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VOLUME 116 ISSUE 42

MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022

Not officially associated with the University of Florida

Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

UF student arrested for on-campus sexual assault, kidnapping The university did not alert the community By Mickenzie Hannon Alligator Staff Writer

University Police Department officers arrested a UF student in an alleged sexual assault and kidnapping of a woman next to an on-campus daycare center earlier this month. Zhishen Wang, a 27-yearold UF pharmaceutical sciences graduate student, was arrested Tuesday for assaulting an acquaintance July 8 at Corry Village Apartments — UF’s graduate and family housing behind the campus’ bat houses and next to a Baby Gator Child Development Center — according to

a UPD arrest report. UPD barred Wang from campus by issuing a trespass warning, but the university did not issue a warning about the incident. The Clery Act requires UF, at its discretion, to notify students and faculty of campus threats, such as sexual assault and gun violence, through “timely warning messages.” The university did not violate the act, UF spokesperson Cynthia Roldan wrote in an email to The Alligator after this article's initial publication, because there was no threat to public safety. Wang was swiftly arrested, she said, and there was not an ongoing threat because

his actions appeared targeted toward one individual. UF’s most recent warning, issued two days after Wang’s arrest, alerted the community to multiple oncampus catalytic converter thefts. According to the police report, Wang’s alleged victim came to retrieve her belongings at his apartment around 5:46 p.m July 8. Wang did not leave the items outside as she requested, she told police, so she had to enter his apartment, where Wang hugged her and refused to let her go. Wang confined the victim

SEE KIDNAPPING, PAGE 4

Police chief suspends K-9 involved in man’s mauling A JUDGE RELEASED TERRELL BRADLEY FROM JAIL 4 DAYS BEFORE A PEOPLE’S INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT

By Jackson Reyes & Omar Ateyah Alligator Staff Writers

Namari Lock // Alligator Staff

The playground found in the center of Corry Village seen empty on Sunday, July 24, 2022.

Three days after the man who was mauled by a Gainesville Police Department K-9 was released from jail, the new police chief suspended the dog involved

in the incident. A judge released Terrell Bradley, the 30-year-old Gainesville resident who lost an eye to the K-9 attack, from the Alachua County jail on bail Tuesday. Lonnie Scott, GPD’s acting police chief who is slated to officially assume the position Monday, extended the initial review process conducted by the department’s Internal Affairs Division and promised a thorough

SEE BRADLEY, PAGE 4

Student Senate passes resolution for 24Alachua County sees first monkeypox case hour morning-after pill vending machines, The county becomes impacted by a global public health emergency blocks 24-hour Marston funding Alachua County may not be able worsens with lymph node swelling The Florida Department of to do much to prevent the spread and a rash on the face and body. Students spoke in support of both at Health reported Alachua County’s of monkeypox, Alachua County The illness usually lasts two to four first confirmed monkeypox case spokesperson Mark Sexton said. weeks. Tuesday night’s Senate meeting By Sandra McDonald Alligator Staff Writer

The UF Student Government Senate passed a resolution approving 24-hour on-campus access to morning-after pills and failed an amendment to restore Marston Science Library’s 24hour availability. The resolution announced the Senate’s unilateral support

for emergency contraceptive vending machines, but it does not require UF administration to implement them. Senator Joe Andreoli (Change - Graduate), the bill’s author, said he would continue to work closely with the Student Health Care Center pharmacy and UF administration to see action come out of his legislation.

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT Football representatives speak at SEC Story description finish with comma, pg# Media Days Billy Napier, 3 players took to conferencewide Atlanta event. Read more on pg. 11

SEE PLAN B, PAGE 5

last week. The World Health Organization declared the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency Saturday after it was discovered in 74 countries, 68 of which had not historically reported monkeypox. Florida’s first presumptive case was identified May 22, and the state’s 264 probable cases cases rank it third in the U.S. as of Friday. Broward County had the highest count, with 129 cases.

Public health protocols typically operate under the state’s Department of Health. Paul Myers, an administrator for the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County, could not be reached for comment in time for publication after numerous attempts by phone Sunday. Infected people typically experience flu-like symptoms at first, like fever, chills, headache, tiredness and muscle aches — this usually

Stephen A. Smith to speak at UF Accent Speakers Bureau will host the sports personality Wednesday, pg. 3

Multiple nature trail harassments reported Police arrested a 33-year-old Gainesville man Friday, pg. 6

Though monkeypox is a rare disease caused by a virus most common in central and western Africa, infections have increasingly spread to other parts of the world starting in late June. It is transmitted from animals to humans, but an infected person can spread it to other people through prolonged face-to-face contact or contact with an active rash, according to the Florida Department of Health website.

SEE MONKEYPOX, PAGE 4

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2 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022

Today’s Weather UF details new virtual parking decal License plate readers will help authorities ticket vehicles on campus By Christian Casale Alligator Staff Writer

UF students will be ticketed for parking violations via a virtual system linked to license plate readers starting next month. The system, which will replace the $80 sticker decals with virtual permits, will allow campus security to digitally scan and cross-check license plates against a database to determine if the driver holds the correct permit status for the lot it is parked in. Patrol cars mounted with license-plate-reading cameras will monitor and enforce violations, according to a UF explanation video, and parking in a way that blocks a license plate will be prohibited. Any driver who prefers to back into a parking space would have to purchase a $25 vanity license plate from

the Transportation and Parking Services Office to place at the front of their vehicle. The transition from physical to virtual decals will save UF more than $50,000 a year and allow for quicker and more accurate verification, said Scott Fox, the senior director of UF’s Transportation and Parking Services.

“It will allow staff to spend less time patrolling the campus for parking enforcement purposes and more time supporting special events, managing traffic and delivering other services to the university community,”

- Sen. Director Scott Fox, UF Transportation & Parking Services

Students will be allotted one car to register per parking permit. Faculty and staff can register up

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 42

ISSN 0889-2423

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to three vehicles, but only one can be parked on campus at a time, the video explained. Danielle Saunders, a 24-yearold UF public health and epidemiology graduate student, approved of the change; she preferred the option to avoid putting a sticker on her car. The new system, she said, will give students, faculty and staff more time to purchase a parking permit because they won’t need to wait for the stickers to arrive via mail. Virtual parking decals for Fall semester can be purchased for students starting Aug. 8 and Aug. 15 for faculty and staff.

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MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022 ALLIGATOR 3

Back-to-school rally revolves around youth violence First 5,000 students who arrive will receive free backpacks with school supplies By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp Alligator Staff Writer

Alachua County’s 23rd annual Stop the Violence Back to School Rally aims to combat rising tension amid an influx of mass shootings under this year’s theme: “Getting to the Root of the Matter — Youth Violence.” The rally will present parents — some of whom are UF faculty — and students with backpacks, school supplies and safety lessons in the Santa Fe College gymnasium Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. People Against Violence Enterprises and Alachua County Public Schools will review free meal programs, vaccination expectations and supply needs tangentially with violence prevention. Reccurring mass shootings across Florida and consistent bomb threats in Alachua County high schools seem to have no concrete solution, Jordan Marlowe, an English and history teacher at Newberry High School, said. The idea of enforcing clear backpacks was proposed and swiftly dismissed, but safety measures must be determined and implemented to see safer conditions, he said. “I think anything that we do to raise awareness of the issue is helpful, but if all we do are public events and there is no follow up on real policy change, then it won’t be,” he said. Reinforcing non-violent ideologies in elementary schools is paramount, he said. While the main goal of this

event is combating violence, Karl Anderson, the founder and president of People Against Violence Enterprises, said it will also bring the students and parents together before the beginning of a new school year. “It’ll serve as a reminder when the kids see everybody come together, shoulder-to-shoulder and side-by-side with one voice,” he said. “The rallying cry will really get their attention and cause them to think about the

next time they find a gun and what to do with it.” If we can find the origin of violence, we can begin to make change and redirect the trajectory of our problems, Anderson said. The current system awards positive behavior, Marlowe said, but sometimes that only increases bullying toward students who report alarming behavior. A lack of trust and connection between teachers and students, he said, could also increase

instances school.

violence

within

“There’s just no way that a teacher who has to watch 40 kids at one time is going to be able to catch everything,”

- Jordan Marlowe, Newberry High School teacher

Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, a long-standing event sponsor, will provide free backpacks filled with school

supplies and resources for reporting violence or threats of violence. The organization was able to offer only 100 backpacks 23 years ago, Richard Anderson, Chief Clinical Officer for Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, said — this year, the first 5,000 students to arrive will receive one. Thi’sl, a person who transformed himself from a criminal into a Grammy Award winning musician, will be a guest speaker. There will also be a Q&A session to understand the mindset of not only the parents, but also the children, Karl Anderson said. “We’ll just have a community talk with some music, some dancing and a plethora of prizes,” he said. The rally also provides vital information for parents and students regarding back-to-school necessities, Alachua County Public School Spokesperson Jackie Johnson said. ACPS will provide information on its free meals program, school calendars and other resources that will help families have a smooth start to the school year, she said. ACPS will also coordinate transportation for the rally, Johnson said. “We participate in a number of ways, and we do that because we feel that the message of nonviolence is absolutely critical for students and families both in and out of school,” she said. @rylan_digirapp rdigiacomo-rapp@alligator.org

Yingqun Zhu // Alligator Staff

The Santa Fe logo as seen at Blount Hall located at 401 NW 6th St. Sunday, July 14, 2022.

Sheriff’s son faces charge for Stephen A. Smith to speak at UF driving with suspended license The ESPN ‘First Take’ television Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints different state attorney to avoid conflict of interest in prosecution By Omar Ateyah Alligator Staff Writer

The Alachua County Sheriff’s son, a habitual traffic offender, faces a charge of driving on a suspended license. Police served a warrant to 30-year-old Clovis Watson IV early Thursday morning at the Alachua County jail. The court released Watson on the condition he not drive without a valid license. Watson’s crime history dates back to 2010 with multiple traffic violations, according to court records. He was also arrested for burglary, trespassing and stalking, but the charges were either dropped or Watson was put on probation. He pleaded not guilty to the traffic offense, which occurred June 3 at 3300 SW Archer Road near the MetroPCS store, June 28.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order July 6 appointing state attorney John Durrett of the Third Judicial Circuit to prosecute the case to avoid any conflict of interest. Brian Kramer, the state attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, which includes Alachua County, said he notified the governor of the conflict and requested a different prosecutor last week. Watson declined to comment on his charge. Alachua County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kaley Behl declined to comment on Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr.’s behalf and said it was a GPD matter. GPD could not be reached for comment, and GPD’s spokesperson Graham Glover announced he will no longer serve in the position as of 5 p.m. Thursday. @OAteyah oateyah@alligator.org

personality will speak Wednesday By Sandra McDonald Alligator Staff Writer

Stephen A. Smith, a prominent sports journalist and TV personality, will speak at UF July 27 at 7 p.m., the UF Accent Speakers Bureau announced via an Instagram post Monday. A host of ESPN’s sports talk show “First Take” since 2012, Smith is known for his over-the-top reactions and sports commentary. He frequently appears as an NBA analyst on SportsCenter. Smith, who started his career as a basketball and sports columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer in 1994, transitioned from print to radio and television in 2010. He has been notably missing from “First Take” since the beginning of July to recover from shoulder surgery. He

announced his return next month in a Twitter post Thursday. The University Auditorium doors will open at 6 p.m. The event is free for students with a valid Gator1 card. The announcement comes one week after university police lodged a felony complaint against a UF student after a death threat forced a “guest speaker” to cancel his appearance on campus, according to reports. The investigation came about two weeks after TikTok star Josh Richards postponed his $60,000 June 29 event two days before it was scheduled, citing an unforeseen family obligation. The alleged death threat was reported to police June 28. @sn_mcdonald smcdonald@alligator.org

4 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022

People's investigation BRADLEY, from pg. 1 review of the incident Friday. The review process could take up to 90 days to wrap up, he said, and the department will not be able to share additional information until the investigation is over. Police pulled Bradley over for an alleged traffic violation July 10; he did not stop at a stop sign at Sweetwater Square Apartments at 3501 NE 15th St., according to court documents, and fled after a physical encounter with the officer who pulled him over. Bradley was convicted of robbery in 2010, according to court records, and he faces charges for weapon and ammo possession as a convicted felon, marijuana possession, violent resistance to arrest, theft of a firearm and carrying an unlicensed firearm. According to a sworn complaint affidavit, Andrew Milman, the officer who initiated the traffic stop, asked Bradley to leave the car after he moved his hand toward the front seat. Milman found a gun, ammunition and marijuana in Bradley’s car after Bradley struck him with his elbow and escaped, according to the affidavit. A K-9 officer, identified as “K-9 Ofc. Meurer” in the affidavit, responded to the incident. Police have not identified the dog, but a press release acknowledged a K-9 tracked Bradley in Eden Park bushes about half a mile from the traffic stop at Sweetwater Square Apartments. According to GPD’s website, Joshua Meurer handles a K-9 named Ranger.

Milman’s narration in the affidavit contains only one sentence about the circumstances of the apprehension. “After a short struggle the DEF was placed in to custody,” the report read. Yolanda Means, the attorney who represented Bradley in court, said the sworn complaint’s omission of Bradley’s injuries was considered when Green made his decision to release Bradley. Per the conditions of his release, he must cover the costs of the electronic monitoring with GPS, not consume alcohol or illegal drugs and not possess any weapons or firearms. An investigation by the Marshall Project found 150 incidents across the country from 2010-2020. Residents originally protested the incident July 17 and continued with a people’s investigation after Bradley was released. Bradley’s father, 60-year old former GPD officer Victor Bradley, said his son’s return home would allow him to heal properly both physically and mentally, noting the trauma of his apprehension by GPD. About 20 residents rallied at Sweetwater Square Apartments Saturday, to learn more about what happened. Attendees walked to Eden Park at Ironwood at 1330 NE 39th Ave., where Bradley allegedly hid from police before the K-9 mutilated his eye. The event's goal was to break down step-by-step what happened using the information available to the public, Danielle Chanzes, the 29-year-old organizer, said. She encouraged residents to keep showing up to protests and events to hold GPD accountable as it conducts the investigation.

Jackson Reyes // Alligator Staff

Residents attending a walking teach-in for Terrell Bradley cross Northeast 15th Street Saturday, July 23, 2022. “Seeing is believing,” she said. While Chanzes wants a thorough investigation, she said that it could be shortened with the release of the body and dash camera footage. The walk consisted of six stops. It started where the alleged traffic violation occurred — where residents noted there was no stop sign — and continued through the half-mile stretch to Eden Park apartment complex — where Bradley fled and hid from the cops. Chanzes led attendees to where Bradley hid in the bushes. Dried blood still stained

Assault near on-campus daycare KIDNAPPING, from pg. 1

to the apartment against her will and raped her several times as she repeatedly tried to escape, according to the report. His arrest comes months after Antwine Johnson, a 32-year-old Gainesville resident, allegedly kidnapped one woman on the outskirts of UF’s campus and raped another at Gainesville Place Apartments in September. Oscar Vargas, a 21-year-old Santa Fe College student and past social events chair of the UF fencing club, was arrested Dec. 7 after police said he admitted to detectives that he sexually assaulted an acquaintance in June. He pleaded not guilty Dec. 15, 2021, and attended a case management hearing July 18 — his next court date is Oct. 10, case prosecutor Ryan Nagel said. Andrew C. Smith, a 19-year-old UF student, was arrested on Jan. 21 after Gainesville police recom-

mended charging him with sexual assault. He allegedly raped his accuser after a semi-formal fraternity event on Dec. 9. Michael Nanosky Jr., a 20-year-old former philanthropy chairman for UF’s Theta Chi fraternity, was arrested for sexual assault last year and pleaded guilty to a lesser felony, aggravated assault. A judge sentenced him to five years of probation and ordered him to drop out of UF, stay out of Gainesville and pay for his victim’s therapy. He also forbade him from contacting the victim, her family and her sorority, and ordered him to attend mandatory counseling twice a month and complete 750 hours of community service. Wang is being held at Alachua County jail on a bond of $150,000. @MickenzieHannon mhannon@alligator.org

First infection reaches Alachua MONKEYPOX, from pg. 1 As the virus spreads in the U.S., the CDC advises people to be cautious in situations where one may experience skin-to-skin contact; being in crowded areas, like clubs, and sharing bedding and towels, could lead to exposure. It is important to wash hands frequently with soap and water. If you come into contact with someone infected, the WHO rec-

ommends monitoring for signs and symptoms 21 days after exposure time and limiting close contact. If you have symptoms, contact a healthcare provider for a test and self-isolate at home, away from pets, roommates or family members. The CDC also recommends vaccinations for people who have been exposed to monkeypox or those at higher risk for being infected. The infection is rarely fatal;

over 99% of people who are infected are likely to survive, according to the CDC. Smallpox vaccines have been proven to be effective in preventing monkeypox, and the risk of contracting monkeypox for the general public remains low because it is not very contagious, according to the Florida Department of Health. @carissaallenn callen@alligator.org

the side of the wall; people noted how thin the bush was and questioned how it took cops an hour to find Bradley. She hoped the mobile teach-in shed light on the incident, she said. “When you look at the bushes and how thin they were,” Chanzes said, “it drums up a lot more emotion because now you’re actually physically seeing it.” @OAteyah oateyah@alligator.org @JacksnReyes jacksonreyes@alligator.org

Gainesville police make arrest in home invasion killing The homeowner was among those arrested By Omar Ateyah Alligator Staff Writer

Gainesville Police arrested four Gainesville residents, including a man defending his home, in connection to a home invasion that led to the death of a woman last week. Alderious White, 28, and Jason Ward, 38, were arrested for the killing of D’Halani Armstrong, according to arrest reports. White shot Armstrong after he broke into the home at Northeast 16th Terrace, about a quarter of a mile away from Satchel’s Pizza, at about 7 a.m Tuesday. She later died at UF Health Shands Hospital. Ward also held Armstrong’s uncle, 44-year-old homeowner Dovico Miles, at gunpoint as two of the house’s occupants hid in a bathtub, according to court records. One of them was 10 years old. Miles managed to disarm Ward, but the gun went off during the struggle. He then shot White as he fled into the front yard, when he recognized him as the “son of a longtime friend,” according to the report. Miles told police he hid his guns and Ward’s gun outside after the incident, according to court records. Police arrested Miles for evidence tampering and possessing a

weapon as a convicted felon. Miles was booked in the Alachua County jail Tuesday on a bond of $150,000. His criminal history dates back to the 1990s with convictions for offenses including theft, battery, weapon and drug possession. Both Ward and White were treated at Shands before they were booked in the Alachua County jail. They are being held on bonds of $6 million each for premeditated murder, robbery with a deadly weapon and firearm possession as convicted felons. White has prior weapons, drug and battery convictions. Ward has prior robbery and theft convictions. The fourth suspect arrested in the case, 30-year-old Tiara Luckie, allegedly dropped Ward and White off at the house; her arrest report identifies Ward as White’s uncle. After Ward was shot, she dropped him off at the home of a relative, according to court records, before fleeing. She now faces an accessory charge for her role in the incident. Luckie was booked into the Alachua County jail on a bond of $250,000 Wednesday. @OAteyah oateyah@alligator.org

Judiciary chairman exonerated from abuse of power charges, senator will face poor conduct censure

SG Senate will vote on censure into Senator Jonathan C. Stephens Tuesday By Sandra McDonald Alligator Staff Writer

The Student Government Senate Rules & Ethics Committee voted unanimously to exonerate one senator and recommend censure for a second. The committee exonerated Judiciary Chairman John Brinkman (Gator - CLAS) from charges of abuse of power, malfeasance and nonfeasance Thursday. An hour later, it recommended a censure, or a formal reprimand, of Senator Jonathan C. Stephens (Change - District D) for poor conduct during Senate meetings. A personal censure of Brinkman would not appropriately judge the actions of his committee as a whole, the committee ruled. The issue at hand, a disagreement on Brinkman’s interpretation of the Senate Rules & Procedures governing the Judiciary Committee, does not fall under the Rules & Ethics committee’s jurisdiction. A pending UF SG Supreme Court case, the committee said, would address those issues when it is in session in Fall. The censure meeting into Stephens was rescheduled from last Friday due to a lack of public notice. His consistent disrespectful and disruptive behavior during Senate meetings, Majority Party Leader Emily Pecora said Thursday, should warrant his censure. Stephens made a personal attack on Senate President Elizabeth Hartzog during the July 5 Senate meeting, according to Pecora’s censure petition. After Hartzog had already issued Stephens two warnings during the meeting, he noted External Affairs

Director Noah Fineberg’s presence at the meeting and referred to him as Hartzog’s husband, causing Hartzog to become visibly upset. Stephens told The Alligator his statement — which he described as an inside joke between Senate members — was intended to lighten the mood after the tense meeting. The statement, Pecora said, was not an inside joke but rather insinuated Hartzog could not do her job without a man present.

“I’m here because I’m upset as a Senator, upset as a friend and upset as a woman.”

- Emily Pecora, Majority Party Leader

Hartzog, as a courtesy, was made aware of the censure petition against her earlier this semester before it was filed — but this courtesy was not extended to Brinkman or Stephens. Stephens said he was not aware people took offense to his comments and did not know of Pecora’s censure petition until The Alligator reached out for comment. Stephens apologized to Hartzog during his testimony. He said he did not apologize immediately after the incident because it would have been disrespectful. The committee’s resolution to censure Stephens will be discussed on the Senate floor Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Southwest Recreation Center. The committee, during deliberation, concluded it would reflect poorly on the behavior expected in the Senate if Stephens is not formally censured. @sn_mcdonald smcdonald@alligator.org

Around the clock PLAN B, from pg. 1

Fiona Harris, a 26-year-old UF PhD student and member of the National Women’s Liberation movement, spoke in support of the bill at Tuesday’s meeting by sharing her experience taking the morning-after pill. A vending machine would address price barriers, help consumers avoid social stigma and provide 24-hour access to emergency contraception, she said. "In a post-Roe world,” Harris said, “It is critical to protect young people who are particularly vulnerable to federal and state restrictions to healthcare and abortion." SHCC, located next to the Student Recreation Center and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, provides emergency contraception at a reduced cost from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays during the Fall and Spring. During the Summer, it is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with no weekend hours. The morning-after pill, which is 95% effective if taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex, becomes less effective over time, according to Planned Parenthood. The vending machines would provide most adequate access for students, Andreoli said. The overturn of Roe v. Wade 30 days ago prompted students to call for a better response from leadership and fight for their right to an abortion. NWL last pushed for vending machines with emergency contraception on campus in 2018, but

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the initiative failed. The University of Texas at Austin’s Student Government Assembly passed a similar resolution in April. An amendment which may have extended 24-hour access to Marston Science Library failed in the UF Student Government Senate Tuesday night. In the past, Library West and Marston library were 24-hour libraries, but funding post COVID-19 has met resistance from UF administration and SG officials. Marston and Library West are currently open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Marston also closed its fourth and fifth floors this Summer for updates to furniture and power outlets. The failed amendment, proposed by Change Party, would have allocated part of the 20232024 Activities and Service Fees budget to library support. The proposed $130,000 fund would draw from cuts to the ACCENT Speakers Bureau and Student Government Productions program budgets. Decreasing SGP and the Speakers Bureau funding, Budget Chairwoman Catherine Giordano said, would fundamentally change their ability to function in the upcoming fiscal year.

“The role of Student Government is to enhance the student experience outside of the academic setting, which SGP and Accent does,”

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MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022 ALLIGATOR 5 While opinions on the bill were mostly divided by party lines, Senator Oscar Santiago Perez (Change - District D) spoke against the bill in a public comment. UF administration’s pockets should feel the cost of extending library hours, he said, not SG’s. Santiago and members of the Budget & Appropriations Committee were concerned libraries could misuse funds, as the bill would not enforce the funds to be used to extend hours. The proposed fund would not fully support a 24-hour open Marston, but it would contribute to the expansion of hours — with funding from SG. The Provost and the libraries would be needed to support a 24-hour schedule Sunday through Thursday, Senator Grace Shoemaker (Change - Engineering) wrote in public comment. In an unfinished 23-page report supporting the amendment, Shoemaker said students preferred a library setting, like Library West or Marston, to the SG-funded Newell Hall social study space because of space constraints and noise level. She plans to continue her monthslong research on the benefits of 24-hour libraries at UF on a larger scale in the Fall. The budget is expected to pass next week with no library funding. The next Senate meeting will be held Tuesday 7 p.m. in the Recreational Sports Center, not in the Senate Chambers. smcdonald@alligator.org @sn_mcdonald

6 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022

Alachua County breaks ground on new trail, man arrested in nature walk sexual harrasement incident THE SUSPECT WAS ARRESTED UNDER INDECENT EXPOSURE CHARGES

By Fernando Figueroa Alligator Staff Writer

Alachua County Public Works began construction on a new trail along Archer Road July 14, nine days after a man allegedly sexually harrassed a woman on the popular nearby Hawthorne Trail. It was not an isolated incident. Police arrested Jonathan Dow, a 33-year-old person without a home, for allegedly sexually harrassing a woman near the La Chua Trail overlook. One victim filed a complaint after being harassed July 5, and law enforcement made contact with Dow July 12, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Art Forgey said. He was connected with medical professionals, but police arrested him for the same offense Friday. According to the arrest report, Dow allegedly sexually harrassed and exposed himself to several citizens on the Hawthorne Trail. He is currently being held at the Alachua County Jail on a bond of $10,000. Friday’s victim was at the Alachua Lake Overlook on La Chua Trail — about 2 miles away from the July 5 incident near the Sweetwater Overlook — when she noticed Dow exposing himself, according to the arrest report. She declined Dow’s verbal advances, but he began following her. She was able to escape on her bike. Bianca Maesa, a 25-year-old Gainesville resident, said she had a similar experience on Hawthorne Trail about four months ago. She was biking when she noticed a man with his pants down. She rode past him without stopping, she said. She was also hit by a car around the same time; her head broke the car’s windshield, she said, and she was launched 20 yards. She would like Gainesville to prioritize pedestrians

and bikers, rather than cars, when constructing the newest trail, which will span from Southwest 75th Terrace to Southwest 41st Boulevard in December. She said she looks forward to greater trail accessibility amid recent gas price hikes, but speed bumps near crosswalks would help ensure the best trail experience. Noah Hagen, a 23-year-old Gainesville resident, is excited for the trail’s connection to Archer Braid Trail, but she hopes proper lighting will prevent people like Dow from populating the path at night. Existing street lights will illuminate the trail in this section of Archer Road, Thomas Strom, transportation engineering manager of public works, wrote in an email. The 10-foot-wide asphalt trail, which will be built on land that belongs to Gainesville Regional Utilities and the Florida Department of Transportation, will cost more than $1 million and will be maintained by the county, he said. The Florida Greenways and Trails System Priority Trails Network determines which shared-use non-motorized trails receive funding. The county commission applied for SUNtrail funding in 2016, and the project was placed in the FDOT Five Year work program in 2017. Tourism is another reason to invest in trails, Kristen Young, vice president of Gainesville Citizens for Active Transportation, said. “Trails are the number one requested amenity in communities in Florida,” Young said. Outdoor tourism such as bicycle tourism, which is facilitated by robust trail networks, benefits smaller towns because it allows people to bike places they would otherwise not visit by car, she said. Construction is not expected to create any major traffic delays, and no lane closures are anticipated, Strom wrote. Not only does the new trail provide an opportunity for Gainesville residents to exercise and have some outdoor recreation, Hagen said, but it also makes transportation

for those without a car or motorcycle more accessible. “It’s really important to provide these sorts of amenities so people can get around in an environmentally sustainable way,” Hagen said. @fernfigue ffigueroa@alligator.org

Fernando Figueroa // Alligator Staff

La Chua Trailhead overlooking the water as seen January 30, 2022.

Ukrainian university students, retirement residents maintain steady support amid Russia invasion

Ukrainian pianist raises money through retirement community concert series, students call for support By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp & Jackson Reyes Alligator Staff Writers

Anastasiya Naplekova finds peace of mind in piano keys as conflict continues thousands of miles away in her home country, Ukraine. Naplekova, a UF College of Music graduate from Kharkiv, Ukraine, raised more than $1,000 in donations to help Ukrainian musicians by gliding her fingers across Oak Hammock retirement community’s piano in two concerts this past week. She played the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff — a 1900s Russian composer who was highly critical of his country’s government — to about 75 residents Wednesday. Naplekova’s GoFundMe, which she created in March, has raised more than $26,000 to help musicians in Ukraine living paycheck to paycheck. It is her duty to support her home country, Naplekova, who moved to the U.S. when she was 23 years old, said. “Seeing every street I walked on, I grew up on, every building I’ve been to being bombed is not something you would want to go through,” Naplekova said. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February, but took a strategic pause after Russia seized the Luhansk province July 3, according to UF History Professor Seth Bernstein. While fighting persists in places like Donetsk, Russian forces have stalled slightly in their advances, Bernstein said. The Russian military units involved in Ukraine were given time to rest to recover from combat on July 6, according to an AP News article. Marta Whipple, a 92-year-old Oak Hammock resident, said the concert — especially the elegy from “Pieces-Fantasies, Op. 3” — re-

focused attention on the importance of helping Ukraine in whatever way people can. Ukrainian citizens should know the world is still thinking of them, she said. Whipple experienced life under Russian rule while growing up in Yugoslavia. She understands what the Ukrainian people are going through and feels terrible for them, she said. “I am a Slav,” Whipple said. “Ukrainians are Slavs — not Russian, but Slavs — and somehow I feel a sort of kinship with them.” Svitlana Parker, a 22-year-old UF graduate student, lost all communication with her fam-

ily members in Ukraine. She last heard from her brother March 27 — it was a 30-second phone call. “I know he wasn’t able to tell all the details,” she said, “Or even all the truths.” As time passes and people become desensitized to the media’s war coverage, advocating for resolution is more important than ever, Parker said. Even she has slowly returned to a form of normalcy; she can finally sleep a few more hours and eat more than once a day. “I was getting calmer and calmer, but I was still feeling guilty for being in a peaceful

Courtesy to The Alligator

Anastasiya Naplekova plays the piano for Oak Hammock residents to raise money for Ukrainian musicians, Wednesday, July 20, 2022.

place,” she said, “Guilty for other people going through such tough times … and I couldn’t help them.” Darya, a 22-year-old UF graduate who did not share her last name, moved to the U.S. from Ukraine when she was just two years old. Her grandma, who lives in an area separated from most of the conflict, will describe air raid sirens and ongoing bombing or shootings. “If anything, it’s getting scarier now because there’s less press about it,” she said, “But the consequences of the war are getting a little more grave.” Roksolana Mykytuik, a 26-year-old UF graduate student raised in Ukraine, organized a peaceful demonstration in Turlington Plaza in March, and quickly began making bigger plans to raise awareness for her home country, where the rest of her family remains. These students built connections through the demonstration to form the Ukrainian Student Association, which allows them to distinguish themselves from the pre-existing Russian Culture Club. The club has already raised money by selling baked goods and handmade jewelry at farmers markets, but Mykytuik plans to begin a fund similar to Naplekova’s musician fund to maintain awareness and direct support to displaced Ukrainian women during the Fall semester. “I do realize that there are a lot of issues happening in the world, but I don’t want people to forget about Ukrainians dying every day and fighting for their freedom,” she said. “I don’t want it to become just a routine.” @rylan_digirapp rdigiacomo-rapp@alligator.org @JacksnReyes jacksonreyes@alligator.org

MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022 www.alligator.org/section/the_avenue

ART

UF student artists protest overturn of Roe v. Wade 2 UF STUDENT ARTISTS CHANNEL ABORTION RIGHTS ACTIVISM THROUGH ART

By Amanda Friedman Avenue Staff Writer

Instead of taking to the streets with a poster board and Sharpie, pro-choice UF students are protesting against the June 24 Roe v. Wade overturn by striking paintbrushes across canvases. Alison Garland, a 20-year-old UF biotechnology junior and multimedia artist, has expressed herself through art her entire life. Much of Garland’s art explores the complexities of her intersecting identities of being queer, autistic, Jewish and Hispanic. Struggling at times to communicate verbally with others due to her autism, she finds comfort in conveying her emotions through art. She recalled getting in trouble with her middle and high school teachers for doodling inside her notebook instead of paying attention in class. The Hollywood, Florida, native is creating a series of paintings centered on reproductive rights. She plans to share the series on her artdedicated Instagram account. “Like a lot of women, I feel frustrated and trapped,” she said. “It feels like such a reductive idea of womanhood is being forced onto me and my existence.” Garland’s series will feature five to seven collages made from magazines and newspaper

fragments with words and phrases relating to body autonomy. When she moved to Gainesville to attend UF in 2020, Garland used her art to cope with her anxious feelings about entering her freshman year of college in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. That fall, she began selling her artwork at the How Bazar markets. Gainesville’s tight-knit arts community quickly welcomed her with open arms, she said. “The connections I’ve made with other artists and people who enjoy my art,” she said, “It’s been life-changing.” With her upcoming series, Garland aims to create a piece reflecting beauty within tragedy. She hopes those who see the series will feel both inspired and uplifted. “I want people to feel emboldened to speak up,” she said. “Even in grassroots action, expressing ourselves can help and motivate each other to make change in our communities.” Garland has channeled activism through art before; she frequently donates proceeds from her art to local organizations, like Gainesville Books to Prisoners, a nonprofit that provides funds and books for Florida inmates. “It’s important to give back to the community that helps you,” she said. Anna Gorostiaga, a 20-year-old UF biology and plant science senior and local artist, decided to create art focused on abortion rights at the end of May, when a leaked Supreme Court opinion suggested its intent to overturn Roe v. Wade. Gorostiaga felt compelled to use her artis-

tic talents to protest the decision after swiping through countless reposted social media info-

Courtesy to The Alligator

Alison Garland’s painting titled “Straw House,” a multimedia collage and acrylic painting as seen Saturday, July 23, 2022.

graphics. “I think social media is a great way to make people aware of things, but you do have to go beyond that as well,” she said. Gorostiaga’s art print depicts two hands forming a heart around the gender-neutral symbol to reflect gender inclusivity with the phrase “I love my body! Don’t touch it,” written above and below the hands. “I just really wanted to try and pivot my

art towards speaking my mind,” she said. “I think with reproductive rights, we’re all feeling pain, so it was really important to me to say my piece.” Through her art print sales, Gorostiaga raised and donated $300 to the Florida Access Network, an organization that advocates for reproductive rights and provides abortion care to those in need across Florida. To Gorostiaga, art is a powerful form of peaceful activism. It has a unique ability to effect change by emotionally connecting with people to a level other mediums cannot, she said. “People need to keep creating, because it’s amazing what can come out of it,” she said. Jianna D’Addario, a 22-year-old UF psychology alum and former President of UF Planned Parenthood Generation Action, recognizes art as a transformative political tool that can unify different types of people under one cause. “Art is a really meaningful medium through which we can connect to each other,” she said. “It’s a great way to feel that sense of community.” She has witnessed multiple efforts from local organizations to platform creative activists within the abortion rights movement. The Civic Media Center recently hosted a benefit concert to levy funds for the “Ain’t No Shame” abortion fund July 17. Additionally, Planned Parenthood Gainesville is trying to fund reproductive rights murals, she said. “Working within social and reproductive justice, it’s really cool to see how much space there is for creativity,” she said. “Art has a very significant role in this movement.” @afriedmanuf afriedman@alligator.org

THEATRE

Sitting in the backseat of Gainesville’s downtown parking struggles A NEW PLAY BY LOCAL CREATIVES SATIRIZES THE CURRENT STATE OF THE CITY CENTER

By Fernando Figueroa & Kristine Villarroel Avenue Staff Writers

Lauren Warhol Caldwell never intended to stay in Gainesville after she moved from New York for UF’s master’s program in the ‘90s. Twenty years after earning her Masters of Fine Arts, however, she’s stuck around. In her time as a resident, she has developed a strong view of the place, and she has some complaints. Warhol Caldwell and performance artist Tom Miller presented their satirical piece in development, “Jack and Jill Go Downtown,” to a crowd of about 20 people at the Black C Art Gallery Wednesday. The play, which they will perform again July 27, addresses the complicated parking, QR code menus and other issues in downtown Gainesville.

The show features Miller and Warhol Caldwell’s characters en route to a play at the Hippodrome Theater and details a series of comically inconvenient struggles that derail their trip. Warhol Caldwell said the script was inspired by her and Miller’s shared frustrations about the difficulty of Gainesville’s inefficient downtown district. Most of the content, she said, came from improvisations between the two creatives. The room filled with laughter from audience members familiar with the city’s pitfalls. Former Gainesville Mayor Jean Chalmers, who held office from 1984 to 1985, stood among the attendees. The play reflected her recent experiences in the downtown area, she said, especially after she paid $75 in parking fees to visit the public courthouse. Gainesville should go back to the days of parking meters, Chalmers said. Not only would meters create jobs, but the money collected would help keep streets clean and functional by financing the wages of parking

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ambassadors. “I have a couple of quarters,” Miller’s character says in the performance after the couple finds a paid parking spot. “It’s not that kind of paid spot,” Warhol Caldwell’s character says. On the characters’ way home from their failed attempt at finding a parking spot, a radio announcement alert listeners of a murder in the downtown parking garage and the new contruction of luxury apartment complexes. “The minute you get out of your car, you’re afraid,” Miller said. “You’re afraid you’ll have to pay a fee. You’re afraid you won’t be able to fill out the information, you’re afraid you might get shot.” Streets residents can walk easily and leisurely will make downtown feel more like a city center, Warhol Caldwell said. To her, the growth and development of the area feels rushed with a lack of thought behind it. “They’re growing downtown, which is great, but they’re growing it without solving the issue,” Warhol Caldwell said. “We’ve got a great

thing here, so let’s get together and figure out how to make this more friendly” Miller sees an unhealthy competition between a growing city attempting to innovate and out-of-town developers trying to cash in on luxury student housing. These luxury buildings, coupled with rent prices he described as astronomical, drive low-income workers out of Gainesville and worsen homelessness, he said. When the characters in the play finally arrive downtown, most businesses are closed, revealing an empty and quiet city center. Among the crickets and inactivity, the two reflect on downtown’s status as a community hub. Miller does not know what the most effective solution is, but he said he knows how to find it. Gainesville can either model its parking after similar-sized cities with efficient parking options or consult UF for help instead of out-of-town consultants, he said. During a question and answer segment after the play, one audience member jokingly proposed residents take the matter into their own hands

by “guerilla-dismantling” all parking signs. Because of downtown’s unwelcoming parking situation, the fringes of Gainesville — like Celebration Pointe, located west of Interstate 75 — have begun to sprout with life, Miller said. Their newfound popularity drains downtown of its patrons, he said. Establishments like Cry Baby’s, The Bull and The How Bazar keep the downtown dream alive, Miller said. The pedestrian-friendly block parties and arts-focused events hosted by the How Bazar are the kind of community events downtown Gainesville needs to thrive, he said. The community has to declare its support of the arts and downtown creative spaces by attending shows, Warhol Caldwell said. She encouraged residents to seek out events and performances, even when parking makes it a hassle. @fernfigue ffigueroa@alligator.org kvillarroel@alligator.org @ktnedelvalle

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8 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022

LIFESTYLE

Gainesville models find confidence and self-identity in fashion shows and photoshoots Student-run magazines and the How Bazar offer unique opportunities for aspiring models By Allyssa Keller Avenue Staff Writer

Gainesville model Amanda Jimenez posted a collection of photos from her Y2K-inspired modeling session on Instagram. Naturally, Silly Bandz made an appearance. The nostalgic bracelet company posted Jimenez on its account with a fully capitalized caption: “We are obsessed.” “My childhood was so fulfilled,” she said. “Child me was like, ‘Oh my God, this is not real.’” Jimenez, a 20-year-old Santa Fe business administration sophomore, worked with Saeed Fareeduddin, a local photographer, to develop the colorful shoot they could both share online. Gainesville offers plenty of opportunities for aspiring models to express themselves artistically and build a professional portfolio. Student-run magazines like Rowdy and Strike allow models to explore the setting of an editorial photoshoot, while fashion shows held by the How Bazar provide people the chance to walk in front of a live audience. Jimenez has only modeled in Gainesville for a year, but she has already worked with a number of local photographers and publications, like Fareeduddin and Strike. Despite her initial hesitation, she jumped at opportunities to book shoots. “There’s so many creative people here willing to collaborate,” Jimenez said. “Even though it might not seem like that because Gainesville is such a small little ghost town.” Jordie Ortiz, a 22-year-old model in Orlando, was featured on the cover of the April 22 Strike Magazine issue and in Rowdy Magazine before he worked with the companies 47, Dickies and Pagoda. He started modeling because his friend, a photographer, asked to use him as a “lab rat” for his shoots. After his first time in front of the camera, Ortiz was hooked. It was unbelievable and surreal when he first saw his face in Strike and Rowdy, he said. A 21-year-old nonbinary Gainesville model who goes by both Nina and Nino Franklin has not found as much local success as some of their colleagues. Most talent agencies prefer to hire college students over people without a long-term plan or those who might leave soon, they said.

Franklin also struggled to find work because of Florida’s smaller market for non-binary and androgynous models, they said. Creatives need to expand opportunities for models themselves, Franklin said. “I don’t think it will be easy, but I think it’s going to be worth the fight to see some representation that looks like us,” Franklin said. Vèeronique Deverson, a 21-year-old Santa Fe nursing student who modeled for the student-run Gelée magazine, said Gainesville modeling spaces and magazines can be performative and inauthentic when it comes to activism, but she has already seen progress. Gainesville magazines are slowly becoming more true

to themselves and embracing their personal style of work, she said. “Even in my past two years doing modeling and meeting different people, some people I’ve met in 2020 are completely different now,” Deverson said. The Gainesville modeling community changed as well. The individuals that make up this group have slowly become more comfortable in their own skin, more confident and more accepting of different styles of modeling, Deverson said. @allygatorkeller akeller@alligator.org

Courtesy to The Alligator

Gainesville model Veronique Deverson poses for Gelée magazine’s first student publication in 2021.

MUSIC

More than the music: Knifest punk and metal festival welcomes artists from across the country Knifepunch Records strived to open the stage for artists whose voices usually go unheard By Averi Kremposky Avenue Staff Writer

More than 900 miles from home, Philadelphia musicians Kev Nenkov, Jon Herroon and Brian Trifaro took to the Wooly stage to present a Green Day cover to Gainesville Saturday. The trio, who make up an emo band known as Precious Little Life, piled into their car for the 16-hour trek to play at Knifest, a Knifepunch Records music festival highlighting voices in the industry who usually go unheard. They shared the stage with more than 15 other bands for a room of mask-clad fans ready to mosh. Lead singer Nenkov said the band wanted to create a live atmosphere where people felt like they could be themselves, even if only for a split second. Other artists expressed themselves with existential lyrics about being a robot or by tucking a collection of dainty flowers into their guitar strings. The night delighted Dani

Northup, who helped found Knifepunch Records in 2019. “Not that there’s anything bad with it, but we’ve heard the same four white guys making a band singing about their ex-girlfriends,” Northup said. “We want different voices to be heard.” Each attendee simultaneously occupied the roles of fan and artist, with lively chatter and encouragement across the venue running wild. “A lot of these people are actually friends and care about each other and they do take care of each other,” Northup said. In an industry typically difficult to break into, Knifest aims to feature musicians, many of them minorities, who have a harder time getting their foot in the door, Northup said. Knifest challenges the music industry to prioritize community over competition. Katherine Cornelison and Jackson Shook, two concertgoers from Jacksonville, felt the community spirit at the Wooly. “It’s a lot of friendly, loving people here, and you feel like you can talk to anyone,”

Shook said. Cornelison was enamored by the do-ityourself scene unfolding in front of her. She watched as each artist brought out, set up and loaded their equipment back into their cars. “It’s people who care a lot about music and care a lot about sharing it with people,” Cornelison said. Upholding the theme of community, Precious Little Life’s friendly banter on stage helped it connect with the crowd. The group brought new facets to its music by adding Herroon on bass and Trifaro on drums to songs Nenkov used to play alone. “Getting to write my own parts and fully flesh out songs that I was already familiar with is just really cool,” Herroon said. Sofia Poppert, who performed at Knifest under the name Funeral Homes, took the stage with a dreamy set that she hoped transported the audience to something that felt like another world. Poppert simultaneously strummed a guitar and a tremolo bar to achieve a unique shoegaze sound.

Even though she was alone on the stage, Poppert had friends like Oddie Seccob in the crowd to cheer her on. Seccob, a Cocoa Beach resident, said they drove three hours to watch Poppert, but they also enjoyed the environment and the excitement of finding new music. In a place where bottled emotions seemed to explode, artists at Knifest promoted the idea that local music is a safe space for all. They cried for inclusion and advocated for each other, filling The Wooly with remarks like “tip your bartenders; pay your bands.” Nenkov said events like Knifest highlight the importance of local music scenes. Though the band is far from its Philadelphia home, Nenkov said Precious Little Life’s appreciation for local artists remains unchanged. “Support your local artists, no matter what craft they’re doing,” Nenkov said. “This is what drives our scene.” @averijkremposky akremposky@alligator.org

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

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1. What sports event was founded by Eunice Kenne1. Tommie Aaron, brother of Hank, hit dy Shriver and first took place in Chicago in 1968? how many home runs in his seven-sea-

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MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022 www.alligator.org/section/sports

SEC

Napier, players discuss upcoming season at SEC Media Days The UF representatives traveled to Atlanta and spoke to the media Wednesday By Jackson Castellano & Brandon Hernandez Sports Writers

Dressed in his new blue suit and orange tie, first-year head coach Billy Napier placed his opening address on the lectern before him. He stood before the media for his inaugural venture at the annual Southeastern Conference Media Days in Atlanta Wednesday. After four seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette, closing with three straight 10win seasons, Napier moved up to the big leagues with a seven-year contract to coach the Gators. Napier, along with quarterback Anthony Richardson, linebacker Ventrell Miller and offensive lineman Richard Gouraige, addressed offseason staff changes, culture development and the forthcoming 2022 campaign. Napier spoke extensively about the new environment he is cultivating at Florida. The beginning of his opening

statement resembled a recruiting pitch, as Napier highlighted UF’s academics and its support for athletics.

“We’re seven-and-a-half months into this journey. We’re thankful for their belief in our plan and the resources they’ve provided for this great challenge.”

- Billy Napier, UF football coach

Napier did more than brag about his university. He touched on off-season training, his approach to coaching and the state of his team and the SEC as a whole. Napier acknowledged his excitement to return to the SEC, calling it “the league.” He previously worked multiple stints at Alabama under head coach Nick Saban, most recently as his wide receivers coach from 20132016. The rookie SEC coach spoke honestly about the process of bringing a new staff to a relatively inexperienced team.

Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff

Linebacker Ventrell Miller and his teammates tackle a Georgia ball carrier Nov. 7, 2020. Miller returns to UF this season after tearing his bicep last year. alligatorSports has a podcast! The alligatorSports Podcast releases episodes every Wednesday and can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your other preferred streaming platform.

Napier spoke on the work necessary to redirect a Gators team left aimless after a deflating final season under former head coach Dan Mullen. “We’re consumed with Florida right now,” Napier said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, and it’s critical that we stay on task and focus on what we can do to get the Gators better each and every day.” Napier seemed hopeful about the steps he wants to take in year one, stressing the importance of giving each player the best opportunities possible. Richardson, now a locker room leader in his third season, talked about Napier’s trust in himself, his system, his players and his staff. “His confidence is unmatched. He puts people before himself, and I definitely respect that because I try to do the same thing.” - Anthony Richardson, UF quarterback

The Eastside High School alum's bond with Napier helped him further grow into his role as a leader. “A lot of people look up to me, looking at me and expecting a lot of things,” Richardson said. “With coach Napier, I understand that means connecting with people, building relationships and bonds. If people can trust you and rely on you, it makes it a lot easier to lead them.” The star signal-caller received preseason praise, finding himself on this season’s Maxwell Watch list and among the 15 shortest Heisman odds. However, Richardson’s actions on and off the field are still put under a microscope. Along with balancing expectations for a season slightly more than a month away, he made off-field headlines for a speeding ticket in April and recently removed the “AR-15” nickname from his branding. Miller, who made his second appearance at SEC Media Days, represented the Florida defense after a torn bicep tendon cut his 2021 season short. As a seasoned veteran with five years

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Lauren Witte // Alligator Staff

Florida Football Coach Billy Napier arrives with his family at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for his first day on the job on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. of collegiate experience, Miller spoke about missing time and his excitement to return to action. “Definitely devastating, I can't be out there with my boys going to war with them,” he said about last season. “I'm looking forward to this season and being out there this year.” Miller offered nothing but praise about what Napier brings to the team. “Coach Napier has done a great job emphasizing accountability,” he said. “Teamwork, bringing the team together… building relationships and I feel like that’s a big thing that he has brought in.” Napier brought many new faces to the Florida football program, including Miller’s new position coach Jay Bateman. Miller said Bateman, with 24 years of coaching experience, placed significant emphasis on preparation. “Coach Bateman has done a great job getting us prepared, teaching us the playbook,” Miller said. “He’s emphasizing the techniques and stuff in his drills, so coach Bateman has done a

great job so far.” Gouraige, who is tasked with protecting Richardson’s blindside, also changed position coaches this offseason. He said the new offensive line coach duo of Rob Sale and Darnell Stapleton offer an advantage for the whole unit. “Even for the rookies, even for the vets, just getting different points of view and how to increase your game,” Gouraige said. “Just getting different coaches has been great so far.” Although he started 24 games over the past two seasons Gouraige doesn’t see himself leading alone. He and other experienced players, like Miller, know guiding younger players will be a key to Florida’s sustained success. “The veteran guys definitely know the Gator standard,” Gouraige said. “What to live by, they've been doing a great job so far.”

@jaxacastellano jcastellano@alligator.org @BranH2001 bhernandez@alligator.org

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

12 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022

FOOTBALL

Napier, Richardson face gauntlet in Florida’s 2022 football schedule MATCHUPS WITH UTAH, LSU AND TEXAS A&M WILL DEFINE THE GATORS’ CAMPAIGN

By Carson Cashion Sports Writer

The structure of a team’s schedule can drastically shape how fans view their team and its season. Gator nation rode high after a 3-1 start to the 2021 season, as Florida only fell to then-No. 1 Alabama in the opening month. The hot start was a distant memory after UF lost five of its last seven games to finish the season. As the 2022 season edges closer, Florida looks to rebound with a schedule including top-10 opponents, the annual trip to Jacksonville and UF’s first trip to Florida State since 2018. Head coach Billy Napier’s era at UF begins with three consecutive home games. Although the week three matchup with South Florida offers a potentially comfortable win, the opening two games of the season are anything but guaranteed wins. The reigning Pac-12 champions, the Utah Utes, will travel more than 2,000 miles for a week-one matchup in The Swamp. Most preseason projections place Utah among the nation’s elite, and the Utes are ranked 13th in ESPN’s initial FPI rankings.

Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson sets to throw against South Florida Sept. 11, 2021. The game offers an opportunity for a signature win to kick off Napier’s tenure. Southeastern Conference play opens the next weekend against Kentucky, another likely top-25 opponent. The Wildcats threw a wrench into Florida’s season last year, as Mark Stoops’ squad dealt Florida a 20-13 defeat in Lexington, Kentucky, for the Gators’ second loss of the year. History favors the Gators in week two — UF hasn’t lost back-to-

back games to the ‘Cats since 1977 — but a confident Kentucky could prove too much yet again. SEC play will take a back seat when the South Florida Bulls travel to Gainesville week three. Florida won the first edition of the intrastate rivalry last season, 42-20. The Gators hit the road for the first time in week four for a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, to take on the Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols’ suffered a blowout loss in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium last season, but mo-

mentum trends upward in Rocky Top with head coach Josh Heupel after UT won three of its last four regular-season games. Florida beat UT in 16 of the last 17 appearances; there won’t be a game circled with darker ink on Tennessee’s calendar than its date with UF. Aside from the USF matchup, Florida’s first four games could prove daunting. The road gets no easier in the latter portion of the schedule. Another three-game homestand awaits UF after it returns from Tennessee. The first two, against Eastern Washington and Missouri, figure to be two tallies in the “W” column for the Gators. The third Saturday in October will be yet another pivotal matchup in how fans remember the 2022 season. The Louisiana State Tigers, led by new head coach Brian Kelly, will seek their third straight win over Florida. Both head coaches will get their first taste of the rivalry, but Napier, the former coach of Louisiana-Lafayette, has marked familiarity with the Bayou. Halloween weekend will once again occupy the annual pilgrimage to Jacksonville for the FloridaGeorgia game. Despite losing notable players on both sides of the ball, including five defensive players selected in the first round of the

2022 NFL Draft, the reigning national champions will be the Gators’ toughest test all season. A UF upset win in Duval County would send shockwaves through the nation. Florida closes the season on the road for three of its last four games. Texas A&M, a consensus preseason top-10 team, will be a colossal opponent for the Gators. Beyond the trip to Kyle Field, the remaining three games should all be winnable. A home tilt against South Carolina, an away game against Vanderbilt (which usually sends Gator fans flocking to Nashville) and a trip to Tallahassee to take on the Florida State Seminoles provides potential for UF to end the season on a roll. The questions surrounding Florida’s football program, combined with the competitiveness of its schedule, makes predicting a final record nearly impossible. Tons of pressure falls on the shoulders of redshirt sophomore quarterback Anthony Richardson. If the Gainesville native produces an elite campaign, and the defense takes a step forward, UF could rebound from a mediocre 2021. If one or both of those things don’t work out, though, Florida could be in for a rocky first trip around the SEC with Napier. @CarsonCashion ccashion@alligator.org

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