THE FORMER U.S. SENATOR LEAVES BEHIND A LEGACY CHECKERED BY POLITICAL
CONTROVERSY
By Garrett Shanley, Morgan Vanderlaan & Avery Parker Alligator Staff Writers
Danaya Wright had plans and papers to write. After chairing the UF Faculty Senate during Ben Sasse’s tumultuous first year at the university’s helm, she was behind on her duties as a law professor.
The sun was low as she drove home from campus, moments before she received the call that changed everything: “Sasse is resigning.”
The news shocked Wright and multiple top university officials who told The Alligator they weren’t aware Sasse planned to resign until 20 minutes before his announcement.
In a lengthy, heartfelt letter posted to X July 18 at 8:22 p.m., Sasse, a former Nebraska Republican senator, attributed his abrupt exit to his wife's recent epilepsy diagnosis and newly developed memory issues.
Sasse officially steps down from his post July 31 and is set to remain at UF in an advisory role as President Emeritus and will teach classes as a professor in Gainesville.
“I’m going to remain involved in serving our UF students —
past, present, and future — but I need to walk arm-in-arm with my dearest friend more hours of every week,” Sasse wrote.
After a monthslong search conducted largely behind closed doors, Sasse emerged from a pool of more than 700 candidates as the sole finalist for the UF presidency in October 2022. Sasse’s ascension to the UF presidency was protested by students who opposed his conservative voting record on abortion and LG BTQ+ issues. Meanwhile, faculty questioned whether he would be able to lead the university as an academic, not a politician.
‘Big ideas’ cut short by sudden resignation Scott Angle, the former head of UF/IFAS who Sasse tapped as provost in February, said Sasse was “the most dynamic presi dent [he’s] seen in [his] 40-year-plus career.”
“Most new presidents have several major initiatives in their time in office,” Angle said. “Ben had well over 100.”
But in Sasse’s 17-month term as UF president, the shortest of any non-interim president in the university’s history, he was only able
SASSE, PAGE 4
Biden bows out
THE DECISION COMES 107 DAYS BEFORE THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION
By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp & Morgan Vanderlaan Alligator Staff Writers
On a Sunday a month away from the Democratic National Convention, President Joe Biden made an announcement that left America holding its breath in anticipation.
Biden withdrew from the race July 21 following criticism from party allies concerning his turbulent second campaign for the presidency. Though Biden will carry out the remainder of his current term, he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination.
Story description finish with comma, pg#
Campus dining hall to unionize. Read more on pg. 4.
In the letter posted to X, Biden said his presidency was the “greatest honor” of his life before deciding it was in the “best inter est” of the country and Democratic Party to renege his reelection bid, with intentions to address the nation “later this week.” Min utes after, he advocated on X that Harris inherit the nomination in his stead.
“Democrats — it’s time to come to gether and beat Trump. Let’s do this,” he wrote.
Almost immediately after Biden an nounced his intention to seek reelection
The Avenue: Florida Man Reptiles
Amphibians, reptile store opens, pg. 6.
ElCaimán:Biden retira candidatura
Endorsa a Kamala Harris, pg. 7
Florida, Gainesville politicians react to Biden’s announcement
BIDEN, from pg. 1
in April 2023, both federal and state politicians across party lines questioned the 81-year-old’s mental and physical capability to cash in a second term of the presidency. His rocky performance during the June 27 presidential debate, including multiple bouts of sudden silence and unclear rebuttals against former President Donald Trump, spurred Democratic allies to desperately call for his withdrawal.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) was among multiple high-profile Democratic lawmakers who publicly called on Biden to step down, expressing “serious concerns” about his ability to quell a second Trump presidency, which he said would “undermine the very foundation of our democracy.”
Following three weeks of vehement insistence he would retain his status as nominee, Biden’s inner circle indicated he had become “more receptive” to his allies’ criticism following a COVID-19 diagnosis July 17.
Though Biden’s endorsement is likely to be influential, current party rules don’t allow him to directly pass his current delegates to Harris, which could allow the formation of competition for the nomination within party lines.
The Democratic National Convention (DNC), slated to begin Aug. 19, will encounter the uncharted territory of an open convention if states choose to refrain from pledging their delegates to Harris. In the event Harris is confirmed as the presidential nominee, a slew of democratic lawmakers could be tapped for the vice presidency, including U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) among others.
“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Harris said in a media statement. “I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic party — and unite our nation — to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.”
Trump, who has highly criticized Biden’s personal character and policies in office, wrote a statement on Truth Social alleging “Crooked Joe Biden” only won the presidency through “lies, Fake News, and not leaving his basement,” during which he allowed “millions of people” to cross the border “totally unchecked and unvetted, many from prisons, mental institutions, and record numbers of terrorists.”
The July 13 attempt on Trump’s life at a Pennsylvania rally, which he escaped without serious injury, led to a Republican social outcry in support of his campaign.
Despite its historic swing state
status, Florida has progressively veered farther into red territory in recent years, and Trump won the state’s favor over Biden in 2020, leaving uncertainty about Harris’ 2024 popularity for the presidency.
“Kamala Harris was complicit in a massive coverup to hide and deny the fact that Joe Biden was not capable of discharging the duties of the office… Democrats are just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X.
However, Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said stepping down in favor of Harris was the most responsible move Biden could have made. Despite his “strong track record” and “policy wins,” she said Biden “was not in a position to communicate” his qualifications to the American people, especially as an alternative to Trump.
Harris is the candidate to do that, she said.
Despite the relief of Biden ending his public battle with allied democratic lawmakers, Dream for America National Organizing Director Nathaniel Pelton said choosing a new nominee “so late in the cycle” could straddle the line between a show of party unity and the cause of more division.
But the 20-year-old UF political science junior also expressed support for Harris as a strong candidate in tune to the needs of younger generations. Dream for America, one of 15 national Generation Z coalitions previously dedicated to Biden’s reelection campaign in opposition to Turning Point USA, will pivot their support to Harris leading the ticket as a “surrogate.”
“If she was elected she would be the first African American woman and the first Asian American president in U.S. history,” he said. “I think that now is a time more than ever for us to have that opportunity and finally put an end to the rise of fascism from the right.”
Florida 25th Congressional District DNC Delegate Charles Horowitz said although he never believed Biden to be unfit for office after working with him “close up,” he expressed trust in Biden to “know what is right for the American people.”
“I think that if he wanted to make this decision, then that is the right decision,” said the 21-year-old UF political science and classical studies senior.
Despite the possibility of an open convention, Horowitz said he will vote for Harris at the DNC aligning with Biden’s endorsement and looks “forward to working with her to defeat Donald Trump.”
Alachua County Republican Party Chairman Tim Marden was not shocked Biden chose to step down considering he has been in “decline for some time.”
“I'm only really surprised that it took his family this long to finally convince him to not seek reelec-
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tion,” he said.
Though Biden’s exit from the race will likely do little to change Florida’s outcome, Alachua County Democratic Party Vice Chair J. Maggio said it will impact the election’s “dynamics.”
“We're so partisan that I don't think it really matters who runs from the top of the ticket anymore,” he said. “So it probably won't change the outcome very much, but it changes how the races run.”
The Democratic Party’s issue of age and capability will “go away” and could become an effective argument against 78-year-old Trump’s campaign, he said.
However, Maggio said Biden’s decision will have little impact on the Alachua County Democratic Party due to their primary focus on state and local issues, including four referendums on the November general election ballot pertaining to abortion, marijuana, the restoration of at-large districts and Gainesville Regional Utilities.
Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward, who has expressed public support for Biden’s campaign, said his “heart is broken” following the decision though he will ultimately support Harris if she is officially nominated at the DNC.
UF College Democrats President Connor Effrain was 20 minutes from the U.S. Capitol when Biden’s withdrawal hit mainstream news. Biden’s choice to drop out was expected following pressure from party allies, which he said leaves Harris as the “obvious” choice for the next democratic nominee.
“Donald Trump is an unprecedented threat to 248 years of American democracy,” he said. “Defeating him should be the top priority of the Democratic Party.”
The 20-year-old UF history junior said his opinion of Biden stemmed from his success in national polls, and if that support were to sway in favor of another candidate, he would switch his vote to raise the chances of a democratic win.
“This election is going to be the most important election in my lifetime,” he said. “This election, to me, is a turning point in American history.”
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Matheson Museum hosts ‘Voice and Votes: Democracy in America’ Smithsonian exhibit
Around 50 people came for the opening ceremony
By Lee Ann Anderson Alligator Staff Writer
With the Matheson Museum walls swathed in Alachua County voting history, the Smithsonian added an additional six panels of U.S. voting history.
In a partnership with the Matheson Museum, Alachua County Supervisor of Elections and League of Women Voters of Alachua County, the Smithsonian has made its way to Gainesville.
On July 20, around 50 people came for the opening ceremony of the Smithsonian contribution to the “Voices and Votes” exhibit.
The six vibrant free-standing panels displayed U.S. history from the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.
The installation coincides with the upcoming November presidential election.
Lisa Hawkins, a 65-year-old retired pediatrics administrator, came out to the opening when she saw it being advertised and hopes the exhibit will motivate people to vote.
“I found the information about Alachua County’s voting history to be interesting because I didn’t know any of that before,” she said. “I hope it will encourage more people to exercise the privilege of voting.”
Kaitlyn Hof-Mahoney, Matheson Museum executive director, said both the Matheson and Smithsonian hope the pieces will engage people in democracy.
“Your vote is really important, and we want people to make sure that they are taking advantage of it no matter what you’re voting for,” Hof-Mahoney said. “Everybody’s vote matters…This exhibit is something that we really hope will energize people and encourage participation.”
Alachua County’s Supervisor of Elections Kim Barton said the exhibit hits home
as somebody who grew up in a household where both parents would help people get registered to vote.
“My parents always put in us that you have to have a voice,” she said. ”If you don’t vote, you’re leaving it up to someone else to make that decision for you.”
League of Women Voters of Alachua County President Janice Garry said the Smithsonian contribution highlights the
historic unrest of marginalized groups gaining the right to vote.
“We have so many important issues locally, in our state and nationally,” she said. “We just need to recognize they’re important and the privilege of voting and the importance of us expressing our opinion through the ballot.”
“Voice and Votes: Democracy in America” is a traveling exhibit making five stops
across Florida, with Gainesville being its third stop.
The Smithsonian exhibit traveled to Tampa and Okeechobee, and after Gainesville the museum will travel to Cape Coral, with a last stop in Leesburg. The exhibit is available to Gainesville residents until Sept. 7, and the Alachua County portion should stay until 2025.
@LeeAnnJOU landerson@alligator.org
Armand Raichandani // Alligator Staff
Matheson History Museum President Robert Mounts speaks at the opening of Voices and Votes: Democracy in America on Saturday, July 20, 2024.
UF dining hall workers seek unionization
EMPLOYEES ALLEGE UNFAIR TREATMENT AND CONDITIONS IN CAMPUS FOOD SERVICES
By Grace McClung Alligator Staff Writer
Employees of Chartwells Higher Education, UF’s campus food provider, are working to form a union after months of turmoil. Unaddressed grievances concerning sudden summer layoffs, inadequate pay and an unprofessional work environment spurred employees to officially announce their unionization effort July 10.
In May, 63 associates were laid off, leaving employees who assumed they’d have a summer job scrambling to make ends meet. Employees relying on food stamps and unemployment said attempts to communicate with Chartwells HR were futile, and a petition they drafted in the fall went nowhere.
Employees also alleged Chartwells re-
neged on their promise to raise wages to $15 an hour upon signing a contract with UF in 2022. The university partnered with Chartwells after ending its 13-year contract with Aramark, the previous campus food provider, which students protested on the grounds of poor working conditions and unfair wages.
Chartwells “quietly reduced” the starting wage to $13 an hour and $12 an hour for foreign student visa workers, according to a Reddit post made by an employee’s son, who requested anonymity in fear of retribution.
The post said management abuses and retaliatory measures against employees who spoke out were the “final straws,” including an employee meeting during which they “threatened [employees] with termination or cut hours if they found out they were part of the union effort.”
Robin Lalande, a Cravings Campus Kitchen supervisor, has spearheaded the fight against Chartwells ever since she was laid off for Summer A and went weeks without any source of income. The company uses intimi-
dation tactics to discourage employees from forming a union, she said.
“Right now everybody is scared,” Lalande said. “They’re scared to open up their mouth because of losing their job.”
Intimidation is illegal under the National Labor Relations Act, which guarantees employees the right to form a union and prevents employers from interfering with that right. The National Labor Relations Board also stipulates that “employers may not respond to a union organizing drive by threatening, interrogating, or spying on pro-union employees.”
Lalande said she hopes to mobilize employees who are afraid to speak up, sharing potential plans to lead a protest if the issue goes unresolved.
“We need our employees to wake up,” she said. “We’re still not backing off.”
Lalande and a few other employees have maintained contact with union advisors who will guide them through the initial stages of union formation, and as of July 21, they gathered 135 petition signatures.
Sasse leaves controversial legacy
from pg. 1
to lay the groundwork for many of his plans.
Wright, the former Faculty Senate Chair, said Sasse came in at a time of many administrative “dumpster fires” and he was often “frustrated” he wasn’t able to quickly implement his “big ideas.”
One of Sasse’s major accomplishments was fixing “serious issues” plaguing the governance structure of UF Health, Wright said. Sasse also spearheaded the development of UF’s Jacksonville-based satellite campus, inching within $40 million of its targeted $300 million for construction.
Among Sasse’s larger plans for the university were an expansion of UF’s presence across the state through additional satellite campuses, a “dual core” curriculum overhaul and a “10x10x10” initiative to have 10 of the university’s programs among the top 10 of their kind in the country within 10 years.
Sasse was set to receive final approval for his plans from the UF Board of Trustees in the Fall semester, but it is unclear whether they will carry forward through the looming shake-ups in university leadership.
“I think that what's going to happen is that a lot of those ideas are going to be gradually taken up,” Wright said. “I think the faculty really appreciates a lot of his ideas and that we will continue the momentum.”
Wright said there had been a lot of talk about what would and wouldn’t happen during a Sasse presidency, specifically in regard to LGBTQ+ protections and the elimination of degree programs. However, she said “[talk] was all that was.”
“He's not as bad as the naysayers thought he was going to be,” she said. “In fact, he had a lot of really good ideas and a lot of energy. But he's also not as good as his proponents thought. They kind of thought this guy walks on water.”
In anonymous feedback submit-
ted to the pPresident’s office last fall, faculty blasted Sasse’s early criticisms of UF’s low tuition and arguments that “quiet-retired” faculty had to be disciplined through new, state-mandated post-tenure review processes.
But, faculty have chosen to remain quiet following Sasse’s surprise resignation. The Alligator contacted 154 faculty and all 16 UF deans, all of whom declined to comment or didn’t respond before publication.
Simone Liang, a 21-year-old UF political science senior and former student representative to the UF Faculty Senate, said after the “destruction and chaos [of Sasse’s administration], for him to just step down is really disappointing.”
Sasse led UF during a wave of Republican-backed higher education reforms targeting “wokeness” and “indoctrination” on state university campuses.
In March, UF under Sasse fired 13 full-time diversity, equity and inclusion staffers, eliminated its office of the Chief Diversity Officer and ended all DEI contracts to comply with new state regulations.
A critic of Sasse’s initial selection, Liang worried about how Sasse would uphold DEI initiatives and avoid the influence of state government and donors. Now that Sasse is stepping down, she said her concerns were “warranted.”
Liang said if she were grading Sasse for his time as president, “I would give him a C, maybe C-minus.”
A Sasse spokesperson didn’t respond to The Alligator for comment.
‘Have you seen this man?’
Sasse’s presidency began with a lengthy letter to faculty and students, the announcement of UF’s Jacksonville campus and a raucous protest of about 150 students shouting their demands for his presidency.
But, his loud first week at the university’s helm was followed by a semester of selective silence largely spent behind the scenes in meetings
with faculty leaders. In his first six months, he made few public appearances and refused to speak with The Alligator and other news outlets.
Sasse’s elusivity was a far cry from his predecessor, Kent Fuchs, who was regularly spotted on campus chatting and taking selfies with students. Throughout the first two semesters of Sasse’s presidency, students plastered posters of him across campus reading, “MISSING!” and “Have you seen this man?”
In August, Sasse broke his silence during controversial, facultyonly previews of his vision for the university and was spotted hauling refrigerators into dorms during a freshman move-in day. In the following months, Sasse slung Gatorades at football games and was formally inaugurated in a ceremony full of pomp and circumstance.
Breaking his ‘political celibacy’
During his nomination, Sasse pledged to UF trustees he would divorce himself from partisan political activities as university president and said he would urge the Republican-majority state legislature not to micromanage the school under what he called a vow of “political celibacy.”
He stuck to his promise in the first half of his presidency, but in a letter sent to Jewish alumni in October, Sasse called out presidents of “elite universities” for not condemning Hamas after its Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The letter was lauded by conservatives and thrust Sasse back into the national spotlight.
In a follow-up column, Sasse wrote presidents of “elite universities” had “drunk the Kool-Aid of a new and cultlike worldview” and were “acolytes of a shallow new theology called ‘intersectionality.’”
Following a wave of pro-Palestinian protests in April, Sasse said in a Wall Street Journal column that protestors who violated university policies would be trespassed for three years.
In the column, titled “The Adults Are Still in Charge at the University of Florida,” Sasse derided the “asi-
“This is very, very important to just us and everybody,” she said. “So many people need a union that they don’t even know they need.”
This isn’t the first time university dining hall workers under Chartwells have attempted to unionize. In 2012, employees at the University of Miami pushed for a union with demands for higher pay and increased benefits. They successfully joined the Service Employees International Union in 2013 after narrowly avoiding a strike. Employees and students at UM spoke of intimidation tactics similar to those UF Chartwells employees have alleged.
William Quinones, a former Chartwells line cook at UF, said he left the company over its refusal to address his complaints. Scheduled meetings with HR never took place and management pushed him and others to serve students rotting, expired food.
“Why continue working for a company where you’re not valued or heard?” he said.
Read the rest online at alligator.org.
@gracenmclung gmcclung@alligator.org
nine entitlement” of the protestors and described them as “20-year-old toddlers” with “little grasp of geography or history.”
Holding true to Sasse’s promise, UF recently issued suspensions of up to four years to the nine protestors arrested in April.
Meera Sitharam, president of the faculty union, said Sasse “used students as scapegoats for national grandstanding.”
“Is the person seeking national media attention on the backs of students the adult in the room?” Sitharam said. “Or is it the students who care so much that they, during finals week, sit there and quietly protest?”
Oscar Santiago Perez, the former UF Student Senate President, said Sasse’s response to the protests breached his vow of political celibacy.
“Instead of trying to place reasonable restrictions [on protestors], he tried to politicize it,” Santiago Perez said. “It felt like he was trying to win Republican brownie points.”
Santiago Perez told Sasse during his confirmation vote in Nov. 2022 that he would have to climb “a hill of trust” with students in light of his political history. But in Sasse’s relatively short tenure, Santiago Perez said he only made “marginal” progress toward the hilltop.
An impending presidential search
With less than two weeks before Sasse steps down, UF is expected to tap Kent Fuchs as interim president and fast-track its upcoming presidential search, although no clear timeline has been announced.
Presidential searches at Florida universities, including Sasse’s, have attracted national attention in recent years for suspected interference from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration. Florida Atlantic University suspended its presidential search last year after Rep. Randy Fine (R33) publicly alleged the governor’s office told him he was a lock for the job.
In a more overt case, DeSantis last year fired half of the New College of Florida’s trustees and installed several well-known conservative activists. The new board immediately fired then-President Patricia Okker without cause and in-
stalled Richard Corcoran, a DeSantis ally, as interim president.
Elliott Hirko, an 18-year-old UF nuclear engineering freshman, said Sasse fueled partisan decision making through his connections to Republicans such as DeSantis.
“[A university president] should be neutral enough such that they keep the student body happy… not being a puppet for higher level politicians,” Hirko said.
The 2022 state law which shielded UF’s last presidential search from public view is still in effect, meaning students and faculty will have little say in the search process until finalists are announced.
In an email sent to faculty senators a day after Sasse’s resignation, Faculty Senate Chair Sarah Lynne wrote the upcoming presidential search presents an “opportunity to consider reaffirming and/or revising” its Resolution Affirming the Qualifications of the next University of Florida President.
The resolution, passed in May 2022, outlined 10 qualifications a prospective presidential candidate should have, including a commitment to DEI initiatives and administrative experience at a university that spends at least $50 million in research — neither of which Sasse qualified for.
Lynne said any changes to the resolution will come from “faculty engagement” and that she will be “advocating strongly for faculty representation on the search committee.”
Scott Angle, the Sasse-appointed provost, said he expects the search to take a minimum of six months and will begin in “the next month or so.” In the meantime, Angle said the possibility of Fuchs temporarily stepping back into the presidency will be a “steadying influence following the sudden transition.”
“Our faculty are anxious,” Angle said. “We need the calm that President Fuchs will bring.”
@garrettshanley gshanley@alligator.org
@morgevande mvanderlaan@alligator.org
@AveryParke98398 parker@alligator.org
www.alligator.org/section/opinions
J.D. Vance: The Forgotten Man
In 1886, William Graham Sumner, a renaissance man of the social sciences, formerly taught at Yale, produced a work named, “The Forgotten Man.” This piece gave insight into how the American government was moving toward aiding large corporations and concurrently leaving the middle class behind.
In today’s age, the concept of the working class has accelerated at rates we cannot fairly measure. However, the principle that Sumner describes shows solutions in holding the government accountable for their self-interests instead of the common concern.
At the most recent RNC convention, former president Donald Trump introduced his vice presidential nominee for the upcoming election. His name goes by J.D. Vance — a high-achieving young Ohio Senator.
For people not so heavily involved in the political scene, J.D. Vance does not hold a national household name. If you ask a colleague who is not from Ohio, “Hey have you heard of J.D. Vance?” He’ll most likely shake his head and perhaps not follow up with interest in knowing his biography.
The question now is: Why did Trump choose the 39-year-old senator from Ohio for the second hardest job in the country? He has only secured his senator seat in 2022, and by overlooking his history it seems that he just started in the political scene. It is fair to question this pick since the stakes are quite high in this election.
I believe J.D. Vance is not only who we need as the future vice president, but he is also capable of repairing the trust the American people have in their government. J.D. has not forgotten the forgotten man, he reinforces our memory that the disappearance of the middle class is strongly relevant. He will be a significant figure in diminishing the issues Sumner so eloquently expressed over a century ago during the Gilded Age.
During his speech at the RNC convention, he tackled the history of misfortune that the working class has endured due to the democratic legislation that affected American-based factories and household affordability rates. The general media uses mislabeling terms such as “privileged” when in fact these communities Vance
describes have severely been damaged due to an influx of illegal migration and ‘sweetheart’ trade deals that have Chinese products coming into the United States, wavering domestic production of similar products.
The crowd at the RNC convention grew fond of Vance. They cheered his name, they became emotional when they heard the challenges his mother faced with drug addiction and promised he would celebrate her 10-year sobriety at the White House. These are personal stories Americans experience but do not have a microphone or large platform to share. J.D. Vance knows this and uses his voice to describe those issues many Americans share.
Abraham Hilu opinions@alligator.org
While Donald Trump could’ve chosen a more household name GOP candidate, it would not strategically align with the set in motion to win the election. For proper explanation, Vance is a senator in a prominent swing state and has relative influence in states Trump needs to win to secure his presidential seat. Trump has already secured the Latino vote in Florida.
Another keynote I want to highlight is Trump’s affinity toward Yale law graduates. Notable hires from President Trump such as John Eastman, James Ho, Andrew Giuliani and current Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Yale Law School presents a conservative character towards judicial review, moreover, is less controversial while also maintaining prestige than its counterparts such as Harvard.
J.D. Vance hits the nail in every aspect I can imagine for a potential vice president — his story as a common American to prestige status, his involvement in the United States military as a Marine and his encompassing mission to recover the American dream. I was pleasantly surprised to learn about J.D. Vance and I am looking forward to knowing him more. Vance said it nicely, “The RNC could have been a night of mourning but instead is a night of celebration.”
I am grateful for Trump’s safety and hope to have a dignifying election process.
Abraham Hilu is a UF political science senior.
Preventing the well of well-run organizing from running dry
Hinting upon this idea last time as I spoke of how intersectionality can help us in the fight against burnout, bringing new members into the fold of leadership is more important than ever. As I, and a plethora of other organizers scramble to help build new leadership, I can’t help but think of the path I took to my current place and how to acclimate others to the difficult job of navigating activism in Florida.
Throughout time within United Faculty of Florida (UFF-UF), there are inevitably repeated moments of solidarity from individuals who got their start within a Graduate Assistants United chapter. Considering that many of these were from higher leadership roles, I can’t help but take this as a reminder of the importance of our work as a learning laboratory for people who may continue to lead statewide charges for workers’ rights.
Right-wing machines admittedly do a much better job at one thing — pipelining. The left’s “big tent” ideology as of late has made this more difficult, with a failure to have specialized leadership that can be moved up into higher spaces as time goes on. Leadership is constant mentorship. If someone serves in a small capacity on multiple committees and
specializes in one area, they will be more capable to lead through their experience and intimate knowledge of one particular space, especially if they have led a team before.
What the right does extremely well is planning for succession, with roles clearly building a path to bigger ones. For those of us who were around during the Turning Point controversy here at UF, it’s clear that the right intends to “get ‘em early” — especially in student governments like here at UF through connection to Florida Blue Key.
When you’re on the defensive like the left tends to be, this is much, much harder.
The answer? Always plan ahead, always bring new people into the fold, always think about what someone would enjoy working on and what their place could be.
I was not the leader I am today without a sh-t ton of support from people like Bryn Taylor, Rachel Hartnett, Adela Ghadimi, Teresa Hodge and Candi Churchill. This past week I had a phone call discussing where to go next and where I started, and it was a strong reminder of how special it is when you reach the potential someone else saw in you before you could.
In terms of collaboration as a necessity, I can say
The views expressed here are not necessarily those of
this: GAU would not have been able to participate in so much campuswide organizing had it not been for other collectives like Queer Liberation Front and UF Divest Coalition setting up gatherings, meetings and protests. This also can create new pipelines with the ability to move between likeminded organizations throughout someone’s time.
opinions@alligator.org
As leaders, it is often our job to find our replacements, but having robust programs in place for training, growth and confidence-building can help ease this burden. From specialized committees to taking new members along for the ride when you can, there are a lot of opportunities to gradually work on this perpetual existential crisis rather than panicking every year or two. Not only does this lighten the load for higher leadership, but it allows those in power to go for higher positions and expand the organization’s reach.
Cassie Urbenz is a UF first-year graphic design and visual communications graduate student and GAU co-president.
Cassie Urbenz
MONDAY, JULY 22, 2024
www.alligator.org/section/the_avenue
ANIMALS
Gainesville’s Florida Man Reptiles opens doors
REPTILE SHOP
HOUSES NEARLY 100
REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS
By Noor Sukkar Avenue Staff Writer
In the swampy outskirts of Gainesville, the iconic alligator may steal the show among the reptilian ecosystem. But on Southwest Archer Road, Florida Man Reptiles showcases its very own population of nearly 100 reptiles and amphibians.
On July 1, its doors opened to the public to shop from a selection of snakes, bearded dragons, turtles, frogs and more.
The checkout desk doubles as a frog tank and terrarium, housing a dozen yellow-banded poison dart frogs. In the back, Erwin the ball python stretches out to a comfortable length of 8 feet, 9 inches. On the store’s floor, 1-year-old Ace Buchholz strolls around on his walker giggling at the bearded dragons.
Co-owner Nick Buchholz said his company bought out Gator City’s assets of inventory, tanks and animals in March. Florida Man Reptile finished out the old reptile store’s lease on Newberry Road.
His reptilian affinity began in 2019, when he had to hide his orange leatherback bearded dragon
MUSIC
rehabilitates surrendered animals.
Florida Man Reptiles employee
Dylan Jimenez, who used to work at Gator City, is along for the ride and knew Buchholz prior to buying out the store. Jimenez takes Erwin the ball python to birthday parties, where the “butterball” is friendly enough to pet.
“My whole life has been surrounded by reptiles,” Jimenez said.
“It’s all about educating the public, spreading awareness. If we get an animal out of the wild, we might as well make it look like they’re exactly in the wild, make them less stressed because it’s our job.”
His high school years consisted of lion cubs in his bedroom and scoping out the Everglades with friends after Hurricane Irma. Growing up in Miami, he helped out with the family business, Everglades Exotics. His personal collection consists of crocodiles, alligators, snapping turtles, pythons, anacondas, cobras, rattlesnakes and more.
also personally breed different reptiles.
His son, Ace, grew up alongside these reptiles. Co-owner, girlfriend and mother Riley Stevenson calls herself the “backend girl,” managing promotions, accounting, pricing, store organization and everything in between.
“I really enjoy the artistic aspect of it all,” Stevenson said. “Making it a welcoming atmosphere and seeing the reactions of people’s faces when they walk into our store.”
She graduated from UF in 2022 with a bachelor’s in public health with a minor in mass communications and disabilities in society.
“I definitely never thought I would see myself here, but I will say it has been pretty cool to apply my major in different ways,” she said. “I’d definitely tell other UF students that you’re not necessarily locked into your major, you can make your major work for you.”
in his closet from his parents. Buchholz went on to work at an auto body shop and moved out shortly after. Three years and nearly 30 pets later, running a reptile shop came secondhand.
“I was never allowed to have them because my mom didn’t like lizards and snakes,” he said.
“Dogs and cats are a little bit more
labor intensive.”
While he’s setting up, most enclosures in the store boasted a variety of luscious greenery in an effort to create more realistic, biodegradable environments for the reptiles. Along with recreating those environments for customer’s tanks, the store offers boarding services for pets and occasionally
“We just want the animal to live a better life, give it better sustainability and a better ecosystem if you’re going to keep it,” he said. “That’s the meaning of Florida Man Reptiles.”
Buchholz said he tries to source captive-bred animals from either wholesale or local breeders. Both Buchholz and Jimenez
For now, the store is open 7 days a week, from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., but is subject to change.
“I hope that we become an integral part of the Gainesville community and Gainesville name,” she said.
@noorsukkarr nsukkar@alligator.org
Rain won’t stop the rage: punk metal show moved to How Bazaar after rain-out
GROUPS PERSISTENCE ATTESTS THE GROWING GOTH
PUNK
MUSIC SCENE IN GAINESVILLE
By Sabrina Castro Avenue Staff Writer
After landing in Gainesville three years ago, 24-year-old Christian “Cloud” Casey quickly discovered two things: the collaborative community of musicians in Gainesville and the opportunity to grow the city’s goth metal music scene.
After meeting one of his future band members one late night in a McDonald’s, the band Issue of Destiny was created.
“We do grunge-y metal,” said Cloud, lead singer and guitarist of Issue of Destiny. “It’s kind of ‘90s but new-age at the same time.”
Cloud referenced Tool and Alice In Chains as some of their inspirations for sound.
In Cloud’s endeavor to build awareness of the local gothic metal scene, the band has per-
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formed a number of shows in Gainesville over the last two years at locations like High Dive, Fox Lounge and Hardback Cafe.
“I saw the community, the scene and the actual genuine, human spirit that you don’t quite see nowadays in most places anymore,” Cloud said.
Cloud said Billy Rohan of Samurai Skateshop has “unofficially sponsored” his band and him, allowing them to play shows at the shop as part of Cloud’s attempt to grow the local alternative metal scene.
Cloud’s collective effort also includes periodically hosting events featuring bands of similar genres, like July 19’s show which featured two other nearby bands, Violent Affection and Skunkape.
“Gainesville in and of itself is very grassroots,” Cloud said. “When I first came to Gainesville three years ago, that’s exactly why I stayed.”
The show, which advertised a “bring your boards” skate jam and live music from the
three bands, was originally scheduled to be held outside Samurai Skateshop. However, due to weather concerns before show time, the event was relocated.
Lead singer and guitarist of Violent Affection, Joseph Ignacio Zaragoza, traveled from Inverness, Florida, along with his band, to perform at the show. Zaragoza regularly visits Gainesville and is allured by the more lively music scene than his hometown, he said.
“We settled with Violent Affection because our music started taking a more emo, pop-punk, rock turn,” Zaragoza said. “We wanted to portray both the aggression of rock and then the emotional aspect of our prettier ballad songs.”
After over two months of planning, these performers decided they weren’t about to give up for a little rain. Zaragoza said the band was 40 minutes away from Gainesville when it received the call that the outdoor show was facing cancellation.
Relief for these rockers was found at How
Bazaar which provided the bands an eclectic, dry venue on short notice to spend the night jamming out.
“We are Violent Affection!” Zaragoza said as the crowd erupted into cheers followed by a frenzy of electric headbanging and the band began the show with Addicted To a Good Time.
Taking pride in the performance aspect of emo rock, the band’s signature skeleton mascot made an appearance on stage during the show.
Despite the rain, the concert was a success for Gainesville’s goth metal scene for both the musicians and the crowd-goers, like 21-yearold Micah O’Neal, a self-proclaimed goth “hobbyist.”
“It’s such a great scene out here,” O’Neal said. “It’s so hospitable, there’s always good bands, prices are good.”
@sabs_wurld scastro@alligator.org
Gabriella Aulisio // Alligator Staff
A reptile sits on decor in a terrarium at Florida Man Reptiles on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
El Caimán
LA DECISIÓN LLEGA 107 DÍAS ANTES DE LAS ELECCIONES GENERALES EN NOVIEMBRE
Por Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp y Morgan Vanderlaan
Esritoras de El Caimán
Traducido por Valentina Sandoval
Esritora de El Caimán
En un domingo un mes antes de la Convención Nacional Democrática, el presidente Joe Biden compartió un anuncio que dejó a la nación conteniendo la respiración en anticipación.
Biden se retiró de la carrera presidencial el 21 de julio después de críticas de parte de aliados del partido sobre su turbulenta segunda campaña presidencial. Aunque Biden terminará el resto de su término presidencial,
él endorsó a a la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris como la candidata demócrata.
En su carta publicada en X, Biden dijo que su presidencia fue el “mayor honor” de su vida antes de decidir que sería en “mayor beneficio” para el país y el partido demócrata que no cumpliera su oferta de reelección, y que tenía intenciones de dirigirse al país directamente “después en la semana”. Minutos después, también abogó a favor de la nominación de Harris en su lugar. “Demócratas — es hora de unirnos y derrotar a Trump. Vamos a hacerlo”, escribió. Casi inmediatamente después del anuncio de Biden de buscar reelección en abril de 2023, políticos estatales y federales en ambos partidos cuestionaron la habilidad mental y física del presidente de 81 años de completar un segundo término. Su presentación dudosa durante el debate presidencial el 27 de junio, la cual incluyó varios momentos de silencio repentino y respuestas sin sentido contra el expresidente Donald Trump, hizo a aliados
democráticos pedir desesperadamente que se retirara de la carrera.
El representante de la cámara Adam Schiff (D-CA) estuvo entre los legisladores demócratas de alto perfíl que pidió publicamente el retiro de Biden, expresando “preocupaciones serias” sobre su habilidad de para una segunda victoria de Trump, lo cual dijo que “quebrantaría la fundación de nuestra democracia”.
Después de tres semanas de insistir que seguiría siendo el candidato, el círculo cercano a Biden dijo que estaba siendo “más receptivo” a las críticas de sus aliados después de ser diagnosticado con COVID-19 el 17 de julio.
Aunque la aprobación de Biden tiene gran influencia, las reglas del partido no permiten que pueda pasar sus delegados directamente a Harris, lo que deja la posibilidad de competición por la nominación dentro del partido.
La Convención Nacional Democrática, o DNC por sus siglas en inglés, la cual está planeada para empezar el 19 de agosto, se
LUNES, 22 DE JULIO DE 2024
www.alligator.org/section/elcaiman
candidata presidencial
encontrará con territorio inexplorado de una convención abierta si los estados se reusan a comprometer sus delegados a Harris. En el evento que Harris sea confirmada como la candidata presidencial, una variedad de legisladores demócratas podrían ser escogidos para la vicepresidencia, incluyendo al Secretario de Transportación de los Estados Unidos Pete Buttigieg, el gobernador de California Gavin Newsom, la gobernadora de Michigan Gretchen Whitmer, el gobernador de Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro y el senador Mark Kelly (D-AZ), entre otros.
Lea el resto en línea en alligator.org/section/elcaiman.
La abrupta salida de Sasse deja grandes planes inconclusos y el futuro de la UF incierto
Sasse planeaba renunciar hasta 20 minutos antes de su anuncio.
Por Garrett Shanley, Morgan Vanderlaan y Avery Parker
Escritores de El Caimán
Traducido por Isabela Reinoso
Esritora de El Caimán
Danaya Wright tenía planes y papeles que escribir. Después de dirigir el Senado de la Facultad de la UF durante el tumultuoso primer año de Ben Sasse al frente de la universidad, ella se habia retrasado en sus obligaciones como profesora de derecho. El sol estaba bajo mientras conducía a casa desde el campus, momentos antes de recibir la llamada que cambió todo: “Sasse renuncia.”
La noticia sorprendió a Wright y a múltiples altos cargos de la universidad que dijeron a The Alligator que no sabían que
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En una extensa y sentida carta publicada en X el 18 de julio a las 8:22 p.m., Sasse, ex senador republicano de Nebraska, atribuyó su abrupta salida al reciente diagnóstico de epilepsia de su esposa y a los problemas de memoria que acaba de desarrollar.
Sasse se retirará oficialmente de su cargo el 31 de julio y permanecerá en la UF en función de asesor como Presidente Emérito e impartirá clases como profesor en Gainesville.
“Voy a seguir involucrado en servir a nuestros estudiantes de la UF – pasados, presentes y futuros – pero necesito caminar del brazo con mi amiga más querida más horas de la semana,” escribió Sasse.
Tras un mes de búsqueda a puerta cerrada, Sasse surgió de un grupo de más de 700 candidatos como el único finalista para la presidencia de la UF en octubre del 2022.
El ascenso de Sasse a la presidencia de la UF fue protestado por estudiantes que se opusieron a su historial de voto conservador sobre el aborto y las cuestiones LGBTQ+. Mientras tanto, miembros de la facultad se cuestionaban si sería capaz de dirigir a la universidad como académico y no como político.
‘Grandes ideas’ interrumpidas por una renuncia repentina Scott Angle, ex director de UF/IFAS a quien Sasse nombró
Gators men’s tennis Program aims to rebuild. Read more on pg. 11.
rector en febrero, dijo que Sasse era “el presidente más dinámico que [él] había visto en [sus] más de 40 años de carrera”. “La mayoría de presidentes nuevos tienen varias iniciativas importantes durante su mandato”, dijo Angle. “Ben tuvo más de 100”.
Pero, en los 17 meses de mandato de Sasse como presidente de la UF, el más corto de todos los presidentes no interinos de la historia de la universidad, sólo pudo asentar las bases de muchos de sus planes.
Wright, ex Presidente del Senado de la Facultad , dijo que Sasse llegó en un momento de “incendios de basureros” [desastres] administrativos y que a menudo se sentía “frustrado” por no poder implementar rápidamente sus “grandes ideas”.
Lea el resto en línea en alligator.org/section/elcaiman.
@garrettshanley gshanley@alligator.org
@morgevande mvanderlaan@alligator.org
@AveryParke98398 aparker@alligator.org
Síganos para actualizaciones
Para obtener actualizaciones de El Caimán, síganos en línea en www.alligator.org/section/elcaiman.
One Community Family Resource Center holds launch event for new building
OVER 50 ATTENDEES CAME TO THE EVENT
By Sara-James Ranta Alligator Staff Writer
On a hot Sunday afternoon, families of East Gainesville gathered for free food, music and a back-to-school backpack giveaway to celebrate the launch of the One Community Family Resource Center.
The resource center was formed after surveys conducted within the community presented needs across five different social disparities — social economics, social assistance, transportation, housing and education.
Alexa Strawder, a 54-year-old Gainesville resident, is the center’s resource manager. The vision for the organization is to “empower communities through resources and support to foster change,” she said.
“All the resource centers that we do have, here in Alachua County, they can’t all do it alone,” she said. “There is a great need.”
The community’s creation came from major public demand, Strawder said.
“The people in the community asked,” she said. “We’re all in agreement that we want to help fulfill the calls.”
The organization is supported alongside Partnership for Strong Families, a community-based care agency providing child welfare and family support services, as well as Children’s Trust of Alachua County, an independent special taxing district and funder of programs that support children and families.
Marsha Kiener, a Gainesville resident and executive director of Children’s Trust of Alachua County, said the center was important for families in east Alachua County to have nearby.
“That’s not only the technical support that you might need but that’s
Sara-James Ranta // Alligator Staff
Boradesha Bryant stands with her daughter, La’Lee McClendon, at One Community Family Resource Center on Sunday, July 21, 2024.
the emotional support,” she said. “I truly believe that if we want strong families and specifically healthy children, then we as a collective need to do more.”
The One Family Community Resource Center works in tandem with the Pleasant Street Civil Rights and Cultural Arts Center, who provide a program called “Food is Medicine.”
The program features weekly classes with nutritional scientists from Feeding Florida and physicians from around Gainesville gathering data about participant’s health, such as their glucose levels, to get an understanding of how to improve their health baselines through quality food.
Erinesha Hamilton, a 31-year-old Gainesville resident, is a community health worker and coordinator of the “Food is Medicine” program promoting nutritional science and wellness.
Even though the “Food is Medicine” program started in October 2023, the event launch also celebrated their transition into the family resource center, she said.
Hamilton said 34 participants al-
ready graduated from the program, and most continue to volunteer in the resource center’s “food pharmacy,” which gets healthy food deliveries to food pantry-like services in the community.
Marion Coleman, an 83-year-old Gainesville resident, was Gainesville’s first Black firefighter to retire, and volunteers every day at the One Community Family Resource Center. His main responsibility is signing families up to receive groceries, he said. The most rewarding part of volunteering is “being alert and being alive,” he said.
“I’m trying to stay young,” he said. “I just like helping people.”
Sarah Williams, a Gainesville resident, is an educator for a program called “Books and Cooks” and recruiter for the education program New Worlds Reading. She tabled for the programs at the launch event.
New Worlds Reading is an athome literacy initiative for all children in a public or charter school in ages VPK through fifth grade for those who aren’t reading at grade
level. The program is done through the UF Lastinger Center for Learning.
New Worlds Reading delivers books once a month throughout the school year along with reading guides for parents to support their kids, she said.
“Books and Cooks” is a partnership between UF IFAS and the Lastinger Center for Learning, available to families already enrolled in the New Worlds Reading program.
Williams is the Alachua educator for the “Books and Cooks” program, she said. The program combines parenting, literacy and nutrition lessons for families across weekly meetings in a seven-week program in fall and spring. Classes are divided by grade levels.
“Books and Cooks” features parenting support groups and literacy strategies, where parents can practice in real-time with their child present, she said.
“The idea is to emphasize that the parent is the child’s first and best teacher,” she said.
The class transitions into a cooking demonstration, where kids and parents get to participate. Each week features a different focus on cooking, such as nutrition and knife skills.
Williams hopes the future “Books and Cooks” program classes will be held in the new community space at the One Community Family Resource Center, she said.
“It’s really beautiful to see the kids bond and become friends and parents taking numbers and meeting each other outside of class,” she said. “We all get kind of vulnerable together.”
Boradesha Bryant, a 51-year-old Gainesville resident, attended the launch event with her 7-year-old daughter, La’Lee McClendon, after a friend told her to come, she said.
Bryant enjoyed how the event allowed her to meet new people.
“That was a challenge for this side of town,” she said. “You get to know people and it’s kind of a neat thing.”
Malcolm Askew, a 36-year-old Gainesville resident, is the founder and CEO of BXE real estate. He tabled at the launch event to educate people about real estate through resources, consultations and community tools, such as the resource center.
“I love meeting the community where they are at, because I remember days where I was some of these kids and I needed these resources,” he said. “I feel like I have a unique perspective of real estate, of how we as real estate agents can help the community.”
BKE holds homebuyer and homeseller education seminars to help others understand the importance of real estate. The company also previously spoke to students at P.K. Yonge, teaching financial literacy.
Askew finds the real estate business to be “misunderstood,” so his team formulated informational sessions to “give people valid and empowering information,” he said.
“[We’re] taking an educational approach, as opposed to ‘hurry up and buy or hurry up and sell,’” he said.
Wendy Mandell, a 28-year-old Gainesville resident, is a counselor and case manager for CDS, a nonprofit social services program providing counseling, shelters and drug and violence prevention. She tabled for CDS at the launch event.
CDS provides counseling services regardless of transportation issues by offering Zoom and community events, she said.
“If there are any individuals here at the resource center who need counseling services, we could come here and meet with them,” she said. Mandell has high hopes for CDS partnering with the resource center, she said.
“I see it only doing well,” she said. “I think once that community trust is developed, it will be wonderful.”
@sarajamesranta sranta@alligator.org
‘I wouldn’t wish it on no other parent:’ thousands of teens tried as adults under Florida Statute
MAJORITY OF MINORS BEING TRIED AS ADULTS ARE BLACK
By Lee Ann Anderson Alligator Staff Writer
Mikhail Lawson, then 14, was charged as an adult for a Feb. 19 armed homicide-robbery case accompanied by two others at Pointe 23 apartments in Gainesville.
He’s facing a capital felony which could give him life in prison.
His parents, Tamelia Young and Malcolm Lawson, said the incident was a wrong time, wrong place ordeal.
“That’s not the kind of kid he is. He’s just not the kind of kid to rob,” said 43-year-old Tamelia Young. “He was having a hard time even grasping this, like he really didn’t think they were serious, because he’s like, ‘I didn’t do it. They’re gonna send me home.’”
From fiscal years 2018 to 2022, 3,996 minors like Mikhail Lawson have been transferred to the adult judicial system in Florida. During the same period in the 8th Judicial Circuit, 132 minors have been taken to criminal court, with approximately 63% being Black, according to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. Lawson had no priors, and his parents de-
scribed him like any other 14-year-old boy who played video games, basketball and hung out with his siblings. He was a jokester in school and attended church.
Young said when her son got arrested it was one of the worst days of her life.
“It was very scary. It was just heartbreaking,” she said. “I haven’t had my son home since they kept him in and charged him. And it’s like, he’s 14.”
The other minor involved in the incident was released on a plea deal, Young said. Her son also got a plea deal but was revoked.
Mikhail’s father, Malcolm Lawson, said without significant amounts of money, finding proper representation for his son is difficult.
“They don’t do it to people that have the resources to fight these charges, because if we had the resources, he wouldn’t be where he’s at right now,” Lawson said.
The process of trying a minor as an adult is a direct file statute, which gives most discretion to the state attorney on whether to transfer a minor to criminal court without review from a judge.
Brian Kramer, state attorney for the 8th Judicial Circuit, said the crime’s severity, the minor’s prior record, the programs the minor went through and the family’s wishes all factor into sentencing. Whether the state has ex-
hausted all rehabilitative programs factors in too, he said.
Based on each case, some minors have the opportunity to go to facilities that jail people between the ages of 18 to 24 years old, which he said may be a worse option than housing minors with older adults.
“I just don’t know if that’s actually safer,” Kramer said. “People who are that age group tend to be far more impulsive than people who are 60 to 80.”
The 8th Circuit Court offers diversion programs for adults such as Adult Felony Drug Court, Mental Health Court and Veterans Treatment Court. Alachua County offers Teen Court, a diversion program for minors.
Poverty pushes people into crime and gang affiliation; however, the Alachua County government isn’t investing enough in at-risk regions in Gainesville, Kramer said.
“You had the opportunity to help a need, you know the need is there, but they keep making the decisions to not put these things into the communities that need help,” he said.
Community Spring executive director Lindsay Kallman said it isn’t fair for children to be held to adult standards in court when in every other context they aren’t.
“The idea that you would try a teenager as an adult is really just saying, ‘I’m going to try
this person who’s bound by these circumstances and this demographic, and then try them as something different,’” Kallman said. “We don’t do that in any other context in society.”
Community Spring, a community initiative that helps impoverished and recently incarcerated people find economic stability in Alachua County, provides temporary income for the formerly incarcerated for a year and advocates for equal housing and economic opportunities.
Kallman said a lot of children who commit crime are products of their environments.
“We’ve lost out on the potential and talents of that person who’s now being isolated from our society, as opposed to addressing the circumstances that led to the events,” she said. “There are just so many things that can be solved.”
Malcolm Lawson, Mikhail Lawson’s father, said it’s been hard for him and his family to not have his son home. He can’t imagine the type of environment his son could be in among adults.
“This is a feeling I’ve never had and I wouldn’t wish it on no other parent,” Lawson said.
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DATE & TIME: August 5, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
PLACE: John R. “Jack” Durrance Auditorium, County Administration Building, Gainesville, Florida
PURPOSE: Regular Business Meeting of the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization
A copy of the agenda may be obtained by visiting our website at www.ncfrpc.org (click Metropolitan Transportation Planning) or may be seen posted at 2009 NW 67th Place, Gainesville, Florida one week prior to the meeting.
Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, familial status, religious status, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Michael Escalante at 352.955.2200, extension 114, at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
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1. TELEVISION: What is the longest-running talk show on television?
1. MEASUREMENTS: How many inches are in a mile?
2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: In terms of letter count, what is the longest month of the year?
3. MOVIES: Which famous action movie is set on Amity Island?
4. SCIENCE: What is heliocentrism?
2. ASTRONOMY: What does the acronym SETI mean to the scientific community?
5. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What kind of horses are featured in Budweiser beer ads?
3. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin prefix “sub-” mean in English?
6. U.S. STATES: Which state's nickname is "The Land of 10,000 Lakes"
7. FOOD & DRINK: How many goodies are in a baker's dozen?
4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms?
8. INVENTIONS: Who invented the battery?
9. LANGUAGE: What does an ampersand symbol signify?
10. GEOGRAPHY: In which desert is Las Vegas, Nevada, located?
5. LITERATURE: Which 20th-century movie star penned the autobiography “Me: Stories of My Life”?
6. HISTORY: What was the first National Monument proclaimed in the United States?
7. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the island of Luzon located?
8. MOVIES: Which sci-fi movie has the tagline, “Reality is a thing of the past”?
1. Tommie Aaron, brother of Hank, hit how many home runs in his seven-season Major League Baseball career?
1. As of the 2020 Tokyo Games, what country has won the most Olympic gold medals in men's field hockey?
2. What country defeated the U.S. Men's Basketball Team 89-81 in the semifinals of the 2004 Athens Olympic tournament?
9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What was the name of the United States’ first nuclear-powered submarine?
2. Bill Chadwick, the NHL’s first U.S.-born referee and later a broadcaster for the New York Rangers, went
3. At the 2012 London Games, Pavlos Kontides won the first Olympic medal, a silver, for the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus. In what sport did Kontides compete?
4. What country swept the medals in the women's 100-meter dash at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics?
10. GAMES: What are the four railroad properties in Monopoly? Answers
5. After being criticized for racing against horses to make money, what Olympic athlete said, "I had four gold medals, but you can't eat four gold medals."
1. 63,360 inches
6. America's Victor Montalvo and Lithuania's Dominika "Nicka" Banevic are elite athletes competing in what Olympic sport?
2. Search for extraterrestrial intelligence
3. Below or insufficient
7. During the 1960s, Tamara Press won two Olympic gold medals in the shot put and one gold medal in the discus throw competing for what country?
4. Grover Cleveland
5. Katharine Hepburn
6. Devils Tower, 1906
7. The Philippines
8. “The Matrix”
9. The USS Nautilus
10. Pennsylvania, Short Line, Reading and B&O
Sudoku solution
MONDAY, JULY 22, 2024
www.alligator.org/section/sports
TRACK & FIELD
End of an era: Gator Great Christian Taylor shines at Holloway Pro Classic
TAYLOR RECORDED THE FINAL TRIPLE JUMP OF HIS CAREER AT THE SITE OF HIS FIRST TRIUMPH
By Hailey Hurst Sports Writer
Family, friends and fans gathered around the sandpit at James Pressly Stadium as former Gator Christian Taylor achieved his final triple jump of an undoubtedly illustrious career.
“When I looked down and saw all those bodies at the end of the pit, it just felt like I was jumping into a cloud of love,” Taylor said.
The American Track League hosted the Holloway Pro Classic showcase at UF July 19. The event featured some of the biggest names in track and field, including former Gator Olympians Jasmine Moore and Anna Hall.
Athletes competed in multiple events including the 100 meters, 800 meters, 400-meter hurdle and long jump with Taylor solely participating in one event. He recorded 16.14 meters in his final leap for a fifth-place unforgettable finish.
“This was the greatest jump I believe of my career,” he said.
The two-time Olympic champion and fourtime world champion announced his final appearance before retirement on the official Instagram page of the American Track League.
Taylor returned to his college track where he left impressive accomplishments for the Florida program. In 2009, he was awarded the SEC Indoor Male Freshman Field Athlete of the Year,
MEN'S TENNIS
and in 2010 and 2011, he claimed back-to-back NCAA Indoor Championships and consecutive outdoor titles.
“I am very emotional [about Taylor],” said UF track and field head coach Mike Holloway. “Christian is not only a world-class athlete, he is a world-class person.”
Under Holloway’s coaching, Taylor went on to earn the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Male Indoor South Region Field Athlete of the Year in each of his three collegiate seasons.
But his legacy on the track extends well beyond the accolades Taylor received in his time at UF.
The former Gator made a dominant appearance at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympic Games where he clinched gold twice. Taylor was seeking to compete at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, but his third consecutive appearance at the Games failed to come to fruition after a torn right Achilles twice in May 2021.
Prior to Taylor’s injury at the 2015 Beijing
World Championships, he leaped a distance of 18.21 meters, just eight centimeters short of Jonathan Edwards’ world record of 18.29 meters.
Florida Gator physical therapist Scott Greenberg said despite having a difficult injury, Taylor showed incredible resilience and mental toughness while pushing forward.
“You’re not going to find a harder worker, somebody more dedicated to his craft — a more humble human being than him,” Greenberg said.
After Achilles surgery and rehabilitation, he was determined to keep his dream alive of breaking the triple jump world record in Paris this summer. However, Taylor was eliminated during the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials when he finished 10th overall.
Taylor’s family showed support at the meet with matching shirts of the former Gator in action. His sister Kaitlyn Taylor said emotions were high to see her brother’s career come full circle.
“This is a surreal moment — but very exciting for this new chapter for him,” she said. “I feel like he is leaving on a very positive note.”
Being a competitive athlete required many sacrifices to reach his goals, so Taylor looks forward to spending quality time with family and friends, he said.
“To feel so much love in this moment — it’s something I'm going to remember for the rest of my life,” Taylor said.
@haileyjhurst hhurst@alligator.org
New men’s tennis coaching staff looks to restore Gators’ dominance
MAX KOLLER AND ANTHONY ROSSI JOIN ADAM STEINBERG TO HELP FUEL PROGRAM
By Chandler Hawkes Sports Writer
The Florida Gators men’s tennis team aims to rebuild its program this fall under second-year head coach Adam Steinberg, with some fresh faces by his side.
Following the 2024 spring slate, Steinberg was tasked with replacing both his associate head coach and assistant coach after Mat Cloer and Scott Perelman’s departure.
“They were obviously two very, very tough guys to lose and to replace,” Steinberg said. “Matt and Coach P did an amazing job here, but I knew the level of coaches I needed for this program, so I went out to find the best.”
est, but in the end of the hiring process, Max Koller and Anthony Rossi joined Florida’s staff.
“Both of these guys' knowledge of tennis, their knowledge of college tennis … their experience working in the community, their relationships with their past players — all of that [thought] went into hiring these guys,” Steinberg said.
Former UF graduate Koller will be the Gators men’s tennis assistant coach in the upcoming season. His resume includes time at Oklahoma State and UC Santa Barbara where he led the Gauchos to a 22-4 season and a conference title.
“It has always been my goal to coach at my alma mater,” Koller said.
“The opportunity to be able to come back and coach for this program, which is a top program in the United States, and do it at a place that I care so deeply about, and being able to do it at a high level — I couldn’t describe it. It’s a good feeling.”
Koller drew valuable lessons from each previous coaching expe-
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rience, ultimately shaping him into the coach he is today and reinforcing his confidence to excel professionally, he said.
At UCSB, Koller managed the team's day-to-day operations and focused on motivating and inspiring his players. The Gauchos reached a program-high national ranking of No. 26 that season.
With the Cowboys, Koller learned the art of developing tennis with high-level players while learning from experienced coaches such as Dustin Taylor and Martin Redlicki.
Koller’s goal at UF is to help bring the Gators back to the top of college tennis.
“Knowing that we're doing it the right way and building the foundation on the front end, and really diving into culture and bringing the right people into the building over the course of time, I'm confident with Coach Steinberg and Coach Rossi and myself, that we can lead this group back to top five in the country, competing for national ti-
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tles,” Koller said. Associate head coach Rossi brings a unique background to the staff, with six years of head coaching and success with the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams, as well as a Hall of Fame playing career with the Kentucky Wildcats.
“Obviously, when you talk about Florida, it’s one of the best athletic programs, if not the best in the country,” Rossi said. “My playing years at Kentucky have helped me understand what that conference and what Florida is all about.”
Given the SEC’s nature, Rossi’s experience at Kentucky as a player and a coach is a huge benefit Steinberg found.
“VCU being a mid-major, the schedule is not the same,” Rossi said. “We still had a strong schedule, but it’s not the same as the SEC and the pressure that you might have every week. So, having played those matches and understanding what it's all about.”
Both coaches prioritize building
strong relationships with their players and fellow coaches.
Rossi tries to put himself in everybody else's shoes to recognize not every player can be coached in the same way. He spends time understanding their background and where they come from, he said.
As the fall season quickly approaches, the Gators squad — once filled with talented freshmen and strong leaders — has become a more experienced team. Steinberg, along with his new coaches, aims to advance the program farther.
“We have a lot to prove,” Steinberg said. “We're young. I thought we had a pretty good year, but we want to make a statement right from the beginning. I think for this team, as soon as the fall season starts, we got to hit the ground running and show the country, show the conference that we're for real and make a statement early and not wait.”
@HawkesChandler chawkes@alligator.org
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Gabriella Aulisio // Alligator Staff
Christian Taylor attends the Holloway Pro Classic showcase at UF on Friday, July 19, 2024.
