond incarceration, while others have been encouraged by parole officers.

“People have to want it for themselves,” he said. “So I can help and help and help someone, but until they're ready to help themselves, it will never fully take its toll.”

Participants of the program must remain consistent with attending meetings and utilizing the program’s resources, Morales said.

Released Reentry sends participants to Three Rivers Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm that does pro bono work to help formerly incarcerated people have their former charges expunged.

Felonies and misdemeanors can create barriers to housing and employment, and removing those charges from a person’s record can help them with a fresh start, according to the TRLS website.

Volunteering was a wonderful experience, Morales said, and he hopes to pay it forward to people starting the process at square one. With those Morales worked with, he said he noticed major improvements in their demeanor and confidence.

“If you see us guys, don't be scared to talk to us,” he said. “We're here to help.”

@LeeAnnJOU landerson@alligator.org

UF briefly removes Lavender, Black Cultural Living Learning Communities from housing website and application

STUDENTS SUSPECT THE SINCE-REINSTATED REMOVALS ARE LINKED TO ANTI-DEI LEGISLATION

By Timothy Wang Alligator Staff Writer

As a transgender man, Brooke Clayton’s first preference on the housing application was the Springs Complex, the only UF dorm that offers gender neutral housing through the Lavender Living Learning Community. Then, his preference disappeared from the application May 7 — a week before he had to submit it.

“That was actually one of the reasons why I ended up committing to UF,” said Clayton, a 17-year-old incoming UF mechanical engineering freshman. “It was safer than my other options.”

The Lavender LLC and the Black Cultural LLC, located in Graham Hall, disappeared from the UF housing website on the same day. Clayton and other students said they think the removal of both LLCs could be related to legislation banning funding of diversity, equity and inclusion programs at state universities, which has left the future of diversity-related initiatives like LLCs and the Center for Multicultural Engagement unclear.

Clayton said he was scared when the LLC vanished. He sent multiple emails to housing about the LLC’s status. After receiving no answer, he called housing twice only to be met with confusion.

“I was considering taking a gap year because housing was one of my biggest fears, especially since I plan on medically transitioning in the fall,” he said. “I feel like unless I have another LGBTQ roommate, they won't truly understand what I'm going through.”

Clayton said when his housing appointment came May 20, there were no more seats left in Springs. If he couldn’t get into Lavender, Clayton said he wouldas choosesing Honors Village. In the meantime, he said he plans to keep calling housing.

Hannah Farrell, the spokesperson for the Division of Student Life, wrote in an email the LLCs were taken down May 7 and were put back up May 20. Students can now express interest for them ahead of the next academic year, Farrell said.

She did not respond to The Alligator’s questions about why the Lavender and Black Cultural LLCs were temporarily removed.

Ryan Wilder, a former Student Government Senator and UF alumnus who co-wrote a 2020 resolution calling for the creation of an LGBTQ Living Learning Community, said Lavender’s removal from the website and application was “spineless,” and suspected their temporary removal was a preemptive response to state laws.

“We're continuously moving backwards in the state and at the university and continuing to placate our governor and all the things that he wants to turn the state and the university into,” Wilder said.

“You're fully going backwards and that completely erases people's community.”

Sen. Allan Rivera-Jaramillo (Independent-Keys-Springs) said he got to mmeet residents from the Lavender LLC and knows many students who personally benefited from living there. He said Lavender’s removal and the university’s silence on its future was worrying.

“I'm really concerned for the future if this is a trend that we're expected to see from the university,” he said.

He said he will keep discussing this with other senators and is looking to see if there is a way to advocate for the LLC through a Senate resolution.

Unlike the two LLCs, the Center for Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement is mostly state-funded with 85% of its 2022-2023 operating budget coming from the state. This has made the status of the center, dedicated to engaging LGBTQ+, Asian, Desi, Pacific Islander, Black and Hispanic students, more unclear under the anti-DEI law. The center’s website has been down since May 2.

Rivera-Jaramillo said he volunteers at the center as the executive coordinator for the Horizons transition program, which provides resources for incoming LGBTQ+ students. He said Horizons and other transition programs have been told to pause operations until they hear back from “other departments.”

“It's a little bit unnerving cause then we don't know what the future of the program is,” Rivera-Jaramillo

said. “I just hope that UF makes the right decision.”

The Daily Signal, a conservative news outlet, reported April 29 that a Board of Governors spokesperson said the center is being reviewed to see if it violated a state law passed last year barring public institutions from funding DEI programs.

Another Board of Governors spokesperson declined to provide The Alligator any further information on the review.

Farrell, the Division of Student Life spokesperson, wrote the center is currently being updated “to ensure that every Gator is served by a diverse community that fosters trust and respect for every member.” She did not mention if the center’s updates were linked to the Lavender or Black Cultural LLC.

“Student Life is working with the General Counsel’s office to ensure that all programs and expenditures comply with state and federal nondiscrimination law,” she wrote.

Student Body Vice President Laura Thomas wrote in an email to The Alligator that she was reaching out to the UF administration to see why the center’s website is under construction. She also wrote that LLCs benefit all students by allowing them to meet others with similar interests and helping them feel comfortable at UF.

“The Black Cultural and Lavender LLCs create an opportunity for students to learn about both communities and their presence on campus which are so important now more than ever,” she wrote.

Tiffany Ross, a 20-year-old UF health science junior who lived in Graham Hall, said it seemed suspicious when the Black Cultural LLC was removed from the housing website and application.

Ross said LLCs help build communities and are safe spaces in a predominately white institution like UF, where about half of undergraduate students are white, according to the most recently available statistics from UF Institutional Planning and Research.

“Why were certain labels taken off, and some could stay? I feel like that wasn’t necessary,” she said.

Olivia Gayle, a 20-year-old UF microbiology and cell science junior who lived in the Black Cultural LLC during her freshman year, said she enjoyed the sense of community there.

“Sometimes you'd have dinner in the kitchen together, and you'd meet a lot of really cool and interesting people,” she said. “I think just from the LLC perspective, it was just really nice to sort of interact with people of similar backgrounds and similar culture for me when sometimes outside of my dorm, I didn't really get to see as many people like myself.”

Gayle said it was heartbreaking to find out that the LLC was removed from the website and housing application.

“I feel like it kind of comes as a result of this political climate that we have here in Florida,” she said.

@timothyw_g twang@alligator.org

Lee Ann Anderson // Alligator Staff

Released Reentry, a prison reintegration program, pictured on Friday, May 17, 2024.

TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2024

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Gainesville youth experiment, express views through end-of-year art show

LA SELVA ART STUDIOS HELD ITS END-OF-YEAR ART SHOW MAY 23, WITH OVER 100 PIECES ON DISPLAY

By Noor Sukkar Avenue Staff Writer

Coffee shop Curia On The Drag filled with laughter and chatter Thursday evening as kids ran around its gallery space showcasing their creations. Collages, self-portraits, sketchbooks and small magazines — all handmade by artists aged 8 to 14 — marked the culmination of their after-school program with La Selva Art Studios.

The art show was hosted May 23 from 6 to 8 p.m., and consisted of over 100 pieces worked on over the past school year. Parents, children and members of the community strolled around the walls, with each student’s portfolio displayed in sections. With refreshments provided on tables, the seats in the room slowly filled up.

Established in 2021, La Selva offers exploratory programming for kids to create outside the confines of a school classroom. Owner and art teacher Gianelle Rodriguez said she took a chance when she felt a need for a prominent youth art center in the community.

“If my kids wanted to take printmaking or drawing, where’s that place?” Rodriguez said.

With both sides of her family born and raised in Puerto Rico, she said she felt singled out being born and raised in Florida.

“When my late grandmother passed, there was this connection that

I really wanted to regain,” she said.

Selva Rodriguez, her grandmother, is the muse for the name of her studio. Her death coincided with the time Rodriguez, a former gator, returned to UF for a master’s degree.

“She taught me a lot about being self-reliant and independent,” she said. “Taking on that name, I’ve embodied that in my business.”

She graduated with a master’s in art education from UF in 2020, but was unsure of what she wanted out of her career path until the COVID-19 pandemic helped her decide.

“I think when you’re in a school setting, they automatically think that I want to be a teacher in a public school,” she said. “I was kind of questioning, ‘Do I really want to be in that environment?’ Then COVID hit, and it’s like, ‘No, you do not.’”

She wrote a business plan immediately after graduating. A fellow artist in the community was leaving Gainesville around that time and positioned Rodriguez in a newly vacant studio.

“I’ve got the studio and also the connection I wanted to bring in from my past and my ancestral lineage, connecting to my roots,” she said.

At the time, she had two children, which also shaped her decision.

“All of that kind of came together and I just went for it and opened up my studio.”

Her independent spirit not only shapes her path as an artist but also imprints on the youth who learn from her in the studio.

Olivia Veltheim, her 13-year-old daughter, flaunted blue eyeshadow and a fur beanie at the art show.

Films and movie characters are a central theme of Veltheim’s watercolor pieces. She also helped direct

and film “Detention Club, Revenge of Dolly,” a short movie the kids put together.

Veltheim also collaborated with her friend, 13-year-old Oona Björn, to make a feminist zine, a smaller pocket-book-like magazine. Titled “Raw Zine,” they were distributed at the show.

Björn’s art, which hung across the room from Veltheim’s, incorporated political themes using newspaper cutouts. One of her pieces depicting two girls explored how similarity can exist in opposites: one painted in pink and the other in blue.

Björn appreciates the studio’s freedom to create but also enjoys the more structured lessons Rodriguez teaches, like color theory and screen printing.

“When you’re in school, you’re kind of struggling. Am I going to get a good grade on this? What is my mom going to think if I get a bad grade on this assignment?” she said. “When you’re in the art group you can have free rein.”

Many parents recognize the limits that schools provide regarding self-exploration, Gianelle Rodriguez said. The short film depicted fake blood, traditionally mature themes and the occasional use of profanity by the kids.

The art show ended with a highly anticipated viewing of their movie. No laugh track was needed, and it earned a loud applause.

“I love having that space that’s there’s no judgment,” Rodriguez said. “You should be questioning and exploring all those things within yourself through art and creativity.”

Currently, her after-school program only caters to P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, where her

children go. Besides some interns and a couple of UF students who help out in the studio, Rodriguez’s business is mostly a one-woman show.

Nikki Kragiel, one of the three owners of Gainesville boutique AUK Market, connected her to the Curia manager to host the gallery. Their friendship dates back nearly five years when Rodriguez was one of the AUK Market’s first vendors. Kragiel’s 14-year-old daughter, Sophie Kragiel, attends the studio on Wednesdays and displayed her art at the show as well.

“My daughter says that she really likes to take art classes at her school, but you’re barely scratching the surface of each project,” Kragiel said. “With this type of instruction, she really gets to dig deep. It’s really just a super enriching program for them.”

La Selva’s after-school program offers pickup from school to her studio and nature excursions. Tuesday through Thursday, she holds two- to three-hour classes for different age groups, with any single group consisting of eight kids at a time. Now that school’s out, the studio is offering a five-week summer camp starting July 1.

In the future, Rodriguez hopes to be able to “take some of the hats” off of her head and expand into a bigger space.

“I just find that the kids being more embedded in the community and supported by community artists and community members feels very important,” she said.

@noorsukkarr nsukkar@alligator.org

Changing customers, higher costs: Gainesville’s evolving resale economy

THRIFT STORES SEE YOUNGER SHOPPERS, RISING PRICES

By Sabrina Castro Avenue Staff Writer

Searching racks of mismatched clothing for hidden treasures at thrift stores is a favorite pastime among Gainesville locals. The hobby is an outlet for sustainability, style and economic saving. The growing trend of shifting to thrifting in response to rising inflation rates has forced thrift stores in the area to raise their prices.

For Major Ernest Hull, the Gainesville Sal-

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vation Army director and commanding officer, college students comprise a large part of the growing thrifting community due to financial considerations.

“There are always a lot of college kids,” Hull said. “Particularly when they find out that every Saturday they get 20% off of their purchase because they are a big part of our community.”

College students aren’t the only ones suffering from financial stress amid a pricier economic landscape.

“Last year we increased our prices by about 6, 7%,” Hull said. “Look, we don’t want to overprice it, but we do have to be

Caimán:

able to keep the place open.”

Among the local treasure hunters is 23-year-old Rachel Edwards, a thrifter with over 10 years of experience. Edwards began thrifting out of necessity, she said.

“Growing up my mom was working three jobs and she couldn’t afford to buy me new clothes,” Edwards said. “The way we compensated for that was we would just go thrifting.”

Now, Edwards hunts at thrift stores to add unique pieces to her closet.

“For me, I enjoy the hunt, and some other people don’t,” she said. “But, for me I like the uniqueness of it. I also prefer vintage, for the

most part, and quality clothing.”

Style aside, Edwards said thrift stores allow her to shop sustainably and cost-effectively.

“It’s such a nice way to reuse what already exists without having to go out and buy new stuff,” she said. “Also you’re just saving money on top of that.”

Thrifting makes a fun hobby, and for some an even more fun side hustle.

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

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Armand Raichandani // Alligator Staff Venue-goers attend the La Selva event at Curia on the Drag on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

El Caimán

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Restaurantes latinos en Gainesville prosperan a pesar de los desafíos del cambio estacional

A PESAR DE LAS COMPLICACIONES DEL VERANO, RESTAURANTES LIDERANDO LA GASTRONOMÍA LATINA EN GAINESVILLE NO SE VEN AFECTADOS

Por Isabela Reinoso

Escritora de El Caimán

El verano en Gainesville trae consigo muchas complicaciones para restaurantes locales, desde el caluroso clima hasta la disminución de la población estudiantil.

Sin embargo, algunos restaurantes latinos en Gainesville como La Maracucha, El Porteñito y Peruvian Food Blessing parecen ser inmunes a estos cambios, ganando a su clientela que los mantiene en negocio sin importar los cambios estacionales.

Eros Puentes, dueño de La Maracucha, comentó que la razón de emprender su negocio latino en Gainesville fue la falta de restaurantes de su gastronomía en el 2020.

“Yo creo que la poca competencia que había en aquel entonces,” el expresó. “Ahora está un poco más difícil de comenzar.”

A pesar de sus comienzos en Miami y de su buena acogida, Puentes decidió moverse a Gainesville donde se sorprendió por el apoyo de sus clientes.

“Ahí tuvimos aún mejor recepción, incluso mejor de la que esperábamos”, dijo Puentes.

Hoy en día, La Maracucha opera en su locación física en University Avenue cerca de la UF gracias a la acogida rápida e inesperada que recibió en Gainesville.

Después de años de experiencia trabajadores de La Maracucha han aprendido a manejar su

inventario dependiendo las estaciones.

“Queremos perfeccionar lo que tenemos, queremos ser entre los mejores de nuestra industria en Gainesville”, dijo Puentes.

Residentes de la ciudad como Luisana Morales de Venezuela han notado los cambios y el crecimiento de estos restaurantes. Morales es una clienta frecuente de La Maracucha y ha sido testigo de su trayectoria en los últimos años desde el camión de comidas hasta su restaurante físico. Para ella, el crecimiento tiene sentido.

“[El restaurante] va a crecer mucho más porque la verdad todo es muy bueno”, dijo ella.

Sara Quito, dueña del restaurante Peruvian Food Blessing compartió razones similares para emprender con su restaurante.

“Aquí en Gainesville no hay restaurante

Su deseo de traer la gastronomía peruana a Gainesville la motivó a establecer su restaurante que rápidamente obtuvo una acogida por residentes y gente que visita la ciudad.

“A la gente le gusta mucho la comida peruana”, dijo Quito. “Gente que nos busca vienen manejando dos, tres horas para venir a comer la comida peruana”.

Al describir a su clientela, Quito, explicó que tanto estudiantes, residentes y turistas visitan su negocio.

Al igual que Quito, Denis Valdez , dueño del restaurante El Porteñito, comentó un momento gratificante en el que unos turistas comieron en su local y al mes regresaron “solamente a comer al restaurante”.

Valdez expresó también la rápida acogida de su negocio colombiano en la ciudad.

“Para tener dos años, me ha ido muy bien”, dijo él.

Valdez comentó sobre la singularidad de su restaurante por ser uno de los únicos negocios colombianos en la ciudad. Esto resalta la diversidad que estos restaurantes están ofreciendo a la gastronomía y cómo los clientes disfrutan tener más opciones.

Al describir a su clientela, Valdez dijo que las nacionalidades varían.

“Desde coreanos, africanos, residentes, estudiantes, no tengo como una clientela de una sola nacionalidad”, dijo él.

La escasez de restaurantes latinos no solo motivó al emprendimiento de estos restaurantes sino también resultó en una acogida rápida por la población de Gainesville. Esto ha permitido su rápido crecimiento desde sus primeros días.

La acogida de estos restaurantes no solo fue por parte de los estudiantes de universidad, sino también de gente que reside o visita la ciudad y que busca intentar algo nuevo. Por lo que la partida de los estudiantes no fue de mayor impacto.

Sus sabores abrieron la oportunidad de que la comunidad latina se sienta en casa, y además abrió la posibilidad para que personas de otras nacionalidades puedan degustar de la gastronomía latina.

Denis Valdez espera seguir representando a la comunidad latina mientras El Porteñito crece. También comentó que sus motivaciones para seguir expandiendo su negocio son para tratar de sostener esos alimentos para que la comunidad latina sienta que no están solos.

“Que el nombre de Colombia sea sacado en alto” expresó.

@isareinosod ireinoso@alligator.org

Gainesville’s Latin restaurants thriving despite city’s seasonal challenges

DESPITE SUMMER COMPLICATIONS, GAINESVILLE'S LEADING LATINO RESTAURANTS ARE NOT AFFECTED

By Isabela Reinoso Alligator Staff Writer

Summer in Gainesville comes with various complications for local restaurants, from the hot weather to the decrease in student population. However, some Latin restaurants in Gainesville like La Maracucha, El Porteñito and Peruvian Food Blessing seem immune to these changes, gaining clients that keep them in business no matter the season.

Eros Puentes, owner of La Maracucha, said the reason for starting his Latin food truck in

Gainesville was a lack of competition in the area back in 2020.

“I believe the little competition there was back then,” he said. “It's harder to get started now.”

Despite his beginnings in Miami and his good reception, Puentes decided to move to Gainesville where he was surprised by the support from customers.

“There we had even better reception, even better than we expected,” Puentes said.

Now, La Maracucha has a physical location on University Avenue near UF thanks to the quick and unexpected welcome they received in Gainesville.

After years of experience, La Maracucha workers have also learned to manage their inventory on a seasonal basis.

“We want to perfect what we have, we want to be among the best in our industry in Gainesville,”

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Puentes said.

Gainesville resident Luisana Morales is a frequent customer of La Maracucha and has witnessed its growth trajectory in recent years, from food cart to physical location. To her, the growth makes sense.

“They're going to grow a lot more because the truth is everything is so good,” she said.

Sara Quito, owner of Gainesville’s Peruvian Food Blessing restaurant had similar reasons for starting her restaurant.

“Here in Gainesville, there is no Peruvian restaurant,” she said.

Customers similarly latched onto the store, coming from long distances to try Peruvian cuisine, she said.

“People really like Peruvian food,” Quito said. “People who are looking for us come driving two, three hours to come and eat Peruvian food.”

When describing her clientele,

Quito said students, residents and tourists all visit her business.

Like Quito, Denis Valdez, owner of the restaurant El Porteñito, felt gratitude when some tourists ate at his place and came back a month later “only to eat at the restaurant.”

Valdez also was happy with the rapid acceptance of his Colombian business in the city.

“For two years, I've done very well,” he said.

As one of the only Colombian businesses in the city, Valdez said the success of diverse businesses also brings a diversity of clients.

“From Koreans, Africans, residents, students, I don't have like a one-nationality clientele,” he said.

The shortage of Latino restaurants not only motivated the start-up of these restaurants but also resulted in a rapid acceptance by the Gainesville population. This has allowed them to grow rapidly

since their early days.

These restaurants were not only welcomed by university students, but also by people living in or visiting the city who were looking to try something new. So the departure of students did not have a major impact.

Its flavors opened the opportunity for the Latino community to feel at home, and also opened the possibility for people of other nationalities to taste Latin cuisine.

Valdez hopes to continue representing the Latino community as El Porteñito grows. He also said his motivations for continuing to expand his business are to try to sustain those foods so the Latino community feels they are not alone

“That the name of Colombia be raised high,” he expressed.

@isareinosod ireinoso@alligator.org

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

Madison McClelland // Alligator Staff

Los jóvenes de Gainesville experimentan y expresan sus puntos de vista a través de la muestra de arte de fin de año

LA SELVA ART STUDIOS CELEBRÓ SU MUESTRA DE ARTE DE FIN DE AÑO EL 23 DE MAYO, CON MÁS DE 100 PIEZAS EN EXHIBICIÓN

Por Noor Sukkar

Escritora de El Caimán

Traducido por Eneida Escobar

Escritora de El Caimán

La cafetería Curia On The Drag se llenó de risas y charlas el jueves por la noche mientras los niños corrían por su espacio de galería mostrando sus creaciones. Collages, autorretratos, cuadernos de bocetos y pequeñas revistas, todas hechas a mano por artistas de entre 8 y 14 años, marcaron la culminación de su programa extracurricular con La Selva Art Studios.

La muestra de arte se llevó a cabo el 23 de mayo de 6 a 8 p.m. y consistió en más de 100 piezas trabajadas durante el año escolar pasado. Padres, niños y miembros de la comunidad paseaban por las paredes, con el portafolio de cada estudiante exhibido en secciones. Con refrescos proporcionados en mesas, los asientos de la sala se fueron llenando lentamente.

Establecida en 2021, La Selva ofrece programas exploratorios para que los niños se creen arte fuera de los confines de un aula escolar. La propietaria y profesora de arte, Gianelle Rodriguez, dijo que se arriesgó cuando sintió la necesidad de un centro de arte juvenil prominente en la comunidad.

“Si mis hijos quisieran tomar grabado o dibujo, ¿dónde está ese lugar?” dijo Rodriguez.

Con ambos lados de su familia nacidos y criados en Puerto Rico, dijo que se sintió aislada al haber nacido y crecido en Florida.

“Cuando falleció mi abuela, hubo una conexión que realmente quería recuperar”, dijo.

Selva Rodriguez, su abuela, es la musa para el nombre de su estudio. Su muerte coincidió con el momento en que Rodriguez, una antigua alumna, regresó a la UF para obtener una maestría.

“Me enseñó mucho sobre ser autosuficiente e independiente”, dijo. “Tomando ese nombre, lo he incorporado en mi negocio”.

Se graduó con una maestría en educación artística de la UF en

2020, pero no estaba segura de lo que quería en su carrera hasta que la pandemia de COVID-19 la ayudó a decidir.

“Creo que cuando estás en un entorno escolar, automáticamente piensan que quiero ser maestra en una escuela pública”, dijo. “Estaba cuestionando, ‘¿Realmente quiero estar en ese entorno?’ Luego llegó COVID, y es como, ‘No, no lo quieres’”.

Escribió un plan de negocios inmediatamente después de graduarse. Un compañero artista de la comunidad estaba mudándose de Gainesville en ese momento y posicionó a Rodriguez en un estudio recién vacante.

“Conseguí el estudio y también la conexión que quería traer de mi pasado y mi linaje ancestral, conectándome con mis raíces”, dijo Rodriguez.

En ese momento, tenía dos hijos, lo que también influyó en su decisión.

“Todo eso se unió y simplemente fui por ello y abrí mi estudio”, dijo.

Su espíritu independiente no solo moldea su camino como artista, sino que también deja huella en los jóvenes que aprenden de ella en el estudio.

Olivia Veltheim, su hija de 13 años, lucía una sombra de ojos azul y un gorro de piel en la muestra de arte.

Las películas y los personajes de películas son un tema central de las piezas en acuarela de Veltheim. También ayudó a dirigir y filmar “Club de Detención, Venganza de Dolly”, una película corta que los niños hicieron juntos.

Veltheim también colaboró con su amiga, Oona Björn de 13 años, para hacer un fanzine feminista, una pequeña revista tipo libro de bolsillo. Titulado “Fanzine Crudo”, se distribuyeron en la muestra.

El arte de Björn, que colgaba al otro lado de la sala de las piezas de Veltheim, incorporaba temas políticos utilizando recortes de periódicos. Una de sus piezas que representaba a dos niñas exploraba cómo la similitud puede existir en los opuestos: una pintada en rosa y la otra en azul.

Björn aprecia la libertad de crear en el estudio, pero también disfruta de las lecciones más estructuradas que enseña Rodriguez, como la teoría del color y la serigrafía.

“Cuando estás en la escuela, estás un poco luchando. ¿Voy a sacar una buena nota en esto? ¿Qué pensará mi mamá si saco una mala nota en esta tarea?” dijo Bjorn. “Cuando estás en el grupo de arte, puedes dar rienda suelta”.

Muchos padres reconocen los límites que las escuelas imponen en cuanto a la autoexploración, dijo Gianelle Rodriguez. El cortometraje mostraba sangre falsa, temas tradicionalmente maduros y el uso ocasional de malas palabras por parte de los niños. La muestra de arte terminó con la esperada proyección de su película. No se necesitaba una pista de risas, y obtuvo un fuerte aplauso.

“Me encanta tener ese espacio en el que no hay juicios”, dijo Rodriguez. “Deberías estar cuestionando y explorando todas esas cosas dentro de ti a través del arte y la creatividad”.

Actualmente, su programa extracurricular solo atiende a la escuela de Investigación y Desarrollo P.K. Yonge, donde van sus hijos. Aparte de algunos pasantes y un par de estudiantes de la UF que ayudan en el estudio, el negocio de Rodriguez es mayormente un espectáculo de una sola mujer.

Nikki Kragiel, una de las tres propietarias de la boutique AUK Market en Gainesville, la conectó con el gerente de Curia para organizar la galería. Su amistad se remonta a casi cinco años, cuando Rodriguez fue una de las primeras vendedoras del AUK Market. La hija de 14 años de Kragiel, Sophie Kragiel, asiste al estudio los miércoles y también mostró su arte en la galería.

“Mi hija dice que realmente le gusta tomar clases de arte en su escuela, pero apenas estás rascando la superficie de cada proyecto”, dijo Kragiel. “Con este tipo de instrucción, realmente se puede profundizar. Es realmente un programa súper enriquecedor para ellos”.

El programa extracurricular de La Selva ofrece recogida desde la escuela hasta su estudio y excursiones a la naturaleza. De martes a jueves, imparte clases de dos a tres horas para diferentes grupos de edad, con cualquier grupo compuesto por ocho niños a la vez. Ahora que la escuela ha terminado, el estudio ofrecerá un campamento de verano de cinco semanas a partir del 1 de julio.

En el futuro, Rodriguez espera poder “quitarse algunos de los sombreros” de su cabeza y expandirse a un espacio más grande.

“Encuentro que los niños estén más integrados en la comunidad y apoyados por artistas y miembros de la comunidad es muy importante”, dijo.

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Los trabajadores de comedores de la UF luchan después de despidos inesperados por parte del proveedor de alimentos del campus

EMPLEADOS DESEMPLEADOS Y EN INCERTIDUMBRE, DEPENDIENTES DE BENEFICIOS POR DESEMPLEO Y CUPONES DE ALIMENTOS EN MEDIO DE MALA COMUNICACIÓN

Por Grace McClung

Escritora de El Caimán

Traducido por Jose Carmona

Escritor de El Caimán

Robin Lalande ha alimentado a los estudiantes en los comedores de la UF durante años, pero ahora lucha por alimentarse a sí misma. Ella y varios empleados de Chartwells Higher Education, el proveedor de alimentos de la UF, dependen de beneficios por desempleo y cupones de alimentos después de despidos masivos inesperados a principios de este mes.

Los despidos, que afectaron a 63 empleados según Courtland Thomas, director de mercadeo del distrito de Florida Fresh Dining, fueron un shock para aquellos que asumieron que todavía tendrían trabajo durante el verano. Thomas dijo que casi 800 empleados trabajan durante el año escolar. Solamente 297, o un tercio de los empleados del semestre de primavera, están trabajando en el semesdre de verano A. Ese número cambiará en función de los cambios de matrícula de verano.

Los empleados no sabían que se quedarían sin trabajo hasta el 3 de mayo, cuando recibieron sus cartas de despido, que también fue su último día de trabajo del semestre de primavera. Esperaban regresar para el verano A o B, pero el aviso tardío los dejó luchando para compensar la pérdida de ingresos.

Se necesitan de dos a cuatro semanas después de presentar una solicitud de desempleo para recibir un pago y hasta 30 días para procesar una solicitud de asistencia alimentaria. Sin tiempo adecuado para prepararse para un verano sin trabajo, muchos trabajadores enfrentan semanas sin un cheque de pago.

“Siento que es una patada en la cara”, dijo Lalande, una de las ex-supervisoras de Broward Hall. “No tengo un cheque. Ahora tengo que sentarme y preguntarme, ¿cómo voy a recibir el pago? ¿Cómo vas a comer? No está bien”.

Lalande dijo que no se suponía que la despidieran en absoluto. Ella y otros empleados esperaban tener trabajo en Cravings Campus Kitchen, pero se enteraron el 1ro de mayo de que el comedor cerraría durante el verano. Según Lalande, incluso el chef ejecutivo de Cravings desconocía los despidos y cierres de Chartwells hasta el último minuto.

“No hay comunicación entre la corporación y sus empleados”, dijo. “Es un desastre”.

La carta de despido, proporcionada por Lalande, citaba la falta de trabajo como la razón de los despidos y decía a los empleados que se requeriría que asistieran a una orientación de regreso al trabajo a principios de agosto.

Pero muchos empleados no pueden esperar tanto tiempo. Lalande dijo que se tomarán medidas más drásticas si Chartwells no escucha sus quejas.

“No nos están escuchando”, dijo. “Si es necesario, terminaremos haciendo una protesta”.

Robin Stewart, directora de administración y finanzas de Servicios Empresariales de la UF, dijo que los despidos son típicos en el verano debido a la disminución del tráfico en el campus. También dijo que Servicios Empresariales de la UF trata de notificar a los empleados sobre los despidos desde abril.

Las decisiones sobre quién se queda y quién se va se toman en asociación con la UF en función de las habilidades, el rendimiento laboral, la preferencia y el tiempo que los empleados han estado con la empresa, según Stewart.

También dijo que los empleados son informados sobre el programa de despidos de verano durante la orientación. El programa permite a los empleados continuar recibiendo beneficios médicos y solicitar desempleo, y ofrece “un retorno garantizado a su puesto cuando las clases se reanuden en otoño”, dijo Stewart.

Lalande, quien no recibió una carta de despido hasta el 16 de mayo, dijo que ella y otros esperaban algunos despidos en el verano, pero nunca había oído hablar de un programa de despidos.

Susan Páez, una trabajadora de servicios de alimentos que ha trabajado en la UF desde 2012, tampoco estaba al tanto de un programa de despidos. Dijo que no está claro cómo será el empleo en otoño, incluso con un retorno garantizado.

Según Páez, su gerente le advirtió sobre horas más reducidas en otoño. Ahora se pregunta si debería buscar otro trabajo.

“Todo está en el aire”, dijo. “No sabemos si volveremos. No sabemos qué estamos haciendo”.

Pero Páez dijo que dejar la UF es lo último que quiere hacer. Para ella y muchos otros empleados de servicios de alimentos que han invertido años en la universidad y sus estudiantes, es más que solo un trabajo.

“Amo lo que hago por los estudiantes”, dijo. “Si tengo que dejar eso, es muy difícil”.

Con solo seis semanas de beneficios por desempleo restantes, Páez dijo que está luchando para llegar a julio.

“También tengo que sobrevivir en mi hogar aquí, así que puede que tenga que tomar esa mala decisión de encontrar otro trabajo, y no debería tener que hacerlo”, dijo.

Páez también expresó su decepción por los estudiantes. Entre la frecuente escasez de alimentos y los comedores con poco personal, dijo que los estudiantes son quienes pagan el precio.

La UF, que se asoció con Chartwells en 2022 después de terminar el contrato de 13 años con el proveedor de alimentos anterior, Aramark, no es la única escuela que ha sido afectada por las políticas y prácticas de Chartwells.

Chartwells, una subsidiaria de Compass Group, tiene un historial de escándalos. La compañía se vio obligada a pagar millones de dólares a Nueva York y Washington, D.C. en 2012 y 2015 respectivamente por problemas de calidad en el catering escolar y mala gestión

financiera. En 2014, una escuela secundaria de Connecticut boicoteó sus almuerzos de Chartwells. En 2020, los estudiantes de NYU se sintieron horrorizados por las entregas de comidas en cuarentena de mala calidad. Y en 2021, Chartwells estuvo involucrado en una controversia en el Reino Unido relacionada con las comidas escolares gratuitas.

Chartwells ya puede estar en problemas en la UF. Según Páez, 20 empleados del turno nocturno abandonaron sus puestos a mitad del turno en Gator Corner el 20 de abril porque estaban trabajando con poco personal. Ella dijo que se hicieron promesas de contratar a más personas, pero nunca se cumplieron. Después del abandono, las operaciones volvieron a la normalidad y se les dijo a los empleados que no hablaran sobre ello.

“Los empleados, especialmente durante la noche, han estado clamando por ayuda”, dijo Paez. “Todo está en secreto”.

Ella culpó a la gestión de Chartwells por el silencio de los empleados. Stewart dijo que Servicios Empresariales de la UF no tiene conocimiento de un abandono.

Theresa Parsons, una trabajadora de servicios de alimentos que ha trabajado en el campus durante casi 20 años, dijo que los intentos de llevar quejas a recursos humanos han sido infructuosos y una petición que redactaron en otoño con otros empleados no llegó a ninguna parte.

Ella, Lalande y Páez ahora están encabezando la lucha contra Chartwells. Esperan poder convencer a la compañía de sentarse y hablar con sus empleados.

“Estamos en el limbo”, dijo Parsons. “Necesitamos correr la voz”, dijo Robin Lalande. “Realmente no están tratando bien a sus empleados.”

@gracenmcclung gmcclung@alligator.org

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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

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the code to

¿hablas español? lee

el periódico independienteuniversitario mas grande de estados unidos.

1. MEASUREMENTS: How many inches are in a mile?

2. ASTRONOMY: What does the acronym SETI mean to the scientific community?

1. TELEVISION: What is the name of the community college in the sitcom "Community"?

3. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin prefix “sub-” mean in English?

2. GEOGRAPHY: Which two countries in South America are landlocked?

4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms?

3. HISTORY: Where did the effective end of the Civil War take place?

5. LITERATURE: Which 20th-century movie star penned the autobiography “Me: Stories of My Life”?

4. U.S. STATES: Which state comes first alphabetically?

5. FOOD & DRINK: What is an affogato?

6. HISTORY: What was the first National Monument proclaimed in the United States?

7. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the island of Luzon located?

6. MOVIES: Which movie features the character Inigo Montoya?

7. ENTERTAINERS: What is singer/songwriter Taylor Swift's middle name?

8. MOVIES: Which sci-fi movie has the tagline, “Reality is a thing of the past”?

8. ANATOMY: What is the smallest organ in the human body?

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What was the name of the United States’ first nuclear-powered submarine?

10. GAMES: What are the four railroad properties in Monopoly? Answers

1. 63,360 inches

9. LITERATURE: Which fantasy novel (later made into an HBO series called "Game of Thrones") features a place called Winterfell?

2. Search for extraterrestrial intelligence

10. GEOLOGY: What is the most malleable metal?

Below or insufficient

Katharine Hepburn

The Philippines

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1. What kicker from West Germany became an Oklahoma Sooners football legend when he made a 41-yard field goal in the final seconds to beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 29-28?

1. Tommie Aaron, brother of Hank, hit how many home runs in his seven-season Major League Baseball career?

2. Bill Chadwick, the NHL’s first U.S.-born referee and later a broadcaster for the New York Rangers, went by what nickname?

2. What is the nickname of the athletic teams at the University of California, Irvine?

3. Who are the only two racecar drivers representing the United States to have won a Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship?

3. The name for the Albuquerque Isotopes Minor League Baseball club was inspired by a fictional team from what TV comedy series?

4. What Jamaican boxer, who briefly held the WBC heavyweight title in 1986, was bludgeoned to death by his nephew in 2006?

5. What South American national soccer team won a shocking upset over Brazil in a 1950 FIFA World Cup final match that Brazilians call "The Maracana Smash"?

4. Jim Covert and Ed Sprinkle, two members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020, spent their entire playing careers with what NFL franchise?

5.

6. Name the 2023 sports drama film based on the true story of five young Mexican-American caddies who built their own golf course in South Texas in 1955.

7. What team won the 1989 World Series that was delayed by the Loma Prieta earthquake?

TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2024

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MEN'S GOLF

Florida men’s golf head coach J.C. Deacon’s guidance leads UF to fourth-straight national championship appearance

UF HAD A SLOW START TO ITS FALL SEASON, BUT DEACON HELPED IT EXCEL IN THE SPRING SCHEDULE

By Aiden Wacksman Sports Writer

Senior Fred Biondi stood two strokes away from delivering one of the biggest moments in UF men’s golf program history: its first championship victory since 2001.

In 2023, the Florida men’s golf team faced Georgia Tech in match play with the national championship on the line.

On hole 17, Georgia Tech freshman Hiroshi Tai, Biondi’s opponent, sent his shot into the bunker. Biondi knew he had to capitalize, but it wouldn’t be easy. He had to strike the ball over the water and into the putting green for Florida to stand a chance.

Biondi, the NCAA individual champion, did exactly that. His stroke secured Florida’s 3-1 victory over the Yellow Jackets and the NCAA championship title. His teammates ran toward him to celebrate Florida’s victory.

For the first time since 2001, the 2022-23 Florida men’s golf team was crowned the SEC and national champions with head coach J.C. Deacon leading the way.

After the celebrations died down, it was time to focus on the next task at hand: preparing for the 2023-24 season while striving to bring home another championship.

“I just didn’t know what to expect [heading into the season],” Deacon said. “When you lose three All-Americans like that who were the core of your lineup for so long, there’s a lot of questions that need to be answered.”

The three All-Americans from last year’s championship-winning squad were senior Ricky Castillo, fifth-year Yuxin Lin and Biondi.

“You just knew one of those three guys was going to do something big probably every day,” Deacon said.

Lin, Biondi and Castillo departed from Florida after the Gators’ national championship victory. The rest of UF’s roster was filled with young and inexperienced players outside of returning sophomore Matthew Kress and fifthyear John DuBois who were both members of the 2023 national championship team.

Now, Florida is playing in its fourth-straight national championship after placing third in the West Lafayette Regional with a 4-under 860 finish.

The Gators developed at a significant rate since the Fall season with Deacon at the helm. He worked throughout the 2023-24 campaign to develop both under and upperclassmen alike.

In Deacon’s 10 years at UF, he led the Gators to 26 event wins, six appearances in the NCAA championships and an NCAA championship victory.

He builds teams brimming with talent, but the defining trait of his teams is the individual players he’s guided.

Deacon encourages his players to sharpen their game by creating a competitive environment within the team. He fosters this culture

through starting qualifiers where Gator golfers compete for a spot in the starting lineup decided by their performance against one another.

“I think it’s more of a ‘sink or swim’ environment here,” Kress said. “You’re either going to rise to the occasion or you’re going to fall out.”

Deacon utilizes the starting qualifiers to put together a lineup based on performance instead of experience. A senior’s spot in the starting lineup is not promised, especially if a freshman is playing better than them.

DuBois has been at the forefront of UF’s competitive environment.

He struggled to find his stride in the fall and early spring, finishing over par in multiple events. His lowest score came at the Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas in late February, where he finished 14-over 230 and subsequently lost his spot in the starting lineup.

“I think I got ahead of myself a little bit, expectations a little too high,” DuBois said. “There were times where my swing kind of felt off… had a lot of nerves, and I wasn’t sure where I was hitting [the ball].”

Although DuBois lost his spot in the lineup, he had the opportunity to earn it back in Deacon’s starting qualifiers after the SEC championships.

Deacon told DuBois he had to win to earn a spot in the starting lineup at the NCAA Tournament.

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“He had one more chance…and he played four great rounds and got back in [the starting lineup],” Deacon said. “[DuBois] earned his spot, and I think that fact that he earned it makes him even more dangerous going into this week.”

DuBois’ strong play in the qualifiers can be attributed to something surprisingly simple: a smile. By smiling, he became more relaxed on the course, and he delivered a better performance.

“My parents were like ‘you just gotta smile a little bit more man,’” DuBois recalled. “[Deacon] and I have gone back and forth on that a lot.”

DuBois struggled to remain at ease in highpressure moments, and with Deacon’s help, he earned his spot in the NCAA lineup.

While DuBois found his approach was too serious, Deacon found sophomore Parker Bell’s approach was on the opposite end.

Deacon noted Bell lacked a qualitative work ethic in his first season at UF. To reform his behavior, Deacon challenged Bell to grow as a golfer and a person over the last two years.

“His work ethic has gone from a three out of 10 to a 10 out of 10 this year,” Deacon said.

Although Bell only appeared once in the lineup as a freshman, he is now an integral part of Florida’s success in his sophomore year. He’s earned four top-10 finishes this sea-

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son, including an eighth-place 4-under 212 finish at the West Lafayette Regional.

“I’ve probably been harder on [Bell] than maybe any player I ever had, and we’ve had some really rough moments along the way,” Deacon said. “He’s taken [our advice] to heart, and I think that’s really helped his golf game, too.”

Deacon walked with Bell in nearly every round of every event throughout his sophomore campaign.

“I have not left [Bell’s] side pretty much this whole year,” Deacon noted. “[I’ve been] trying to teach him everything I know about the game and what I’ve seen in the best players.”

While the 2023-24 Florida team didn’t have an ideal start to the regular season, it has grown significantly under Deacon’s leadership and will have the opportunity to win back-toback national championships for the first time in program history.

The Gators teed off their first round at the NCAA tournament May 24 in Carlsbad, California. Florida will need to place in the top 15 through three rounds of stroke play and follow it up with a top-eight finish in a separate round of stroke play for an opportunity to go back-to-back.

@aidenwacksman awacksman@alligator.org

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Photo by Leslie White

Florida men's golf head coach JC Deacon and redshirt freshman Matthew Kress embrace after the Gators' victory over the No. 2 Texas A&M Aggies in the SEC Championship Semifinals on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

BASEBALL

Florida earns No. 3-seed in NCAA Tournament despite near sub .500 season

The Gators will take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Stillwater Regional May 31

By Max Tucker Sports Writer

The Florida Gators baseball team hoped for a solid seeding as it tuned in to the college baseball tournament selection show after conference tournament play concluded. What would’ve been a brutal blow for UF was the possibility the team had of being left out of the field of 64 teams who would have the opportunity to compete for a national championship.

Before the Gators even played a game this season, expectations were lofty. Florida ranked inside the top 5 in nearly every preseason NCAA Division I baseball ranking.

“The frustrating thing for this team…has been the inability to be consistent,” said Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan. “We’ve shown the ability to play with some of the best teams in the country, but then [we] turn around and for whatever reason, we take a step back…I firmly believe if we can get into a regional, we can do some damage.”

The preseason hype perhaps came with good reasoning considering the campaign O’Sullivan constructed last season.

The Gators put together their strongest record in program history at 54-17. But Florida fell one win shy of its ultimate goal after suffering a deciding Game 3 loss to LSU in the Men’s College World Series Finals.

As Florida arrived back in Gainesville following its deep run in Omaha, it was time for several key members from the national runner-up squad to turn the page. A total of six Gators from last year’s roster departed for the MLB including two starting pitchers and four starting position players.

O’Sullivan added several new additions via the transfer portal last offseason to round out his roster, but perhaps none were as highly regarded as former Alabama sophomore shortstop Colby Shelton who raked a .300 batting average with 25 home runs. Shelton was the No. 5 overall ranked transfer according to D1 Baseball when he signed with UF. Shelton’s contributions helped the Gators pull out wins in numerous victories in meaningful games this season, but he and his teammates will have their backs against the wall in a win-or-go-home regional.

Every time the team runs through a period of success, the next year comes with even more difficulty to match the previous year’s promise, O’Sullivan said.

Not only were last year’s upperclassmen’s presence on the field and in the box score significantly missed this season, but the Gators’ leadership qualities off the field and in the locker room were an influential absence with the loss of prominent older players.

However, UF was still looked at as one of the most elite teams in the nation. It had a strong returning core from junior two-way sensation Jac Caglianone to sophomore second baseman Cade Kurland, sophomore catcher Luke Heyman, and junior outfielders Ty Evans, Tyler Shelnut.

With the experience Shelnut had appearing in the Men’s College World Series Final, he knows what it will take to make a deep run in the postseason.

“Only thing we can do is put our head down and have a sense of urgency,” Shelnut said. “Every game means something whether it’s JU on a Tuesday or Vandy on the weekend…Every game means something at this point so you can’t take a day off, you can’t take a pitch off.”

UF entered its SEC slate 10-6 including a trio of unexpected losses to St. John’s, St. Mary’s and Stetson. But a sense of optimism for Florida fans was restored after the Gators captured a series victory in their first SEC matchup of the season over then No. 4 Texas A&M.

Fresh off their series victory against the Aggies, the Gators followed it up with a midweek loss to Jacksonville. The Dolphins finished the year with just a 27-31 record. Florida’s inability to stack consecutive wins together throughout the season forced it to scratch and claw its way into the NCAA Tournament.

“We want to be at our best baseball at the end of the season, and that’s when everything really matters,” senior third baseman Dale Thomas said. “We gotta forget about all

the past and continue to work on the future.”

This narrative didn’t seem like it would be an issue after UF secured its third-straight series victory over a ranked SEC opponent. The Gators took two out of three games against Mississippi State to close out March.

After coming out of the series against the Bulldogs ranked No. 2, Florida went almost seven-straight weeks without claiming a series win which included being swept by Missouri for the first time in Florida baseball history.

“I don’t know what else to say other than it’s disappointing,” O’Sullivan said following Game 3 against Missouri. “I mean, the bottom line is we’ve gotta get better, and we’ve got to executionally hit way better. It’s extremely disappointing.”

Following the series sweep to the Tigers, Florida went on a sub .500 11-12 stretch. The Gators were on the verge of being left out of the NCAA Tournament before gutting out a much-needed series victory in a rubber match over No. 9 Georgia to end their regular season.

The lack of execution from the middle to bottom of the batting order has been an issue for the Gators. Heyman, Kurland, Shelton, Donay and Thomas all watched their batting averages significantly decrease.

Despite the impressive statistical freshman campaigns that came to fruition from last year’s squad, sophomore slumps plagued Heyman, Kurland and Shelton’s season and failed to push UF’s offense to its full potential.

“Somebody in that group is gonna have to rise up and have a really good at bat in a key spot of the game,” O’Sullivan said. “Simple as that, somebody’s gotta rise up. Other than the few guys in our lineup that have had good years up until this point.”

There isn’t much time left for the bats to fix its issues for Florida’s offense as it awaits its regional matchup.

The Gators will head into postseason play without one of their key contributors this season after Evans suffered a

broken wrist in Game 2 against Kentucky. Evans hit for a .316 batting average with 61 hits which were both good for second best on the team.

Florida’s starting pitchers and relievers perpetuate another inconsistency for UF. The Gators failed to find a regular Friday starter for the entirety of the season as opposed to last year when former Gator right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat was the bonafide ace for the squad who reached the national championship.

Moreover, this year’s Florida team didn’t have a single pitcher finish the regular season with an ERA below four. The hardships for O’Sullivans pitching staff have varied from not executing on the bump to goofing off in the bullpen.

“We’ve tried everything to motivate them,” O’Sullivan said. “We’ve lost three games to Florida State and in convincing fashion. Not to call anybody out, but we’ve got pitchers down in the bullpen messing around, and we’re down four in Tallahassee.”

Nonetheless, the Gators have proven they have the ability to compete with elite college baseball teams in the country. If UF can get hot at just the right time, it may have what it takes to make a miracle run to Omaha.

Florida is a No. 3-seed in the NCAA Men’s Baseball Tournament in the Stillwater Regional against Oklahoma State, Niagara and Nebraska. The Gators will play Game 1 May 31 at 3 p.m. against the Cornhuskers in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

“Obviously, there’s been some ups and downs,” Donay said. “The whole team has the same goal: we want to go to Omaha. So [you] just gotta root for your teammates and hope for the best.”

@Max_Tuckr1 mtucker@alligator.org

Matthew Lewis // Alligator Staff

The Florida Gators baseball team huddles in the outfield prior to its game against Mississippi State on Sunday, March 31, 2024 at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Florida.