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VOLUME 116 ISSUE 36

MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2022

Not officially associated with the University of Florida

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Students, residents reflect on gun violence epidemic SHOOTING SURVIVORS RECOUNT FRUSTRATIONS, QUESTION LEGISLATIVE ACTION

By Carissa Allen & Omar Ateyah Alligator Staff Writers

Cariss Allen // Alligator Staff

About 50 people march from Westside Church of God in Christ to Maude Lewis Park to protest gun violence and honor victims during the We Wear Orange campaign June 4, 2022.

Student Government Senate incorrectly identifies Texas school shooting victims The resolution required an amendment to fix missing ages, misspelled names and wrong dates By Sandra McDonald Alligator Staff Writer

UF Student Government Senate proposed a resolution honoring the 21 lives lost at the Texas elementary school shooting that incorrectly identified the date of the tragedy and the victims’ names. Four names were spelled incorrectly, one victim’s first name was missing in favor of a nickname and 13 middle names, nicknames and suffixes were missing from the initial document. Deputy Minority Party Leader Mohammed Faisal and CLAS Senator Gabriela Montes, a Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting survivor, authored an amendment correcting the errors. “When I see something on a document that is meant to honor these lives and memorialize these lives and it appears to be done within the span of just a few minutes, it upsets me,” Montes said. “Because I know there is no document that can undo what has been done to these families.” Montes said the resolution felt rushed. It cited an article with incorrect informa-

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT SEC football meetings held in Destin

Story description finish with comma, pg# Billy Napier and Scott Stricklin represented Florida as conference discussed NIL, the sport’s future. Read more on pg. 11

tion about the victims and did not match the quality demanded of SG legislation, she said.

“We care that these resolutions be the last of their kind. I love the intent with which this was done. The execution was absolutely lacking.”

-Sen. Gabriela Montes

Senate Pro-Tempore Olivia Green and Senate President Elizabeth Hartzog authored the legislation. Green said Wednesday the errors in the resolution were clerical. Senators voted on the amendment Tuesday, correcting the errors and adding information about the nationwide March for Our Lives event June 11. It also promoted local mental health resources in light of the Uvalde gunman’s mental health issues. The Judiciary committee, which reviews all proposed legislation, edited the document to say the Robb Elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, happened on May 24, not May 25, before it

approved the resolution for Senate consideration Sunday. The uncorrected resolution passed by the committee was still on the SG website as of Sunday night. Three other resolutions were passed Tuesday; one recognizing LGBTQ Pride Month, one recognizing the end of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage month in May and an endorsement of a potential Reitz Union parking garage digital tracker. Senate approved Joshua Zalkan as the executive Student Honor Code Administration Chairman and elected its new Member-at-Large, Senator Jacey Cable, who will serve on the Replacement & Agenda Committee. Senate also authorized a special request for a carryover of funds to the next fiscal year due to construction delays. The next Senate meeting will be held in the Reitz Union Senate Chambers June 7 at 7 p.m. @sn_mcdonald smcdonald@alligator.org

East side sports complex continues Commissioners will evaluate practicality and profitability of planned upgrades, pg. 5

As tragedy after tragedy saturates the media, Giancarlo Rodriguez finds himself numb to gun violence — a scary confession, he admits. The normalization started when Rodriguez, a 20-year-old UF anthropology junior, witnessed Orlando mourn after the Pulse nightclub shooting June 12, 2016. He said it was an attack on his people: his hometown peers and the LGBTQ community. The Pulse shooting, which killed 49 people and injured 68, remains the second deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in modern U.S. history, but the devastation and mourning Rodriguez felt six years ago became cyclic. His frustration grows with every shooting, he said. Seventeen lives lost in Parkland in 2018. Ten lives in Buffalo last month. Twenty-one lives in Uvalde two weeks ago. Three lives in Philadelphia Saturday night. “You see all this stuff happening and then the people in charge and in government do the bare minimum or don't do anything at all to solve these problems,” he said. “It’s just unacceptable. We as Floridians and Americans, we should not accept that.” Gabriela Montes didn’t understand the reality of gun violence in America until police shattered her Marjory Stoneman Douglas classroom door on Valentine’s Day four years ago. She didn’t realize it was more than a routine active shooter drill until 17 people — including three of her friends — were dead. Students returned to class at the Parkland high school weeks later, but the nation’s grief persisted, surging after each mass shooting that ensued. After the massacre, Florida legislature passed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which outlined reforms to make schools safer and restricted firearms from people who are younger than 21 or mentally ill. It has revisited the subject every year since 2018. Florida ranks No. 4 nationwide in school shootings with 74 incidents since 1970. Former Gov. Rick Scott signed a law banning bump stocks — the rifle attachment allowing gunmen to quickly fire bullets — expanding background checks and imposing a threeday waiting period between the purchase and delivery of a firearm. “While it is unfair to say for certain,” Rep. Chuck Clemons, R-Newberry, wrote in an email, “It is quite possible that had Texas implemented our policies wholesale, the tragedy in Uvalde could have been averted or, in the very least,

SEE GUN VIOLENCE, PAGE 6

Turtle talk

UF researchers develop ability to track species without physical interaction, pg. 4

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2 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2022

Weather Senate Today’s President exonerated of all abuse of power charges THE RULES AND ETHICS COMMITTEE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY THAT SENATE PRESIDENT ELIZABETH HARTZOG DID NOT ABUSE POWER BY CANCELING MAY 17 SENATE MEETING

By Sandra McDonald Alligator Staff Writer

Senate President Elizabeth Hartzog was unanimously exonerated from abuse of power charges Thursday. The UF Student Government Rules and Ethics committee, which is composed entirely of Gator Party senators, said there was not enough evidence to indict Hartzog over her cancellation of the May 17 Senate meeting. It was allegedly canceled to prevent senators attending a trip to Israel from facing unexcused absences, according to a petition written by Senator Jonathan C. Stephens on behalf of Change Party. In a livestreamed hearing lasting just over 35 minutes Thursday, both Stephens and Hartzog were given 12 minutes for opening and closing statements and testimony. Stephens said Hartzog overstepped her jurisdiction by canceling the meeting to help senators avoid unexcused absences. He said the Rules and Ethics committee, which approves or denies absence requests, simply appealed to Hartzog’s authority to cancel the meeting rather than considering whether the cancellation was justified. In two 2019 opinion articles, former UF senator Zachariah

Chou wrote about an emerging annual pattern of SG officials going on trips to Israel that coincided with a canceled Senate meeting. Judiciary Chairman John Brinkman, who was subpoenaed as a Senate rules and procedure expert, testified Thursday that Hartzog’s cancellation met all constitutional requirements. Senate rules and procedures give Hartzog power to discretionarily cancel meetings. Brinkman would have been forced from his Senate seat due to absences if not for the canceled meeting. Two unexcused absences or three total absences per semester prompts automatic removal from the seat in Summer. Senator Mason Solomon, who also serves as vice-chair of the Judiciary Committee with Brinkman, said Hartzog’s timeline showed there was no ill intention in canceling the meeting. Hartzog said she registered for the Israel trip in February. She was elected to her current position in March. Senator Lilliana Clark said there was no evidence of collusion because the trip was voluntary. The Senate pPresident affirmed her seat on the trip was not contingent on her election. “I think President Hartzog exercised some common sense, some understanding of the value of our time, and realized that it wasn’t plausible to make everyone come when we most likely would not have met 51 at the meeting,” Senator Ryan Marcus said. If quorum, or the condition of 51 or more present senators, is

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 36

ISSN 0889-2423

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not met at a Senate meeting, the meeting cannot be held. Hartzog said she and Senate President Pro-Tempore Olivia Green told Minority Party Leader Faith Corbett they decided to cancel the May 17 meeting because they anticipated a lack of quorum. Corbett, who does not have power to object to Senate being canceled, said Hartzog emphasized the importance of all 11 Change members’ presence to meet quorum May 10. If quorum was not met, Senate would have been forced to hold a meeting May 17 without Hartzog, Green and other Gator Party leadership who were in Israel. Hartzog said Corbett did not voice concerns until May 18, but Corbett said evidence was presented out of context. She did not agree with the investigation’s conclusion. “It’s not that these decisions were ran by me, it’s that they were told to me,” Corbett said. Corbett did not comment on her next steps regarding the investigation’s conclusion. Namari Lock contributed to this story.

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UF researchers first in the world to collect sea turtle eDNA

Researchers at the UF Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience in St. Augustine are the first in the world to collect and use environmental DNA to track sea turtles By Lillian Lawson Alligator Staff Writer

UF marine researchers recently discovered a new way of collecting DNA from sea turtles; a flipper print trail in the sand gives them all they need. Researchers at the UF Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience in St. Augustine are the first in the world to collect and use environmental DNA, otherwise known as eDNA, to track sea turtles without direct interaction with the species. Their findings, published April 4, created a milestone in sea turtle conservation. The

eDNA research comes shortly after UF IFAS announced its findings on the growth of plants in moon soil for the first time; both are major accomplishments for the university. With this new method, scientists use only water and beach sand to uncover small amounts of genetic material from sea turtles — enough to determine their travels, origin and subpopulation. Jessica Farrell, a 26-year-old postdoctoral student at Whitney Laboratory, has worked in the lab for five years and assists with eDNA research. She said current biological sampling methods — such as blood draws and skin

biopsies — are stressful for sea turtles, especially nesting mothers. Farrell hopes this breakthrough will allow researchers to collect eDNA with the least amount of harm and disruption.

“You don’t have to be there on the beach at 6 a.m. in the morning distracting all of the mothers. You can go down at lunchtime, there aren’t any moms there, and we’re able to get really good information from that sand.”

-Jessica Farrell, Student

She said she wants the laboratory to

eventually identify and track individual sea turtles after they’ve traveled over the sand and made nests. The project started in 2016 using water samples from the lab’s tanks to detect Fibropapillomatosis (FP), a herpes-based virus creating tumors in sea turtles. Results of the lab’s initial research found FP was transmitted through water, and it was detectable in eDNA water samples. Volunteers and scientists from all over Florida collaborated with the Whitney Laboratory. They sent water and sand samples from beaches across the state. David Duffy, a UF assistant professor of Wildlife Disease Genomics who’s worked in the lab since 2020, said this technology has never been applied to sea turtles. “When you show people, it doesn’t sound like science, it sounds like it’s make-believe that you can really take a small amount of water from the ocean and tell what species are there,” Duffy said. Brooke Dekle, an 18-year-old UF marine science freshman, said this research allows scientists to track endangered species without taking direct samples from the animals. The development may also provide additional data to find a potential cure for the FP virus or treat it in a lessinvasive way than surgery. She said eDNA collection benefits her desired field — shark research and conservation — because it allows sharks to be monitored without physical implants or tissue samples. “This is a solution to make conservation research a lot less invasive and a lot more effective for the animal,” Dekle said. Since anyone can collect eDNA samples and send it to laboratories, this method will make environmental science more accessible in low-income areas, Dekle said. “You do not even have to be a scientist to get samples and send it off to people who can do the research,” she said. “So pretty much anyone can be included in this, which I think is a really, really good step forward.”

Emma Hayakawa // Alligator Staff

UF Whitney Laboratory researchers are first in the world to collect eDNA to track sea turtles.

@LillianLLawson llawson@alligator.org

UF professor set to lead next generation of plant breeders

Charlie Messina, a UF professor, has returned to Gainesville after spending over 15 years in the crop modeling and plant breeding industry By Kyle Bumpers Alligator Staff Writer

A UF alumnus who altered the agricultural world has returned to teach students how to combat the effects of climate change on crops. Carlos “Charlie” Messina, a UF horticultural science professor, returned to Gainesville after more than 15 years in the crop modeling and plant breeding industry. With new knowledge on drought-tolerant crops, he wanted to work where he could improve the health of crop returns while teaching UF plant breeders

efficiency. Jim Jones, a 78-year-old professor who was one of the first people to develop models and genetically modify crops in the 1960s, mentored Messina as he pursued his Ph.D. He said Messina was one of the first professionals brave enough to tackle plant breeding with technological and mathematical modeling.

“If you really want to advance the science frontiers, you’ve got to be a little bold. And he does that.” -Prof. Jim Jones

Jones said Messina’s work could help farmers and greenhouse growers best choose what crop varieties to plant. Messina said UF is the best place for him to figure out ideal growing conditions, increase food production, lessen environmental impacts and improve human health. Messina’s Spring course, “Survey of Breeding Tools and Methods,” focused on the combination of AI and plant breeding. He said artificial intelligence is used to better understand the details in the crop DNA that result in desired

qualities. Julie Cromie, a 24-yearold Ph.D. student in the plant molecular and cellular biology program, said the course gave her a glimpse into the tools being used by professionals. She said normal crop systems are starting to face less predictable problems, like climate change and artificial intelligence. She said Messina’s experience and methods will allow students to answer relevant biological questions with an accuracy they’ve never had before. He will show students how to analyze data sets and

understand new modeling styles in Fall. Crop modeling — the use of mathematical equations to describe crop genetics, management and its interaction with the environment — helps determine crop growth. Mathematics, quantitative thinking and technologies combining genomics and crop models are the future and upcoming professionals need to understand how to use them, Messina said. @BumpersKyle kbumpers@alligator.org

MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2022 ALLIGATOR 5

Florida artist to memorialize UF professor and replace Confederate statue George Gadson will build a Sankofa statue to commemorate Patricia Hilliard-Nunn By Mickenzie Hannon Alligator Staff Writer

Courtesy to The Alligator

A similar Sankofa statue was made by artist George Gadson in Fort Lauderdale in March 2016. Gainesville’s Sankofa statue will replace a confederate statue downtown.

A sculpture dedicated to a Gainesville activist and African American studies professor will replace a confederate soldier statue that used to sit downtown. Patricia Hilliard-Nunn died Aug. 5, 2020, at 57 years old. She lived by the principles of rediscovering one’s history, embracing it and putting it to present use — principles signified by the West African Sankofa bird. A Sankofa statue will memorialize Hilliard-Nunn and fill the space where a confederate soldier statue once sat. City commissioners voted to remove the statue, which was donated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1904, in 2017. Replacing it with a Sankofa statue will change the visual narrative, UF African American Studies professor Rik Stevenson said. Stevenson, who taught alongside Hilliard-Nunn since 2019, said statues symbolize significant events and people — they memorialize contributions and commemorate ideas, concepts, experiences. “For a Black woman to have that

kind of honor — especially in a place like Gainesville — that’s rather significant,” he said. Hilliard-Nunn was committed to uncovering racial injustices in Alachua County. She extensively researched and spotlighted the Newberry Six lynchings, African American History and West African dance, film and media. Hilliard-Nunn’s husband, UF law professor Kenneth Nunn, said she always mentioned the Sankofa bird — which is often depicted moving forward and looking backward at its tail — symbolizing the importance of remembering one’s past and making better decisions for the future. It was frequently featured in class lectures, public speeches, daily conversations and even her outfits.

“It’s a perfect symbol to represent what she stood for. We’re talking about the importance of recovering the history of racial oppression in Alachua County and putting it forward so that people could see it.” -Prof. Kenneth Nunn

Alachua County is allocating $75,000 toward the project — $25,000 of which came from an anonymous donor. The statue will be built on a 144-square-foot concrete slab on the west lawn of the county administration building, located at the southeast corner of University Avenue and Main Street. It will include HilliardNunn’s photo, biographical information and tie to the Sankofa. The family also hopes to build a protective railing to prevent vandalism. After the county released news of the project, its arts council selected four artists for consideration. The commission selected George Gadson, who has created sculptures since the 1980s and built a similar Sankofa statue in Fort Lauderdale in 2016. When memorializing art pieces, Gadson said he better understands the individual through research, family members and historical societies. “Art is a way in which history can be memorialized, so that when I’m not here and others are not here, there are individuals who can read a portion of history,” Gadson said. @MickenzieHannon mhannon@alligator.org

Gainesville City Commission moves forward with East Gainesville sports complex proposal

The Gainesville City Commission voted unanimously Thursday to forge ahead with the proposed East Gainesville sports complex By Carissa Allen Alligator Staff Writer

The Gainesville City Commission voted unanimously Thursday to forge ahead with the proposed East Gainesville sports complex. Commissioners approved analyses that will evaluate the complex’s practicality and profitability. The vote paves the way for the commission to understand the approximate cost, revenue and impact on the economy and traffic for the potential upgraded facility on Eighth Avenue and Waldo Road. Roxana Gonzalez, director of parks, recreation and cultural affairs for the city, emphasized the proposed renovations do not intend to compete with Celebration Pointe but facilitate community-building and allow city residents an opportunity to usecity property. Public reaction was mixed when the complex was first proposed. Some East Gainesville residents hoped a new facility could stimulate economic prosperity in the area, while others were concerned commissioners’ priorities were out of line and pleaded for them to support existing business and housing instead. Commissioners said discussion about the east side landmark, which has long been in need of attention, should revolve around neighbors living in the area. Residents’ input is a priority, commissioners agreed — they are the ones who use the complex every day to get outside, walk their dogs or toss a baseball around. Jonathan Stephens, a 19-year-old UF food science and agricultural communications sophomore who volunteers on the east side, said the sports complex would enrich the east side of Gainesville but echoed the uneasiness of sportsplex adversaries. “Is this the biggest priority that we need to focus on?” he asked. He recognized the east side is full of historic districts and homes, and he hopes the new complex will not disrupt those communities.

The city proposed the MLK building — currently 19,000 square feet — should expand to a minimum of 60,000 square feet. The center could double its full-sized indoor basketball courts from two to four and include locker rooms, showers and fitness classrooms in a second floor fitness center. The presentation detailed a centralized covered pavilion, a paved fitness trail and an outdoor hallway extension with access to the renovated pool. It also pitched an indoor stage and second-floor perimeter track and viewing area. Gonzalez said Citizens Park could fit six multi-use rectangular fields for sports like soccer, rugby, lacrosse and ultimate frisbee.

It also recommended a stadium with a minimum of 8,000 to 10,000 seats. The stadium would feature an outdoor high schoolsized track, ticket booths, two locker rooms, a press box, a concession stand, PA system and digital scoreboard. The feasibility study must project the complex’s one- to five-year plan of event opportunities, estimate the number of visitors and detail its revenue and economic impact. It should also include funding sources, potential grants, sponsorships, partnership opportunities and naming opportunities. The assessment will review existing hotel availability and estimate growth in the area surrounding the complex. Many East

Gainesville residents also await traffic impact evaluations. Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe and the rest of the commission were cautiously optimistic for the future of the sportsplex. The city will give companies about 30 to 45 days to offer their services after the request for proposal is made public this month. City Manager Cynthia Curry estimated the commission would have an evaluation recommendation to hire a firm by September. @carissaallenn callen@alligator.org

Alligator File Photo

Citizens Field, pictured above, is included in the city’s proposed renovation to the MLK Center and Citizens Field. The plan recommends expanding the stadium to 8,000 to 10,000 seats.

6 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2022

Orange-clad community challenges crises GUN VIOLENCE, from pg. 1 dramatically limited.” Alachua County’s congresswoman, Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., staunchly supports Second Amendment rights and opposes legislation that would limit gun ownership by law-abiding people, she wrote in a tweet in 2021. She is outspoken in disputing a federal gun registry, saying it is an overreach of government. She did not respond to The Alligator’s request for comment. Florida’s response to the tragedies in Buffalo and Uvalde have not been enough, though, Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson, D-Gainesville, wrote in an email. “Necessary legislation should have been enacted long ago, and we owe the victims and their families sensible gun legislation,” she wrote. But Florida law limits city governments from reforming regulations. Any municipality that issues a local ordinance regulation on ammunition and firearms inconsistent with statewide statutes faces a $5,000 fine. David Arreola, a Gainesville city commissioner running to be the next mayor, is a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the state law. But for now he looks to the capitol for solutions to the gun crisis. “The only government more powerful than the state government is the federal government, and they need to step in,” he said. Commissioner Harvey Ward, who is also a mayoral candidate, advocated beyond banning the sale of firearms. He said a return to the Clinton administration’s assault weapons ban would be

most appropriate. Amid nationwide discourse on how to best handle the gun violence epidemic, Montes, now a 19-year-old UF psychology sophomore, reflects on the anxiety — but also the hope — she felt after tragedy struck her Parkland high school. “I think that sense of community and the sense of love that we would feel from one another was something that really kept me going,” she said. The Alachua County community banded together, finding solidarity while protesting in orange Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Orange, the color hunters wear to protect themselves in the woods, is now the defining color of the Wear Orange movement. The annual three-day event began on June 2, 2015 in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-yearold who was shot and killed on a Chicago playground in 2013. “This is a weekend where we remember the people that have been taken from us, we honor the people who are surviving, who are moving forward with that kind of trauma and we join our voices to demand a future free of gun violence,” Marnie Wiss said. Wiss, a Moms Demand Action Gainesville leader, helped organize one of Friday evening’s Wear Orange events. A theme of community solidarity radiated through about 50 attendees highlighted in orange clothes, trees wrapped in orange lights and the Depot Park’s orangetinted fountain. Seventeen miles away, about two dozen community members gathered in Alachua’s Maude Lewis Park to commemorate recent gun violence victims. Rev. Gregory Pelham spoke as children

populated the playground near the basketball court, serving as a stark reminder of how often the youngest are at the front lines of the gun violence epidemic. He believes churches play a role in mitigating the crisis. “All of us come together under one common goal, and that’s stopping the violence and saving lives of our young people,” he said. About 100 people gathered in the park again Saturday for an event to draw attention to gun violence and memorialize four local victims who were killed in Alachua in the last five years. Among the attendees was Susan, a 68-year-old Gainesville resident, who preferred not to share her last name. She lost her 16-year-old grandson, Stoney Shine Jr., on Oct. 31, 2021 when he was gunned down in the park. He was one of the victims honored Saturday, and his name was displayed on a white cross memorial presented to his family at the end of the event. Susan fondly recalled her grandson’s ambition to become a football player to be able to support her. “That’s the Stoney dream,” she said. “Stoney was a smiling child. He smiled all the time. He loved his family.” Saturday also provided Robin Lillie, a Gainesville resident, a chance to honor her son, Tyler Pearson, who was fatally shot in his apartment in 2019. He was 29 years old. She spoke to about 50 attendees who wiped tears from their cheeks outside Porters Community Center. The event was organized by Moms Demand Action and Faye Williams’ M.A.M.A.’s Club as part of the local We Wear Orange campaign.

Namari Lock // Alligator Staff

Community members watch the lighting of the fountain at Gainesville's Depot Park in recognition of gun violence survivors June 3, 2022. “People say it takes a village to raise a child — it takes a village to continue to get you through when you've lost that child,” she said. Each time Lillie catches wind of another shooting, she immediately thinks of grieving parents like Stephanie Scott. As the one-year anniversary of the death of Scott’s son nears, the Gainesville resident found solace in carrying on the voice and legacy of her 13-year-old, Christopher. He was one of five teenagers shot in Gainesville’s American Legion Hall June 24, but he was the only one to die. She said she thanks God for the years she spent raising Christopher, but they were cut short: a mother’s biggest fear.

“No parent should ever have to bury their child,” Jennifer Dungan, a 43-year-old Moms Demand Action volunteer, said. “It shouldn't be this way.” Dungan now worries about dropping her son off at school. Every morning as he gets out of the car, he tells his mom he loves her and she is left unsure if she will see him in the afternoon carline — a crushing feeling. She cannot help but wonder what each child lost in a school shooting would have accomplished in their life, had they been given the chance. @carissaallenn @OAteyah callen@alligator.org oateyah@alligator.org

Namari Lock // Alligator Staff

Citizens decorating their Wear Orange posters in Depot Park to protest gun violence June 3, 2022.

Gainesville residents gather at Depot Park for the We Wear Orange proclamation declaring June 3-5 as Gun Violence Awareness Weekend June 3, 2022.

MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2022 ALLIGATOR 7

Gainesville man sentenced to 30 years for attempted murder and firearm possession ERIC ROBINSON ALSO FACES FIVE MORE YEARS IN PRISON FOR EVIDENCE TAMPERING By Omar Ateyah Alligator Staff Writer

catching the suspect. The department posted surveillance photos of the suspect on its Facebook page. Glover said community members with information about the suspect should contact law enforcement through GPD’s Tip Line at 352-393-7670.

A Gainesville man was recently sentenced to 30 years in prison for attempted murder and firearm possession. Eric Robinson, 19, was charged with attempted murder in October 2021. Robinson fired multiple shots at an acquaintance from his car on Northwest 8th Street, according to court records. Authorities arrested Robinson Nov. 5. Days prior, he attempted to rob and murder another acquaintance at an apartment on Southwest 20th Avenue Nov. 2. Robinson shot the victim in the chest as he was trying to get Robinson out of the apartment. He added five years to his sentence for attempting to destroy a cell phone used to communicate with the victim of the home invasion. When the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Robinson Nov. 5, he was also facing a warrant from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office for firing a shot at two men at Southeast 18th Avenue in June 2021.

@OAteyah oateyah@alligator.org

Carissa Allen // Alligator Staff

Citizens march to Maude Lewis Park to protest gun violence and honor victims during the We Wear Orange campaign June 4, 2022.

Police search for suspect in Southwest Archer Road armed robbery Gainesville Police Department seeks community help finding the suspect By Omar Ateyah Alligator Staff Writer

Gainesville police are searching for the suspect of an armed robbery near Target on Southwest Archer Road early Thursday morning. The incident occurred at 1:40 a.m. at the Fast Track convenience store next to the Exxon gas station at 3960 SW Archer Road. The suspect, armed with a pistol, did not

fire any shots but demanded cash from the store clerk, Gainesville Police Department spokesperson Graham Glover said. After taking the money, he left the store. It is not clear how much money the suspect stole from the store, and the store management could not be reached for comment. Glover said the incident likely played out over a matter of minutes. GPD is seeking the community’s help in

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ART TOURS

SEQUENTIAL ARTISTS WORKSHOP

ZINE ACTIVITY

FREE FOOD

Be a part of something

BIG

BEYOND WORDS THURSDAY JUNE 9 6 PM | at the Harn Museum of Art

GIVE Blood. FREE ADMISSION

image: Louis Faurer, Ideal Cinema, New York, N.Y., 1937

Sponsored by UF Student Government and the Ofﬁce of the Provost. Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

harn.uﬂ.edu/museumnights

#HarnMuseumNights

Photo by Photography 35 Over 1,000 people gathered to form one of the largest human blood drop formations in the country. LifeSouth’s North Florida district needs just as many donors per week to meet the need of our community hospitals.

Be a part of something big and give blood today. For more information, call 888.795.2707 or visit www.lifesouth.org.

Connecting our donors to our patients

MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2022 www.alligator.org/section/the_avenue

FOOD & DRINKS

Mom’s OG stays true to its roots THE IRISH SPORTS BAR, FORMERLY MOTHER’S PUB AND GRILL, HAS OPENED WITH A CONSISTENT BUT IMPROVED ENERGY UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

By Anna Ward Avenue Staff Writer

The walls of Mom’s OG, previously adorned with tongue-in-cheek signs and dollar bills during its days as Mother’s Pub and Grill, have been stripped bare. The newly painted black walls signify a fresh foundation as the new ownership behind Mom’s OG begins its own legacy. Longtime Gainesville favorite Mother’s Pub and Grill reopened as Mom’s OG May 23, staying true to its Irish sports bar roots and dedicated customers. The restaurant temporarily closed its University Avenue doors Apr. 30 to begin renovations and changes under new management. Bartenders Robby Wagner, Cory Hudacko, Rachel Hickey and Tim Ratliff manage and own Mom’s OG — the “OG” a play on the word origi-

nal. Wagner bartended at Mother’s for two years and Hudacko for seven. Hickey and Ratliff were bartenders elsewhere but longtime lovers of Mother’s. The four assumed ownership after Patrick Schaller, who — ready for a change — shifted his focus to his Mother’s north and Mother’s Newberry locations.

“The offer was on the table and I always wanted to be a part of that. It just felt like a good fit.”

-Robby Wagner, Owner

New management seeks to rejuvenate, rather than change, the establishment. Changes include cleaner floors, an expanded menu and more seating. Menu changes include the addition of onion rings, more wings sauces like “Mom’s Revenge” and “Bangin’ Mango,” cheesesteaks, corn nuggets and desserts. The newly furnished patio and additional seating comes after Wagner said he noticed patrons often stood. The change reflects the new management’s style of simply improving what they could. “We didn’t want that original idea

to die at this location,” Wagner said. “It just needed a little love.” The restaurant’s regulars said new management still maintains the energy of its predecessor. “It feels about the same,” Ben Tillson, a 40-year-old UF counseling and wellness center training program assistant, said. He said he noticed many small changes, such as cleaning and painting. Valentina Veloza, a 20-year-old server manager at Mom’s OG, said the new management created a cleaner environment and a more positive atmosphere. “I think it’s the best thing that has ever happened to this building, ” Veloza said. But not all patrons feel that way. Jack Spoone, a 22-year-old UF political science senior, said he thinks Mom’s OG is not as authentic as the former Mother’s Pub and Grill. But he still looks forward to attending the restaurant to see what the new management has in store “I’m definitely open to the change,” Spoon said. “I come here regardless.” Despite the changes in environment, the restaurant maintains a

Yingqun Zhu // Alligator Staff

Mom’s OG, formerly Mother’s Pub and Grill, in Gainesville June 5, 2022. close-hearted reverence for the establishment’s history. Even the new name is a tribute to the restaurant’s original title. “We already called it Mom’s,” Wagner said. “We were just like, ‘Let’s just keep calling it what we’ve been calling it and keep the original idea.’” That original idea is one of community — something Wagner experienced firsthand. During breaks in his Albany State baseball days, he stayed at a friend’s house across

from Mom’s OG when it was still Mother’s, taking the short walk to the restaurant to party. He said Mother’s was how the current owners made their livelihood and fed themselves. It was where they celebrated and spent time with friends and family. Mom’s OG is their thanks to that community. @AnnaWard_ award@alligator.org

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Courtney’: The new sitcom started by CJC alum COURTNEY THEOPHIN FILMS SITCOM PILOT UNDER SIBLING-OWNED MEDIA PRODUCTION COMPANY

By Amanda Friedman Avenue Staff Writer

What started as three brothers making home videos became a sketch-comedy YouTube Channel. Now, it’s a media production company pitching its first sitcom. Goof Entertainment is a multimedia organization specializing in photography, videography and music production owned by Courtney Theophin, 24, and his brother, Kenneth Theophin, 26. The team recently finished filming the pilot for “Courtney,” a show about a struggling comedian in his early twenties navigating life after a hard breakup. It draws inspiration from Courtney’s personal experience balancing his previous romantic relationship with his creative ambitions. “When I was in a relationship I wasn’t really feeding my creative side,” Courtney said. “I was like, ‘Let me make a show about how a person finds themselves after getting out of a relationship.’” Courtney studied nursing at Santa Fe College for two years before transferring to UF to study

journalism and improve his writing and production skills. His goal was to grow Goof Entertainment, which originally started as a sketch-comedy Youtube channel with his brothers in 2015. The brothers’ collective creativity emerged during their childhoods after their father gifted them a camcorder. They continued to write, film and edit comedy sketches to entertain themselves after moving from New Jersey to Bronson, a rural city about half an hour from Gainesville, in 2006. “We just perfected it over time,” Kenneth said. “We are YouTube graduates.” While at UF, Courtney became distracted with school and his personal life, leading him to take a break from the channel. However, after a difficult breakup in 2019, he put all his efforts back into it. “I had all this extra time on my hands and as part of my healing process I picked up that camera and started shooting as much as possible,” Courtney said. The brothers also shifted away from sketch comedy and turned Goof Entertainment into a media production company to make the business more profitable by establishing a broad clientele, Kenneth said. “Courtney” represents Goof Entertainment’s return to original video content. Ricky Theophin, the 23-year-old youngest brother, stars as himself in “Courtney.” He is ex-

Keep up with the Avenue on Twitter. Tweet us @TheFloridaAve.

cited to show people they are serious and bring wide-spread attention to Goof Entertainment. “I’ve always wanted to get into the creative industry because I enjoy making people laugh and smile,” Ricky said. “The most rewarding part is knowing I get to do it with my brothers.” Ricky is a law enforcement officer but also acts and writes sketches at Goof Entertainment. Kenneth, co-CEO of Goof Entertainment, spends most of his time behind the camera as a photographer and videographer at the company. The oldest brother also runs Goof Entertainment’s business and marketing sectors. Having grown up with little access to cable television and the internet, Kenneth said he is proud of how far he and his brothers’ video editing skills have come. “It’s always been the goal to do what we’re doing now,” he said. “I’m happy that we’re able to make things happen together as a family.” Ashayla Blakely, a 23-year-old UF telecommunications alum and the assistant director of “Courtney,” met Courtney in 2020 working for the UF College Reach Out Program, an initiative dedicated to raising the number of Black students admitted to UF. Courtney approached Blakely with the “Courtney” script and asked her to be his assistant director in January. Blown away by the script’s humor, she agreed without hesitation. Blakely said the plot of “Courtney” is similar

to famous writer and actress Issa Rae’s comedy web series “Awkward Black Girl,” with a timeless comedic touch resembling the work of Eddie Murphy. “I know people are going to love it,” Blakely said. “I see this show becoming something that my kids are watching.” For Sabrina Blakney, a 24-year-old UF acting MFA junior who played Courtney’s ex-girlfriend Lani in the pilot, working with Courtney was thrilling. His infectious personality and prioritization of her comfort put her at ease throughout the entire filming process, she said. Blakney also said Courtney’s directing style was supportive and open-minded. “He allows you to try to figure it out on your own and gives you the room to explore,” she said. “That’s an actor’s dream.” Kenneth and Courtney recently moved to Los Angeles to pitch “Courtney” to television networks and plan to release the pilot on the Goof Entertainment Youtube channel in July. For Courtney, the sitcom represents his journey as a content creator and the creative community he has cultivated living in Gainesville. “This project is a culmination of all the time I spent and connections I’ve made in Gainesville,” Courtney said. @afriedmanuf afriedman@alligator.org

Gators eliminated from Women’s College World Series

The UCLA Bruins sent Florida home from Oklahoma City in mercy rule loss, pg. 12.

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by David L. Hoyt 1

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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

6-6-22

4 5

ACROSS CLUE 1. Wake, wrinkle 5. Venomous snake 6. Start to happen 7. Type of flower DOWN CLUE

1. 2. 3. 4.

____ control Ancient city Go-between ____ angle

ANSWER PRPEIL MAABM SEUEN ZNIANI ANSWER ETROEM EPPIOIM LAOINIS RAAMCE

CLUE: ____ is considered to be one of the earliest

BONUS civilizations to ever exist in the world.

How to play

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

ANSWERS: 1A-Ripple 5A-Mamba 6A-Ensue 7A-Zinnia 1D-Remote 2D-Pompeii 3D-Liaison 4D-Camera B-Mesopotamia

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

solution on page 10

answer on page 10 Release Date: Monday, June 6, 2022 Release Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Los Puzzle Los Angeles Angeles Times Times Daily Daily Crossword Crossword Puzzle Edited Lewis Editedby byPatti Patti Varol Varol and and Joyce Joyce Nichols Nichols Lewis

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ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE: PUZZLE: ANSWER TO PREVIOUS

05/31/2022 06/01/22

06/06/22

06/01/22 06/06/22

10 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2022

Wanted

The American Cancer Society Road to Recovery Volunteers Needed!

VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED to transport cancer patients to treatment. Flexible schedule. Training and liability insurance provided. Please call 800-227-2345 if interested.

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HIRING DANCERS

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Say:

the

FOUND IT IN

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20 Events/Notices

Entertainment

WALDO FARMERS & FLEA MARKET Vintage & Unique - Like EBay in 3D

Sat & Sun 8-15-13-21

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Pets

OPERATION CATNIP

Spaying/Neutering Free-Roaming Cats Borrow a Trap / Make a Clinic Reservation Make a Donation / Volunteer New Expanded Hours

334-7960 for app’t (optional $20 fee)

Lots of NEW info at

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Personals

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by Fifi Rodriguez

20 Events/Notices When cash is low and the bills seem out of reach, Best Jewelry and Loan is the surfer's "PAWN BEACH". 523 NW 3rd Ave 352-371-4367

8-15-13-20

MEASUREMENTS: How many 1.1. GEOGRAPHY: Which country owns the inches are in a mile? Canary Islands? 2. ASTRONOMY: What does the acronym mean to the scientific 2. MOVIES:SETI Which movie features the song community? "Moon River"? 3. LANGUAGE: What does the LatLANGUAGE: What doesintheEnglish? Latin phrase "non in3.prefix “sub-” mean 4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the ducor, duco" mean in English? only president to serve two noncon4. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of secutive terms? ducks called? 5. LITERATURE: Which 20th-century movie starWhich penned the autobiogra5. LITERATURE: 20th-century novel feaphy “Me: Stories of My Life”? tures a character called Sethe? 6. HISTORY: What was the first National Monument proclaimed the 6. TELEVISION: What drive-in diner isinfeatured United States? in the 1970s TV sitcom "Happy Days"? 7. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the 7. MUSIC: When located? did Lynyrd Skynyrd's anthem island of Luzon "Sweet Home Alabama" chart inmovie the Top 8. MOVIES: Which sci-fi has10? the tagline, “Reality is a motto thing isof"Eureka"? the 8. U.S. STATES: Which state's past”? 9.9.HISTORY: WhenKNOWLEDGE: did Wyoming give women GENERAL What was of the firstown the the rightname to vote, holdUnited publicStates’ office and nuclear-powered submarine? property? 10. GAMES: What are the four rail10. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president had an road properties in Monopoly? estate called TheAnswers Hermitage? © inches 2022 King Features Synd., Inc. 1. 63,360 2. Search for extraterrestrial intellianswers below gence 3. Below Trivia or insufficient Test answers 4. Grover Cleveland 5. Katharine Hepburn 6. Devils Tower, 1906 7. The Philippines 8. “The Matrix” 9. The USS Nautilus 10. Pennsylvania, Short Line, Read-

1. Spain. 2. "Breakfast at Tiffany's." 3. "I am not led, I lead." 4. A raft. 5. "Beloved." 6. Arnold's. 7. 1974. 8. California. 9. 1869. 10. Andrew Jackson

MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2022 www.alligator.org/section/sports

FOOTBALL

Stricklin, Napier visit Destin for SEC meetings FLORIDA DISCUSSED THE FUTURE OF SEC FOOTBALL AT THIS WEEK'S MEETINGS

By Brandon Hernandez Sports Writer

The annual Southeastern Conference spring meetings in Destin, Florida, took place May 31-June 3, as the conference’s presidents, athletic directors, football coaches and other representatives met to discuss the future of SEC football. Historically significant issues crowd the college football landscape as the season draws closer: players compensated for their name, image and likeness (NIL), collectives, the transfer portal, possible playoff expansion and the lack of regulations from the NCAA for any of it. The event marked new Gators head football coach Billy Napier’s first time attending since taking his new job. The agenda of these meetings focused on the topics conference leaders could control, such as scheduling, and how the SEC must make legislative decisions without waiting for the other Power 5 conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12). The discussion also included the possibility of in-conference playoffs and which division would gain Texas and Oklahoma, two schools scheduled to join the conference before 2025. Wednesday, several athletic directors voted to keep playing one non-conference

Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff

Head football coach Billy Napier calls his teammates during a spring practice March 29, 2022. Napier participated in the SEC Spring Meetings with athletic director Scott Stricklin. Power 5 opponent if the SEC approves the nine-game plan. With all 16 conference programs scheduled to play 182 games against Power 5 opponents from 20252037 in a new agreement, Florida could potentially be forced to play a full 12-game schedule against all Power 5 foes if all outof-conference games are accounted for. No SEC team has ever played such a regular season schedule, and the possibili-

ty depends on whether the College Football Playoff committee favors a Power 5-laden schedule. Stricklin said in a 247Sports article he isn’t sure the conference will play 12 Power 5 teams a year, but refused to rule the possibility out. He also expressed frustration at current scheduling patterns. “The fact that we schedule games out a decade from now is kind of ludicrous in and of itself, but we’re in a model that forc-

es us to do so,” Stricklin said. “So you’d love to see the model adapt over time, and maybe we can make little smarter decisions that are a little bit more current.” Coaches seemed to agree that they want players to benefit from NIL while avoiding paying student-athletes as employees. Napier believes that NIL will be a strength for the program, but said the legislation still provides unknowns to navigate. “There’s a ton of gray area,” Napier told 247Sports. “What can you do, what you can’t do, there’s no manual, no parameters, no guidelines. We’re living in a land with no laws.” Napier shared his research with the media that found, since the 1990s, each SEC institution received $1.3 million a year from the league, and 13 years ago it was around six to seven million. With money getting more involved in college football, student-athletes will benefit.

“I’m a firm believer that this is a positive. It's foolish to say that the players don’t deserve a piece of the pie.”

-Coach Billy Napier

However, time will tell how Florida adjusts as NIL approaches its one-year anniversary. Either way, the Gators will be a part of discussions with the SEC’s future. @BranH2001 bhernandez@alligator.org

GYMNASTICS

Gators gymnastics promote Adrian Burde to associate head coach The team announced Burde’s new role Friday By Curtis Michaud Sports Writer

A longtime Florida Gators gymnastics assistant coach, who led the team to nine Southeastern Conference titles and three NCAA vault and floor championships, will become associate head coach. Head Coach Jenny Rowland announced Adrian Burde's new role Friday. It was the first piece of news since the orange and blue took home second place in the 2022 NCAA Championship. Burde spent the last 16 seasons overseeing the Gators’ uneven bar performers before coaching vault and tumbling events in 2011. “His promotion to associate head coach is a testament to his loyalty,

hard work and integrity,” Rowland said in a press release. Burde began his 21 years of collegiate coaching experience in his home country of Romania, where he met and coached 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Alexandra Eremia from 1997-1999. He also coached five seasons at the University of Nebraska before heading to Gainesville in 2007, when he was named the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches for Women Southern Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Burde’s eye for talent immediately aided the Gators. He recruited last season’s senior star gymnast Trinity Thomas, who claimed the NCAA All-Around Championship after she earned a perfect 10 during her floor routine. The

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senior also secured 27 All-American honors and was named 2022 SEC Gymnast of the Year. Since his arrival at UF, 22 Gators have claimed 67 All-American honors and a top NCAA Championship score of 49.75 was set in this season’s semifinals. UF holds three of the top floor totals in NCAA Championships history.

“Adrian’s dedication and fearless leadership are second to none. We are beyond grateful for all that he does to help the Gators ‘win each day’ year after year.”

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-Coach Jenny Rowland

@CurtisMichaud1 cmichaud@alligator.org

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Courtesy of the UAA

Gators gymnast Megan Skaggs celebrates with assistant coach Adrian Burde, who was promoted to associate head coach Friday.

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

12 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2022

SOFTBALL

Florida softball exits Oklahoma City after shutout loss to UCLA The No.14-seed Gators mustered just two hits By Curtis Michaud

freshman Savannah Pola. The Santa Ana, California, native got the better of UF senior Elizabeth Hightower, who started in the circle for the Gators. After Pola battled through the count to force a walk, Hightower managed to bounce back with a changeup pitch to earn her first, and only, strikeout of the day. Bruins redshirt junior Anna Vines singled to right field, advancing Pola into scoring position. Godin approached the plate next, facing a full count; the outfielder skipped one to rightcenter field, bringing Pola home. Although the Gators were not able to answer the 1-0 deficit, Hightower escaped further damage as sophomore Katie Kistler highlighted the third frame with a home run-saving snag. UCLA’s Maya Brady nearly claimed the homer of the day with a rocket to left field before Kistler climbed up the left-field wall, robbing the Bruins from adding two more runs to the scoreboard. The game got out of hand for the Gators in the fourth inning due to uncharacteristic errors. The frame started with

Sports Writer

The No.14-seed Florida Gators softball team will take the next flight out of Oklahoma City as its season came to an end after backto-back scoreless outings. For the second time in under 24 hours, UF’s offense went cold in a win-or-go-home matchup against the UCLA Bruins Sunday, losing 8-0. Saturday, No. 7-seed Oklahoma State overwhelmed Florida behind All-American pitcher Kelly Maxwell’s superb three-hit shutout. Bruins ace Holly Azevedo took it up a notch Sunday, allowing just two hits while dealing two K’s. The redshirt senior helped the 12-time national champions advance to the semifinal round of the NCAA Women’s College World Series after retiring the first six Gators sluggers. The Bruins scratched the scoreboard first in the second inning via a single from redshirt junior Kelli Godin. The frame kicked off with a groundout to second base from

Hightower walking the leadoff batter, right fielder Pola, for the second straight inning. A sacrifice bunt advanced Pola into scoring position and forced a pitching change. Florida junior Rylee Trlicek took pitching responsibilities with two outs remaining. An errant throw put runners on the corners before infielder Skylar Wallace mishandled a routine ground ball to bring in another run for the Bruins. UCLA continued the scoring efforts as senior Briana Perez singled to shortstop to force two more unearned runs, increasing the deficit to 4-0. The sequence forced a second pitching change in the fourth; right-handed pitcher Natalie Lugo got the call and capped the inning with a strikeout. Just one disastrous inning was enough to cement the Gators’ downfall. Florida remained scoreless through the next two frames, only getting two runners on base before UCLA landed in the finishing blow. Brady, who was robbed of a homer by Kistler earlier in the

Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff

The Florida softball team huddles on the field to talk strategy against Mississippi State March 14, 2022. The Gators were eliminated from the Women’s College World Series by UCLA Sunday. game, returned to bat in the sixth with the bases loaded. Her single to right field brought in two runs. Finally, Pola sent the Gators with a single to center field, as the eight-run rule closed out the game. The Gators’ loss signifies the end of Lugo, fifth year infieder Hannah Adams and senior Cheyenne Lindsey’s collegiate careers. The defeat concludes a

season marked by inexperience throughout the lineup. Florida notched its most wins in a season since 2019 with 49. The Bruins will take on No. 1-seed Oklahoma in the semifinals Monday while the Gators enter the offseason. @CurtisMichaud1 cmichaud@alligator.org

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