Monday, July 24, 2023

Generations of Barbie fans wear pink for Gainesville early screening

By Valentina Sarmiento Avenue Staff Writer

About 145 patrons, donned in pinks from neons to pastels, trotted toward a life-sized doll box display sprawled in the corner of a Gainesville theater and waited for their turn to pose playfully while channeling their plastic inspiration.

The Barbie Blowout Party took place at the Regal Celebration Pointe 10 & RPX theater July 19. The Gainesville theater was one of the select theaters to host a celebration for the early screening. Staff set up the display weeks prior for guests to take photos commemorating Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.”

Margot Robbie, lead actress and producer of the movie, plays a stereotypical Barbie doll while her co-star Ryan Gosling plays a blond and ab-adorned Ken whose job is “just beach.”

John Cena’s and Dua Lipa’s notable

Celebrating Disability Pride Month: UF’s disability, accessibility resources

STUDENTS, STAFF RECOGNIZE ON-CAMPUS RESOURCES

By Jinelle Vazquez

Alligator Staff Writer

With more than 6,800 students registered at the UF Disability Resource Center, accessibility is a priority among the university community — though some students feel UF has plenty to improve.

In 2015, the New York mayor named July Disability Pride Month, now it’s celebrated across the country to bring the disabled community

together to reflect on common experiences and celebrate differences.

Before the monthlong celebration was established, the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibiting disability-based discrimination passed in July 1990.

UF students, faculty and staff with disabilities benefit from ADA protections while on the main campus and other UF-owned properties.

The Disability Resource Center provides students with one-on-one appointments and consultations to assess the accessibility of classes, programs and events. It also provides disability education to the UF

community.

Students interested in registering for the DRC must fill out the pre-registration form. Afterward, students meet with assigned DRC specialists to plan out accommodations for their specific needs, DRC Director Jenna Gonzalez said.

“That could include American Sign Language interpreting, accommodated testing, preferential seating,” she said. “If anything needs to be adjusted during the semester, [students] need to meet with their specialist … to start the discussion

SEE DISABILITY, PAGE 5

technicolor

cameos in the film also generated excitement from online audiences prior to the film’s premiere.

Amber Cabassa, a 26-year-old attendee, and her fiancee Sara Carlton, a 25-year-old attendee, anticipated the occasion for a long time and had been waiting for the film for four years, Cabassa said.

Both women played with Barbies as children. Cabassa fondly recalled having officiated secret, lesbian weddings for her Barbies. Carlton’s own childhood Barbies, however, often met grimmer fates.

“My dogs would always get my Barbies and rip one of the arms off,” Carlton said. “I would have to make up stories, like, ‘Oh she got into an accident.’”

The couple recalled enjoying the straight-to-video animated Barbie films from the early 2000s. Among their favorites were “Barbie as Rapunzel” and “Barbie

SEE BARBIE, PAGE 7

UFORA apartment delays leave students scattered in August

The delay may last until September for some residents

By Gabriel Velasquez Neira Alligator Staff Writer

UFORA residents are unsure when they can move in as the school year creeps up.

UFORA brands itself as a luxury apartment complex and is near UF and Sorority Row. The eight-story building houses 232 units with 663 bedrooms. The project for the complex was approved Aug. 21, 2020. Incoming residents received an email July 6 from Marcia Brown,

the UFORA community manager, stating the new luxury apartment building is experiencing “contractor delays” and would not be ready for move-in by Aug. 5. The email also included two options for the residents to choose from.

UFORA would accommodate residents in local Hampton Inn, ALoft, Home2Suites, Hyatt Place and Holiday Inn hotels. They would also receive a $50 daily al-

SEE UFORA, PAGE 5

Chloe Hyde // Alligator Staff Lynn Anderson poses for her friend Paula Brown at Regal Celebration Pointe on Wednesday, June 19, 2023.

Barbie mania left the swamp awash in a sea of pink

2 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JULY 24, 2023

‘Abuse of power’: debates spark over Change Party budget amendment

The 2024-2025 budget proposal underwent its first hearing

By Vivienne Serret Alligator Staff Writer

After the Big Five budget had its first of two readings at the July 18 UF Student Government Senate meeting, an amendment reallocating funds from SG agencies passed despite a majority of Senate disapproval. It will undergo its second reading July 25.

The Budget and Appropriations Committee of the Senate holds hearings for each of the Big Five entities during the Summer to ensure funding continues furthering the best interest of the students.

The Big Five entities include Recreational Sports, J. Wayne Reitz Union, Student Activities and Involvement, Sorority and Fraternity Affairs, and Student Government. The hearings will ultimately determine the Big Five budget for the next fiscal year.

After the final Big Five hearings took place July 10, UF SG Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairman Blake Cox (Gator-District A) presented his committee report showcasing the budget for the next fiscal year.

The 0% budget increase proposal is if the Activities and Service Fee is not increased and the 5% budget increase proposal represents if the fee is increased by 5%. The current fee for the 2022-2023 academic year is $19.06 for most students.

The 0% budget increase proposal would make the budget $22,925,970. The total 5% budget increase proposal would make the budget $24,054,701. The budget is authored by Cox and sponsored by the Budget and Appropriations Committee, which is composed of Senators of both parties.

Sen. Raj Mia (Change-CALS) authored the first amendment to the budget, seeking to reallocate funding from ACCENT Speakers Bureau and Student Government Productions, which was passed. Amendment 1 funds would be reallocated to increase funding for potential Senate-led projects and initiatives.

Part of the amendment’s allocations restructuring would increase election funding to allow for an additional polling location in the future.

The budget aimed to be as bipartisan as possible, Mia said. While he is grateful it passed, he is disappointed many Gator Senators opposed it.

A majority of Senators voted against Amendment 1 due to how funds were allocated, Cox said, which should have failed to pass the amendment. However, Santiago Perez ruled that the motion had passed, despite the will of a majority of present Senators, he said.

“Myself and many of my colleagues immediately attempted to contest this decision, an action well within our rights and duties as Senators,” Cox wrote. “However, in yet another subversion of procedure, we were shut down and issued warnings based on ‘disruptive conduct’.”

Mia affirms the passage of Amendment 1 is a testament to the commitment of the Change Caucus, which ran on the platform of supporting student organizations and increasing funding for student organizations, he wrote.

The second amendment, authored by Sen. Wavid Bowman (Change-District C), proposed further funding cuts for ACCENT and SGP to increase funding for student organizations, SG Projects and elections line funding.

Bowman is disappointed the Senate didn’t approve their budget amendment, but is happy it approved Mia’s amendment, they wrote.

“If, as [Gator claims], the majority of Senators present did not want to amend the budget bill with amendment 1,” Bowman wrote. “They would have moved to reconsider the matter then voted it down — both requiring majority votes.”

The third amendment, authored by Sen. Bryan Garcia-Ramos (Change-Engineering), proposed creating a provision for a new graduate assistant tasked with spending $25,000 out of a brand new line item, titled Graduate Outreach.

Gator Senators agreed with the sentiment of graduate outreach on the floor, but they cautioned the plan may need further consideration.

Garcia-Ramos believes Gator has disregarded the UF graduate community, he said.

The final amendment, proposed by Senator Antonio Hendricks (Change-Graduate) would have cut $15,000 from SGP to increase the elections funding. The amendment failed.

“I expected the bill to pass unanimously, for every Senator to vote in support of this amendment, wholly nonpartisan, but that is exactly not what we saw,” Hendricks wrote. “I am disappointed but I am not giving up.”

Hendricks will be resubmitting Amendment 4 for consideration during the second reading of the budget.

Minority Party Leader Bronson Allemand (Gator-District A) said from the beginning of the night, he noticed Mia had run around with a copy of his budget, lobbying Senators.

During the debate period, Gator members of the Budget Commit-

Have an event planned?

tee and other Senators opposed Amendment 1, Allemand said. Allemand believes there was a clear suppression of voices during the voting period and a blatant disregard to the decision of the Senate, Allemand said.

The budget and its amendments went through several rounds of debate. These rounds brought up several concerns about graduate students and funding cuts.

The main debate sparked over the allocation of funds proposed in the amendments and Santiago Perez’s ruling on certain motions, which were deemed an abuse of power.

“This was a disgusting show against democracy,” Allemand said. “Santiago Perez took it upon [themselves] to decide how to vote, which is a blatant abuse of power and very undemocratic to vote purely on political lines.”

The chair is given discretion per Rule VII, Section 1(b) to determine all outcomes of votes, Santiago Perez said, and per a motion made in the meeting, a standing uncounted vote was permissible as well as a voice vote.

While the parliamentary procedure can be frustrating, the rules are "intended" to ensure the orderly process of the Senate to continue, they wrote.

The Gator Party had control of the legislature for multiple years, and the Rules and Procedures today are its creation, Santiago Perez said.

Allemand documented 32 Gator-affiliated Senators who voted against the amendment, not including the two Change Senators who voted no as well.

Allemand contends Santiago Perez decided to pass the amendment despite the fact there were more Senators voting in the negative, he said.

Allemand affirms given 64 Senators established quorum, the vote against the amendments had a clear majority.

Cox thanked Senators who submitted amendments and avoided personal attacks. He gave further clarifications on why Senators were voting against amendments.

“Voting no on an amendment to the budget is not a no on the sentiments,” Cox said. “It’s a no to the numbers.”

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Florida Board of Education releases new standards for Black history curriculum School instruction will be prohibited from acknowledging historical privilege or oppression

By Nicole Beltrán Alligator Staff Writer

The Florida Board of Education issued a new set of standards for African American history instruction in Florida public schools, evoking controversy about how students should be learning about American history.

The standard was approved for the K-12 curriculum at an Orlando board meeting July 19.

The curriculum is the latest development in Florida’s continuous debate about Black history, following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration blocking a preparatory version of Advanced Placement African American Studies from Florida classrooms earlier this year.

“how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit,” according to a document listing the curriculum posted on the Florida Department of Education.

Alex Lanfranconi, the director of communications for the Florida Department of Education, made a statement about the department’s decision.

“We are proud of the rigorous process that the department took to develop these standards,” Lanfranconi said.

Lanfranconi also acknowledged the standards were created by a group of 13 educators and academics in the statement.

“It is imperative that we understand that the horrors of slavery and Jim Crow were a violation of human rights and represent the darkest period in American history,” Johnson said.

The Florida Education Association, a statewide teachers union, referred to the newly passed curriculum as a disservice to students.

Andrew Spar, the association’s president, tweeted a statement about the curriculum.

Associated Press

Senator Geraldine Thompson, addresses the State Board of Education about Florida’s State Academic Standards and teaching African American studies to public schools students in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, July 19, 2023. The State Board of Education was meeting in Orlando to adopt a number of rules required by new state laws.

The newly reviewed curriculum was issued after the state passed new legislation under DeSantis that prohibits school instruction from suggesting anyone is privileged or oppressed based on their race or skin color.

The new standards require curriculum for middle school students to include

“It’s sad to see critics attempt to discredit what any unbiased observer would conclude to be in-depth and comprehensive African American History standards,” Lanfranconi said. “They incorporate all components of African American History: the good, the bad and the ugly.” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson publicly condemned the new curriculum in a release statement.

“How can our students ever be equipped for the future if they don’t have a full, honest picture of where we’ve come from?,” Spar said. “Florida’s students deserve a world-class education that equips them to be successful adults who can help heal our nation’s divisions rather than deepen them.”

The curriculum’s approval adds to the continued debate over DeSantis’ “woke agenda” and its embedment into his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination.

@nicolebeltg nbeltran@alligator.org

UF student creates independent RTS app

STUDENT HOPES IT WILL BE EASIER TO USE THAN THE CITY’S APP

By Garrett Shanley Alligator Staff Writer

For UF students who use the city’s public transportation, the GNV RideRTS app is more frustrating than it is useful.

Jonathan Wukitsch, a 19-year-old UF computer science sophomore, used the city’s GNV RideRTS app every day for a year to get to campus. He decided Gainesville commuters needed an upgrade after he experienced regular glitches.

Wukitsch believes the app is unintuitive, he said.

“There are so many taps required to do things,” he said. “The user experience was not ideal to me.”

Wukitsch’s solution was creating NaviGator, an app that streamlines the RTS mobile experience.

The development process for NaviGator began in May.

“Before I started writing any code, I drew it all out,” Wukitsch said. “I wanted it to feel like a native iPhone app.”

He designed the app to prioritize efficiency and utility, he said.

NaviGator addresses many of the technical issues of the GNV RideRTS app, adding several new features, including an option to favorite bus routes and receive notifications for arrivals at specific stops.

A few of Wukitsch’s friends tested the app before he released NaviGator to the public.

Isaac Kauget, a 21-year-old UF business administration junior, met Wukitsch working at the UFIT help desk.

“I was able to point out a few bugs as well as help Jonathan with some basic design questions,” Kauget said. “He was able to produce an incredible final product.”

NaviGator was not the first time Wukitsch set out to improve a pre-existing app.

Wukitsch began his coding career by recreating Candy Crush and Flappy Bird in elementary school. He continued to hone

his craft in high school by launching FastTrack, an app that allows Lee County School District students to check their grades.

“It’s still used by thousands of students across the district today,” Wukitsch said.

Wukitsch was not alone in his belief that the GNV RideRTS app needed improvement.

Andrew Penton, a UF alumnus who graduated in May, had technical issues while using the GNV RideRTS.

“I would open the app to see no buses at all, even though they’re still scheduled to be running at that time,” he said.

Penton often relied on friends to give him rides when he should’ve been able to rely on buses, he said.

“It is really a step-up to get notifications when the bus is coming, as well as being able to see all my favorite stops at a glance,” Kauget said. “Jonathan did a really great job.”

NaviGator didn’t address all of the problems with the GNV RideRTS app, Wukitsch said. NaviGator relies on data provided by RTS, which is prone to outages.

“Some people are not the happiest with that because sometimes it is a little dodgy or unreliable,” Wukitsch said. “Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do short of putting trackers on their buses… It’s ultimately just a better way to access the data that’s already there.”

NaviGator is currently exclusive to iOS

platforms, but Wukitsch is open to developing an Android version if demand is high enough.

“I don’t have nearly as much experience in Android development as I do in iOS,” Wukitsch said. “I think I could figure it out.”

Wuksitsch hopes the app becomes a staple in the lives of UF students.

“I just hope that I can get as many people on board so I can get as much feedback as possible,” he said. “I hope it’s the one-stop shop for making sure that you’re catching the bus on time.”

@garrettshanley gshanley@alligator.org

New car center, arts center to come to Gainesville

TESLA CAR CENTER ANTICIPATES TO BRING 40-50 PERMANENT JOBS

By Emma Parker Alligator Staff Writer

Gainesville City Commission approved the construction of a Tesla car center and a dance cultural center by unanimous decision.

The Gainesville City Commission voted July 20 to rezone and begin the building process for a Tesla car center and a Dance Alive arts and cultural center. The properties will be located at 403 NE Fifth Terrace and 3302 NW 39th Ave., respectively.

Reggie Bouthillier, attorney

at Stearns Weaver Miller representing owner Clay Thompson, presented the car center plan to the city. The center could see completion as early as next year, Bouthillier said.

“[We] would like to turn dirt as early as November, depending on the site plan approval process with full construction see it by the third quarter of 2024,” Bouthillier said.

The center, which would take up about five acres in mainly forested property, would mainly service Teslas, though the cars could be purchased there also.

Commissioners found the presentation promising but were concerned with the property’s environmental impact.

District 3 City Commissioner Casey Willits raised concerns about breaking ground on vegetative land instead of using old constructed property, but he remained optimistic about potential new jobs the business would provide.

“I wish in my perfect world this is where this would be going but this is a conversation about whether this fits into our city plan,” Willits said.

National ballet group, Dance Alive presented its request for the creation of an approximately five-acre building dedicated to hosting a dance studio as well as yoga, pilates, music and theater classes.

Juan Castillo, the planner of

sustainable development, presented the approved plans to the city.

The business plan includes a main building including dance, music and art studios as well as a black box theater anticipated to hold 200 people.

It will also have a separate building designed for storage, and an area dedicated to outdoor activities between the two buildings.

Kim Tuttle, artistic director of Dance Alive, was excited and dedicated to the project and the many programs that will come to life within the new building, she said.

“It could be a true center for the arts for Gainesville,” Tuttle said.

Mayor Harvey Ward, along with his fellow commissioners, said the center is another way to make Gainesville a landmark for arts and culture.

The commission agreed there were adequate buffers between the building and the street of traffic, adequate access to public transportation, sidewalks for walkers and bicyclists and adequate use of land for very intentional uses.

The next Gainesville City Commission meeting is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. Aug. 3.

@emmaparkerg

eparker@alligator.org

Isabella Ferrie // Alligator Staff

Apartment complex delay

lowance. Residents will be able to access the money through the Modern Message app.

All the hotels were within walking distance or on a bus route with easy access to UF’s campus, Brown said in the email.

Alternatively, residents can choose to receive $600 weekly and arrange their own accommodations. Rent, pet rent and parking fees will be abated until the unit is ready for move-in.

July 22 marked the final day to submit a form for the weekly stipend. If residents did not respond in time, UFORA would accommodate

the resident in a hotel by default. While students are understanding of the delays, many are frustrated with UFORA’s lack of transparency.

Jason Collins Jr., a 21-year-old UF construction management junior, said the delays were out of the apartment’s control. Regardless, he felt disappointed by the lack of communication.

“A lot of things have happened in the industry to create a perfect storm for a lot of projects, not just UFORA,” Collins said. “However, I wish the ownership group was more forthright in being honest about the situation.”

Collins believes the company,

Asset Living, purposely gave as little info as possible because it was in their interest.

Joseph Starr, a 17-year-old UF freshman, agreed ownership hadn’t been transparent. Information might not even be clear internally, Starr said.

“As far as the communication, from what I understand, the ownership is not transparent with the management team, who is communicating with us, so I would guess more information regarding the construction is not being shared by the ownership and/or management,” he said.

However, Starr is not worried about the delay, he said. He would take the rent abatement and $600 because he has family friends in the area, as well as other living options, he said.

Student disability resources

and see if changes need to be made.”

Leo Cooke, a 20-year-old UF media production, management and technology senior, is one of many students who utilize the DRC.

Cooke is diagnosed with Autism, ADHD and Rheumatoid Arthritis, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own tissue.

Cooke benefited immensely from the accommodations they’ve received through the DRC, they said.

“[The DRC] has ensured that I can keep my scholarships and financial aid without exerting myself by having too heavy of a workload,” Cooke said.

Cooke is a former resident and current employee of Cypress Hall, the designated dorm for disabled students. Cypress is a fully inclusive residence hall meant to provide anaccessible living space for students with various diagnoses or disabilities who may not have been able to independently live on a college campus.

Cypress Hall is one of two in the nation with a Sure Hands lift system in a residence hall, which allows students to have indepen-

dent transportation in their rooms, according to the DRC website.

Students who need assistance in daily activities may require a Personal Care Attendant who provides support in needs such as grooming and personal hygiene.

“The dorm is ADA-accessible in every conceivable way,” Cooke said. “The PCAs I interact with during my shifts are eager and enthusiastic to help these students.”

However, Cooke does believe UF could better accommodate its disabled students.

“I wish that UF did a better job at advertising [its] resources,” Cooke said. “As an autistic student, it took getting admitted to the UF psychiatric hospital for me to be made aware of resources like SOCIAL Gators.”

SOCIAL Gators is a support program for autistic students and students with similar conditions.

Cooke is not the only student who faces difficulty with accessibility on campus.

Sam Gardner, a 20-year-old UF biotechnology junior, finds physical accessibility on campus to be difficult in certain areas.

“We have a lot of stairs and … the concrete on the ground can be cracked and pretty unlevel,” she said. “Additionally, some of the

“My situation is definitely unique, as I have other options,” Starr said. “However, I am hoping the construction is done before I have to move forward with alternate arrangements.”

Like Starr, some residents aren’t affected by the delay.

Cooper Mastin, a 19-year-old UF biomedical engineering sophomore, said the company told him his room would most likely be available a week before classes begin.

“For me, it was almost beneficial since I will be getting paid for a period of time that I didn’t plan on being in Gainesville for anyway,” Mastin said.

Other students have family support.

Jason Drucker, a 17-year-old UF media production and technology freshman, said he could stay with

push buttons to open the doors sometimes don’t work.”

The Office for Accessibility and Gender Equity is the resource hub for ADA compliance, which works to eliminate and avoid barriers to accessibility. Individuals who encounter architectural or facility barriers should complete an ADA form.

Gardner is also the vice president of outreach for the Disability Ambassadors group. The group is a student-led organization within the DRC that aims to spread awareness and empower people with disabilities.

The ambassador group hosts an annual event called the Human Library where members serve as “books” about their experiences with disability stigma and stereotypes, she said.

“We’re really doing this to help educate the campus community … breaking down myths about disability,” Gardner said.

UF Transportation and Parking Services offers various special parking accommodations for its students and employees.

Students and employees can purchase a Disabled Persons permit by visiting the TAPS office with a copy of their driver’s license, state-issued Disabled Persons parking placard and state-issued registration sheet for the placard.

More information about where to park and placard permit pricing can be found on its website.

his older brother if needed.

“I have been fortunate and haven’t been drastically affected,” Drucker said. “My brother is a rising junior at UF and is staying at the Delta Sig house, so I have the opportunity to stay there with him if I choose. Additionally, UFORA is providing great compensation … I am definitely taking liberty.”

The earliest move-in date is midAugust, UFORA said. However, the delays could last until the first week of September. Delays are common with new construction, but they do not know what specifically caused the delay and speculate a lack of materials.

Asset Living refused to comment when asked about the delay.

@gvelasquezn gvelasquezneira@alligator.org

Gator Lift is a free shuttle service provided for UF students, faculty and staff with temporary or permanent mobility-related disabilities. The service drives to a number of locations within the main UF campus and to a limited number of off-campus, UF-owned properties from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

Students can submit their class schedules to coordinate regular rides in one request and can request additional rides throughout the semester.

Gator Lift ridership generally has remained steady over the last five years, said Amy Armstrong, the UF Director of Communications to the Vice President of Business Affairs.

Some on campus resources solely focus on promoting mental well-being for students with disabilities.

Peggy Rios, an associate clinical faculty member, is the CWC facilitator of the group “managing chronic health conditions.”

Members of the group focus on living life with integrity and joy while managing their conditions, Rios said.

“As college students, they are working on their sense of identity,” Rios said. “Being able to integrate the chronic condition into that identity without it being disempowering is very important.

@vazquezjinelle jvazquez@alligator.org

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“Kinky Boots” receives standing ovation opening night

THE PLAY WILL RUN UNTIL AUGUST 13

By Leia Ulrich Avenue Staff Writer

The sold-out crowd of more than 200 people laughed, cried and cheered during the opening night of “Kinky Boots” on Friday.

The eclectic production will be running until Aug. 13 at the Gainesville Community Playhouse.

Director Catherine Karow proposed the idea to put on the production more than a year ago but did not expect to run into some of the issues that arose. In May, SB 1438 placed restrictions on drag shows in Florida. The team was unsure of how they would continue on with the production.

“When they asked me if I still wanted to go on with it, I said, ‘Absolutely we’re doing it,’” Karow said. “We have to do it even more.”

The cast sought counsel from several lawyers to ensure they will not face any legal trouble when holding the production. Since then, the enforcement of this law has been halted, and the show continued as originally planned.

Karow was intentional with every decision she made, especially

choosing her cast. She knew she wanted an actual drag queen to play the role of Lola and went to drag shows for months before Kelly T. Kelly accepted the role without any experience in theater. Kelly performs at Vecinos and University Club, where Karow scouted them.

Lola has four dancers called “the Angels,” and two of the four are also drag queens. The professional drag queens taught the newcomers about the intricacies of drag makeup and helped them feel comfortable in their personas.

When it came to a costume designer, it only felt natural to have her mother Libby join the team, Karow said.

Libby Karow worked with her on other shows but said there was something special about this one.

“I’ve never been in such a joyous group of people,” Libby Karow said.

She worked on several shows before, but never experienced a group like this, or costumes like this, she said. Each piece was carefully curated, and the costumes on the angels in the closing scene left the audience member’s jaws on the ground.

Her daughter helped her by en-

suring the costumes were dragappropriate instead of showgirl attire, a distinction she hadn’t dealt with before. In the past, she created pieces for shows such as Romeo

and Juliet and a children’s ballet in Houston. Working in drag was something out of her wheelhouse.

Jonah Goolsby, the actor who plays Don, had never performed in

a musical but became a fan favorite.

“I almost walked out of the audition because I was terrified,” Goolsby said.

One audience member said to the person sitting next to her that Don could walk in heels better than she could.

Representing an average man who is not comfortable with nontraditional gender roles, his character shows growth and acceptance throughout the play. Goolsby was incredibly grateful for his role, he said.

The cast and crew became a tightknit bunch. Oliver Xu, the 12-yearold boy playing Little Simon, and Sabian Mance, the 11-year-old playing Little Charlie, did not know each other before the musical, but now they are like brothers, they said.

Before each show, the cast, crew and some ushers do a group meditation to keep everyone calm and in line with one another. This ensures every cast member feels confident in themselves, creating a lively performance.

You can get tickets from the Gainesville Community Playhouse website.

@ulrichleia lulrich@alligator.org

Community members support rebuilding local movie theater

High Springs community fights to bring back historic Priest Theatre

By Aubrey Bocalan Avenue Staff Writer

On a typical Friday night, the High Springs community would line up, clamoring to catch the premiere of the latest local love story while listening to the distinct pop of everyone’s favorite movie snack. But now, scarfing down buttered popcorn as the lights dim on a Friday night is another piece of fiction.

There is no movie theater in High Springs. Not anymore.

Instead, the High Springs community lined up for public comment at the City Commission meeting July 13. The item on the docket is the latest local love story: the bond between High Springs and the Priest Theatre.

The theater closed down during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained closed ever since, losing its structural integrity with each passing day. But its community refuses to let

it die.

Almost 50 people, including Janet Alligood, the 52-year-old owner of the theater, attended the meeting in hopes to convince the commission to help preserve the theater.

“I don’t know how we can just let this close,” Alligood said. “It didn’t seem fathomable that it was not going to be there anymore.”

Many other members of the community shared her sentiment. At the meeting, they shared stories of how the theater had generations worth of history and memories.

The saga of the Priest Theatre spans more than a century, and this isn’t the first time people fought to bring the theater back.

It originally opened in 1910 to provide live vaudeville performances. As technology and entertainment changed, so did the theater.

Eventually, it was bought by Bobby and Janice Sheffield, Alligood’s parents, who planned to use it to expand their hardware

business. Once they saw how much it meant to the community, they decided to keep it as a theater.

They operated it for 28 years before deciding to retire and close the theater. Movie theaters began to transition to digital projectors, and the Sheffields felt they could no longer keep up.

But after they announced their retirement and their intent to close the theater, the community responded with a petition to keep it alive.

Alligood would help her parents by working concessions or selling tickets. It was during her first volunteer shift on opening day in 1986 that she met her husband. They eventually had their first date there, too. Later on, they would both volunteer to help her parents throughout the week even after they were married.

They were heartbroken to know the theater would be closing but did not want the respon-

sibility to maintain it themselves. Her husband worked for the Alachua County Fire Department and didn’t think he could dedicate the time needed.

However, that started to change after they went to the theater to watch a movie with their family before the theater closed. While she watched, she saw all the other families and realized she could not let the theater close.

“I just started praying about it,” Alligood said. “I said, ‘Well, I’m going to pray about it because something’s got to happen.’”

She encouraged her husband to pray, too.

“You pray about it, and come back in a couple weeks, and tell me what you feel,” she said to her husband.

A few weeks later he asked her, “Why did you make me do this?”

Read more at alligator.org/section/the_avenue.

@aubreyyrosee abocalan@alligator.org

Sawyer Lamers // Alligator Staff Gainesville-based Drag Queen Kelly T. Kelly leads a number in the second act of Kinky Boots at the Gainesville Community Playhouse on Friday, July 21, 2023.

Barbie fans unite

as the Princess and the Pauper,” Cabassa said.

“Barbie is inherently such a queer icon, for both gay men and lesbians,” she said. “She's all about embracing femininity and owning your womanhood and being who you are.”

Large groups and families with eager little girls tottered into the theater with matching custommade Barbie shirts.

One family secured their tickets about a month in advance.

Kelsi Wirick, a 32-year-old Gainesville resident, said despite planning ahead, they missed out on good seats. The family settled for the third row from the screen, Wirick said.

As a child, Wirick was a tomboy and hated the color pink. But now, pink is her personality for the month, she said.

In addition to the matching pink shirt, Lylah Wirick, a 9-yearold Barbie lover, wore Birkenstocks, a running motif in the film

to represent the real world. Like the characters in the film, she also plays with Barbies with her sister, she said.

Older generations of Barbie fans were just as invested in the film’s early showing. Paula Brown, a 60-year-old Barbie fanatic, was among the enthused.

For Brown, Gerwig’s “Barbie” was a long-overdue ode to an iconic figure. It was about time Barbie got the Hollywood treatment, she said.

Brown’s 60-year-old friend Lynn Anderson accompanied her. Together, they celebrated the screening by repping the doll from head to toe. Despite being decked out in Barbie-themed Hot Topic merchandise, they still had more accessories on backorder, Brown said.

The duo loves Barbie, and the idea of seeing the movie before everybody else excited her, Brown said.

The doll conjured memories of giddy childhood nostalgia when Brown used to play with Barbies

as a little girl herself, she said.

“I had the RV camper and the Corvette and all the clothes,” Brown said. “My mom used to make my Barbie clothes too. It was too cool.”

Brown’s 29-year-old twin daughters inherited her connection to Barbie. The nostalgia for the doll spans many generations, she said. Brown described her family as “big Barbie girls.”

Brown shared her plan to drive to Ocala for another opening screening of the film and dress up, she said.

The attendees at the premiere proved the power of Barbie extends past age and gender. One attendee, Steve Beck was born in 1950 before the inception of the Barbie brand, making him older than the doll himself. Beck worked as a toy inventor for Mattel, parent company of Barbie.

Beck spoke of Barbie with authority. He’s credited for inventing a variety of games spanning from the late ‘70s to the early 2000s.

Barbie has come a long way since her origin as a novelty adult toy for men’s bachelor parties, Beck said.

Addressing the onslaught of marketing and promotional material for the live-action adaptation, Beck predicted the movie would gross a minimum of $100 million in domestic box office opening weekend alone, becoming the biggest box office of any movie in 2023.

There’s going to be a Barbie renaissance, Beck said.

As of July 23, the movie has grossed $155 million just in its domestic opening weekend, according to Box Office Mojo.

The film’s success can be attributed to the fantastical yet comedic tone of its story.

“It’s also tongue-in-cheek,” Beck said. “They’re making fun of her but they’re also honoring her.” Gerwig’s “Barbie” is meta and self-referential. Mattel itself is personified in the film by executive bigwigs and nameless men in suits, with Will Ferrell at the helm.

Despite having worked for Mattel, Beck found humor in the film’s portrayal of the company. The brand is smart for embracing its self-effacing rendition and showing a willingness to make fun of itself, he said.

The film has inspired a resurrection of the doll’s cultural relevance and for Mattel as a brand. He recently bought a doll himself, indulging in the Barbie zeitgeist. Some folks, however, have owned dolls since their youth, Beck said.

Barbara Hassan, a 72-year-old “Barbie” moviegoer, got her first Barbie doll in 1963 when she was 12. That Barbie has bridged decades and has been a model for many girls, she said.

“Now my great nieces have dozens of Barbie dolls,” Hassan said. “Interestingly enough, these young kids, they don’t put the clothes on her.”

For many, the strength of the doll lies in its ability to inspire girls to envision themselves with limitless potential.

“Women can become anything they want to be,” she said. “That’s always been the message.”

Two hours after the screening, the pink frenzy streamed out of the theater. Patrons emotionally exclaimed how good the film was, some already making plans to watch it again.

vsarmiento@alligator.org

Seventy-nine years since Florida Gator plane crash

FORMER GATOR NAMED WWII PLANE AFTER UNIVERSITY

By Ella Thompson Alligator Staff Writer

Editor’s note: Based on mission descriptions in the “Eyes of the Eighth” by Patricia Fussell Keen and additional research, this is the most likely series of events.

Sitting on the runway of Mount Farm airfield in Oxfordshire county in England, in the sweaty cockpit of an F-5 Lightning, Lt. Edward Durst was getting ready to take off on his first operational mission with the 7th Photo Reconnaissance Group.

Durst, who was 21 at the time, was one of four airmen on the mission. He was the newest member of the group and had something to prove.

Flying “The Florida Gator” — a blue plane with bright orange trim, and a large alligator mouth with orange lips — Durst approached the French coast at 24,000 feet as the third plane in the formation with nothing but speed and a camera.

“The Florida Gator” flew a total of six people during its lifetime. Monday marks the 79th anniversary of Edward Durst’s death on the Florida Gator’s final mission.

In order to liberate Europe following D-Day on June 6, 1944, Allied troops needed to breakout and move east through France. And they needed to occupy Saint-Lô — a city in northwestern France to do it.

Chris Brassfield, 56, from Winchester, Kentucky, is the historian for the 466th Bomb Group, which also flew out of England. He has a lifelong interest in World War II aviation, and he works as a remote volunteer to the American Air Museum’s database in Britain.

“The American army and British Army needed to break out,” Brassfield said. “A large number of bombers and the army had kind of gathered up and they just bombed the hell out of Saint-Lô.”

The F-5 Lightning is a derivative of the P-38 Lightning Fighter, which only has one gun in its nose section. In the F-5, those guns were replaced with cameras, Brassfield said.

“They relied on speed and being able to run away from the enemy plane or get up high as their only defense,” Brassfield said.

The group’s mission was to photograph areas heavily bombed by Allied Forces and areas still needed to be hit so ground troops could advance.

“Eyes of the Eighth,” written by Patricia Keen, is a book about the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. At 378 pages, it includes extensive descriptions of various missions and stories of the men who belonged to the group.

“The four pilots crossed the Channel and flew down along the western side of the Cherbourg Peninsula,” Keen wrote. “As they flew over Guernsey in the Channel Islands, the German anti-aircraft batteries fired heavy flak accurate for altitude but about 200 yards behind.

No one was hit.”

All four men escaped the attack unscathed, yet Durst fell behind, unresponsive to radio calls.

Durst and “The Florida Gator,” a plane borrowed from former UF student Waldo C. Bruns, did not make it back to Mount Farm.

While all four aircrafts made it past the heavy flak, an anti-aircraft projectile which exploded at altitude, and sent metal fragments into its target. It’s believed that Durst’s oxygen line was cut in the barrage, according to Keen. The next few moments were intense for the three men flying with Durst, as the oxygen to his brain was slowly cut off.

As they neared the Saint-Malo area, Durst made a wide sweep, nearly colliding with Lt. Harold G. Wier, flying the left wing position, second in the formation.

Wier and Lt. Alexander Kann, who was flying directly behind Durst in the rear position, saw him dive 15,000 feet. Lt. James B. Matthews, mission leader, saw him dive another 12,000.

Durst crashed and burned next to a hangar on the edge of Ploubalay airfield near Plombieres, France. It was later declared that he most likely died of hypoxia, a medical episode that occurs when there’s not sufficient oxygen reaching the brain.

The Germans prevented anyone from immediately going near the crash but eventually local firewomen were allowed to approach. One woman brought a sheet to bury what remained of Durst. Nothing but ash remained of “The Florida Gator,” and the three other men on the mission returned to Mount Farm without Durst.

The Germans entrusted Durst to the Town Hall on the request of Mayor Roussel, and his funeral was held two days later on July 26, 1944.

“Witnesses recall these moments of emotion, a huge crowd flock to the Church, an abundance of flowers covered the forecourt of each side,” according to the American Air Museum in Britain.

Documents at the American War Memorials Overseas reveal Germans also paid their respects. Soon after Durst’s death, his sick mother, Ella Magee, joined him. His body was returned to the U.S. on July 18, 1948, and he was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Texas.

More than 2,000 bombs were dropped between July 24 and July 25 of 1944, and 136 American soldiers were killed by misfired bombs. Historian Rick Atkinson, author of “Guns at Last Light,” said of the devastation that, “Hardly a trace of sidewalk or street pavement remained in Saint-Lô.”

Overtaking Saint-Lô was instrumental in expelling German forces from northern France. Brassfield’s grandfather stood outside of SaintLô as American bombers dropped bomb after bomb, he said.

“I can remember him telling me about standing outside of Saint-Lô and watching the bombers come across all day long, pounding the place,” Brassfield said. “And then he drove through the next day with his battalion, and he said the place was destroyed. That’s the first time he ever saw dead bodies up close.”

While Durst’s tale had a tragic end, his story didn’t die in a town in France, and neither did “The Florida Gator.”

Sam Harris, former special operations helicopter pilot in the United States Navy, 1986 UF journalism graduate and Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University professor, stumbled upon the history of “The Florida Gator” by accident. It piqued his interest because of his background in aviation, and around the time he discovered the plane, his son Kyle had been accepted to UF.

The plane was a bit of a shock to Harris. With bright orange lips and orange trim around the wheel, Harris thought the picture of the plane was distorted.

“These old airplanes, when you see them, they usually have a scantily clad woman on there, right,” Harris said. “And some zippy saying ‘bombs away’ or something like that.”

Harris had never seen a plane named after a college or university, he said. There was no Crimson Tide or University of Michigan plane he could ever recall seeing. He decided to look a little deeper.

Harris completed two tours in Iraq during his 10 years on active duty. He retired from the Navy Reserves after 20 years in 2016. With so much free time on his hands, he decided he would build a model of the plane for his baby Gator — his son Kyle. After all, UF is his alma mater.

“I had all this time on my hands, and for therapeutic purposes – if nothing else, just good therapy – I said, ‘I’m gonna build this model and give it to my kid,’” Harris said.

In his quest for more information, Harris discovered a story that kept on giving.

Typically, the pilot of a plane or the crew chief — the person that takes care of the plane — gets to name it. Durst was from Texas, so Harris ruled him out, he said.

The crew chief, Johnny Ginex, was from Florida, but when Harris tracked down his niece, former UF student Denis Ginex, in Tampa. She informed Harris that her great uncle had an eighth grade education and

couldn’t imagine him being a big Florida fan, Harris said.

Then, Harris found the true pilot of the Florida Gator.

“The pilot was from Florida –Levy County – and that is Waldo Bruns,” Harris said.

Bruns was a UF student prior to enlisting in the service in 1940. However, there are no records of Brun’s attendance at UF, UF registrar told Harris.

Bruns lived in Levy County, but the Levy County Historical Society has no marriage records of him, according to Levy County historical society president Toni Collins. The 1948 land records of the county show his parents, Van and Faye Bruns, buying property in Williston, Florida.

Bruns would’ve left UF during his sophomore year to enlist, Harris said. The American Air Museum in Britain records show him enlisting in the US Air Force on Sept. 16, 1940. He was stationed in Mount Farm, England, from Jan. 20, 1940 to his death on Aug. 14, 1944, according to the air museum.

“The Florida Gator” went down months prior to Brun’s final mission, but Durst and Bruns died in similar ways.

Bruns was the operations officer of the 13th Squadron, and on Aug. 14, 1944, he told his squadron commander, Maj. Robert Smith that the weather was good in areas of longdesired targets. The two decided to go after the targets together, but only one would eventually return home.

Their mission goals were to photograph Focke-Wulf, a German aircraft factory in Poland, Stalag Luft III, a prisoner-of-war camp that held captured Western Allied air force personnel and an oil plant in Ruhland.

Smith took Cottbus and Bruns took Sorau, according to the book. The book records that the two men suited up and took off from Mount Farm. With clear skies, they could see each other all the way to their respective targets, despite them being 60 miles apart.

On the way back home, 10 minutes out from the oil plant and final

target, four Focke-Wulf Fw 190 German fighter planes pulled up behind them. Both men climbed – their only defense. The only thing below them was forest, and it was sending up heavy flak, “Eyes of the Eighth” told.

Flak hit Smith’s right engine, and he pulled back and let Bruns take the lead, flying on his wing.

“Here they come again,” Bruns radioed to Smith.

The two found shelter in a cloud, something they may have considered a godsend. It was the first cloud either man had seen all day.

When the pair emerged from the clouds, the 190s were on them again. But this time, there were eight. Smith lost his left engine.

“Take off. I’m leaving you,” Smith said to Bruns.

“Good luck and goodbye,” Bruns radioed back.

Smith saw Bruns go full throttle and fly west, and that was the last time he saw Bruns.

Smith took his plane for a dive. It was his last resort, the “Eyes of the Eighth” read. He had decided he was losing this battle.

That evening Smith was transported to a German airbase where a German major dressed his knee wound and told him he would need to go to a hospital for his ankle.

The major told Smith that another F-5 Lightning had been shot down. Smith felt a chill down his spine. The major told Smith the pilot had died, and Smith knew he and Bruns were the only two Lightnings deep in enemy territory that day.

Smith lost the battle, but he survived the war. His friend, Waldo C Bruns, wasn’t so lucky. Bruns is buried in Saint Augustine National Cemetery in Saint Augustine, Florida. He has a total of seven military medals, including the Purple Heart and Air Medal.

At the end of WWII, Bruns, Durst and “The Florida Gator” all died at the hands of enemies in a time of worldwide turmoil, but their stories live on through people like Sam Harris and Chris Brassfield.

Rae Chan // Alligator Staff Sam Harris, former navy pilot and UF alumni, works on a model B-17 flying fortress at his home in Ormond Beach on Wednesday, June 14, 2023.

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Tyler Shelnut’s journey back to Florida

Shelnut played two seasons at Santa Fe College

By Luke Adragna Sports Writer

The “if” was never a question for Gators junior outfielder Tyler Shelnut. That was until two weeks before his freshman season of college baseball.

Shelnut knew from a young age that he wanted to play baseball at UF. He grew up 30 minutes away from campus in Lake City, Florida, and he went to plenty of games as a child. When the program offered Shelnut a scholarship in the ninth grade, he didn’t hesitate to commit.

Three years later, an unexpected phone call from Florida forced him to reconsider his future just two weeks before his freshman season.

BASEBALL FOOTBALL

“‘There’s nothing we can do,’” Shelnut said the Gators told him.

“‘Nobody got drafted. We have no space on the roster.’”

The MLB shortened its draft from 40 rounds to five in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Players from Florida expected to be selected in the regular draft format returned to campus. The situation forced UF to rescind Shelnut’s offer.

It left him with two weeks to find a school to play for.

“Honestly, heartbroken is probably the best word I could put to that when it all happened,” Shelnut said. “It was my dream school. It was where I wanted to go. I was a fan of the school.”

Shelnut briefly weighed his options and contacted Santa Fe

College head coach Johnny Wiggs. He was set to begin his collegiate career at SFC. It was close by, and Shelnut figured soon enough he’d get an opportunity to play at Florida or another Division I school.

“We were excited to have him,” Wiggs said. “We were able to bridge that gap for Shelnut and give him that opportunity to keep his dream alive.”

Shelnut couldn’t help but feel he wasn’t supposed to be there, he said.

“Going into Santa Fe, selfishly enough, you think ‘I’m better than this,’” Shelnut said. ”If you commit to an SEC school in ninth grade you don’t think you’re ever

By Jackson Castellano Sports Writer

Florida head coach Billy Napier spoke about his excitement to learn and compete in arguably the fiercest conference in football at his first Southeastern Conference Media Days in 2022.

With a year on the field under his belt and a full offseason to evaluate, Napier took the podium at 2023 SEC Media Days with a new focus: his team, his expectations and his culture.

“I think we’ve defined expectations, renewed accountability and there’s a different level of discipline,” Napier said.

The 2022 Florida Gators went 6-7 in year one under Napier and went through their fair share of growing pains. Napier’s personnel did a detailed review of the team’s performance beginning in January 2023, he said. Napier and company made strides in the offseason, landing high-level recruits and rebuilding depth from the transfer portal. But progress must be made on the field in order for Napier’s vision for the Gators football program to stick.

Florida will have a new identity on offense following the loss of star quarterback Anthony Richardson to the NFL and an influx of young talent. One aspect that will remain consistent is Napier. He will once again call the plays on offense for UF this season.

“I like having my hands on the scripts, the installation, that process,” Napier said. “I think I can help us establish

our identity and personality as a team through that process.”

Napier will rely on a strong running back room of junior Montrell Johnson Jr., sophomore Trevor Etienne and redshirt senior Cam Carroll, but the offense will still need a semblance of consistency at quarterback to find success in the SEC.

It’s still unclear who will take up responsibility under center. Most signs point to Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz. The junior threw for 2,136 yards and 19 touchdowns with the Badgers in 2022. He committed to the Gators through the transfer portal Dec. 21.

“We went through an extensive process to make that decision … This guy has an incredible motor and work ethic,” Napier said.

Also competing for the starting quarterback position is redshirt sophomore Jack Miller III. Miller made his first start as a Gator in a 30-3 defeat against Oregon State at the Las Vegas Bowl Dec. 17 — just four days before Mertz’s commitment. He went 13/22 in the air for 180 yards.

“Jack’s had an incredible offseason and he’s in position for a great camp,” Napier said.

The quarterback competition will stretch into Fall training camp, Napier said, and the team will make a decision when they see fit.

One big name returning to the Gators’ offense is wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. The senior led the team in receiving yards and touchdowns last year and is the outright No. 1 wide receiver on UF’s roster this season.

Pearsall called both of his potential starting

quarterbacks talented and said competition will benefit the two.

“I don’t think we can really go wrong,” Pearsall said.

Florida faces an inverse situation defensively. Despite multiple returning starters and young talent ready to take a step forward, a new face is at the helm of the Gators’ defense: first-year defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong.

Armstrong ran Southern Mississippi’s “Nasty Bunch” from 2021 to 2022. He previously served under Kirby Smart at Georgia as a quality control coach.

Junior defensive back Jason Marshall Jr. said Armstrong brings energy to the Florida locker room.

“It’s contagious to everybody to uplift the energy and uplift the play,” Marshall said.

Florida will need its defense in top-notch form as it faces a tough SEC schedule, primarily in rowdy environments. UF will play just three conference games in the Swamp this season against Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Arkansas.

The Gators were polled to finish fifth in the SEC East among 2023 Media Days attendees. Only Florida and Mizzou received zero first-place votes in the east.

The Gators have a chip on their shoulders heading into the 2023 season and have bought into Napier’s program, Marshall said.

“Everybody’s bought in,” Marshall said. “It’s gonna be a big change.”

Florida kicks off its 2023 campaign at Utah at 8 p.m. Aug. 31. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

“It’s gonna be a great challenge, and one that we look forward to,” Napier said.

@jaxacastellano

jcastellano@alligator.org

“Renewed accountability”: Napier, Gators look for progress in 2023

Florida went 6-7 in its 2022 campaign

Chloe Hyde // Alligator Staff Florida junior Tyler Shelnut adjusts his jersey during the Gators’ 6-2 win against Vanderbilt Saturday, May 13, 2023. SEE BASEBALL, PAGE 12

Florida dream comes true

Shelnut returns to UF

SOFTBALL, from pg. 11

el, so he had an impact on my growth as a person and an athlete," Reagan Walsh said. Her growth as an athlete and as a Gator was made possible by the support of her parents and teammates, she said.

Her fellow Gators have noticed her confidence in her ability to change positions on the field when things get tough.

gonna play JUCO.”

His outlook quickly changed when difficulties were presented to him. Shelnut learned to swallow his ego at Santa Fe, he said.

Walsh — who’s near the end of her second year — recognized she has support from her father, teammates and coaches, she said.

"The people at the University of Florida are great and have definitely impacted me as a player, but also as a person," Walsh said.

“I learned how to grind and be grateful because, in JUCO, you show up to a field, you gotta get on a bus for three and a half hours at 4 o’clock in the morning,” Shelnut said. “There’s nobody in the stands but two people’s parents, and it’s 120 degrees or it might be 25 degrees. It’s always the worst conditions you could possibly imagine.”

Talks increased between him and other Division I schools as Shelnut approached the end of his junior college baseball stint. However, one errant pitch in the state championship game derailed his chances of moving to the next level for the upcoming season.

Shelnut was on the mound for the final inning of the game. He served as the Saints designated hitter and go-to reliever all throughout the year. Wiggs called Shelnut’s name trailing 8-5 in the eighth inning.

"I've seen her work and the growth she has had,” UF shortstop Skylar Wallace said. “I think she's known you're not going to be perfect at all times."

He knew something felt off in his leg after tossing a few pitches from the mound. Shelnut finished the inning and hobbled back to the dugout. Six days later, He was in the operating room getting surgery on a torn right hip labrum.

Walsh has displayed confidence and an eagerness to win to the fans who come out to support her in Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. She batted in a season-high six runs against Illinois State Feb. 11 and has a batting average of 0.353 this season. Her control at bat and ability to find the right pitch is big in late innings, Wallace

Doctors estimated it would be nine months before Shelnut could step foot back onto the field. The focus became whether or not he would play baseball at all.

“‘Is this what you wanna do?’” Shelnut asked himself. “If it is, you gotta buckle down and figure it out. If not, you gotta quit right now. And I was not about to quit.”

Two days after surgery, Shelnut crutched his way around the gym. He went every single day. Six months later, he returned to normal shape — three months before doctors thought he’d be ready.

Shelnut and Wiggs agreed he should shy his focus away from pitching during his sophomore season, Shelnut said. He was a serviceable two-way player, but his chances to advance to the next level were always going to be determined by his bat, Wiggs said.

said.

Shelnut got off to a hot start his sophomore season and got the call he'd been waiting for the last two years.

Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan wanted him for next season.

Walsh was set to fill the hole left by the departure of former Florida graduate student infielder Hannah Adams as she entered her sophomore season.

“Working with Coach Walton every single day at practice, and him killing me at second base, I think, is all worth it,” Walsh said. “Hannah was such a great athlete; it's an awesome experience to be able to play second.”

“He’s just a good baseball player he’s a terrific teammate, too,” O’Sullivan said of Shelnut after his Gators debut against Charleston Southern on Feb. 2023. “I’m glad he’s in our program.”

It’s not often that O’Sullivan has looked toward junior college in search of players. Though, with the history between the two and Shelnut developing into an even better player during his time with the Saints, it seemed right to call, O’Sullivan said.

Walsh and her father share a passion for sports and the competitiveness that comes with it. However, a line is drawn between his support for her as a father and giving her advice as a former athlete who understands the hardships of being an athlete, John Walsh said. He has to push her and

Everything made sense in Shelnut’s mind for him to return to the program, he said.

“The scholarship money is there,” he said. “It’s thirty minutes from my house. It’s where I wanted to go from before … I just didn’t think that any other school was gonna be able to top that scenario. So, I decided to go back.”

Shelnut began his junior year with Florida as the team’s designated hitter. However, after some talks with O’Sullivan, the head coach decided the junior could be a valuable asset starting in right field.

It was Shelnut’s first time playing right

field in his career, but the change didn’t affect his swing. In his very first start as a right fielder, he launched a three-run home run over the fence.

be hard on her so she will succeed, he said.

"As a parent, I just want to love and support her — tell her it's all right,” he said. “Then on the other hand, you have to be competitive, and you have to push her to make sure she knows you have to do better, and you can do this.”

Shelnut quickly made the starting job his. Shelnut continued to prove himself behind his reliable bat. He hit .277 at the plate — the sixth highest average among starters on the team — and adjusted to right field smoothly. He committed only two errors throughout the season.

He will forever support his daughter, he said. As a former athlete playing at a competitive level, he’s been hard on Reagan and understands the tough times she might face, he said.

"It's a tough balance,” he said. “But I love her and let her know that.”

He served as a starter in all six of the Gators’ College World Series games in Omaha, Nebraska. UF fell in three games to Louisiana State in the CWS finale.

Shelnut looked back on his time at Santa Fe and called it the best thing to happen to him.

@abrittonharr abritton-harr@alligator.org

“It prepared me to play at UF, being there for two years,” he said. “I would recommend to anybody to go to that school. It was awesome. The coaches were awesome. I think it worked out perfectly.”

Shelnut went unselected in this year’s MLB draft and will return to Florida to play his final season of eligibility with the Gators.

@lukeadrag