Tuesday, September 6, 2022

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VOLUME 117 ISSUE 3

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

Not officially associated with the University of Florida

Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

Rae Riiska // Alligator Staff

Sophomore Tre’Vez Johnson and senior Trey Dean III celebrate as head coach Billy Napier watches during Florida’s upset over Utah Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.

Florida upsets No. 7 Utah in front of record crowd SENIOR LINEBACKER AMARI BURNEY SEALS WIN WITH INTERCEPTION

By Topher Adams Sports Writer

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising drove the ball 69 yards down the field as the Utes sat six yards from the Florida end zone. With 17 seconds on the clock, Florida stared at an impossible stop to keep its upset dream alive.

Its defense needed a massive play.

Super senior linebacker Amari Burney delivered.

As Rising scanned the end zone for a lane, he fired a pass over the middle, only for Burney to jump the route and intercept the pass.

The St. Petersburg native sealed an enormous victory for the Gators and first-year head coach Billy Napier.

“We were yelling at each other saying ‘somebody has to make a play right now’,” Burney said. “I played receiver so it was very easy to catch the ball.”

The Florida Gators (1-0) held off the No. 7 Utah Utes (0-1) 29-26 in the first game of

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT

Richardson hasfinish a career Story description with night comma, pg#

Florida's quarterback performed at an elite level Saturday. Read more on pg. 11.

the season Saturday. The team was backed by 90,799 fans in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium — the most ever for a UF season opener, 10th most in program history and 2,251 more than the listed capacity. Sophomore quarterback Anthony Richardson, in his first career home start, dazzled with 168 passing yards and another 106 on the ground and three touchdowns.

The Gators’ start was near perfect. UF moved the ball with precision down the field before Louisiana transfer Montrell Johnson fumbled. The Utes returned the loose ball deep into Florida territory and capitalized on the mistake with an early touchdown.

After both sides traded punts, Richardson impressed with his athletic ability. He avoided Utah defenders and evaded a pair of sacks throughout the drive.

The Gators continued gaining ground on the Utes — including a perfect strike from Richardson to Arizona State transfer receiver Ricky Pearsall. But they faced a fourth-and-2 in the red zone. Napier showed off his aggressive approach, keeping the offense on the

SEE FOOTBALL, PAGE 11

'Tailgators' return to the swamp FANS REUNITE IN GAINESVILLE

By Alissa Gary Alligator Staff Writer

Dotted with white tents, the Reitz Union North Lawn was prepared for the beginning of another highly anticipated Gators football season. Most were empty shells of the tailgates that would fill them later.

Except for one.

On the corner of the lawn near McCarty Hall A, the smell of burgers on the grill complemented the lively chatter of one particular Gator family gathering: They call themselves the Two-Headed Gator Tailgate, in honor of two friends who stuffed themselves into one Gator shirt during a 1980s game.

“It’s great, to be, a two-head-ed ga-tor,” chanted Margie Nelson, 63, recalling the group’s conception.

“We won,” she added. “Obviously.”

Nelson and two friends, Cam Baker and Lisa Bristow, have tailgated at every UF home game since they were students from 1979 to 1981. Although their tailgate spot has changed over the years — once at Broward, once at Keys and once on the main Reitz Union lawn — the tailgate has settled in its corner of campus for 21 years.

UF invests $85 million in new football complex

The complex features zero-gravity chairs, a cryotherapy chamber and recovery pools for football players, pg. 5

The Two-Headed Tailgaters are just some of the hordes of people, including alumni, grad students and football fans who arrive early to the Swamp to tailgate.

The tradition has passed on to their children as well, who grew up tailgating together.

Courtney Bristow, Lisa’s 29-year-old daughter, has been following the Gators since she was in diapers.

“I haven’t missed a home game in 29 years,” Courtney said. “This is football family.”

On game days, campus fills with “tailgators”: fans who camp out before football games, usually with barbecues and drinks.

REVELxp, formerly known as The Tailgate Guys, sets up tents, caters food and provides TVs for fans who buy their tailgate experience service.

For Saturday’s game, REVELxp sold 48 tailgate packages at Gator Walk — where the football teams get off their buses before entering Ben Hill Griffin Stadium — and 32 on the lawn.

Teddy Salb, sales manager, said it was one of the most popular games so far, second only to the Louisiana State game Oct. 16.

Alternatively, many tailgaters set up their

SEE TAILGATORS, PAGE 5

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Alachua County Public Schools find short-term solutions for vacancies Around 48 teacher vacancies were listed on the district’s website as of Sunday, pg. 6

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2 ALLIGATOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

Today’s Weather UF Health pauses COVID-19 booster doses, new shots on the way

VOLUME 117 ISSUE 3

NEWSROOM: Editor-In-Chief Engagement Managing Editor Digital Managing Editor

The FDA authorized new boosters Aug. 31

By Melanie Pena Alligator Staff Writer

New COVID-19 booster shots will arrive at UF next week following the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of updated vaccines targeting Omicron subvariants Wednesday.

UF Health has pre-ordered redesigned boosters and is expecting the shipment early next week, according to a UF Health Shands Hospital email Friday. The health system also temporarily paused booster administration of the current Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to those 12 and older until it receives the new boosters.

There will be two new boosters: one made by Pfizer-BioNTech that can be administered to people as young as 12 years old and one

by Moderna for those 18-years-old and up. UF Health outpatient pharmacies and UF Health Physicians

practices will also have the updated boosters.

People must wait at least two months since they received their last COVID-19 booster dose or have completed their initial series of vaccinations to receive an updated booster, according to the email.

The Omicron COVID-19 subvariants, such as BA.5, spread more easily than other variants, and anyone infected can spread it to others, regardless of vaccination status or whether they show symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The BA.5 subvariant accounts for around 88% of total COVID-19 cases in the United States.

In general, the Omicron variant causes less severe symptoms than other variants; however, a rise in the infected population may lead to more hospitalizations and deaths, according to the CDC. The symptoms for the Omicron

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with a governmental contract for scientific purposes.

Biodegradable or photo-degradable balloons — chemically broken down by light — may also be released if they are hand-tied at the bottom to prevent pollution. To release the balloon, a person must provide the appropriate documentation of its biodegradability or photo-degradability.

Ana Mattiuzzi, a 23-year-old UF natural resource conservation senior, said she’s optimistic the ordinance will not only increase awareness in a small city like Gainesville but also help protect natural beauties like our springs.

However, she worries that making people feel like they are making an impact without changing more severe causes of climate change — such as the burning of fossil fuels — can take away from having a more comprehensive understanding of the issue.

“It just feels kind of like greenwashing,” Mattiuzzi said.

This June, the Gainesville City Commission also approved additional ordinances improving the way the city collects and diverts food waste. Under the new policy, businesses that generate more than one cubic yard of food waste per week will be required to separate it from trash, said Michael Heimbach, Gainesville’s sustainability manager for public works.

That food will then either be donated, used as animal feed, rendered for oil, composted or sent to the landfill, in that order.

These changes will take effect between 2023 and 2024 and may be the most significant food waste ordinance in the southeastern U.S., Heimbach said. As for how these new ordinances will be enforced, Heimbach said the city will rely on education and voluntary compliance.

“If we get to the point where we need to cite people, we will,” he said. “But we anticipate pretty good participation from the community.”

Although an important step, members of the community say the new policy is "far from perfect" Alligator Staff Writer

Gainesville’s new zero-waste ordinance, which went into effect Sept. 2, will continue to alter community relations with polluting single-use products.

The new solid-waste city policy limits businesses from handing out single-use plastics, such as plastic utensils, condiment packets and portion cups, unless requested by customers. The ordinance also bans the sale of food packaged in foam containers on city property.

The ordinance joins the ever-growing list of local sustainability-oriented commercial policies dating back to 1997. The Gainesville Zero-Waste Subcommittee, which is behind the ordinance, aims to divert 90% of the city’s waste from landfills by 2040.

Limiting plastics isn’t a new sustainability strategy from the city. In 2020, the city banned single-use plastic straws and stirrers, including straws made from “biologically based polymers.”

The new ordinance puts the responsibility of environmental consciousness on consumers, but they’re likely to still purchase single-use plastics out of convenience, said Leslie Thiele, UF sustainability studies program director.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Thiele said. “But it's far from perfect.”

The ordinance also requires restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets and bars to place an equal number of properly labeled recycling bins for every garbage container. Other components of the ordinance include higher frequencies of commercial and residential trash collection.

Limitations on the intentional release of balloons, plastic glitter and confetti also start Friday, but the rule comes with exceptions. Balloons may still be released, either by a government-affiliated person or someone

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variant are similar to previous variants, including fever, cough, difficulty breathing or body aches.

The current mask guidelines for UF Health require masks be worn in all clinical facilities and patientfacing areas; this includes cafeterias, waiting rooms and lobbies. In non-clinical buildings and spaces, masks are recommended.

Those seeking COVID-19 booster appointments can search at vaccines.gov, text their zip code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find local locations, according to the UF email.

Gainesville zero-waste ordinance goes into effect after years in progress, further limits single-use plastics

By Fernando Figueroa

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 ALLIGATOR 3

A taste of school spirit.

Try the Orange & Blue sub. It’s made with chicken tenders and topped with buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing. Save time before class by ordering ahead for in-store pickup at publix.com/orangeandblue.

For a limited time only.

4 ALLIGATOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

Ryan Friedenberg // Alligator Contributing Photographer

Florida fans line up outside of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for Gator Walk Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. The game welcomed the largest season-opener crowd in UF history as 90,799 fans filled the stands.

Ryan Friedenberg // Alligator Contributing Photographer

Ryan Friedenberg // Alligator Contributing Photographer

Tailgater Dane Ullian grills hotdogs off of West University Avenue before Florida’s matchup with Utah Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.

The Florida Dazzlers, the official UF dance team, cheer outside of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.

Rae Riiska // Alligator Staff Ryan Friedenberg // Alligator Contributing Photographer

Florida Head Coach Billy Napier walks through a crowd of fans during Gator Walk Sept. 3, 2022.

Florida sophomore wide receiver Xzavier Henderson catches a punt during Florida’s season opener against Utah Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 ALLIGATOR 5

TAILGATORS, from pg. 1 own tents across campus, cook their own barbecues and wait for the game to begin.

Jim Copeland, a 68-year-old 1976 undergraduate UF alum, grilled his famous Gator Tail Sub Sandwich — a meat-and-cheese sub inspired by former local sandwich shop Joe’s Deli.

He and his brother, John Copeland, were situated under a tent in front of Williamson Hall facing the stadium. They had been there since 6 a.m.

“Sometimes it's the only time you get to see everyone during the years because we all have our own families and our own obligations,” Jim Copeland said.

Steve Brosius, a 49-year-old Class of 1999 business UF alum, is a Gainesville native who began tailgating at 6 a.m. He has occupied his tailgate spot off Stadium Road since 2003. His family has also attended UF for generations, he said.

Brosius’ tent was filled with friends he said he’s known for decades, some having met 10 years ago and others 30.

“It really is about getting back together with good friends,” Brosius said.

Zack Lewis, a 39-year-old UF alum, tailgates every home game.

His children, a 2-year-old and a 9-month-old, were born as Gators fans, he said. Lewis said former coach Steve Spurrier announced the gender of Lewis’ child through Cameo, a paid app where celebrities send messages to fans.

Lewis wears a 1996 national championship ring to every game, which he bought for $5 on Etsy, because he said it’s good luck. It also causes people to confuse him for a former Gators football player, he added.

When asked why he continues to tailgate, he said: “The good answer is tradition, but the honest an-

swer is beer. You can quote that.”

For Kara Eversole, a 29-year-old UF neuropsychology intern, and Amanda Wisinger, a 28-year-old UF doctorate student, Saturday’s season-opener was their first tailgate at UF. Eversole, who’s from Chicago, and Wisinger, from Ohio, moved to Gainesville less than a month ago.

They tailgated with members of the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology in the Plaza of the Americas.

“I feel like I haven't met older people in our program in a casual setting,” Eversole said. “And showing our Gator spirit!”

Directly across from Eversole’s group in the Plaza of the Americas, a series of structured tents pushed together formed more of a canopy than a traditional tailgate.

“Tailgate-Palooza,” as the group calls itself, has been tailgating in the Plaza since 2003. Dack Vaught, 50, said he doesn’t attend the football game after the tailgate; instead, he watches the game from the TV set up in the tailgate tent.

“I love it,” Vaught said. “ I love the atmosphere. It’s fun.”

On the Reitz North Lawn, Paul Johnson, 39, tailgated under a tent with a banner that read, “Super Gators 20 Year Reunion.”

Johnson was a member of the Super Gators, a group of Florida football fans who dressed up for games between 2001 and 2007. For the first time in 20 years, the Super Gators — a group of about 50 at their peak — reunited for the Utah game. They have kept in touch through a Facebook thread started in 2008.

“I haven’t seen most of these people in a decade, and it’s cool,” said Brian Barnes, a 39-year-old former Super Gator. “It's weird making small chat with people that you, at one point, knew exceptionally well.” @AlissaGary1 agary@alligator.org

UF balances exclusivity, program competitiveness with new $85 million football complex THE COMPLEX DREW INSPIRATION FROM LOUISIANA STATE AND ALABAMA

By Topher Adams & Claire Grunewald Alligator Staff Writers

Zero-gravity chairs, a cryotherapy chamber and a screen large enough for the football team to line up and strategize — all features of UF’s new high-tech football facility made exclusively for the Florida Gators.

Many hope UF’s investment of $85 million into Gators football pays off, as the team hasn’t won a national or conference championship in 14 years.

As Florida comes off the high from Saturday’s win, players can use its new football complex to continue training between games. The new

James W. “Bill” Heavener Football Training Center is part of an effort to match the dominance of Southeastern Conference rivals Alabama and Georgia, both on the field and, more importantly, on the recruiting trail.

The center opened Aug. 14, but its construction started in June 2020.

In the planning stages, UF representatives visited athletic facilities around the country for inspiration, including Alabama and Louisiana State, said Florida Gators spokesperson Chip Howard.

LSU built its stand-alone football facility in 2006 and underwent a $28 million renovation in 2019. Alabama’s athletic facility and BryantDenny Stadium have both seen significant renovations and upgrades over the last decade as well, with a $16 million overhaul in 2020 as part of a 10-year, $600 million athletic renovation plan on campus.

“I think what we set out to do was to identify what our needs were at the University of Florida and then traveled to other facilities to see what concepts they had that maybe we had not thought of, ideas that we would utilize,” Howard said.

The Heavener Center is open only to student athletes. There are more than 500 UF student athletes as of Spring 2022, according to the UF Intercollegiate Athletics Committee.

However, there were 61,112 students enrolled in Fall 2021, according to the UF Institutional Planning and Research office. Some students have voiced their concerns about UF prioritizing a small margin of the student body with the opening of the training facility.

The new football complex also features amenities such as a dining

SEE COMPLEX, PAGE 7

Allegations of voter fraud, suppression linger following Alachua County’s primary election TEMPORARY BALLOT SHORTAGE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO MISCOMMUNICATION

By Heather Bushman Alligator Staff Writer

With voter fraud claims from top state officials and the bottom of Facebook comment sections, postprimary questions linger in the aftermath of the Aug. 23 election despite the confirmation of all race results.

Allegations of felon voter fraud, a lack of Republican ballots at select precincts and late-night result deliveries have cast doubt over Alachua County’s primary election process for some residents. A portion of voters point to what they feel is incom-

petence, leading to demands that Supervisor of Elections Kim Barton take accountability. Others call the delay a conspiracy to silence conservative voters in a majority Democratic county.

Alachua County voting precincts four and 20 — the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center and the High Springs Civic Center — experienced a temporary shortage in Republican ballots around 6 p.m., U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Gainesville, and Florida Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, posted on Facebook.

Some voting in Republican primary races had to wait around an hour at these precincts until more ballots arrived or abstain from voting in partisan races, voters alleged

on social media.

The county printed enough ballots to accommodate 35% of registered voters, Supervisor of Elections Office spokesperson Aaron Klein said, and the primary turnout was around 30%. But some residents think the county didn’t provide adequate ballots for Alachua County’s Republican population.

Klein attributed the shortage to a miscommunication between the Supervisor of Elections Office and the precincts. Despite the fact that the Supervisor of Elections Office printed enough ballots, the precincts that temporarily went without Republican ballots didn’t request a replenished supply in enough time to

Be a part of something

SEE ELECTION, PAGE 7

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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.

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6 ALLIGATOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

Alachua County Public Schools face teacher vacancies amid statewide school staff shortage SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTED

By Sophia Bailly Alligator Staff Writer

With four months to go, the finish line was in sight for Jasmine Ver Bust’s junior year at Gainesville High School. To her dismay, two of her teachers unexpectedly left.

“I personally feel like my education was sort of robbed for a few months,” Ver Bust said.

Now a 17-year-old senior, Ver Bust said the loss of two core teachers impacted student success in the Cambridge Program, a pre-university curriculum designed for academic acceleration. Her math teacher transferred to Florida Virtual School for health reasons, and her English teacher moved to New York to work on documentaries, she said.

Around 48 K-12 teacher openings were listed on the Alachua County Public Schools website as of Sunday. As school administrations and state politicians look toward short-term solutions, those in the education system are left to grapple with low salaries among the longlasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ACPS isn’t alone in its pursuit of hiring more staff — there were around 14,000 vacancies in school districts across Florida leading into the new school year, according to the Florida Education Association.

Nationally, staff shortages aren’t

limited to classroom teachers, according to the Florida Education Association. Bus drivers, guidance counselors and other support staff are also affected. Jackie Johnson, the spokesperson for Alachua County Public School, said regardless of vacancies, the county has a strict guideline for classroom sizes.

“Sometimes you have fewer students in a particular school than you expected,” Johnson said. “Sometimes you have more students at a certain school than you expected, and you have to make adjustments accordingly.”

Crystal Tessmann, Alachua County Education Association’s service unit director, said one solution is hiring long-term substitutes stepping into teaching positions.

However, she said the qualifications to be hired as a substitute are different from those needed to be a teacher. In Florida, long-term substitute teachers require a high school diploma, or an equivalent level of education. The substitute teachers are given classroom and policy training, which the school district provides.

Ver Bust experienced this firsthand as her school struggled to fill vacancies.

“My English teacher was a long-term sub, and she was there for about four months and never learned our names,” Ver Bust said.

“We were pretty much teaching ourselves in both classes while they were trying to find replacements.”

A 24-year-old college graduate replaced Ver Bust’s math teacher leading up to Cambridge exams.

Having recent college graduates fulfill teaching positions is a new pattern, Ver Bust said.

“It’s not looking too good,” Ver Bust said. “There are so many people who have built it from the ground up and know how these tests work.”

The absence of teachers has led schools to combine classrooms, which Tessmann said disrupts the learning of the children without the same level of one-on-one instruction. In a long-term situation the schools make modifications to have enough desks for all students; however, Tessmann said short-term class combining may leave some students without a desk.

Johnson said from the start of school until Labor Day is typically when most classrooms are adjusted based on staff numbers.

“During the first two weeks of school, our district staff are meeting every single day to go over the numbers in every single school [and] every classroom to see what kind of adjustments need to be made,” Johnson said.

Staff shortage effects in public schools may influence overall school grade examinations. At the end of each academic year, public schools in the county are given a letter grade determined by factors including standardized assessment, performance and graduation rates,

according to the Florida legislature and the State Board of Education.

In the 2021-2022 school year, Lake Forest Elementary received an F, while six elementary schools earned a D. To alleviate the issue, Gov. Ron DeSantis approved SB 896, or the “Educator Certification Pathways for Veterans” bill, June 9. The law provides a temporary five-year teaching certificate to military service members. Veterans must have at least four years of service with an honorable or medical discharge.

The temporary teaching certificate also requires at least 60 college credits, a 2.5 GPA, a passing score in a state exam and a background check. The bill went into effect July 1.

The bill hasn’t been effective long enough to determine its impact, Tessmann said.

“Our position definitely is that we infinitely appreciate veterans,” Tessmann said. “But that bill just further devalues the education that teachers have received. There is no overlap at all in being a military veteran and qualifying to be an educator.”

Michaela Allbritton, a UF special education and elementary education graduate student, said staff vacancies in public schools was an impending issue even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Florida ranks 45th in the nation

for lowest-paying teaching salaries, according to the Florida Education Association. A long-term lack of support and flexibility in what can be taught, as well as overcrowded classrooms have contributed to staffing shortages, Allbritton said.

“Especially with inflation happening, it’s definitely harder for teachers to have a liveable income,” Allbritton said. “A lot is expected on their plate with test scores. It’s understaffed and underpaid, so more teachers are leaving.”

Allbritton added the job has gotten harder since the impact of COVID-19, as students get accustomed to being in-person again.

As a member of UF’s five-year ProTeach program, which is dedicated to preparing students to become teachers, Allbritton is working alongside first grade teacher Jalea Turner at the K-12 developmental research school, P.K. Yonge.

Despite the drawbacks, Allbritton said she’s willing to go into the teaching profession and make positive change.

“I do love teaching, and I do love kids,” Allbritton said. “I think it’s one of the first jobs I’ve had that doesn’t necessarily feel like a job.

My motivation is loving kids and wanting to make an influence in their lives. I can’t see myself necessarily doing anything else.” @sophia_bailly sbaily@alligator.org

Furniture excess contributes to landfill waste, students weigh cheap, eco-friendly alternatives THRIFT STORES, REUSE COMMUNITIES AND CITY GOVERNMENT STEP IN

By Fernando Figueroa Alligator Staff Writer

Every summer, students moving out cram their cars with valuables, forcing them to play Tetris with their desks, chairs and mattresses.

Whatever doesn’t fit has to stay.

Sometimes, the furniture stands patiently by a dumpster, waiting to be picked up and transported to a landfill. Other times, the furniture sits comfortably in an air-conditioned thrift store, safe from wood-rot and curious critters.

Many movers aren’t aware of the environmental impact their choice to throw out furniture has, with bulk items packing landfills. In a city with a frequent base of students moving in and out of furnished and unfurnished apartments, strategies like furniture recycling and thrifting have become popular Gainesville options.

Alyssa Soejima, a 21-year-old UF education sciences senior, was in Gainesville during quarantine when she passed by a turquoise glass cabinet by the Beaty Towers dumpster.

It was just one of the hundreds of pieces of furniture thrown out by students in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Oh my god, that’s so cute,” she said to her roommate. “Let’s steal it.”

This wasn’t the first or the last time the dumpsters overflowed with discarded furniture.

In 2019, furniture made up an estimated 2% of waste, by weight, sent to the landfill, according to a projection by a 2020-2021 Alachua County Waste Composition Study. The study also estimates that for every ton of new furniture purchased that year, Alachua landfilled one-third of the weight in old discarded furniture, said Dr. Timothy G. Townsend, the study’s principal investigator.

Namari Lock // Alligator Staff

Furniture piles up outside a student housing complex on move-out day.

“There’s a lot of bulky items such as furniture that are currently discarded,” he said.

“And if there was a way to reuse those and offset the purchase of new furniture and the making of new furniture, that is a significant savings and benefit to the environment.”

The report makes several recommendations to reduce waste’s greenhouse gas emissions and energy use footprints. It suggests banning junk-mail, mandating food donations, mandating corrugated paper take-backs and instituting a building deconstruction mandate to recycle 70% of deconstructed buildings.

In the late summer months, the city of Gainesville sees about a 10% to 15% increase in thrown-out couches, said Jeffery Klugh,

Alachua County waste collection and alternatives assistant manager.

Although couches don’t weigh much, they take up a lot of space. When you’re transporting around 900 tons of garbage out of the county per day, space matters, Klugh said.

This can result in an increased number of trips waste management has to make to the landfill.

“We do see an increase in tonnages during move-outs and move-in,” Klugh said. “But it’s really the volume increase that kind of messes with our operation.”

Currently, there’s no citywide furniture recycling program for old furniture, and none of the waste collected is allowed to be used for waste energy, he said.

This June, however, the City Commission passed a new solid-waste ordinance requiring multi-family residential properties to submit a “Reuse Plan,” notifying residents of donation collection sites one month ahead of the moveout date. The plan aims to divert household goods, furniture and cardboard electronics from landfills.

The ordinance will become effective in 2023 for residential buildings with more than 200 units and 2025 for properties with more than 50 units.

This is exactly the kind of service Daryn Pearlstein, 23-year-old UF psychology graduate, wants from the city. The lack of an organized bulk pickup service during the summer months worries Pearlstein for the sake of students and maintenance people who have to deal with it all.

For Pearlstein and her boyfriend, a 23-yearold UF history student Alessandro Cepero, the rising popularity of second-hand furniture can be attributed to its unique aesthetics, finances and its environmental impact.

Although furniture from big retail stores like IKEA might be appealing to Cepero, midcentury pieces have brought scratches, stories and scuffs from a different time into his home.

“You also don’t get the quality,” Cepero said. “When you’re talking about mid-century, a lot of things are handcrafted. A lot of things are made with these expensive, heavier materials.”

On an individual level, reusing furniture is a popular option to reduce negative environmental impact. Second-hand stores like Reuse Planet and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore thrive around the city. These stores divert hundreds of thousands of pounds of waste from landfills and nature corridors and provide cheaper alternatives to students, as well as low-income families.

Read the rest online at alligator.org. @fernfigue ffigueroa@alligator.org

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 ALLIGATOR 7

COMPLEX, from pg. 5 hall and lounge space for all student athletes, not just the football program. The rest of the facility is reserved for football players and staff.

“The biggest benefit is the dining hall and the athlete amenity area,” Howard said. “Not only are we able to provide a great sports nutrition experience for all of our student athletes in our dining hall, but they have a place to relax and lounge around.”

The facility is still a football-centric project and is expected to be an asset to the program. The building is directly connected to the Gators’ indoor practice facility, creating one connected building between the practice space and the other areas.

The convenience will be a “game changer” for football student athletes, Howard said.

Among the football-specific amenities is a brand new locker room. Each of the 135 lockers cost $15,000, Howard said. There are also multiple recovery pools, a room equipped for athletic trainers to work with players and a cryotherapy chamber.

The development was primarily funded through booster contributions and revenue generated by the University Athletic Association. Those UAA revenues are used to fund UAA projects like the Heavener Center.

Gator Boosters Inc. — the booster organization that raises a majority of the contri-

butions to the UAA — averaged around $39 million in football and facility upgrades contributions between 2016 and 2019 for projects such as the new center.

The UAA also received significant contributions from mega donors including James Heavener, for whom the facility is named, and Conlan Company CEO Gary Condron, alongside seven other individual contributions ranging between $1 million and $5 million from other boosters.

Heavener is an acting member on UF’s Board of Trustees. He is a member of the Warrington Business Advisory Council, the UF Foundation Board of Directors, the UF Alumni Association and is a past-president and Legacy Director of the Gators Boosters Inc. He is the namesake for the Heavener College of Business, the Heavener Football Complex at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and now the new football training facility.

Some students are excited for the impact the facility will have on the Gators football team.

Ethan Pollock, a 19-year-old business sophomore, is a longtime Florida football fan and said he believes it’s important for the team to have the best resources to stay competitive in the SEC.

ELECTION, from pg. 5 prevent a brief shortage.

Though polls closed at 7 p.m., Klein said voters who were in line before closing were still able to vote and were not turned away.

David McBrady, a 51-year-old delivery worker and Gainesville resident, said the shortage reflects a broader bias against local Republican voters.

Of the almost 180,000 registered voters in Alachua County, more than 85,000 are Democrats, while only around 48,000 are Republicans, according to data from the Florida Division of Elections. He believes the county’s Democratic majority printed fewer ballots than they should have in an attempt to stifle the Republican vote, McBrady said.

“I think it’s super shady how they accidentally ran out of ballots,” he said. “If you really want to disenfranchise or suppress voters, that’s the way to do it.”

McBrady said the ballot shortage reflects a voting process fraught with fraud and uncertainty — a sentiment amplified amid national skepticism toward the validity of elections.

“Right now it’s just bastardized,” McBrady said. “You just keep waiting to collect ballots that come in from forever.”

McBrady voted without issue, he said.

Kristy Bickmeyer, a 44-year-old Gainesville resident, said she heard reports of voters waiting past 8 p.m. to vote at the precincts that

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temporarily went without ballots. The incident demonstrated a lack of preparedness, she said.

With voter registration information readily available, Bickmeyer said the Supervisor of Elections Office should have adequately planned for the expected number of voters.

“It just seemed like a gross oversight,” she said.

Bickmeyer voted without issue, but she said it was unfair to make others who followed procedure correctly wait to vote.

“I’m a law-abiding citizen, did everything I’m supposed to do; I show up to vote, and I can’t because they don’t have a ballot for me?” Bickmeyer said. “I’d be pretty ticked off.”

Claims of wrongdoing toward the Supervisor of Elections Office also reached the state level. In an Aug. 30 press conference, Gov. Ron DeSantis alleged convicted felons at the Alachua County Jail voted illegally after the Supervisor of Elections Office registered them to do so.

DeSantis’ allegations follow the arrests of 20 inmates in prisons across Florida — five in Alachua County — who registered to vote through county outreach efforts following the passage of Amendment 4, a 2018 ballot provision restoring the right to vote for released felons.

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DRAMA

‘Fahrenheit 451’ debuts at The Hippodrome alongside national conversations about book banning The play, based on Ray Bradbury’s dystopian text, will run until Sept. 18

By Lauren Brensel Alligator Staff Writer

Courtesy to the Alligator

Red-tinted bulbs illuminate The Hippodrome Theatre, igniting a buzz of excitement on preview night.

An open-book sculpture sits atop a white podium in the building’s art gallery.

“Oh, the words were there, allright, but they ran over my eyes like hot oil, signifying nothing,” a burnt, yellowing page reads. “Offering no help, no solace, no peace, no harbor, no true love, no bed, no light.”

Novelist Ray Bradbury’s words will ring throughout the Hippodrome over the next two weeks as the playhouse puts on the first co-production of its 50th season: “Fahrenheit 451.”

Featuring a nine-person cast, the show opened Sept. 2 and will run until Sept. 18. A book club, panel discussion and afterparty will accompany the play, alongside an art exhibit located inside the theater.

Set in a future dystopia, “Fahrenheit 451” takes place in a world so

strict and technologically advanced, firemen are ordered to burn book collections. Since its publication in 1953, the novel has faced numerous attempts at redaction and banning due to its alleged vulgarity and themes of state-sponsored censorship.

Thirteen pieces created by local artist and arts supply store owner Celino Dimitroff, 63, line the inside of the Hippodrome’s art gallery. A mix of sculptures and paintings, Dimitroff’s crafts were the product of three weeks of work.

Five of the sculptures in the art exhibit contain an element from the book, including its front and back cover and inside pages. Each one of the pieces sets the tone for the play, which director Ralf Remshardt said couldn’t come at a better time.

“Both in Florida and this country, there are a number of parent organizations and school boards that have banned anything from Toni Morrison to ‘Fahrenheit 451’ itself,” Remshardt said.

In April, the American Library Association reported 729 challenges to library, school and university materials nationwide in 2021 — the highest number in at least 20 years.

“We’re graced by living in America — you know we have freedoms,” Dimitroff said. “But do we really?”

Hippodrome artistic director Stephanie Lynge said she chose “Fahrenheit 451” as one of the theatre’s productions around a year ago. She said Ray Bradbury wrote the book during the second Red Scare when a fear of communism returned to the U.S. after World War II. Lynge believes the book’s meaning was just as important back then as it is today; it represents everything about the Hippodrome’s 50th season theme: “Beyond Limits.”

“The point of theater is to tell stories,” Lynge said. “It is how we connect as a community, as a culture...”

Read the rest online at alligator.org. @LaurenBrensel lbrensel@alligator.org

THEATER

Acrosstown Repertory Theatre closes its doors The Gainesville theater is looking to relocate after 37 years in the historic Baird Center

By Isabella Marzban Alligator Staff Writer

In Acrosstown Repertory Theatre’s final performance of “Hamlet,” the titular character asks a dire question: “To be or not to be?”

As the company is priced out of their current building, the ART’s staff and actors face the same question.

Located at 619 S. Main St., the ART began holding performances at the Baird Center — an enclave tucked in the space behind Heartwood Soundstage — in 1985, which is where it has remained for decades.

After 37 years in its current location, the theater is temporarily shutting down and leaving behind a legacy of talented performances.

According to their website, the ART was committed to producing “theatre that transforms.” Ranging from Shakespeare renditions to off-kilter comedies, shows were designed to reflect the theater’s smaller

space — creating a closer connection between audience members and performers.

For Nicholas de Mojana di Cologna, the ART was “a place where magic happened.”

De Mojana di Cologna, 29, was a frequent patron of the theater for three years — and he valued the historic role it played in the Gainesville community.

“The actors were passionate, and it always seemed like the stories and their message were respected and at the center of the stage,” de Mojana di Cologna said.

This isn’t the first time the theater, which was founded in 1980, has faced relocation. Prior to the Baird Center, the ART hosted community theater shows at the Star Garage in downtown Gainesville until the city sold the building in 1985, bringing the theater to its most recent location. Now, the theater is once again in need of a new home.

For more than four decades, the

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ART has provided members of the Gainesville community with the opportunity to partake in theater, whether they’re beginners or veteran actors.

Ted Lewis, 64, is one of these longtime volunteers. Lewis, the theater arts teacher at Buchholz High School for 22 years, has directed shows with the ART on and off for 25 years.

His theater journey began when he was 12 years old after his mother volunteered him as an actor for her friend, who worked at the Daytona Beach Community Playhouse. Lewis then became an active member of his school’s theater program and started the first drama club at Mainland High School in Daytona.

After stepping away from theater for a few years in college, Lewis returned to Gainesville, where he’s been an active member of the city’s theater community since his early 30s.

Alongside directing shows, Lewis occasionally invited some of his the-

ater students from Buchholz High School to perform in shows at the ART, including “Forbidden Broadway” and “The Who’s Tommy.”

For “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” one of Lewis’ favorite performances, the set was designed and built by his technical theater students.

“That was a lot of fun,” he said.

“It gave the kids a chance to work in a different environment with a different type of stage than what we had normally.”

After decades of memorable performances, Lewis said, the ART is unable to afford their current location, which has led to the temporary closure. Finding a space for the theater to relocate to for a reasonable price is near impossible, he said.

Despite these challenges, Lewis said, he has seen first-hand the impact the theater has had on the community.

“I think it has been very much a part of the growing history of theater

here in Gainesville,” he said. “I’ve always felt that it was a really important theater — it really has made me sad to figure out that they were going to have to finally close.”

Still, many people are interested in efforts to keep the theater alive, Lewis said.

The board will host a final public meeting at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre at 7 p.m. Sept. 8. Community members are encouraged to attend and join the discussion about saving the theater, with conversations of relocation and new leadership at the forefront.

In a message posted to the theater’s website Sept. 2, Carolyne Salt, the ART president since 2015, urged patrons to attend and lend a helping hand.

“We have always provided theatre for the community by the community,” Salt, 54, wrote. “And it’s time now for that community to rise up. It’s time to give the ART a new home, new leadership, a more cohesive family and a future.” @IsabellaMarzban imarzban@alligator.org

Florida prevails in second half

The Gators offense and defense made game-changing plays down the stretch Pg. 11

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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Nichols Lewis ACROSS 1 “Sorry, rules __ rules” 4 Dizzying designs 9 __ up on: unites against 14 Villain Luthor 15 Prefix with -lithic 16 Love to pieces 17 *George Plimpton football memoir set in Detroit 19 One awarding stars, perhaps 20 “... the __ of defeat”: “Wide World of Sports” phrase 21 “Black Panther” director Coogler 23 Excite, with “up” 24 King or queen, but not prince or princess 25 *Courtroom hotshot 28 House pest 29 Bagel topper 30 Manage to achieve 31 Reciprocal of cosine 34 Trace 35 *Informer 38 Water-to-wine town 40 Hiking sites 41 Maker of Zesty Curly frozen French fries 44 D.C. stadium 45 D.C. fundraising org.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 www.alligator.org/section/sports

Gators make statement FOOTBALL, from pg. 1

field.

Richardson received the snap and rolled to his right, finding Johnson all alone in space.

The Louisiana transfer made up for his earlier turnover, racing down the sideline before stepping out of bounds at the 2-yard line. Richardson capped off the 14-play, 63-yard drive himself with a short rushing touchdown to level the game at seven.

Utah’s offense started moving the ball on the Gators’ defense, marching further into Florida territory on consecutive drives. First year defensive coordinator Patrick Toney’s defense held firm in the red zone, though, holding the visitors to a pair of field goals.

Florida opened the following drive with back-to-back first down passes from Richardson, quickly moving the offense down the field. Two plays later, the Eastside High School alumnus looked for a man downfield before taking matters into his own hands.

He rolled left and saw a sea of green ahead of him, taking off for 45 yards and his second rushing score of the game. Florida clung to a 14-13 advantage with under two minutes left in the second quarter.

“My wife can call plays with that guy at quarterback,” Napier said. “His legs are a difference maker and you saw it tonight.”

Despite a few unsuccessful drives, Florida’s offense moved the ball to the tune of 248 yards in the first half with Richardson accounting for 175 of them. The defense largely held Utah’s offense at bay, except for a few short field situations, limiting the Utes to 134 yards of offense.

The visitors opened the second half on offense and they immediately asserted themselves on the ground. The Utes’ star halfback Tavion Thomas ripped off a 22-yard chunk,

and Utah eventually progressed inside the Florida 30-yard line.

On a crucial third down, Rising finally let the ball fly, finding a wide-open receiver for a 16-yard gain. Thomas got the Utes to the 1-yard line, but the Florida line dug its heels in. The Gators pushed Thomas back for a 2-yard loss before stonewalling Rising at the 1-yard line.

Facing a massive fourth-and-goal within breathing distance of the Gators’ endzone, Florida’s front seven blew up the play, stopping the Utes short once more and sending the Swamp into a frenzy.

Florida began in the ensuing possession in the shadow of the south endzone. A 15-yard completion from Richardson to redshirt junior receiver Justin Shorter gave the Gators necessary breathing room. Freshman running back Trevor Etienne found a hole in the defense two plays later, racing for 17 more yards.

Florida crossed into Utah territory, but a costly false start penalty set up a third-and-10 at midfield. Former Gators linebacker Mohamoud Diabate forced Richardson to his right before the sophomore signal caller launched a pass into heavy traffic.

Fortunately for the home side, the ball fell harmlessly to the turf and UF punted the ball away.

Rising and the Utes struck quickly on their drive, hitting Brant Kuithe in stride down the seam for a 37-yard gain. Rising found space on the ground and cut through the defense for a 26-yard gain before running back Micah Bernard found pay dirt. Utah attempted a twopoint conversion to push the lead to seven, but the ball hit the ground on an attempted reverse, keeping the lead at five.

Richardson found Pearsall once again for 16 yards to close out the third quarter. As the Gators entered a make-or-break fourth quarter, a choir of fans echoed Tom Petty’s “I Won’t

Sports Column

Yes, Anthony Richardson is him THE RISING STAR SHINED SATURDAY AGAINST UTAH, BUT LONG TERM QUESTION MARKS REMAIN FOR UF

ardson in UF’s season opener against the No. 7 Utah Utes. To just say he delivered would almost be disrespectful.

Richardson had a career It was always Anthony Richnight. ardson.

The redshirt sophomore Maybe you knew from the totaled 274 yards through the Jackson start. air and ground and recorded Castellano You watched him play a career high of three rushing @jaxacastellano at Eastside High School and jcastellano@alligator.org touchdowns. Every play was vowed he’d be special the moa highlight waiting to happen, ment he penned his signature which is quickly becoming on his letter of intent. Maybe it was af- Richardson’s M.O. For his performance, ter his dazzling performance against he was named Southeastern Conference South Florida last season. The promise Offensive Player of the Week. he showed with both his arms and legs Even when the young signal caller was enough to convince you, regardless made mistakes, he produced positive of competition level or his experience. results for the Gators. Saturday's game However they got there, every Florida featured a prime example: On Florida’s Gators fan in the record crowd of 90,799 two-point conversion attempt with 12:48 Saturday had high expectations for Rich-

SEE AR RUNS WILD, PAGE 12

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Rae Riiska // Alligator Staff

Sophomore safety Rashad Torrence II tackles Utah junior running back Tavion Thomas during Florida’s win over the Utes Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.

Back Down” through the bowl of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

The game entered its final stanza with Florida on the move. On a short third down at the Utah 40-yard line, Johnson broke through traffic and rumbled ahead for a 17-yard gain. Two plays later, he found a lane and cut the heart of Utah’s defense for a 14-yard score, his first as a Gator.

Richardson made magic on the ensuing two-point conversion. He faked a jump pass, spun past an unblocked Utes defender, sprinted past another and lofted a perfect ball to Ja’Quavion Fraziars, who was wide open in the corner of the end zone.

Down by three, Utah took over possession and attacked the Gators’ defense. A balanced attack and clutch plays from Rising culminated in an 11-play, 73-yard touchdown drive to retake the lead with 6:26 left in the game.

“I remember telling the defensive players coming off the field, ‘we’re gonna go score,’” Napier said.

Florida faced a game-altering third down on its next drive. With the visiting Utes’ faithful raising their voices, Richardson found sophomore Xzavier Henderson on a quick swing, before the Miami native made a man miss to pick up the first down.

Etienne broke loose for a 15-yard rush up the gut, but nearly made an enormous freshman mistake: He fumbled the ball in front of him. Etienne fortunately pounced on the football, keeping the drive alive for another play.

With 1:53 left in the game, Florida faced fourth-and-2. After battling all night against Utah, this was the play of the game. The offense broke the huddle out of the time out and took the field.

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Richardson stood behind the center. The Gainesville native took the snap and looked for an open receiver. Utes defenders swarmed the pocket and Richardson was forced to make a play.

He rolled to his right and found a lane of space, sprinting into the open field and keeping the Gators hopes of an upset alive and well.

“I just told him to play,” Napier said. “Nothing more complicated than that.”

After a 10-yard burst from Johnson, Florida set up three yards away from pay dirt and potential glory.

The Gators lined up with an extra offensive lineman and a tight end. They were going to will their way into the endzone on the ground.

Richardson pulled the ball from the gut of Johnson and sprinted past the edge for the score, his third career high of the night and arguably the most significant of his collegiate career.

Florida’s defense took the field trying to secure an early signature win for Napier’s program. The Utes marched down the field, setting up just yards from Florida’s end zone and a late escape.

The Utes tried to undermine Richardson’s brilliance, but Burney made a play on the ball in the endzone and sealed the victory for the Gators.

“He’s played like 1,600 snaps here, I call him old man,” Napier said. “We’re thankful for Amari … that’s a special moment for that locker room because they love Amari Burney.”

The Gators open SEC play in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at 7 p.m. Saturday against the Kentucky Wildcats. @Topher_Adams tadams@alligator.org.

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12 ALLIGATOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

AR RUNS WILD, from pg. 11

Rae Riiska // Alligator Staff

Florida sophomore quarterback Anthony Richardson during the Gators game against Utah Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. He led UF with 274 total yards and three rushing touchdowns.

to play in the fourth quarter, Richardson pump faked a jump pass, spun around a defender and got the throw off. A wide open Ja’Quavion Fraziars caught the ball without moving an inch.

Many other quarterbacks would have been swallowed up by the opposing pass rush and promptly embarrassed by media outlets nationwide. It’s good for the Gators, however, that Richardson is not any other quarterback.

“He did that exact same thing in practice one day, I’m talking about the exact scenario,” Florida head coach Billy Napier said in a post-game press conference.

“I think we’re figuring out here that this guy’s a pretty special player.”

As special as he may be, Richardson cannot win every game for Florida by himself. Utah is a great program, but it’s not an SEC program. It’s an annoying — often played out — but important distinction.

His questionable decision-making will get him punished at some point. It nearly did in the third quarter when the Utes dropped a possibly momentum-shifting interception.

Richardson doesn’t pretend he’s perfect and admits he has areas where he can improve.

“In past years, I always thought I had to be the superhero and make the big play all the time,” Richardson said. “I see that’s not really how the game works. I had a lot of mental errors today, so I know coach Napier will grill me about loafing half the time.”

It isn’t just Richardson’s responsibility to chase improvement. It’ll take total team effort to prepare for high-level SEC competition in the Gators’ very near future.

Florida’s offensive line held strong enough, but was bailed out many times Saturday thanks to Richardson’s ability to avoid pressure. UF’s front seven and secondary took turns carrying the load and making plays, but never looked like a cohesive unit. Had it not been for super senior linebacker Amari Burney’s game-winning interception, Utah could have easily left the Swamp victorious.

The Gators got away with many mistakes, due to the fact they simply outclassed Utah physically. UF may not have such good fortune against uber-athletic SEC powerhouses.

This team is far from its peak, and the Utes are even further from the toughest challenge it will face. Regardless, it’ll be tough to make Gators fans flinch if Richardson is taking the snaps.

Florida is back at home against the No. 20 Kentucky Wildcats Saturday at 7 p.m.