Wednesday, August 14, 2024 by The Independent Florida Alligator

For this fall, a wish for joy

It seems right that The Alligator invited me to write a column welcoming students back to campus, because like many of you, I’m also coming back.

Those of you who were students before February 2023 may already know me. For those of you who were not, I had been UF’s president since 2015. When President Emeritus Ben Sasse announced in July that he was stepping down, the Board of Trustees asked me to return as interim president.

I started Aug. 1, but the truth is, I never really left. After a sabbatical, I began teaching electrical engineering in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, and still do. Like you, I have assignments and exams to prepare for this Fall semester, and like you, I expect I’ll have a few late nights, busy days and moments of joy getting it all done.

After what I hope was a fun and fulfilling summer, you’re likely ready to dive back into the excitement that comes with the Fall semester: Gator athletics, Homecoming, reconnecting with friends, new classes, studying and continuing to grow as a person. It’s easy to think, “I’ve been here a while, I know this place.” But, as I myself am quickly relearning, UF is fast-changing, enormous and full of opportunities for you to try new things and find new interests and passions. I urge you to keep exploring, keep

learning and keep meeting new people. Keep figuring out what you love and what you want to do next. I’m inspired by this place every day.

As for what’s next for me, I’m looking forward to fulfilling my primary responsibilities as interim president. As I said in my video shared Aug. 1, my first day back on the job, my top priority will be for us to work to enhance our university’s excellence and reputation in all that we do. My next priority is to plant the seeds of success for UF’s next president.

Finally, my wish is that we all experience joy in everything we do. Hard work and joy are not mutually exclusive — in fact, they absolutely should go hand in hand.

I expect to be interim UF president until sometime in 2025. During these next few months, I look forward to meeting you. If you see me on campus, stop and say hello. I’m also not above posing for a selfie. If you want to drop me a note to say hi or have an idea or a good joke to share, my personal email is kent.fuchs@ufl.edu. And check out my X account — @PrezKentFuchs.

I wish you all great success, health and happiness for the Fall.

Go Gators!

By Morgan Vanderlaan Alligator Staff Writer

During the move-in chaos of travel, packing tape and cardboard boxes, students often forget one last thing: voter registration.

Florida constituents can only vote in person on Election Day at an assigned precinct correlated with their registered address, which new college students often forget to update.

Students should ensure their voter information is inclusive of Gainesville permanent addresses well before election day whether they’ve never registered before or just need to file an update, said Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office Director of Community and Outreach Aaron Klein.

Failing to do so could create voting barriers, which he said include receiving an assigned precinct that would require students to travel back to their county of origin.

“For the most part, students, especially for that November election coming up, are going to be in Alachua County,” Klein

said. “I often ask students, ‘Can you see yourself in November driving down… on Election Day and then coming back up just for the election?’ Usually the answer is no.”

While those with active registrations can make changes to their personal information on election day, Klein said he does not recommend waiting until polls open to update addresses, which could still result in a precinct change. First time voters or previously out-of-state residents must register 29 days before any given election to participate.

In Alachua County, there are 63 official precincts, with the majority of students living in dorms automatically assigned to the Reitz Union for in-person voting.

However, Klein said address changes are not required if students request a vote-by-mail ballot instead of traveling to the polls.

UF’s Bob Graham Center for Public Service, an organization founded in 2006 by former Governor and Sen. Bob Graham (D-Florida), hosts regular voter registration drives at campus libraries and travels to First Year

Florida classes for UF freshman to encourage civic engagement.

The center also houses UF’s international studies major and public service minor.

Teresa Cornacchione, the center’s civic engagement coordinator and lecturer, said many students don’t realize they’re eligible to vote in Alachua County through a quick address update.

Registering in Alachua County gives students a voice in local elections that determine the city officials who make decisions impacting their day-to-day lives, including fund allocation to the Gainesville Regional Transit System.

“There’s so much more to our elections than just the presidential election,” she said. “It gives you an opportunity to have a stake in what’s happening in your local government and your local politics.”

Cornacchione emphasized the importance of remaining active in American democracy to prevent voter apathy. Much like the 537 Florida votes that determined former President George Bush’s win against Al Gore, she said individual votes hold a significance

that shouldn’t be discounted, especially in ballot referendums and local elections.

State amendments appearing on the general election ballot, including protections for abortion rights and the authorization of recreational marijuana, won’t be passed unless 60% of Florida constituents affirm the decision.

“Elections do matter, and votes do matter,” she said.

In the wake of former UF President Ben Sasse’s sudden exit from the presidency, Cornacchino said she expects the center to gain more support following the appointment of former UF President Kent Fuchs as interim, who she said was a key partner of 2022 registration efforts.

However, UF College Democrats President Connor Effrain said recent Florida legislation has created hurdles for voter registration.

Enacted in 2023, Senate Bill 7050 imposed restrictions on voter registration drives, stipulating the events must be hosted through third party voter registration organizations, or 3PVROs, and that a receipt be provided to each registrant.

The bill additionally imposes additional fees for violations of election law, which Effrain said can deter smaller organizations from spearheading registration. However, he said UF College Democrats will persist, planning a collaboration with 3PVROs People for Power Florida and the Youth Action Fund for a “Dorm Storm” registration drive Aug. 16.

Local elections and referendums should be of great importance to students, especially during such a politically divided presidential election year, he said.

“If you’d asked me, I think that protecting the democratic institutions of the place where you’re spending eight months of the year in for the next four years should be exceptionally important,” Effrain said.

The Alachua County primary election early voting will take place Aug. 5 through Aug. 17, with election day taking place Aug. 20.

@morgvande mvanderlaan@alligator.org

Board of Trustees approves $25 million merit raise pool for staff and non-union faculty

The trials and tribulations of local voter registration during a heated election season Student organizations add an updated voter status to their list of move-in day essentials UF

BOARD CHAIRMAN SAYS UF IS LOOKING OUT FOR ITS FACULTY AND STAFF

By Avery Parker Alligator Staff Writer

The UF Board of Trustees unanimously voted Aug. 12 in favor of allocating $25 million to raise pools for staff and out-ofunit faculty, according to a UF news release.

Board chair Mori Hosseini said the funding allows for the university to ensure that staff and faculty are “taken care of,” championing the measure as “the largest raise

pool in at least the past 20 years.”

Only out-of-unit faculty members are eligible to receive raises through these pools, meaning faculty who are in the faculty union’s bargaining unit are not eligible and will have to seek raises through bargaining. Article 24 of the United Florida Faculty-UF contract with UF stipulates that “in each year of this agreement the University shall provide a raise pool allocated between merit and across-the-board” raises.

The Board of Trustees additionally approved $10,000 bonuses for faculty whose rank “exceeds expectations” in their posttenure review evaluations. In the state’s first round of post-tenure review this year,

the university deemed 89 of the 226 UF tenured faculty who were reviewed as exceeding expectations.

“We are very proud of our faculty and thrilled to be able to provide these bonus-

es,” Hosseini wrote in the news release. “We truly prioritize our people.”

@AveryParke98398 aparker@alligator.org

Kent Fuchs is the interim UF president.

Kent Fuchs opinions@alligator.org

Everything to know for your first Florida football game day

What

to bring, when to leave and where to go

By Krisha Sanghavi Sports Writer

Florida football game days are truly one of a kind. The academically driven UF campus evolves into a rowdy, chaotic “Gator-till-Idie” environment. Every campus corner builds up into an exciting and memorable experience for fans attending the game on Saturdays.

Freshmen will have the opportunity to take part in Gators game days for the first time this fall.

Florida is set to play its seasonopener against the Miami Hurricanes Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m. at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Before you can get in, ensure to pack a bag that meets stadium requirements. Bags must be clear and cannot exceed the 12 inches long, 6 inches wide and 12 inches deep size requirement. You can stuff your bag with essentials like your phone, wallet, keys and GatorID.

Student tickets are loaded onto student accounts at 9 a.m. the Friday before each home game. Tickets can be accessed through the Florida Gators app. You can save them to your Apple Wallet to avoid possible Wi-Fi connectivity issues

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT

prior to arriving at the gates.

One of the hardest parts about finding your seat is entering through the correct gate. On your ticket, you’ll find which one of the 18 gates is best to enter through to reach your designated seat.

Florida’s campus will be flooded with tailgating events hosted by student organizations across campus and in tents near the stadium. Most tailgates begin about three to four hours prior to kickoff.

Don’t worry about showing up to the stadium more than an hour early if you’re skipping pregame festivities: Gates typically open 90 minutes before kickoff. It takes about 30 minutes just to enter the stadium. Finding your seat, grabbing food from concessions, pushing through crowds — count another half hour until you’re comfortably seated awaiting the game’s start.

The entrances to gates one through four are located just off of Gale Lemerand Drive. On the north side of the stadium, you’ll find gates six through nine. Student gates 12 through 15 are on the east side of the stadium. Gates 16 through 18 land off Stadium Road

on the south side.

Once you’re seated, there are a few in-game traditions every Gator must participate in.

UF’s marching band performs a halftime show each game. The performance is a tribute to a new theme each week.

Two of the Gator nation’s most notable traditions roll around between the third and fourth quarters.

The first dates back to 1920. UF fans lock arms and collectively sing ‘We Are the Boys.’ In old-fashioned camaraderie, the crowd shouts the lyrics as they sway left to right.

Right after, the Swamp transitions to sing Tom Petty’s sports anthem, “I Won’t Back Down.” This six-year-old tradition honors the late Gainesville native at every UF home game.

Your first Gator game day has the potential to be filled with iconic moments you’ll recall for years to come. It’s impossible to be fully prepared for the experience, but following a few of these tips can secure a more organized day.

@krishasang ksanghavi@alligator.org

Sasse’s spending spree: Former UF president channeled millions to GOP allies, secretive contracts

The former UF president tripled his office’s spending compared to predecessor

By Garrett Shanley Alligator Staff Writer

In his 17-month stint as UF president, Ben Sasse more than tripled his office’s spending, directing millions in university funds into secretive consulting contracts and high-paying positions for his GOP allies.

Sasse ballooned spending under the president’s office to $17.3 million in his first year in office — up from $5.6 million in former UF President Kent Fuchs’ last year, according to publicly available administrative budget data.

A majority of the spending surge was driven by lucrative contracts with big-name consulting firms and highsalaried, remote positions for

Sasse’s former U.S. Senate staff and Republican officials.

Sasse’s consulting contracts have been kept largely under wraps, leaving the public in the dark about what the contracted firms did to earn their fees. The university also declined to clarify specific duties carried out by Sasse’s ex-Senate staff, several of whom were salaried as presidential advisers.

The university said Sasse’s budget expansion went through the “appropriate approval process” but did not answer questions about how Sasse bankrolled his splurges, where the funds originated or who authorized the spending.

SEE SASSE, PAGE 5

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RecSports

UF offers intramural leagues, tourn aments

Measuring office expenses — Budget on travel, politicians

Keeping friends close

Amid protests over his conservative track record as a Nebraska Republican senator, Sasse promised during his ascension to the UF presidency in Fall 2022 that he would divorce himself from partisan politics under what he called a vow of “political celibacy.”

But the senator-turned-university president quietly broke that promise in his 17-month term at the university’s helm, hiring six ex-Senate staffers and two former Republican officials to highpaying, remote jobs at the university.

Under Sasse’s administration, two of his former Senate staffers — Raymond Sass and James Wegmann — were among the highest-ranking and highest-paid officials at UF. Both worked remotely from the D.C. area, roughly 800 miles from UF’s main campus in Gainesville.

Sass, Sasse’s former Senate chief of staff, was UF’s vice president for innovation and partnerships — a position which didn’t exist under previous administrations. His starting salary at UF was $396,000, more than double the $181,677 he made on Capitol Hill.

Wegmann, Sasse’s former Senate communications director, is UF’s vice president of communications, a position he works remotely from his $725,000 home in Washington, D.C.

Salaried at $432,000, Wegmann replaced Steve Orlando, who made $270,000 a year in the position and had nearly 30 years of experience in media relations at UF before he was demoted to be Wegmann’s deputy.

The Alligator first reported on Wegmann and Sass’ appointments last October, but an additional four who followed Sasse from the Senate to the Swamp have gone unnoticed by the press.

Sasse appointed his former Senate press secretary, Taylor Sliva, as UF’s Assistant Vice President of Presidential Communications and Public Affairs, a new position. Sliva’s $232,000 salary made him the second-highest-paid employee in UF’s Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing, trailing only Wegmann.

The remaining three ex-Senate staffers

— Raven Shirley, Kari Ridder and Kelicia Rice — served as presidential advisers to Sasse, though their specific duties remain unclear. Rice, Sasse’s Senate scheduler, is listed as a presidential adviser in UF’s salary directory but in practice remained as Sasse’s scheduler, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Sasse raised his former Senate staffs’ salaries at UF by an average of 44% compared to their Capitol Hill pay, contributing to a $4.3 million increase in presidential salary expenses over Fuchs’ last year in office.

Outside of his Senate staff, Sasse also tapped former Republican Tennessee Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn as UF’s inaugural vice president of PK-12 and pre-bachelors programs. Schwinn, with a starting salary of $367,500, worked the newly-created position from her $1 million home in Nashville, Tennessee.

Additionally, Sasse hired Alice James Burns, former scheduler for Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC), as Director of Presidential Relations and Major Events. Burns, salaried at $205,000, also worked for UF outside of Florida.

Citing his wife’s recent epilepsy diagnosis, Sasse abruptly resigned from his post in July — leaving the future of his UF inner circle unclear. The university did not respond to questions about whether his political appointees were fired, non-renewed or resigned following his departure.

Fuchs, who began as interim president Aug. 1, kept a relatively small staff of less than 10, compared to Sasse who employed more than 30 in his office.

Jet-setting on UF’s dime

All but one of Sasse’s political appointees worked for UF outside of

It is not unprecedented for UF employees to work outside of Florida, but out-of-state positions have typically been reserved for those representing the university as federal lobbyists in its Washington, D.C. office. It is virtually unprecedented for top UF officials and rank-and-file administrators to work outside of Florida.

The university hasn’t responded to requests for a complete log of Sasse’s travel expenses, leaving it unclear how much of his sky-high travel expenditures were spent shuttling his remote hires to campus. A partial report shows Sasse spent over $20,000 between April 29 and July 29 to fly his employees to campus.

Taylor Sliva, Sasse’s press secretary, was the only one of Sasse’s political hires to work in Florida. His employment contract, obtained from a public records request, included a $15,000 relocation stipend. He currently rents out a house in Gainesville.

McKinsey comes to the Swamp

When Sasse took over UF in February 2023, he knew he’d need a hand.

His track record in higher education administration was limited to his five-year presidency at Midland University, a small, private liberal arts college in Fremont, Nebraska. At UF, which enrolls over 60,000 students and pulls in an annual $1 billion in research grants, Sasse faced a steep learning curve.

He turned to consultants for help.

During his presidency, Sasse spent $7.2 million in university funds to consultants for advice on his strategic planning and to fill leadership gaps — over 40 times more than Fuchs’ total consulting expenses over his eight-year term.

Sasse paid nearly two-thirds of the $7.2 million to McKinsey & Company, where he once worked as an adviser on an hourly contract. The firm carries prestige as one of the “big three” management consulting giants, but is notoriously secretive about its dealings and shielded its work from public view using records laws protecting

A critical “scope of work” attachment, which would outline McKinsey's responsibilities to UF, was redacted from

a copy of the contract obtained from a public records request. The redaction, permissible under state public records laws, makes it virtually impossible for the public to know what the firm did to earn its fees.

A UF spokesperson said McKinsey was using data analysis to help Sasse build his strategic plan, but the university hasn’t disclosed further details about its $4.7 million contract with the firm since The Alligator first reported its existence last August. Public records requests for any reports, presentations and data produced under the contract have yielded no responsive documents.

Sasse offered the only public glimpse of McKinsey’s work at UF last fall during “roadshows” of his strategic plan. Accompanied by slides displaying “sobriety data” provided by McKinsey, Sasse argued some faculty weren’t pulling their weight and had “quiet retired.”

One slide showed only 10% of research faculty drove 39% of research awards on campus. Another showed in one unidentified 47-person department, only 13 were engaged in research.

In two roadshows that were open to the press, Sasse skipped over a slide that sparked controversy after the Alligator reported on anonymous faculty accounts of previous presentations. The slide suggested reducing UF's total number of departments from 200 to an ideal number of 140.

Beyond the $4.7 million contract, Sasse payrolled three former McKinsey consultants as full-time employees in his office, with salaries ranging from $150,000 to $200,000, according to university records.

It remains unknown who Sasse paid the remaining $2.5 million in consulting expenses to. Public records requests for the president’s consulting contracts were not fulfilled in time for publication.

McKinsey’s contract allowed for UF to pay additional fees for consulting services until February 2025. The university has gone months without responding to public records requests for invoices related to the contract.

@garrettshanley

gshanley@alligator.org

Late-night drives: UF SNAP transportation ensures safe student travel

THE SERVICE COVERS A RANGE OF ON-CAMPUS AND UF-OWNED OFF-CAMPUS STOPS

By Sara-James Ranta Alligator Staff Writer

The friendly faces of familiar drivers greet Jaden Thompson every time she climbs into a late-night Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol (SNAP) van.

“People are really nice on the SNAP,” she said. “It makes the ride much more enjoyable for me to be able to just converse with someone while I wait to go home.”

SNAP is a free on- and off-campus transportation service exclusive to currently enrolled students and staff, operating from 6:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. nightly during the Fall and Spring semesters and 8:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. every summer. Depending on demand, SNAP deploys between four and seven vans to roam campus that seat up to 15 people each.

The drivers, who are often UF students themselves, pick up passengers at 85 designated stops on-campus and at UF-owned off-campus locations, including downtown and midtown.

Students and staff can request rides through the UF SNAP app, which uses Gatorlink authentication, wrote UF Communications Director Amy Armstrong in an email.

By entering an address and the amount of people in a party, the app will provide directions to the closest time window and SNAP stop where drivers are only permitted to wait for a maximum of one minute

for passengers after the van arrives.

The app provides a section for student feedback through ride comments, which Armstrong wrote is regularly reviewed for quality assurance and improvement.

SNAP also operates a wheelchair-capable, ADA-accessible paratransit minivan to provide transportation for disabled students as needed.

Thompson, a 20-year-old UF psychology junior, said she used SNAP almost every day during the Fall 2023 semester after the Gainesville Regional Transit System decreased its service to her usual route, causing her to rely on the vans for transportation to her off-campus apartment at late hours.

“Sometimes, I will be on campus really late doing homework,” she said. “They have a SNAP stop that’s less than a fiveminute walk away from my off-campus apartment. A bunch of the SNAP stops oncampus are really accessible or walkable for me.”

However, Thompson said she had an even more important reason for frequently turning to SNAP: it’s safer than walking alone at night.

“It’s a lot more safe for me to be able to wait at a stop on-campus in the light versus walking through downtown,” she said. “Living off-campus is difficult because I wouldn’t say the city bus is the most convenient thing ever.”

Thompson said new students should “look out for the signs” labeled with the SNAP acronym to familiarize themselves with stop locations as they walk through campus.

Mina Edwards, a 21-year-old UF sociology senior, used SNAP most often while living in a dorm during her freshman and sophomore years. The vans drastically cut down the time it took to get across campus in the evening, she said.

Although she doesn’t use SNAP nearly as often since moving off-campus, Edwards said she encountered quite a few interesting drivers that added to the “vibe” of the ride.

“I had a few times riding with some friends to go downtown,” she said. “One time in particular, we had a driver that played a very strange ‘Frozen’ hyper-pop remix. That was definitely an experience.”

Davis Judd, a 21-year-old UF entomology senior, said he turned to SNAP “more times than [he] can count” during his time at UF.

“One night, I was downtown with some friends. We all had a bit too much to drink

to drive,” he said. “I didn’t feel comfortable getting behind the wheel, so I used a SNAP.”

Judd said SNAP improved his campus experience, allowing him to attend more social events without his car. Students should take advantage of safe transportation, he said.

“If you have had anything to drink… wait for a SNAP,” he said. “It’s just smarter.”

Jillian Vinci, a 20-year-old UF kinesiology junior, said she used SNAP about five times during the spring semester, most often to travel to Midtown with her friends.

“I definitely like how it’s drivers our age,” Vinci said. “[They] know the ins and outs of the UF campus.”

@sarajamesranta sranta@alligator.org

UF, FSU faculty unions file lawsuit challenging state law banning neutral arbitration Florida Board of Governors, UF and FSU trustees sued in lawsuit

By Timothy Wang Alligator Staff Writer

The United Faculty of Florida and its UF and Florida State University chapters filed a federal lawsuit Aug. 7 seeking to reverse a 2023 state law banning neutral arbitration.

Under Senate Bill 266 enacted in 2023, faculty may not appeal beyond the level of the university president or university designee for “faculty grievance proce-

dures” and evaluations involving tenure, promotions, disciplinary actions or termination.

The law has faced numerous challenges, including a July 30 state lawsuit that alleges it violates the Florida Constitution for mandating post-tenure review at Florida public universities.

Meera Sitharam, UFF-UF’s chapter president, said the goal of the lawsuit is to reinstate arbitration. She said neutral arbitration existed before the law was passed

— a third-party, instead of the university president, is typically appointed to make a decision between the university and a faculty member.

“That’s normal practice, but the state took that away unilaterally,” said Stan Kaye, a volunteer on UFF-UF’s grievance council.

“I don’t really understand what problem the state is trying to fix by writing a law that tries to short circuit the use of arbitration in conflicts and disputes.”

The lawsuit, which targets the Florida Board of Governors and both UF and FSU’s boards of trustees, said SB 266 conflicts with the 1925 Federal Arbitration Act and is a violation of the Supremacy Clause in the U.S. Constitution.

Robin Goodman, UFF-FSU’s chapter president, said arbitration is a fundamental right guaranteed under federal law.

“It’s very unjust,” Goodman said. “It just puts all of the power

into one side, and the other side has to just submit to whatever the opponent says.”

A state judge rejected requests June 21 to dismiss another lawsuit filed in state court challenging the law’s arbitration ban.

“The Florida Board of Governors Office does not comment on pending litigation,” wrote Cassandra Edwards, a Board of Governors representative, in an email.

@timothyw_g twang@alligator.org

Courtesy of UF Transportation and Parking Services

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2024

www.alligator.org/section/the_avenue

FASHION

A Gainesville guide to unique fashion finds

A GUIDE TO NEWCOMERS AND FASHION LOVERS ALIKE

By Carlos Alemany Avenue Staff Writer

Whether you’re a student on a tight budget, a fashion enthusiast looking for vintage finds or simply someone who enjoys the thrill of treasure hunts or good deals, Gainesville’s thrift scene has something to offer for everyone.

Flashbacks Recycled Fashions

For all things modern, vintage and everything in between, Flashbacks Recycled Fashions offers a unique treasure trove of trinkets and timeless accessories.

Located at 220 Northwest Eighth Ave., Flashbacks Recycled Fashions stands out for its carefully curated selection of both modern and vintage clothing.

Tatum Nichtberger, who has been managing her family’s clothing consignment store for over a decade, said Flashbacks’ selection process sets it apart from traditional thrift shops.

“We’re different from traditional thrift stores in the sense that we don’t take donations,” Nichtberger said. “We buy clothes from the general public. We do the digging to get rid of all the stuff that isn’t great… we curate the stuff in here.”

Flashbacks is one of the few spots in town offering a blend of modern

and vintage pre-curated pieces.

“We have stuff that people bought online two weeks ago,” Nichtberger said. “We’ve gotten pieces from the 1800s and we have everything in between.” Nichtberger said.

With a focus on sustainable fashion, Flashbacks is a haven for those seeking to make a conscious choice without sacrificing style.

“[Shopping at Flashbacks] is like a treasure hunt — you never know what you’re going to find,” Nichtberger said. “We want people to walk out with really cool stuff that becomes their favorite pieces, and at an affordable price.”

St. Patrick Thrift Shop

For those seeking a more intimate thrifting experience, St. Patrick Thrift Shop at 2010 Northwest Sixth St. offers a homey haven for vintage lovers. Jane Rodriguez, who has managed the store for 18 years, described it as a compact yet varied source of antiquities and all things vintage. “The thing that makes us unique is we have such a variety of things, and the very fact that we’re negotiable,” she said.

St. Patrick Thrift Shop has long been a favorite among students, especially those looking to negotiate prices at the counter. Rodriguez said the store’s dedicated to supporting students and their families, treating them “like their grandmother would.”

Josh Hoffenberg, a longtime customer at St. Patrick Thrift Shop, said

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the iconic home remains a cherished piece of Gainesville’s history.

“I lived here about ten years ago… it was here when I was going to school, and I just returned back to Gainesville,” he said. “It’s stood the test of time — it’s a thrift store institution of Gainesville.”

Hoffenberg noticed Gainesville’s thrifting community abides by a certain “honor system” that separates it from other Florida cities.

“They still hold the tradition of thrifting, the ability to negotiate,” he said. “I grew up in South Florida, you go to thrift stores down there and the prices are incredibly inflated.”

Outreach Thrift Store

For more than 30 years, the Outreach Thrift Store has been a staple in Gainesville’s thrift scene. Located at 2430 Northwest Sixth St., it is renowned for its vast selection of affordable Gator gear and wide-ranging assortment of household items, electronics, clothes and shoes.

Isaac Vellekamp, who owns and runs the store, believes the city’s unique thrift culture is deeply intertwined with UF’s vibrant student community.

“What makes Gainesville unique is the University of Florida; it’s got tons of college students, and the turnover is big,” he said. “Every semester, there’s a turnover of people, they’re looking for a good thrift store, they find out about us and they’re like, ‘Hey, this is what I wanted.’”

This constant influx of new stu-

dents fuels the demand for affordable, quality clothing, especially Gator gear from athletes, Vellekamp said.

“When they’re done with their stuff, they don’t take it home because they’re gonna go on with their life,” he said. “They donate it here, so people can pick up cool Gator gear.”

Beyond offering great deals on Gator merchandise, Outreach Thrift Store is dedicated to giving back to the community, he said.

“That is why we called it the Outreach Center,” Vellekamp said. “It really started off originally in 1988 as a means to help widows and orphans… we’re still able to help the community by putting things in here on a budget so folks can come in and buy things that maybe they couldn’t buy brand new.”

La Chua Vintage

For those who love high quality, pre-curated vintage, La Chua Vintage, currently located at the AUK Market, offers a carefully selected range of high-quality vintage pieces.

Sabrina Kaar started La Chua in 2017 with a vision of providing sustainability and individuality for fashion lovers looking to stand out from the crowd.

Kaar’s journey began part-time in vintage shops and antique malls, eventually leading her to open her standalone store at Curia on the Drag. However, recognizing the demands of running a store alongside raising a family, she decided to collaborate with AUK Market, where she has continued to offer her vin-

tage collection since 2018.

“I really try to find cotton, rayon, silk or better quality fabrics that go with the Florida lifestyle,” Kaar said. “Some things are fun vintage, but you also don’t want to look like you’re going to a Halloween Party. I try to balance it with stuff that a modern person could easily put into their wardrobe.”

Thrift Club at UF

While vintage and mainstream thrift may not be in everyone’s budget, student groups such as the Thrift Club at UF provide an affordable opportunity to get involved with a community of fellow fashionistas and sustainable shoppers.

The Thrift Club hosts monthly thrift swapping events that provide an exciting opportunity to refresh one’s wardrobe without spending a dime.

“As college students, not all of us can afford to shop at regular stores, and even nowadays the thrift store prices are insane,” said Jessica Nolte, the President of the Thrift Club at UF. “[Thrift swaps] allow people to have a place to get rid of stuff [while] also trying to find something new for yourself.”

Nolte encourages newcomers to Gainesville to get involved.

“Go to some events, go to a thrift swap, see what you can find,” Nolte said. “It’s a great way to meet new people, make friends.”

@close_alemany calemany@alligator.org

Rate and Review: Trap

M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN’S LATEST FLICK SUCCEEDS AS A COMEDY, FALLS FLAT AS A THRILLER

By Sydney Johnson Avenue Staff Writer

Director M. Night Shyamalan’s “Trap” is honestly just that — a trap. The movie, which sells itself as a nail-biting thriller, is more effective as a comedy.

The newest installation in the Shyamalaniverse is a near-perfect theater experience — if you don’t think too hard about the plot.

Shyamalan, whose resume includes films such as “The Sixth Sense” (1999) and “Old” (2021), creates buzz. Whether the buzz around his movies is good or godawful is a coin toss.

“Trap” seems to land on its side.

The movie’s narrative glues two unlikely realities together. The film’s first half is a pop concert with a setlist of songs by Lady Raven played by Shyamalan’s daughter, Saleka Shyamalan. The second half is a thriller about the apprehension of a serial killer, played by Josh Hartnett, nicknamed “The Butcher” for the brutal dismemberment of his victims.

The two realities collide when the FBI uses the concert as a — you guessed it — trap to catch the killer after finding a ticket receipt at one of his safehouses.

With his 12-year-old daughter by his side, Hartnett’s character, a firefighter by day and serial killer by night, is now tasked with finding a way out.

In an infamous Shyamalanian twist, we find the trap was set in motion by The Butcher’s wife, who suspected him all along.

The movie tries to make its dark plot fit into this colorful setting, relying on a series of fortunate coincidences to make it work, a combination that is unapologetic in its awkwardness.

This is most apparent when Lady Raven, the pop star played by Saleka Shaymalan, uses a social media platform live feature to rally her fans to attempt to free one of the Butcher’s victims.

Pleading with her fans from a digital soapbox, the popstar organizes her legion of teenage girls to successfully free the hostage.

The movie’s commentary on stan culture and the teenage fervor that looms over pop stars like a halo is spot on, and the way “Trap” makes Lady Raven an unlikely hero is almost reminiscent of a Marvel movie.

In this way, and many others, the movie hits the mark as a comedy but not quite a thriller.

The tonal difference between the movie’s first and second hour is so stark that at times I felt I had been thrust into what I felt like was the serious part of the movie, even though I had just watched an hour’s worth of content.

The reasoning for this difference can be found in Shaymalan’s own words: Trap is essentially a 30-million-dollar concert film for his daughter.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he explained how he worked closely alongside his daughter to create the film. They came up with the idea of putting

on a real concert — a feat taking months of planning to achieve.

“It took months and months to think about that, with Saleka and I analyzing who this woman is and how she would put on a show,” Shyamalan said. “All of the crew members really got into, ‘Let’s put this on for real.’ I mean, I’m live directing the cameras on the stage that are putting her on the big screens. There isn’t any CGI.”

This could explain why the concert sequence felt so long. But

this is not to say that Saleka Shyamalan’s role in the movie is bad.

I actually enjoyed her music, but I came to the Regal at Butler Town Center to see “Trap,” not “Lady Raven Live in Concert.”

All that being said, I still had a great time.

Our less-than-moral protagonist finds any and every way to outsmart scores of police officers, SWAT and FBI agents, creating the type of comedy that only gets made on accident.

Despite all of his heinous

crimes, it’s impossible to watch this movie and not root for “The Butcher,” simply because everyone around him is so gullible.

It’s a repeated gag that has the viewer glued to the screen, head in hands, asking, “What could he possibly do this time?”

And boy does M. Night Shyamalan do just what you least expect.

Rate: 5/10

@sydajohnson15 sjohnson@alligator.org

Ben Nielsen // Alligator Staff

Existing in the context: How VP Kamala Harris’ meme campaign could affect Gen Z

ELIGIBLE GEN Z VOTERS MAKE UP 5% OF ALACHUA COUNTY

By Sabrina Castro Alligator Staff Writer

Vice President Kamala Harris has long been deemed Generation Z’s meme queen, with online communities making her the subject of political satire on sites like TikTok, X and Reddit. Harris’ July 21 campaign endorsement from British popstar Charli XCX and subsequent viral memes dubbed the candidate as “brat” — the singer’s album name.

As the upcoming election season approaches, a new wave of voters prepares to hit the booths for the first time. This generation’s media consumption habits differ significantly from their predecessors, posing unique challenges and opportunities for political engagement.

Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement projections indicate 8 million youth will become eligible to vote this year, adding to a total 41 million members of Gen Z eligible to vote in 2024. The diverse and politically engaged generation could significantly influence the upcoming elections.

In Alachua County, the total number of active voters aging into the electorate is about

5% of the active voter population, according to July 15 voter registration data.

Rather than focus on tried and true campaign efforts with older generations, Harris is leaning into an online presence with the younger crowd through coconut tree memes and neon green branding following President Joe Biden’s announcement to end his reelection campaign.

The references to the coconut tree on social media come from a speech the vice president gave in May 2023 where she went viral saying, “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” followed by a laugh. “You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.”

The Democratic party seems to be utilizing social media as a tool to reach Gen Z, credentialing 200 social media influencers for the Democratic National Convention later this month.

“Gen Z doesn’t consume content from newspapers,” said Andrew Selepak, a UF social and political media professor. “They’re not listening to the radio or watching TV news in terms of their content and their information that they’re getting about what’s going on in the world, about politics, about geopolitical situations.”

Selepak said young people consuming news through social media may only gain a surfacelevel understanding.

“The big thing when you’re consuming news from video, like TikTok, is that it gives you the knowledge of the different things that are going on, but not necessarily a deep understanding,” Selepak said. “They’re short clips, a lot of times… they’re not getting the background, they’re not getting the sort of the history behind topics.”

The contrasting media habits of older generations who consume more traditional media may lead to more established opinions and less susceptibility to influence from social media trends, he said.

Selepak said the recent virality of Harris’ social media “brat” campaign may not be totally organic, as bots are often used on social media to increase the perceived popularity of certain political policies.

“So a lot of the things that are happening are from the people associated with Kamala Harris who are putting out content,” Selepak said. “On certain platforms, it’s very easy to kind of get a topic trending, it’s very easy to use bots, it’s very easy to use a limited number of people to get a topic to trend.”

For example, The U.S. Justice Department found an AI-enhanced social media bot farm using 968 fictitious social media profiles created by Russian actors to promote messages in support of the Russian government and spread disinformation in the U.S. and abroad, according to a July 9 news release.

As misinformation rises on social media, UF College Democrats President Connor Effrain said Gen Z is also particularly at risk of becoming falsely influenced.

“Social media is what fundamentally shapes Gen Z’s perception of politics compared to other generations,” Effrain said, comparing his news consumption habits to his father and grandparents who mainly consumed news through cable or print media.

Despite these challenges, Effrain believes more Gen Zers will want to vote because of Harris’ social media campaigning.

“It’s genius, honestly. It’s really motivating Gen Z to go out and support Harris online and in-person in ways that I didn’t think were possible a few weeks ago,” he said. “It’s kind of setting the benchmark for politics in the future… if you want to be president, you got to have something like the coconut tree now.”

Effrain said Gen Z’s memeification of the election does not stem from frivolousness toward the election but rather is reminiscent of political cartoons and commentary civilians have always practiced.

Read the rest online at www.alligator.org/ section/the_avenue. @sabs_wurld scastro@alligator.org

El Caimán

www.alligator.org/section/elcaiman

Todo lo que debe saber para su primer día de fútbol americano de Florida

QUÉ LLEVAR, CUÁNDO SALIR Y ADÓNDE IR

Por Krisha Sanghavi

Esritora de El Caimán

Traducido por Joaquín Cabrera Petrone

Esritor de El Caimán

Los días de partido de fútbol americano en Florida son realmente únicos. El campus académico de la UF se convierte en un ambiente alborotado y caótico de "Gator-hastaque-muera". Cada rincón del campus se convierte en una experiencia emocionante y memorable para los aficionados que asisten al partido los sábados.

Los estudiantes de primer año tendrán la oportunidad de participar en los días de partido de los Gators

por primera vez este otoño. Florida jugará su primer partido de la temporada contra los Huracanes de Miami el 31 de agosto a las 3:30 p.m. en el Estadio Ben Hill Griffin.

Antes de entrar, asegúrese de llevar una bolsa que cumpla los requisitos del estadio. Las bolsas deben ser transparentes y no pueden exceder los requisitos de tamaño de 12 pulgadas de largo, 6 pulgadas de ancho y 12 pulgadas de profundidad. Puede llenar su bolsa con artículos esenciales como su teléfono, cartera, llaves y GatorID.

Las entradas para estudiantes se cargan en las cuentas de los estudiantes a las 9 a.m. del viernes anterior a cada partido en casa. Se puede acceder a las entradas a través de la aplicación Florida Gators. Puedes guardarlas en tu Apple Wallet para evitar posibles

problemas de conectividad Wi-Fi antes de llegar a las puertas.

Una de las partes más difíciles de encontrar su asiento es entrar por la puerta correcta. En su ticket encontrará cuál de las 18 puertas es la más adecuada para acceder a su asiento.

El campus de Florida se inundará de eventos de tailgating organizados por organizaciones estudiantiles en todo el campus y en carpas cerca del estadio. La mayoría de los tailgates comienzan unas tres o cuatro horas antes del saque inicial.

No se preocupe por llegar al estadio con más de una hora de antelación si no va a asistir a las celebraciones previas al partido: Las puertas suelen abrirse 90 minutos antes del saque inicial.

Sólo entrar en el estadio lleva unos 30 minutos. Encontrar tu asiento, comprar algo de comer, abrirte paso

entre la multitud... calcula otra media hora hasta que estés cómodamente sentado esperando a que empiece el partido.

Las entradas a las puertas uno a cuatro se encuentran justo al lado de Gale Lemerand Drive. En el lado norte del estadio se encuentran las puertas seis a nueve. Las puertas estudiantiles 12 a 15 están en el lado este del estadio. Las puertas 16 a 18 están junto a Stadium Road, en el lado sur.

Una vez sentado, hay algunas tradiciones en las que todo Gator debe participar.

La banda de música de la UF interpreta un espectáculo en el descanso de cada partido. La actuación es un homenaje a un tema nuevo cada semana.

Dos de las tradiciones más notables de la nación Gator se desarrollan entre el tercer y el último

cuarto.

La primera se remonta a 1920. Los aficionados de la UF se cogen de los brazos y cantan colectivamente "We Are the Boys". En una camaradería a la vieja usanza, la multitud grita la letra mientras se balancea de izquierda a derecha.

Justo después, el Swamp pasa a cantar el himno deportivo de Tom Petty, "I Won't Back Down". Esta tradición de seis años honra al difunto nativo de Gainesville en cada partido en casa de la UF.

Tu primer día de partido de los Gators tiene el potencial de estar lleno de momentos icónicos que recordarás durante años. Es imposible estar totalmente preparado para la experiencia, pero siguiendo algunos de estos consejos puede asegurar un día más organizado.

@krishasang ksanghavi@alligator.org cabrerapetrone.j@ufl.edu

Un profesor de Derecho de la UF impugna la constitucionalidad estatal de los cambios en la titularidad

DEL 21% DE LOS PROFESORES DE LA UF REVISADOS SE ENFRENTARON A EVALUACIONES NEGATIVAS, FUERON DESPEDIDOS O DIMITIERON

Por Timothy Wang

Esritor de El Caimán

Traducido por Joaquín Cabrera Petrone

Esritor de El Caimán

Un profesor de derecho de la UF se unió a otros dos profesores de universidad estatal el 30 de julio en la presentación de una demanda que impugna la constitucionalidad de una controversial ley estatal de 2023 que ordena reevaluaciones de titularidad más

estrictas y frecuentes.

La demanda argumenta que la Legislatura de Florida usurpó la autoridad constitucional de la Junta de Gobernadores del Sistema Universitario Estatal al crear "sus propias reglas", según Gary Edinger, un abogado que representa a los tres profesores en la demanda.

Las normas establecidas en la ley, el proyecto de ley 266 del Senado, exigen que las universidades estatales como la UF sometan al profesorado titular a evaluaciones exhaustivas de su productividad, investigación y tareas docentes cada cinco años. La ley también otorga a los presidentes de las universidades la aprobación final de las evaluaciones e impide que las decisiones se sometan a arbitraje.

El ex presidente de la UF Ben Sasse y el rector Scott Angle han apoyado abiertamente la evaluación posterior a la titularidad. En una reunión del Senado de la Facultad el pasado agosto, Sasse dijo que la política

ayudaría a acabar con los problemas de productividad derivados de los profesores "retirados en silencio".

Steven Willis, el profesor de Derecho de la UF demandante, dijo que la revisión posterior a la titularidad es la "muerte de la titularidad".

"La titularidad ya no existe en Florida", dijo. "Es un contrato de cinco años".

En la primera ronda estatal de revisión posterior a la titularidad, completada en julio, la UF encabezó el estado en evaluaciones negativas. Según los datos preliminares proporcionados por Angle durante una reunión del Senado de la Facultad en junio, el 21% de los 258 profesores titulares de la UF que fueron evaluados fueron insatisfactorios, no cumplieron con las expectativas, renunciaron o están trabajando con los decanos para convertirse en profesores a tiempo completo si no cumplen con los requisitos de investigación.

La Oficina de Mercadeo Estratégico y Comunicaciones de la UF no respondió a las solicitudes de los datos definitivos de la revisión posterior a la titularidad y una solicitud de registros públicos para el informe no se cumplió a tiempo para la publicación. Los datos facilitados por la Junta Directiva de la UF indican que alrededor del 22% de los 136 profesores de la unidad de negociación no cumplieron las expectativas o fueron insatisfactorios.

En la Universidad Estatal de Florida, los 134 profesores titulares que fueron evaluados cumplieron o superaron las expectativas, según un informe facilitado por el centro.

Lea el resto en línea en alligator.org/section/elcaiman.

@timothyw_g twang@alligator.org cabrerapetrone.j@ufl.edu

La ola de gastos de Sasse: El expresidente de la UF condujo millones

EL EXPRESIDENTE DE LA UF TRIPLICÓ LOS GASTOS DE SU GABINETE COMPARADO A SU PREDECESOR

Por Garrett Shanley

Esritor de El Caimán

Traducido por Valentina Sandoval

Esritora de El Caimán

En su lapso de 17 meses como presidente de la UF, Ben Sasse más que triplicó los gastos de su gabinete, dirigiendo millones de dólares de fondos universitarios a contratos secretos de asesoría y posiciones de ingresos altos para sus aliados en GOP.

Sasse aumentó los gastos en el gabinete del presidente a $17.3 millones en su primer año en la posición — un incremento alto comparado a los $5.6 millones usados en el último año del presidente de la UF Kent Fuchs, según datos del presupuesto administrativo abiertos al público.

La mayoría de los gastos fueron creados por contratos lucrativos con grandes firmas de asesoría y posiciones remotas y de ingreso alto para ex funcionarios del gabinete de Sasse en el Senado de Estados Unidos y otros oficiales republicanos.

Los contratos de asesoría de Sasse han sido mantenidos en secreto, dejando al público con preguntas sobre el trabajo que las firmas contratadas hicieron para ganarse su paga.

La universidad también se negó a clarificar los deberes específicos de los ex funcionarios del senado de Sasse, entre los que varios eran pagados como consejeros del presidente.

La universidad dijo que la expansion de presupuesto de Sasse pasó el “proceso de aprobación apropiado” pero no respondió preguntas sobre como Sasse financió sus derroches, de donde originaron los fondos o quien autorizó los gastos.

Mantiendo a los amigos cerca

En medio de protestas por su historial conservativo como senador republicano de Nebraska, Sasse prometió durante su ascención a la presidencia de la UF en el otoño de 2022 que se divorciaría de la política partidaria y participaría en lo que el llamó un voto de “celibato político”.

Pero el senador convertido en presidente universitario rompió la promesa silenciosamente en su término de 17 meses a cargo de la universidad, contratando a seis ex funcionarios del senado y dos antiguos oficiales republicanos para posiciones remotas de alto ingreso en la universidad.

Bajo la administración de Sasse, dos de sus exempleados del senado — Raymond Sass y James Wegmann — fueron de los oficiales de más alto rango y alta paga en la UF. Ambos trabajaron remotamente desde el área de D.C., aproximadamente a 800 millas del campus de la UF en Gainesville.

Sass, el ex jefe de personal del senado de Sasse, fue el vicepresidente de innovación y colaboración de la UF — una posición que no existía bajo otras administraciones. Su salario inicial fue de $396,000, más del doble de los $181,677 que ganaba en Capitol Hill.

Wegmann, el ex director de comunicaciones de Sasse en el senado, es el vicepresidente de comunicaciones de la UF, una posición que trabaja remotamente desde su casa de $725,000 en Washington, D.C.

Con un salario de $432,000, Wegmann reemplazó a Steve Orlando, quien ganó $270,000 al año en la posición y tenía casi 30 años de experiencia en relaciones con los medios en la UF antes de ser degradado a la posición de delegado de Wegmann.

El Alligator reportó sobre las contrataciones de Wegmann y Sass en octubre del año pasado, pero cuatro individuos más que siguieron a Sasse del senado al Swamp han pasado desapercibidos por la prensa.

Sasse contrató a su ex secretario de prensa, Taylor Sliva, como el vicepresidente asistente de comunicaciones y relaciones públicas del presidente de la UF, una posición nueva. El salario de Sliva de $232,000 lo hizo el segundo empleado con ingresos más altos en la Oficina de Mercadeo Estratégico y Comunicaciones de la UF, segundo solo a Wegmann.

El resto de los tres ex funcionarios del senado — Raven Shirley, Kari Ridder y Galicia Rice — fueron consejeros presidenciales para Sasse, aunque sus deberes específicos no son claros. Rice, la planificadora de Sasse en el senado, aparece como consejero presidencial en el directorio de salarios de la UF pero en práctica ha continuado siendo la planificadora de Sasse, según su pérfil de LinkedIn.

Sasse aumentó el salario de sus ex funcionarios en la UF por un promedio de 44% comparado con su paga en Capitol Hill, contribuyendo un incremento de $4.3 millones en gastos de salario presidenciales sobre los gastos de Fuchs en su último año en la posición.

Fuera de los ex funcionarios del senado, Sasse también contrató al ex comisionado republicano de educación de Tennessee Penny Schwinn como el vicepresidente inaugural de los programas PK-12 y pre-bachillerato en la UF. Schwinn, con un salario inicial de $367,500, trabajó en la posición recién creada desde su casa de $1 millon en Nashville, Tennessee.

Adicionalmente, Sasse contrató a Alice James Burns, la ex planificadora de la seandora Lindsay Graham (R-SC), como directora de relaciones presidenciales y eventos mayores. Burns, con un salario de $205,000, también trabajó para la UF desde afuera de Florida.

Citando el diagnóstico reciente de su esposa de epilepsia, Sasse renunció abruptamente en julio — dejando el future de su círculo cercano en UF incierto. La universidad no respondió a preguntas sobre si sus empleados políticos fueron despedidos, si sus contratos no fueron renovados o si renunciaron después de la partida de Sasse.

Fuchs, quien empezó como presidente interino el 1ro de agosto, mantuvo un personal relativamente pequeño de menos de 10, comparado a Sasse quien empleó a más de 30 en su gabinete.

Club de viajeros frequentes

Todos excepto uno de los empleados políticos de Sasse trabajaron para la UF desde fuera de Florida y vijaron a Gainesville con el dinero de la universidad cuando era necesario — un movimiento que fue reflejado en los gastos de viaje del presidente.

En el primer año fiscal completo de Sasse en la universidad, los gastos de viaje del gabinete del presidente volaron a $633,000 — más de 20 veces más alto que el medio anual de Fuchs de $28,000. Sasse gastó más en viajes en sus 17 meses en la UF que los ocho años enteros de Fuchs.

No es inédito que los empleados de la UF trabajen desde fuera de Florida, pero posiciones fuera del estado son típicamente reservadas para aquellos representando a la universidad como cabilderos federales en su oficina en Washington, D.C. Es virtualmente inédito que oficiales de alto rango y administradores de base de la UF trabajen fuera de Florida.

La universidad no ha respondido a solicitudes por un registro completo de los gastos de viaje de Sasse, dejando incierto cuanto dinero de sus gastos altos de viaje fueron usados en transportar a sus empleados remotos al campus. Un reporte parcial muestra que Sasse gastó más de $20,000 entre el 29 de abril y el 29 de julio para traer a sus empleados al campus.

Taylor Sliva, el secretario de prensa de Sasse, fue el único de los empleados políticos que trabajó en Florida. Su contrato de empleo, obtenido a través de una solicitud de registros públicos, incluyó un estipendio de reubicación de $15,000. Actualmente, renta una casa en Gainesville.

McKinsey llega al Swamp Cuando Sasse tomó su posición en la UF en febrero de 2023, sabía que necesitaría una mano ayuda.

Su historial en administración de educación superior era limitado a su presidencia de cinco años en Midland University, una universidad pequeña y privada de artes liberales en Fremont, Nebraska. En la UF, la cual tiene más de 60,000 estudiantes y atrae $1 billones anualmente en becas de investigación, Sasse se enfrentó a una curva de aprendizaje empinada.

Así que acudió a asesores para ayudarlo. Durante su presidencia, Sasse gastó $7.2 millones en fondos universitarios para asesores para consejos sobre su plan estratégico y para superar brechas de liderazgo — más de 40 veces sobre el total de gastos de asesoría de Fuchs en su término de ocho años.

Sasse pagó casi dos tercios de los $7.2 millones a McKinsey & Company, donde el trabajaba antes como asesor en un contrato por hora. La firma lleva prestigio como una de los “grandes tres” gigantes de asesoría de dirección, pero es notoriosa por ser discreta sobre sus negocios y resguardó su trabajo del público usando leyes de registros para proteger secretos comerciales.

Un documento anexo crítico sobre el “alcance del trabajo”, el cual describiría las responsabilidades de McKinsey con UF, fue redactado de una copia del contrato obtenido a través de una solicitud de registros públicos. La redacción, permisible bajo las leyes del estado de registros públicos, hace virtualmente imposible que el público sepa lo que la firma hizo para ganar su paga. Un representante de la UF dijo que McKinsey estaba usando análisis de datos para ayudar a Sasse a construir su plan estratégico, pero la universidad no ha divulgado más detalles sobre su contrato de $4.7 millones con la firma desde que el Alligator reportó sobre su existencia en agosto del año pasado. Solicitudes de registros públicos de cualquier reporte, presentación y datos producidos bajo el contrato no han generado ningún documento como respuesta.

Sasse ofreció el único vistazo público del trabajo de McKinsey en la UF el otoño pasado durante sus “shows de carretera” sobre su plan estratégico. Acompañado de diapositivas mostrando “datos de sobriedad” proveídos por McKinsey, Sasse argumentó que algunos miembros de la facultad no estaban trabajando suficiente y se habían “retirado en silencio”.

Lea el resto en línea en alligator.org/section/elcaiman. @garrettshanley gshanley@alligator.org @valesrc vsandoval@alligator.org

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1. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin prefix "audio-" mean in English?

1. MEASUREMENTS: How many inches are in a mile?

2. TELEVISION: Gladys Kravitz is the annoying neighbor in which TV comedy?

3. ANATOMY: About how many taste buds does the average human tongue have?

2. ASTRONOMY: What does the acronym SETI mean to the scientific community?

4. GEOGRAPHY: The Brandenburg Gate is in which European capital city?

5. HISTORY: Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during WWII?

3. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin prefix “sub-” mean in English?

6. MOVIES: Which movie features the line "I'm the king of the world!"?

7. MYTHOLOGY: What is the name of the Egyptian sun god?

4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms?

8. LITERATURE: "The Great Gatsby" is set in which U.S. city?

9. MONEY: What is the basic currency of Poland?

5. LITERATURE: Which 20th-century movie star penned the autobiography “Me: Stories of My Life”?

6. HISTORY: What was the first National Monument proclaimed in the United States?

7. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the island of Luzon located?

8. MOVIES: Which sci-fi movie has the tagline, “Reality is a thing of the past”?

1. Tommie Aaron, brother of Hank, hit how many home runs in his seven-season Major League Baseball career?

1. Who slid into home plate to score the winning run in the Atlanta Braves' 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 7 of the 1992 National League Championship Series?

2. Who was ESPN's "Monday Night Football" play-by-play announcer from 2018-19?

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What was the name of the United States’ first nuclear-powered submarine?

2. Bill Chadwick, the NHL’s first

3. In 1950, Patty Berg, Opal Hill, Shirley Spork and Louise Suggs were among the 13 founders of what professional sports organization?

10. GAMES: What are the four railroad properties in Monopoly?

Answers

4. Known as "Queen of the Nurburgring," what German motorsports icon and TV personality died of cancer in 2021 at the age of 51?

5. In 1989, the UCLA Bruins' Pooh Richardson was the first draft pick in the history of what NBA franchise?

1. 63,360 inches

6. Pitcher Dennis Martinez, who threw a perfect game as a member of the Montreal Expos in 1991, hailed from what country?

2. Search for extraterrestrial intelligence

7. What sportswriter from The Boston Globe got into a physical altercation with New England Patriots cornerback Raymond Clayborn in the locker room following a game in 1979?

3. Below or insufficient 4. Grover Cleveland

Katharine Hepburn

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2024

www.alligator.org/section/sports

INTRAMURALS

UF RecSports prepares for busy 2024 Fall semester

UF SPONSORS NUMEROUS INTRAMURAL COMPETITIONS FOR STUDENTS TO TAKE PART IN

By Jack Meyer Sports Writer

As a new batch of students arrive on UF’s campus this Fall, students will be looking to find new friends, hobbies and ways to stay active. While this task may seem daunting at first, UF RecSports offers a wide variety of intramural sports competitions that check off all these boxes and allow freshmen to find their footing on campus.

UF intramural sports are primarily divided into two competitive categories: league sports and flash tournaments. League sports feature three-to-five weeks of regular season competi-

tion, including a single-elimination postseason tournament for qualifying teams, while flash tournaments are typically one-day events.

League sports are separated into numerous divisions based on factors such as gender, level of competition and team schedules. Most competitions offered by UF RecSports feature both single-gender and co-rec leagues, as well as competitive and recreational divisions.

“I lifeguarded for canoe battleship and innertube water polo intramural tournaments, and it was pretty fun to watch everyone trying to figure out how to play,” said UF RecSports employee Parker Bloch. “[It] seemed like everyone was having fun, and they were pretty fun to watch too.”

Some of the leagues offered in the Fall include flag football, ultimate frisbee, 3-on-3 or 5-on-5 basketball, soccer and sand or indoor volleyball.

Teams can be formed based on fraternity or

sorority alignment, residence hall assignment or any other grouping outside of the league. Individual competitors are also welcome to sign up as “free agents” and join an open team of their choosing.

As for the flash tournaments, UF RecSports offers numerous competitions that break the mold. Flash tournaments are held throughout the semester for popular video games such as Mario Kart, NBA 2K, EA College Football and Super Smash Brothers. One-off competitions for famous card games, such as Texas Hold ‘Em, have also been organized in recent semesters.

When a flash tournament is held, participants are either placed in a bracket or a pool of competitors, depending on the rules of the competition. From there, matches are held until the final champion of the event is crowned.

Intramural sports at UF hold all kinds of benefits that go beyond the field or court. These competitions provide opportunities for students

to stimulate themselves both physically and mentally, and potentially find new hobbies and friendships along the way.

Jack Kuzmicki, a 19-year-old UF engineering sophomore said his experiences with these intramural competitions were some of the most important parts of his first year at UF.

“Club baseball has been a great way to meet new people and put myself out there as a freshman,” Kuzmicki said. “It gave me a chance to both make friends and continue to play the [sports] I love.”

One of the biggest concerns for new college students is where and how to make new friends and lasting relationships. UF’s intramural sports are one place to start this journey in a healthy manner.

Whether students are looking to stay in shape out on the fields of Southwest Recreation Center or hone their gaming skills with some extra reps on Mario Kart, UF RecSports is a good place to go.

@jackmeyerUF jmeyer@alligator.org

How and where to see UF’s top athletes this Fall

NEW SCHEDULES ARE ON THE HORIZON FOR A VARIETY OF GATOR ATHLETICS

By Max Tucker Sports Writer

Football in the SEC is a staple for its fanbase, and it’s no different in Gainesville during Saturdays in the Fall. However, UF is a premier athletic institution from top to bottom and rolls out exceptional talent across the board.

Incoming freshmen will undoubtedly be drawn to game days inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. However, new students on campus should be well aware of the other games, meets, matches and tournaments UF’s elite programs compete in annually.

The Gators will show out in numerous sports this Fall including volleyball, tennis, soccer, cross country, swimming and diving as well as men’s and women’s basketball.

Volleyball: Who to watch Florida volleyball is coming off a solid 2023 campaign. The Gators finished 19-10 despite losing one of its most talented players midway through the season, redshirt sophomore setter Alexis Stucky due to a knee injury. With a healthy Stucky returning, UF is ranked No. 2 in the conference heading into 2024 according to the SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

Sophomore outside hitter Ken-

nedy Martin will be a star for the Gators this season. The 6-foot-6 Preseason All-SEC nominee set the program record for the most kills by a freshman in Florida history with 492 en route to AVCA Second Team AllAmerican honors.

UF volleyball will begin its season hosting a Fan Day in a scrimmage against Georgia Southern at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Aug. 24 at 2 p.m.

Gators’ basketball teams take the hardwood

With a strong core of players from last year’s 24-11 squad coming back, along with impactful transfer additions, Florida men’s basketball head coach Todd Golden has a team with high hopes in 2024-25.

Senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. postponed his NBA dreams to return for one last season in the orange and blue. He is coming back as the leading scorer averaging 17.6 points per game in his junior campaign.

He’ll be joined in the backcourt by fellow senior guard Will Richard and senior FAU transfer guard Alijah Martin, rounding out a prolific UF offense as the Gators come off their highest-scoring season in program history.

The home opener for the men’s basketball team will be against Jacksonville at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Nov. 7. A big time nonconference matchup will await the Gators just before finals week as UF takes on Virginia in the SEC-ACC Challenge at the O’Dome Dec. 4.

Leading the way for the women’s

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basketball team will be senior guard Aliyah Mathura, who averaged a team high 19 points per game while totaling 81 steals defensively as a junior.

A highly sought after freshman recruit will make her debut for the Gators this November. Me’Arah O’Neal, daughter of Shaquille O’Neal, enters the program ranked No. 33 in her class according to the ESPNW Top 100. The 2024 McDonald’s All-American forward will have the chance to make an immediate impact on the court for Florida.

The women’s basketball squad will debut its 2024-25 slate against Florida Atlantic in the O’Dome Nov. 4.

Student admission to regular season volleyball, men’s basketball and women’s basketball games are free with a student season pass. Active students can claim their free pass at the Florida Gators website under the student tickets tab.

Soccer season kicks off

Moving to the pitch, the Florida soccer team wrapped up its preseason exhibition schedule with a 0-0 tie against Georgia Southern Saturday following a 2-1 victory over South Florida Aug. 3.

“The team is definitely better,” head coach Samantha Bohon said. “We’re really excited again with the process. We know it’s not a quick fix. We are progressing through this preseason really well.”

Sophomore forward Megan Hinnenkamp started all 17 games for the Gators last season and led the team

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with eight goals. Bohon thinks the versatility of this year’s roster could lead to a potent offense.

“We'll spend next week working a little bit more on attack,” Bohon said. “We have some different dimensions and options this year that are exciting. There are a couple different ways we can attack this year.”

UF’s first regular-season game will be Friday against Western Carolina at Donald R. Dizney Stadium at 7 p.m.

Gator olympians return to UF Florida's cross country and swimming and diving teams will have athletes and coaches fresh off an appearance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, who will be putting their talents on display this Fall.

The cross country team’s roster will be highlighted by six-time NCAA champion redshirt senior Parker Valby. The sensational distance runner will return to campus in wake of competing in the women’s 10,000 meter final in Paris after a secondplace finish in the US Olympic Trial.

Coming off a pair of third-place national championship finishes in 2024, the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will be determined this Fall with multiple Olympians returning to its rosters.

Rising junior Aleksas Savickas represented Lithuania in Paris, swimming in the men’s 200 meter backstroke. Savickas is a five-time All-American and was named firstteam All-SEC in 2024.

Head coach Anthony Nesty enters his seventh season at the helm

of the men’s team and fourth season coaching the women’s squad. The eight-time NCAA champion was also the head coach of the 2024 US Olympic men’s swim team to cap off his resume.

Rising senior Emma Weyant will return to campus off the back of her second Olympic appearance swimming in the 400 meter IM. The twotime Olympic medalist and 2024 800 meter freestyle relay champion will be at the forefront of one of the most dominant athletic programs at UF.

On the tennis court, the men’s team will look to bounce back after an up-and down 2023-24 season resulting in a 13-12 record. Head coach Adam Steinberg returns sophomore Kevin Edengren who won the second most singles matches on the team last year.

The Gators women’s tennis team will be led by rising junior Rachel Gailis. The Florida native posted a team-high 22 singles victories as a sophomore and was a first-team AllSEC selection in the spring.

Florida’s women’s basketball, cross country, tennis and swimming and diving teams have not yet announced their 2024 schedules. UF men’s and women’s golf will not host an event in Gainesville this fall. Students and the general public wishing to attend cross country, tennis, soccer or swimming and diving events this Fall can gain entrance free of admission.

@Max_Tuckr1 mtucker@alligator.org

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

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