October 9, 2023

Alachua County Sheriff’s Office limits free jail phone call plan

INMATES WILL RECEIVE THREE 15-MINUTE PHONE CALLS DAILY IN A BREAK FROM THE “UNLIMITED” RESOLUTION

By Zoey Thomas

When Emily Westerholm visited the Alachua County Jail Oct. 1, she said the air felt like Christmas Eve. Inmates were excitedly awaiting the implementation of the county’s ordinance — allowing free and unlimited jail phone calls meant to go into effect that day. The excitement, however, didn't last long.

The Alachua County Commission voted 4-1 April 6 to allow incarcerated people in Alachua County Jail free unlimited phone calls beginning Oct. 1. Previously, phone calls cost $0.21 per minute, and fees often fell on inmates’ family members.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office decided Oct. 1 to allot inmates two free 10-minute phone calls each day with at least a 15-minute break in between calls, rather than going forward with the original free and unlimited plan. Paid phone calls remained an option for inmates with a commissary account.

After commissioners found out about the change through a Gainesville Sun article late afternoon Oct. 2, they reached out to the sheriff’s department the next morning. Following communication between the sheriff’s office and the commission, a new plan went into effect allotting three free 15-minute phone calls per day per inmate between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Paid phone calls are no longer an option.

The sheriff’s office is committed to working with the commission to get the initiative operating and allow the most available use of the prison’s phones, said Sheriff Emery

Homecoming

Gainey in a statement to the Alligator.

“We will continue to evaluate this moving forward so that we can provide the most effective use of the phone system,” he said.

For Anna Prizzia, the chair of the County Commission, finding out about the amendment to the original plan through the Sun came as a bit of a shock, she said. She tracks the communication issue to the ongoing transition to a new administration — Gainey was sworn in as Alachua County sheriff Oct. 1.

Gainey was open to dialogue after the commission reached out to him, Prizzia said, but she still wishes the commission and sheriff’s office could find a better solution to the phone situation.

“I wish that there was a better way to do it so that people could have unlimited free phone calls, because that's what we asked for,” Prizzia said. “There could be a different approach that would allow a little bit more flexibility — managing the phones the way they've been managed in the past, but just without the expense.”

The hesitation to go forward with unlimited calls is a logistical issue, not a financial one, Prizzia said. The commission agreed to cover the costs of phone calls and negotiated with the phone provider to make it happen. The challenge now is to prevent inmates from hogging the phones or blocking others from using them, which could lead to fights, Prizzia said.

The sheriff’s office arrived at the three 15-minute call plan by calculating how many minutes would be needed if every one of the jail’s more than 800 inmates made phone calls every day, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office. Blocks of time like meals and headcount were identified as times

SEE JAIL, PAGE 3

UF hosts first round of Lake Alice watershed management workshops

Community members hope to see changes in lake management, environmental health

By Kylie Williams Alligator Staff Writer

Margaret Tolbert leaned over the rough wooden railing at Lake Alice, pointing at a spot near the water’s edge. Sure enough, a softshelled turtle stretched its long neck cautiously above the murky lake, inspecting its surroundings with beady eyes.

Walking around the lake, Tolbert, 69, pointed out various native plants along with her favorite spots to see fireflies or alligators. Tolbert has spent many

days at Lake Alice since moving to Gainesville at 13.

“People are naturally drawn to a wilder part of campus,” she said.

Tolbert has owned a house close to Lake Alice for over 30 years, she said, and has witnessed many of the lake’s ups and downs. She’s witnessed a decline in the lake’s biodiversity since the 1990s. In the past several years, she’s also noticed more algae blooms.

Tolbert attended a Lake Alice watershed management workshop in the Straughn Center Oct. 4, one of three similar workshops hosted

in the last month. The workshops are the first step in an initiative to develop a comprehensive watershed management plan with Lake Alice in mind. A watershed is a downhill basin where stormwater or other runoff drains.

Sixty percent of all stormwater on UF’s campus drains into the lake, which has suffered a long history of mismanagement and poor infrastructure.

A project team of seven people from UF lead the management plan. In addition, a steering com-

SEE WATERSHED, PAGE 4

Lauren Whiddon // Alligator Staff

An Eastside High School trumpet player marches with the band in the Homecoming Parade on 13th Street on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. Read more on page. 7.

2 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2023

New GRU board is confident in its future decisions, citizens remain skeptical

By Kat Tran Alligator Staff Writer

In a crowded Gainesville City Hall on Sept. 4, a historical precedent was set as the new governorappointed Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority board met for the first time.

At the meeting, board members established meeting times and location and sought a direction for the future of Gainesville's utilities.

Four out of the five new members were present, including CEO of North Florida Hospital Eric Lawson, former City Commissioner Craig Carter, retired Marine Robert Karow and James Coats IV, with an intelligence data analysis and entrepreneurial background.

Tara Ezzell, the fifth state-appointed member, was not present at the meeting.

This is the first time — not only in state history, but in U.S. history — where a municipal utility board has been appointed by the state legislature, Commissioner Bryan Eastman said.

“This is a terrible precedent to set that in the state of Florida the governor can simply take over parts of a municipality in spite of all of the protections within the Constitution,” Eastman said.

Prior to the meeting, many Gainesville residents were skeptical about the residential status of the GRU members because the new legislation, House Bill 1645, allows for an exception of only one member to reside outside of city limits.

Four of the five on the board do not live within city limits, which violates this rule. Carter has been identified as the sole member living within Gainesville jurisdictions.

Tyler Foerst, a 33-year-old field representative of the North Central Florida Central Labor Council, advised the board to make thought-

ful decisions.

“I would encourage [the board] to move cautiously, given the uncertainty surrounding the constitutionality of this board, and frankly, some of [its] appointments,” he said. “[Make] sure your decisions rest on firm footing.”

Bobby Mermer, a 36-year-old co-coordinator of the Alachua County Labor Coalition, demanded the board publicly promise they will not sell GRU to private electric utility companies such as FPL and Duke Energy.

“I want to know if they are open to selling off the utilities because the events that led up to the creation of this board are very similar to the events that led up to the attended sale of Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA),” he said.

The GRU board did not address Mermer’s concerns and demands.

After being sworn in by Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward, the members were required to designate a person to chair, now Carter, and vice chair, filled by Lawson.

The board established monthly meetings with prior public notices at GRU’s administrative building on the first Wednesday of each month and a meeting time of 5:30 p.m.

Mermer shared his experiences living in the Tampa Bay area, where he had to pay a monthly extra flare fee under Duke Energy to fund the rehabilitation of the Big Ben nuclear power plant, which was never built, he said.

“People do not know how bad it is to live under an investor-owned utility where you can’t have public comment… because I wasn’t a Duke shareholder,” Mermer said.

Armando Grundy-Gomes, a 46-year-old East Gainesville resident, encouraged GRU to be more curious and vulnerable and ask questions, he said.

“There is a time to turn the

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page on what is happening," he said. "All of us back here are now delegating to you to have more sunshine, more transparency."

Grundy-Gomes believes GRU has a lot of work to do since he thinks the organization is not where it needs to be, he said.

“The health of the utility and the financial structures are not where it needs to be,” he said. “There’s a lot of things to look at and I don’t think you could do that monthly or in an executive summary.”

Mayor Harvey Ward said he has faith that GRU will continue to provide excellent utility services.

The City of Gainesville filed a lawsuit July 21 against House Bill 1655, which would transfer control of Gainesville regional utilities to the state.

On Sept. 29, Judge Angela Dempsey of the Second Judicial Court in Leon County ruled in favor of the state. Angela Dempsey dismissed the City’s claims due to a lack of sufficient evidence and standing.

“I wish that we'd had a different outcome [in the City’s lawsuit against the state] but I respect the judicial processes and legislative processes. And that means I have to respect the results of those processes," he said. “I will do everything I can to help the members of the authority be successful, but I have exactly as much ability to influence that authority as you [Gainesville residents] do."

Eastman hopes the new GRU Authority will keep the best interests of Gainesville residents in mind, he said.

The failure of the City of Gainesville’s lawsuit against the state and all events leading up to the new GRU appointment were met with hyper-partisanship, he said.

“It feels like we're being dragged into something that isn't really to the benefit of the ratepayers of GRU," he said. "And as someone whose job it is to look out for my constituents... It's incredibly frustrating."

Robert Arnold, president of Gainesville's utilities union, said GRU has traditionally been an economic powerhouse for the people of Gainesville.

“[The union’s] concerns are that they will preserve the utility and keep it intact," he said. "In the long haul, we want to see it stay, create jobs, and give people a way to support themselves."

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Phone calls limited

phone use will be suspended.

The reality, however, is not every person is going to make three calls every day, Prizzia said, and she hopes the plan will soon change as the jail discovers its demand.

While the commission is responsible for setting broad policies for jail administration, it’s up to the sheriff to implement them in an orderly and safe fashion, county spokesperson Mark Sexton said.

“The commission appreciated that the sheriff said as this is being implemented, they will assess it and gather data to determine if this is the right path, or if there's an ability to make phone calls even more accessible in the future,” Sexton said.

The county won’t jump the gun by predicting future changes now, but lines of communication are good between the sheriff and

commissioners, and both groups look forward to making adjustments, he added.

Florida Student Policy Forum, a UF student group, brought the resolution to the commission in April in collaboration with the Alachua County Labor Coalition. Graham Bernstein, a UF history and political science junior and the group’s political director, authored the final plan.

Bernstein wasn’t disappointed when the original plan didn’t begin on a moment’s notice on Oct. 1, he said. If the sheriff’s office takes extra time to figure out a phone plan that works, it’s only because its staff are stakeholders in the process who want to make sure they can effectively implement the plan taxpayers will be endowing, he said.

“If there are some growing pains or if they need to work their way to that final objective … I don’t think it’s the worst thing in the world,” Bernstein said.

Florida Student Policy Forum has no problem with taking gradual steps toward a free unlimited plan as long as “free and unlimited” remains the ultimate goal, Bernstein added.

Bernstein got involved in the plan after researching the benefits of free jail phone calls — which include easing financial burdens for

family members.

“We want to make it so that families aren’t choosing between buying food and medicine and talking with their loved ones who are incarcerated,” Bernstein said.

Bernstein realized the full burden of phone costs for families while speaking with Karen Stuckey, a retired accountant and prison reform activist who spent thousands of dollars calling her husband during his incarceration over the last few decades. The qualifier for her communication ability was her aboveaverage paying job, he said.

“Imagine the family members of the incarcerated who are not accountants,” Bernstein said. “They’ll either go significantly into debt or they just won’t be able to talk to their family members very much, and each of those situations has consequences.”

Read the rest online at alligator.org. @zoeythomas39 zthomas@alligator.org

Gainesville man mauled by K-9 sentenced to prison, future of K-9 unit unclear

Bradley and his family didn’t respond to comment after six calls and two emails, as of Oct. 8.

By Valentina Sandoval Alligator Staff Writer

The recent sentencing of a Gainesville man who lost an eye in a mauling by a Gainesville Police Department K-9 has sparked concern among the community about whether justice was served.

Terrell Bradley, who was attacked by a police K-9 after fleeing a traffic stop July 2022, was sentenced to a year in prison by Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Judge David Kreider Sept. 26, according to court records. The 32-year-old previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Amid the controversy surrounding his case, the future of GPD’s K-9 unit, which has been highly contested among residents, remains mostly unknown — as it's in the rebuilding phase.

Bradley pleaded no contest to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, resisting arrest without violence and battery on a law enforcement officer. A no-contest plea is a plea in which the defendant accepts punishment without admitting guilt.

After being pulled over for running a stop sign outside of Sweetwater Square Apartments July 10, 2022, Bradley struggled with police officer Andrew Milman. He swung his right elbow into the officer’s side and then ran off, ac-

cording to court records. In the search for him, backup units were called along with a K-9 team.

Bradley hid in bushes about half a mile from the original stop before he was found and attacked by a police K-9 named Ranger. The incident led to the loss of his right eye, as shown in police body camera footage.

K-9 Ranger was suspended after the incident and two GPD officers who made remarks over text celebrating the dog attack and took pictures of the arrest were suspended Sept. 8, 2022. K-9 Ranger no longer works with GPD and isn’t a police dog. The two officers, Milman and Matt Shott, are back on duty.

Local activists who closely followed Bradley’s case and led protests last summer aren’t satisfied with Bradley’s sentencing.

Bobby Mermer, a coordinator for the Alachua County Labor Coalition, said the organization finds the sentencing disturbing and believes authorities are ‘rubbing salt on the wound.’

“You would think being mauled and partially blinded would be punishment enough for whatever he allegedly did,” Mermer said. “But I guess that the authorities did not see it that way.”

When Bradley was first arrested and mauled last year, the Gainesville streets were filled with protests, some organized by local activists and the ACLC.

Mermer has been outspoken about the need to retire the GPD’s K-9 unit due to the frequency of violence associated with it. A report from GPD shows there were 60 attacks by a K-9 from Janu-

ary 2016 to July 2022. The report also shows that out of all injuries caused by a K-9, 13% of victims were white, while 85% were Black.

“It is no surprise the vast majority of those bitten by K-9s are Black and Hispanic men,” Adrian White, the juvenile justice chair for the UF NAACP chapter, wrote in a statement to The Alligator.

White expressed disappointment in the lack of accountability taken by local law enforcement.

“The response from the GPD and the city of Gainesville is heedless to the application of justice and public safety for minorities,” White wrote.

Read the rest online at alligator.org. @valesrc vsandoval@alligator.org

TERRELL BRADLEY PLEADED NO CONTEST AND WAS SENTENCED TO A YEAR IN PRISON

Patricia Pascual // Alligator Staff

Watershed management

WATERSHED, from pg. 1

mittee of 29 representatives from UF or partner organizations provide input for different aspects of the watershed. The final plan isn’t expected to be finished until the end of the Spring semester, project team manager Linda Dixon said.

“It’s about a variety of projects,” Dixon said. “And just really trying to set a vision for the lake.”

UF hired Wetland Solutions Inc., an environmental consulting firm, to make specific recommendations for watershed management, as well as contribute to community engagement, Dixon said. The university's contract with the firm is worth $650,000.

Wetland Solutions will also update the current stormwater model, evaluate potential flooding and erosion sites and define maintenance needs, the firm’s vice president, Scott Knight, wrote in an email.

“This project will make recommendations to improve the management of stormwater from the raindrop to the Lake,” he wrote.

The watershed management plan aims to address common problems that have plagued Lake Alice for decades, one of those being departmental management. No single department at UF is in charge of the lake. This is a concern for community members who feel the issues related to Lake Alice don’t receive enough attention.

Kim Tanzer, an architect and retired UF professor, lives close to Lake Alice. During her walks around the lake in past years, she would often see visible problems such as an algae bloom or a diseased tree.

Without a department to manage the lake, Tanzer encountered difficulties with getting in touch with someone who can address her concerns, which included calling three or four people before seeing any action taken.

“There was nobody,” she said. “I didn’t know who to call.”

Tanzer said she hopes the watershed management plan will lead to

UF owning its responsibility to the lake and assigning authority to one department. However, Tanzer said it’s unclear whether the proposed watershed management plan will actually be enforced. A comprehensive plan would mean thousands of UF staff workers having to change their behavior.

“There have been ups and downs in how well [the lake has] been cared for,” she said.

Tanzer, who is part of the steering committee, said she represents a community that’s been fighting to protect Lake Alice for decades.

Former UF President Stephen O’Connell announced a plan to drain Lake Alice and build a highway known as Lake Alice Loop Road in 1969. Hundreds of students, faculty and Gainesville residents protested in response, which led the university to cancel the plan three years later.

Lake Alice came under fire again in 1987, when UF proposed dorms and parking lots to be built on the Bat House field across the street. Tolbert was a member of the advocacy group dubbed “Alice’s Friends,” which spearheaded the movement to end the project from the mid- to late-1990s.

Tolbert remembers attending a cabinet meeting of former Gov. Lawton Chiles in Tallahassee, where Alice’s Friends petitioned to protect the integrity of Lake Alice. Gov. Chiles moved to protect the lake in 1998, and UF canceled its construction plans.

“At the end… the people have spoken,” Tolbert said.

The algae blooms that Tolbert and other residents have noticed could be due to Florida’s increasingly hot summers, UF soil and water quality, professor AJ Reisinger said. Reisinger, also a member of the steering committee, said the recent summer season was unusually dry, which can create stable conditions for algae to grow. However, he added, he doesn’t have data to prove or refute that hypothesis.

“The fact that there are multiple anecdotal reports of [algae] suggest

that there’s probably something there,” he said.

Without a department to manage Lake Alice, there’s been a historic lack of water quality testing. The gap in testing leaves many residents like Tolbert concerned with the state of the lake’s water quality.

Charles Cichra, a UF professor of fisheries and aquatic sciences, has been testing fish and water quality in Lake Alice for 35 years. Cichra said the lake and its organisms are healthy, according to recent data. However, all of his data is handwritten on sheets of paper and organized in thick folders, which makes it highly inaccessible to the public.

Cichra, a member of the steering committee who will retire at the end of 2023, hopes that once someone takes charge of Lake Alice his data can be digitized and made accessible.

“It’s a tremendous database,” he said.

One of the main goals of the watershed management plan is to fix current problems with stormwater infrastructure, UF urban stormwater management professor Eban Bean said. Pipes are too old or too

small, which can lead to pollution getting into Lake Alice. Flooding on campus also becomes more likely.

Instead of sticking an individual band-aid on problems when they pop up, the stormwater management plan will look at infrastructure on campus as a whole, said Bean, who is also a steering committee member. The plan may also change future UF construction, he added.

Concrete sidewalks and most buildings on campus are impervious to water, meaning stormwater in the watershed has nowhere to go except Lake Alice. Green infrastructure could take the load off of the lake, Bean said.

Permeable pavements, which are designed in a honeycomb shape, allow for stormwater to absorb naturally into the soil as it flows. Rain gardens, which are lowlying and grow plants that absorb rainwater, can also reduce the flow.

“If we’re actually going to have an impact on preserving the jewel of campus, we really need to take a holistic approach,” Bean said.

At the watershed management workshop Oct. 4, Teagan Young, a 26-year-old environmental horti-

culture PhD student, placed colored sticky notes on boards with other attendees. Written on each sticky note were participants' visions of Lake Alice's future.

While Young said she hopes UF will protect wildlife and reduce construction near Lake Alice, she said she is skeptical about whether the university will fully implement the watershed management plan once it’s completed. She fears if proposed solutions are too expensive, or other problems on campus take higher precedence, UF's commitment to the lake will fade.

“I know the harm that can happen when unfiltered water goes into lakes and how that can affect the environment,” she said.

For Young, an ideal solution is to educate those who live and work in the watershed. Young wasn’t aware she lived in the watershed until recently and she said encouraging people on campus to be aware of their impact on the lake is important.

“There isn’t enough information out there,” she said.

@KylieWilliams99 kyliewilliams@alligator.org

Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Theta Chi face alleged hazing penalties University condemns hazing following Fall 2023 fraternity rush

By Ella Thompson Alligator Staff Writer

Two on-campus fraternities are being investigated by the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution following Fall 2023 rush hazing allegations.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon has been placed on interim suspension and Theta Chi has been issued a limited activity directive, UF Spokesperson Cynthia Roldan said. Both investigations into the alleged hazing are ongoing.

Hazing is “any action or series of actions that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental health, physical health or safety of a student for any purpose, including but not limited to initiation into, admission into or affiliation with any stu -

dent group or organization,” according to the SCCR. UF holds campus organizations accountable for hazing incidents, Roldan said, with consequences ranging from loss of university privileges to expulsion.

Both fraternities have prior conduct violations for hazing incidents, according to the Interfraternity Council.

SAE was suspended from Spring 2021 to December 2022 for “acts of hazing through forced alcohol consumption,” and was put on deferred suspension in Spring 2021 through Fall 2023 for violating the Campus Events and Gatherings and Student Behavioral Expectations COVID-19 policies.

Theta Chi was suspended in Fall 2020 through the end of Fall 2021 for hazing new members by subjecting them to

physical acts of hazing such as staring at objects for long periods of time, having items thrown at them and being yelled at by other members, according to the IFC. In Spring 2023, they were placed on conduct review through the end of Fall 2023 for throwing objects at and damaging Pi Kappa Phi’s fraternity house.

Additionally, Pi Lambda Phi has been suspended for two years, following an incident from the 2022-2023 academic year, and Pi Kappa Phi is on probation through the end of Fall 2023 for throwing objects at and damaging Theta Chi’s fraternity house, as well as subjecting Theta Chi members to potential danger.

Currently, Kappa Kappa Gamma is the only sorority on probation. KKG will remain on probation through 2024 for a Fall

2022 hazing incident, in which new members were yelled at and chapter members threw “fake drugs, condoms, whip cream and other explicit items” at new members.

Theta Chi President Justin Jones referred The Alligator to Theta Chi Fraternity International Headquarters, which did not respond to requests for comment before time of publication. SAE President Preston Wagner did not respond to requests for comment before time of publication.

“Hazing is unequivocally prohibited at the University of Florida,” Roldan said. “It is a behavior that is inconsistent with the institution’s core values and will not be tolerated.”

Garcie Kurtz // Alligator Staff

A young alligator drifts near the shore of Lake Alice on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2023.

Taxidermist’s artwork resonates with clients throughout the state

JACK PATTON’S LOVE FOR TAXIDERMY GREW INTO A BUSINESS

By Alissa Gary Alligator Staff Writer

There’s no shortage of deer in Jack Patton’s home. Taxidermy mounts adorn just about every wall. Antlers hang from drying racks in his studio and decapitated heads wrapped in trash bags fill the freezers.

Each time Patton looks at the deer, he can envision the very day he shot it.

“When you sit in your house in your living room, for me, I look back at any of my deer, I look back and think back to when I was hunting,” Patton said. “I sat in that tree, I can remember the sun coming up, I can remember the events.”

When he’s not busy driving fire trucks for the Alachua County Fire Rescue, 54-year-old Patton, who goes by “JJ” with his friends, runs Wildlife Transitions Taxidermy, a company that grew from his passion for taxidermy.

His studio is nestled in a riverside neighborhood in Steinhatchee, Florida, in Florida’s Big Bend region. Patton and his wife moved there from Lake City, Florida, less than a year ago, but he’s no stranger to the area, he said. His current home in Steinhatchee used to be a temporary home he visited while on fishing trips along the coast.

Patton learned to do taxidermy around the year 2000 from a neighbor who lived down the road from him in Gilchrist County, west of Alachua County.

With his friend guiding him — and with the help of YouTube — Patton started to pick up small details that made all the difference in his craft. He pays special attention to the crinkle in the deer’s eyelid, the shape of its ear muscles and the color inside its nose.

“Taxidermy is an art form,” he said. “It just never rings more true that you get what you pay for. You want the animal to look lifelike and you want it to last.”

A deer mount typically takes 10 hours of work to complete, Patton said. He prides himself on returning animals within a year of clients dropping them off.

The process involves removing the animal’s skin and antlers, cleaning them, preparing them and then reattaching them to a styrofoam mold using glue, clay and threaded needles. Taxidermy is a fairly precise art: Leave the animal out of the freezer for too long, it starts to decay; let the hide dehydrate for too long, it’s too tough to mold.

As Patton developed his skills, taxidermy grew from a hobby into a business.

Now, clients from across the state drive, ship or deliver their game exclusively to

Patton’s Steinhatchee residence for him to mount. A deer head mount goes for about $700 — a reasonable price, Patton’s friend and client Pat Morris, 61, said.

Patton and Morris met around 2003 during their shared time working for the Alachua County Fire Rescue.

Day-long shifts at the fire department gave the pair ample time to get to know each other. After discovering they were both the outdoorsy type, Morris said, they naturally gravitated to each other.

“It’s a cliche, but you end up putting your life in someone else’s hands, and they put theirs in yours,” Morris said. “So it becomes a pretty tight bond.”

They’ve taken hunting trips together out of state, and Morris has a deer mounted on his wall from the first trip to Kansas they made together. About five of Morris’ mounts were done by Patton.

“He’s an artist,” Morris said. “He takes your memories from what you describe to him, the pictures you show him of your harvest, and then he puts that all together. And you have essentially a three-dimensional painting of that memory.”

Although Patton specializes in deer, he preserves all types of mammals, including a moose hunted in Canada by a young boy from Miami as part of the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

He’s done all sorts of animals, including some from overseas for a customer who brought a gazelle, giraffe and other game from a safari hunt in Africa.

Once Patton receives them, no two animals are the same: They look in different directions and have different eye shapes. Patton’s job is to breathe life back into the animal, designing it to the customer’s preference.

“I’m here to please,” he said. “It’s your money. So, I mean, if you’re happy with what’s on the wall, I’m happy.”

Patton is an avid hunter — he takes five or six trips a year to hunt in different states, he said. He visited Wyoming in September and has trips planned to Kansas and Kentucky still. November is the peak of fall hunting season, both for himself and for clients bringing in animals for taxidermy.

Despite enjoying hunting, Patton said he doesn’t take joy from killing the animals.

“I actually feel a little remorse, a little bit. I ain’t gonna lie,” he said.

But he considers hunting an important part of species control, particularly in the forested and swampy parts of Florida’s nature coast, he said.

Forests encompass both sides of the road on the drive from Steinhatchee to Gainesville — the same drive Patton makes at 5:30 a.m. to get to work at the fire station. If it weren’t for hunting, he said, too many people would hit deer in the road,

running the risk of the deer’s antlers piercing through the windshield.

Carolina Baruzzi, a UF wildlife ecology and conservation professor, agreed hunting is important to wildlife conservation, partially because of the amount of money brought in for conservation efforts through hunting charters, permits and licenses.

If humans were to stop hunting completely, it wouldn’t benefit many species, she said.

“Different species require different types of management, but either way, hunting is pretty important,” she said.

Florida resident hunters annually pay $17 for a hunting license and another $5 for a permit to take home a deer. Out-ofstate hunters pay a fair amount more for their Florida licenses, at $151.50 per year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

A more recent concern for deer hunters and taxidermists alike is the spread of chronic wasting disease, or CWD, a contagious and deadly neurological disease passed between deer. The FWC detected the first case of CWD in Florida in June, and it has been monitoring the disease since.

To keep track of the disease, Patton and other hunters are partnering with the FWC

to collect deer heads for testing. The FWC will provide Patton with a freezer, he said, and pay him to store more deer before officials can pick them up to check for CWD.

Looking ahead, Patton is passing on his craft to the next generation of taxidermists. Devin Handy, 22, shadowed Patton when they both lived in Lake City, and he worked on taxidermy projects, including the Miami boy’s moose, a bobcat and a coyote.

Handy remembers working on one particularly frustrating bobcat that refused to fit properly on the mold — it was his favorite memory from working with Patton, he said.

“Every time we put the skin on it, something wouldn’t fit right,” he said. “So we have to take it back off, shake it down, put it back on, and another part wouldn’t fit.”

Although Patton plans to retire from the fire department within the next seven years, he’ll continue doing taxidermy in his free time, both for the extra income and because he likes it, he said.

“It’s about the people, making them happy,” he said.

@AlissaGary1 agary@alligator.org

Alissa Gary // Alligator Staff

Jack Patton, 54, displays a taxidermy deer in his studio in Steinhatchee, Fla., on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.

UF lecturer’s directorial debut premiers in California, Arizona theaters

IMAN ZAWAHRY’S FILM ‘AMERICANISH’ PREMIERED IN HARKINS THEATERS OCT. 6

By Bonny Matejowsky Avenue Staff Writer

When UF College of Journalism and Communications lecturer Iman Zawahry attended the Phoenix Film Festival in 2022, she received an offer difficult for any filmmaker to refuse: the chance for her indie film to hit the big screen across America.

Zawahry, who almost missed the festival, had just finished a screening of her film “Americanish” when she was approached by Dan Harkins, owner of the independent movie chain, Harkins Theaters.

As Zawahry’s film was awarded the festival’s coveted Best Picture, Harkins’ offer for a theatrical release was long-awaited. After a 10year journey of producing and marketing the film, her directorial debut, “Americanish,” was released in theaters in California and Arizona Oct. 6.

Following its premiers in Harkins theaters, the film will also have a video-on-demand release through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Nov. 14.

“I’m so incredibly grateful,” Zawahry said. “I can’t believe after 10 years of making this movie how far it’s gone. I never, never thought this would ever happen.”

Tagged as “The first American Muslim Comedy made by American Muslim Women,” ‘Americanish’ follows the lives of three Muslim women, Sam (Aizzah Fatima), Maryam (Salena Qureshi) and Ameera (Shenaz Treasure) as they navigate their lives in Jackson Heights, Queens.

Zawahry is one of the first hijabi AmericanMuslim directors in the nation. As an activist and a storyteller, she is passionate about expanding opportunities for Muslim filmmakers.

“I just want to make sure that everyone feels supported because I never had that when I was coming up,” Zawahry said.

The 2021 feature film was Zawahry’s directorial debut and has racked up many awards since its premiere, such as the Grand Prize at the Heartland International Film Festival and Best Comedy at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival in 2021.

When it comes to the wider reception of her directorial debut, Zawahry says she hopes her film shows the diversity of Muslim women.

“What I hope ‘Americanish’ does is just show that Muslim women are not a monolith,” Zawahry said. “They’re so different in their thoughts and views and this film will be here to show you that.”

Roy Wol is a producer of “Americanish” and the president of Studio Autonomous, an IP development and production company with a multicultural staff.

Wol is a “third-culture kid,” which is a term used to describe people who were raised in a culture other than their parents or country of origin. While he was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wol has lived in Turkey, Argentina, Canada and now the U.S. This multicultural background motivates his filmmaking and is what brought him to “Americanish.”

“My entire being is this idea of bringing cross-cultural communities together because I do believe that is the solution to most things,” Wol said.

His invitation to produce the film came during a time when he was looking for like-minded people who value community and diversity.

“Making a great film in the current landscape of the industry is the minimum to start a conversation,” Wol said. “Many directors once they edit their film just want to launch it. They just want to move to the next thing. Iman was willing to stick through the hard part.”

The success that “Americanish” received is highly unlikely for independent films, Wol said.

“The fact that it happened gives me so much

hope,” Wol said. “Iman has created at least a roadmap of some sort [...] for everyone else that’s coming after her.”

But aside from directing films and serving as the director of film programs for the Islamic Scholarship Fund, Zawahry is also a lecturer at UF, teaching media production classes such as Screenwriting and Producing and Islam, Media, and Pop Culture.

Jenna Ayoub, a 22-year-old UF media, production and management student, is currently a student in Zawahry’s Narrative Collaborating Filmmaking class. Although she has learned a lot from her classes, the most important thing Zawahry taught her was how much drive it takes to be in the film industry, Ayoub said.

This month, Ayoub will be attending a screening of “Americanish” along with Zawahry and her classmates in Los Angeles.

“To have such an established female direc-

tor such as Iman as my professor is what makes going to UF worth it,” Ayoub said. “She is such an inspiration for me as a female filmmaker myself.”

Zawahry’s advice for young filmmakers, especially those in marginalized communities, is to tell your story and ignore the noise.

“There are people at the top that always tell you no. You just have to ignore the noise and create to create,” Zawahry said. “‘Americanish’, even though [...] it’s about Muslim women, the heart of the story is about love, life and career, which we all deal with on an everyday basis. There’s so many levels of story that come through it.”

@bonnymatejowsky bmatejowsky@alligator.org

‘Girls night out’: Self-defense class empowers Gainesville women

WOMEN GATHER INSIDE A PET STORE TO LEARN SAFETY TIPS

By Valentina Sarmiento

Avenue Staff Writer

Editor’s note: This article discusses topics of sexual assault.

From a young age, whether implicitly or explicitly, girls are taught to fear the boogeyman. The fear isn’t rooted in a childish yet monstrous make-believe figure, but rather the familiar.

It’s the odd neighbor who stares for an unusually long time or the stranger on the street who follows too closely behind. To be a woman is to envision a million boogeymen.

But the Surviving Assault Standing Strong, or SASS Go, self defense class for women is not about the boogeyman, Jenna Allanson, a 26-year-old self-defense instructor, said.

Allanson is a survivor of sexual assault. She took her first selfdefense class in 2015 when she was a freshman at the University of South Carolina. Following her attack, she said she sought coun -

seling, but it was not improving her quality of life.

“I used to have nightmares every night,” Allanson said.

Allanson’s counselor suggested she try a self-defense class. The class was offered at USC and she was able to take SASS Go as a one-credit course to satisfy her physical education requirement.

“I did it, and that’s where I just found this power,” Allanson said.

“It gave me the power back.”

Allanson’s assault was very violent, she said. The instance of her attack would play over and over again in her mind when she went to sleep.

As Allanson progressed in SASS Go’s curriculum, her mind began applying the moves she learned in class to her nightmares.

“The nightmare actually turned into one time where I fought back and I won,” Allanson said. “That was a huge monumental shift for me because I could finally sleep.”

Practicing self-defense was so instrumental to Allanson’s healing process that she realized she needed to teach other women as well, she said.

Allanson said women are initially reserved at the start of the program, but with time, they start standing up straight, taking up

more space and using their voices. The classes aren’t about fear or the boogeymen hiding underneath the bed, she said.

If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, you can call The National Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-4673 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800)-799-7233 for confidential support.

Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/the-avenue vsarmiento@alligator.org

Courtesy to The Alligator

UF lecturer Iman Zawahry sets up a shot on set of ‘Americanish’ by looking through the viewfinder.

UF celebrates 100th homecoming

On-campus activities, parade take over Gainesville

Diego Perdomo // Alligator Staff

Miguel Feliciano skates off a human ramp as UF Surf Club members add final touches to their float in the Norman Hall parking lot on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.

Lauren Whiddon // Alligator Staff Supporters of the LGBTQ+ community cheer while on the first ever community pride float in the Homecoming Parade on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.

Adriel Bolocon // Alligator Staff

UF President Ben Sasse interacts with parade goers during the Homecoming Parade on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.

Lauren Whiddon // Alligator Staff An Eastside High School Cheerleader does a backflip while the rest of the squad marches in the Homecoming Parade on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.

Arab American or an American Arab?

Anytime I walk through campus’ Turlington area, it’s a speed walk with headphones in and eyes down. Like a hook waiting for a fish, clubs and campus tables jump at the opportunity to persuade you to their cause. With some tables more popular than others, students in passing may crowd around common interests.

But whenever I walk to my Arabic class, a flash of discomfort and guilt fills me as I pass the Islam on Campus table, averting my eyes to the floor.

Like a black sheep, years of Islamic upbringing remind me of the physical and mental distance I’ve created from my faith. Wearing every sin of the religion, I brush past with an internal feeling of disclusion.

I was born to immigrant parents in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Continents away from my roots, my parents placed me in a local Islamic school to teach me the fundamentals of my religion and language. It wasn’t until the third grade that they realized my learning would benefit from a secular education. That’s where a rift in my identity began to open.

I was immersed in a pool of diverse backgrounds, religions and trains of belief. Sheltered by parents whose Arab identities began to wither at the rate of our American immersion, I never questioned my faith. It was right, but it was just different. Any and all opinions on others were answered by mom and dad.

Obviously that ignorant childhood bliss begins to wear off as we grow into teenage years. My conformity to American culture quickly gained heavy disapproval from my parents. God was used as a guilt tactic against anything and everything they didn’t want me to do.

And so my relationship with religion was one of fear. The love and curiosity began to dwindle. Things like clothing, social interactions and practices were restricted — just because everyone else was doing it, doesn’t mean I should go against the word of God.

I memorized parts of the Quran and kept practicing Arabic thanks to tutoring. Yet, my divorced parents became outcasts in the Arab community. With no communal or spiritual connection anymore, I felt lost and undeserving of the title “Muslim.”

That brings me back to the heavy feeling I carry around Turlington every week. I have not met a single person in the IOC club, but my anxiety tells me they carry the same judgment that the Arabs I grew up with would have. It’s important to note that not all Arabs are Muslim, but all the ones in my community were.

It wasn’t until I came to college that I realized I may carry some religious trauma. It’s partially due to the exposure of Arabs who felt the same.

Moving from a comparatively homogeneous South Florida to an extremely diverse campus allowed me to cross paths with people like

When

me. People who struggle to find something in their wardrobe when visiting family. People who have to mute their phones around family, so they don’t know you have a boyfriend. People who carry the guilt of living their life differently because we are not our parents.

Now that my age labels me as an adult, and I’ve grown very independent of my family with my life here on campus, I had to face my faith as an individual consideration. I don’t get judged for who I am in a sea of differences. I no longer view religion as a law I follow. It’s become a choice.

I hesitate now to share that I’m Muslim. Rather, I say that I was born into Islam. It’s bittersweet.

The belief in a higher power can support my life without feeling that I’m not worth enough for the higher power. But my roots carry with me wherever I go, especially in Turlington. I almost feel relieved that I don’t “look” Muslim so I don’t get stopped and asked about my faith.

I remember the first day of classes, I struggled with what to wear in my Arabic class. With the presumption that it would be filled with Arabs, I pulled the most conservative pieces out of my closet and changed my background screen from my boyfriend to my cat. I anticipated having to live up to this image of an Arab American. I thought I couldn’t disclose many details about who I was or I would get judged.

A few semesters later, I’ve found that the best students in that class actually have no Middle Eastern origins whatsoever. I feel comfortable in the lifestyle I live amongst Arabs and non-Arabs alike because our lived experiences don’t succumb to one image.

We’re ever growing college kids whose degrees come with a minor in “identity crisis.”

The fact of the matter is this time of my life has allowed me to explore my faith outside of societal pressures. Knowing that the IOC actually has nothing against me, as well as any faith group on campus, invites me to take that initiative rather than the other way around.

On campus, I don’t feel boxed into the label of Arab American. I can be who I want to be and feel how I want to feel. I can join the IOC if I want, but won’t have every Arab student around me shun me if I don’t. To me, religion is a personal relationship with a higher being or beings. I hope to heal the part of me that wants to reconnect with my faith, and my time here at UF may be opening that gate.

Noor Sukar is a UF journalism sophomore.

College life — the long-awaited chapter in our lives supposed to be filled with newfound freedom, unforgettable memories and endless opportunities.

It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for since childhood, right? What happens when dreams don’t quite match reality?

If you’re anything like me, then you probably pictured your college experience quite differently than life at UF. Having spent all of my life in Florida, I was looking for any way out and leaving for college was going to be my answer.

Acceptances were no issue, but the reality of a debt-free lifestyle in-state was something I couldn’t pass up. Now, instead of getting to watch the seasons change, I have to imagine the leaves falling from palm trees symbolize a difference in the 90-degree heat.

Between UF’s busy campus, rigorous coursework and a never-ending sea of faces, it’s easy to feel like a small fish in a big pond. Nonetheless, finding my niche in college was not all about falling head over heels for every aspect of campus life.

From what I’ve learned so far, it’s about forging your own path, embracing all the difficult times that come your way and ultimately learning to thrive in an environment that you might’ve initially resisted.

When I first transferred to UF in the Spring of 2023, my overall experience was underwhelming. I knew the “getting to know each other” friendliness of the Fall semester wouldn’t carry over to the new year, but the lack of connections wasn’t even my main issue — everything just felt the same.

I was still coming to terms that I was just another person from high school who had come here when I had been expecting to leave everyone behind for a fresh start. Financially, that just wasn’t an option, and I needed to get over the loss of my fantasy world.

Remembering not to treat the present like a transitionary period is a lesson I’m still trying to learn.

Some days it’s so hard to not hate everything, anything, everyone and anyone here, but I don’t think that’s an experience unique to only Gainesville. I’d be naive not to appreciate where I am in life and all the hard work that’s been put in to get me here.

Just because where I’ve ended up did not match my expectations, it does not mean I’m unsuccessful. I will surely not waste this time wishing it was already over. Why look back on this fantastic period in my life with regret, when I have the ability to change that?

I thought I would miss out on a campus filled with new and unfamiliar people, but it turns out UF was precisely that. However, that also came with its own challenges.

I love the feeling of a big school, but the comfort of familiarity was an underrated concept when it came to friends. My familiar faces from past schools were kind enough to show me everything I had missed in our fall semester apart, and quickly became my pillars of support once again.

Meeting new people wasn’t a difficult task — connecting with them was. So many students already come with their own cliques or groups, which can make you feel like you’ve only just missed the deadline of that “lifelong friendship” everyone talks about. This can be even harder if you’re living off-campus, as there’s no immediate access to the on-campus community or events that give way to those crucial interactions.

One of the best pieces of advice I have is to just say yes — to everything, anything, everyone and anyone. If you find there are no opportunities for you to say “yes,” then be that person that’s asking. Even if you don’t think the event aligns with your interests, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.

I’ve found so many new interests, made so many important friends and created my favorite memories just by doing this. Growth rarely happens if you stick to your bubble of familiarity.

I’m learning to love college. I know that this time, these experiences and all of the lessons are all for the better. Impatience and longing for the future might have overshadowed the value of the present, but I refuse to let it any longer. Gainesville might not have been my dream destination, but it’s the place where I have the privilege to grow and evolve.

Mia Orris is a UF psychology junior. The

views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Alligator.

Noor Sukar opinions@alligator.org

Mia Orris opinions@alligator.org

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SOCCER

Florida freshmen connections help foster new culture

GATORS HAVE SEEN A BIG IMPROVEMENT IN RECORD THIS SEASON THANKS TO THE TEAM’S CHEMISTRY

By Austin Stirling Sports Writer

The freshmen are taking over Florida’s soccer team. An influx of youth has helped UF see improvements and continue to make an impact in winning.

“Coming in as a freshman, I came in with the intent to win,” Florida freshman forward Megan Hinnenkamp said.

The Gators have shown a lot of progress during the 2023 season thanks to the strong bond of this year’s team. The connection shared among players off the field has paid dividends for the team’s performance on it.

Florida earned its first SEC victory since 2021 earlier this year and has already surpassed its win total from last season. This culture shift can largely be attributed to the impressive play and close bond of the freshmen class.

The addition of these young players has rejuvenated a proud Gators program looking to compete in the SEC. Upperclassmen on the team have also been integral in fostering this culture among the freshmen.

Junior midfielder Lauren Donovandon, for example, has worked closely with some of the young players and has helped them adjust, Hinnenkamp said.

“With the group that we have and the culture we created is competing to win and having fun while doing it,” she said.

Hinnenkamp has had an extremely productive season as a freshman starter up to this point. She leads all SEC freshmen with six goals and started in all 12 of the team’s games. She’s also adjusted well to the college level and hasn’t taken her opportunities for granted, she said.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to start,” she said. “If I can exert my energy and leave it

FOOTBALL

out on the field, that’s a success for me.”

The desire to give maximum effort can be found throughout Florida’s young roster.

Many freshmen on the team come from winning programs and have brought the expectation to win back to Florida, Hinnenkamp said. She said the team has a strong love for each other and enjoys playing for one another.

“As a class, we have a big group and a lot of different personalities and playing styles,” Hinnenkamp said. “Everyone puts their best foot forward and comes in competitive ready to work every single day.”

Gators freshman forward Lena Bailey is another young player who exemplifies this winning culture.

Bailey has come off the bench for Florida this season and provides an offensive spark from the moment she steps on the pitch. She has scored three goals this season and has played in all 12 games.

Bailey expressed her goal on the field is to follow the team’s three keys to the game: continue to work, hunt and keep it simple.

“If I just keep it simple and play my game, that’s when I have success,” she said.

Bailey quickly pointed to the players’ offfield bonding as a big reason for their success. She feels off the field is where the team really connects, she said.

“We’re always with each other,” Bailey said. “Always eating team dinner together, team lunch, team breakfast and obviously practicing and playing together.”

A focus of the team is to always hold everybody accountable while uplifting each other, Bailey said. The positive, close-knit culture of this group has allowed players like Bailey and Hinnenkamp to adjust to the college game and find success early.

Florida freshman forward Liwa Nilsson is another testament to the Gators’ connection this season. Nilsson is from Sweden and grew up playing soccer against international competition.

Despite being so far from home, Nilsson said she already feels comfortable thanks to her bond with her teammates.

“During Summer B, we did so much things here, so I didn’t even have time to think about missing home,” she said. “The whole freshman group is very [close] to each other.”

During the summer, she and other teammates would always do things together like eat ice cream and just hang out, she said. These interactions have helped Nilsson acclimate quickly to her new environment and have allowed her to focus on her game.

Nilsson has also already established an extremely close connection with Bailey, her roommate. The pair have grown very close to one another in their short time at Florida and have been friends since day one, Nilsson said.

“When I am walking by myself, [people]

are always like ‘Oh, where’s your best friend? Where’s your twin?’” she said, speaking about her friendship with Bailey.

Bonds like these have put Gators soccer back in the direction it wants to go. The youth movement mixed with the close-knit leadership from older players and positioned Florida in a much better situation than it found itself just a year ago.

“A team goal is to win the SEC and compete for national championships,” Hinnenkamp said. “I think we’re going to keep getting better and better.”

@austinstirlingg astirling@alligator.org

Gators football finds success with freshmen midseason

YOUNG PLAYERS LEAVE IMPACT ON BOTH SIDES OF BALL

By Jackson Reyes Sports Writer

The Gators looked to convert a 3rd-and-15 in Vanderbilt territory as they tried to build on their doubledigit lead.

Redshirt junior quarterback Graham Mertz tossed the ball to redshirt freshman tight end Arlis Boarding-

ham, who had a defender right in front of him. He shook off the first defender, and then broke another tackle as he bowled his way down the field for 20 yards and a first down.

The big play led to a UF touchdown and encapsulated the tight end’s career day and the impact his fellow freshman teammates have made this season.

Mertz applauded his tight end for executing the game plan and doing what he needed to do when he got the football.

“I thought Arlis played great,” Mertz said. “We talk about [catchpuncture], and he did a great job of catching the ball and puncturing, getting vertical and playing physical.”

Boardingham finished the game with seven catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns — all three of which are career highs.

Fresh faces flew all around the field during the Gators’ Homecoming victory against the Vanderbilt Commodores and have been integral to UF’s success in head coach Billy

Napier’s second season.

The Florida Gators (4-2, 2-1 SEC) bounced back after a rough outing against Kentucky with a 38-14 win against the Vanderbilt Commodores (2-5, 0-3 SEC) in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Oct. 7. The win helped keep UF undefeated at home.

While year one of Napier was highlighted by the superhuman athleticism of former quarterback Anthony Richardson, the head coach’s second season has been more focused on a fusion of youth.

While veterans like Mertz and

senior wide receiver Ricky Pearsall have drawn attention, young players like Boardingham and freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson III have breathed new life into the offense.

Wilson missed the last two weeks with an injury but made his return against Vanderbilt. The receiver is dangerous in space and has quickly made an impact in the UF wide receiver room.

SEE FOOTBALL, PAGE 12

Ryan Friedenberg // Alligator Staff Freshman forward Megan Hinnenkamp takes on a defender in the Gators’ 8-0 win against the Stetson Hatters on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023.

Homecoming win

FOOTBALL, from pg. 11

the game Oct. 7, and the freshman speedster sprinted nine yards around the edge into the endzone for his first career touchdown as a Gator.

“[Wilson] is tough to tackle,” Napier said. “He's got unique acceleration. He's got some play strength to him, although he's a little bit smaller guy.”

The freshman receiver finished the game with eight catches

for 64 yards and a touchdown. Napier expressed the importance of involving him in the offense in any way possible even to give the Gators a chance at winning games, he said.

“We were trying to get him the ball as much as possible,” Napier said. “We want to make sure when the game is over every week that he had his opportunity to impact the game.

On defense, the Gators started a tandem of true freshmen at the safety positions against Vandy — Jordan Castell and Bryce Thornton.

Castell was quiet on the box score in the Gators’ win, but he’s been one of their most impactful players all season as a true freshman.

The former three-star recruit has compiled 28 tackles, 1.5

tackles for loss and one pass deflection this season as he has already begun to blossom into one of the better safeties in the conference.

Thornton, who had a pass breakup against the Commodores, has also played in all six games this season and has made 10 total tackles with two coming for a loss.

Not only have the young players shown an ability to hang with SEC competition, but they’ve shown poise under pressure. UF cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson has come up big with three pass deflections in six games this season.

Vanderbilt wide receiver Junior Sherrill beat Jackson in coverage and got open for a 52-yard pass to set the Commodores up for a 1st-and-goal situation.

Jackson stood tall and on 4th-and-goal got in front of the receiver and forced an incompletion to get the turnover on downs.

Napier credited Jackson on the play as one of the biggest momentum shifts in the first half.

“He gives up the play, and then we were able to stop them, and then he makes the play,” Napier said. “I thought that was one of the more pivotal sequences of events in the first half.

On another fourth down in the game, a Florida freshman once again made a big play.

Vanderbilt quarterback Ken Seals found receiver Quincy Skinner Jr., who got past the sticks for a first down. UF freshman edge rusher T.J. Searcy came in and ripped the ball out, which led to an eventual Gators’ score after they recovered the loose ball.

For a young Florida football team, chances to make big plays and contribute to the team’s success have come early and often. Making the most of an increase in playing time has paid dividends for players like Boardingham, he said.

“All the success that I've had is really just opportunity-based and when it comes my way just trying to make the play and make the best of what I got,” Boardingham said.

The Gators still have questions to answer, but for Napier’s team, early signs of success from his first full recruiting class is a step in the right direction if he wants to return Florida to the heights it reached in the mid-2000s.

The Gators will head back on the road to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks Oct. 14. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network.

@JacksnReyes

Ryan Friedenberg // Alligator Staff

Freshman cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson defends a pass in the Gators’ 38-14 win against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.