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MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 9

Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

Not officially associated with the University of Florida

Forty UF top 5 banners stolen from campus, students suspected UF plans to sell replicas in the bookstore instead of punishing students By Maya Erwin and Serra Sowers Alligator Staff Writer and Contributing Writer

Seventy-five banners that read “Top 5” hung at UF. Now, only 35 remain. Forty banners celebrating the school’s new national ranking have been stolen across the UF campus. Since the week of Sept. 13, the missing banners amount to a loss of almost $3,000, UF spokesperson Steve Orlando said. The doublesided, vinyl hangings are 24 inches wide and 72 inches tall. They cost about $73 each. In just more than a month, the banners have disappeared just as quickly as they were put up. Within six days of the U.S. News and World Report ranking announcement, banners were hung around campus including the Reitz Lawn, Plaza of the Americas and along Union Road. Printed with local vendor, Signs by Tomorrow, the banners were prepared and hung as soon as the news was released. No official complaints have been filed with the University Police Department, Orlando said. None of the bandits have come forward. Orlando attributes these thefts to excitement about the university’s new ranking. “We were glad that people are excited about the number five ranking,” he said. “We would prefer it if they would find another way to express their excitement.” Stephen Baradon, a 19-yearold UF mathematics sophomore, watched as a fellow student shimmied their way up a light pole on Stadium Road at 2 a.m. Two men stood guard at the base of the pole while the third climbed up and cut the banner down before all three biked off together, he said. “I think people are stealing the banners because of the TikTok trend, the most devious lick, and I also just think they want it because it’s kind of cool to have,” he said. “It’s something you can just show off.” Top 7 and top 6 banners were stolen in previous years, Orlando said. Last year, out of the 67 banners originally put up, 38 were stolen. Between the Top 5 and Top 6 stolen banners, the university lost more than $5,600. To keep the banners attached to the light posts, a new locking mechanism was added to the top bracket

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT A complete set of Sheltons

by UF Facilities and Services, who hung the banners, said Jordan Benton, assistant director of operations. But he said this extra effort has not made a difference. UF doesn’t have a plan to replace the banners that have disappeared nor is it interested in penalizing students, Orlando said. Instead, Orlando said the school prefers to find ways to stop the banners from being stolen rather than punishing its own students. A student who chose to remain anonymous said she has seen friends take banners with garden shears and ladders from nearby construction sites at night. “Within the college experience, a lot of people look for a thrill,” she said. “We are high-strung students looking for something fun. Some join a frat, some get tattoos. Others steal signs.” She supports stealing the banners as a point of pride, though she acknowledges stealing is wrong. Although she doesn’t have one, she wishes she did. “If you go to a top 5 school, you want the recognition for it,” she said. “I want this, as like a trophy, to bring with me.” In an effort to combat banners from being stolen, Orlando said Thursday UF is planning on creating smaller replicas of the banners that can be purchased at the bookstore in the J. Wayne Reitz Union. It is unclear when the replicas will become available for purchase or how much they will cost. However, a UF junior who has stolen two of the top 5 banners, said this effort will not stop students from taking the banners from campus. “Nobody is going to stop stealing them if they sell overpriced ones that are smaller in the bookstore,” they said. “You can just get a bigger one, and bigger is always better, for free.” The UF junior, who has asked to remain anonymous, stole two banners from the Plaza of the Americas as well as in between the Computer Science building and Newell Hall. They borrowed a yellow ladder left on campus by maintenance services and cut down the banners with scissors at around midnight last week. “It is now the centerpiece of my room,” they said. “It is a cool thing to have, and all my friends always comment on it. It’s kind of a collectible.”

Story finish with comma, Emmadescription Shelton transferred back topg# Florida ahead of her junior season, rejoining her father and brother in the Gators’ program. Read more on pg. 11.

@mayaerwin3 merwin@alligator.org

Lauren Witte // Alligator Staff

Vivian Anderson, 2, plays in the corn pit during the Farmers Moo-ket at Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021.

GRU rate increase disproportionately affects low- and fixed-income residents CITY ELECTRIC RATES WILL GO UP 15% BY 2027

By Meghan McGlone Alligator Staff Writer

For more than a year, Estefania Torres was paying more than $500 for her utility bill — almost the cost of her monthly rent. Each month, she was brought to tears as she helplessly looked at her bill. Then, her landlord replaced her AC unit, and her bill dropped to $200. “It was cut by half just with getting the new AC unit,” the 24-year-old Gainesville resident said. “That’s what made me so angry.” Torres is one of many other Gainesville residents who depend on Gainesville Regional Utilities. But living in a lowincome neighborhood makes

Peeping Tom

Gainesville man charged with stalking, voyeurism, pg. 5

Citizens Field

A Gainesville tradition for over 70 years, pg. 6

her disproportionately affected by current and future rate increases that GRU continues to implement. GRU’s average cost for electric, water and wastewater went up by 4% in October. The average cost for GRU’s electricity went up about $6, and the total bill rose almost $10. From 2023 to 2027, electrical rates will go up 3% and wastewater will go up 5% yearly, according to GRU. Gainesville’s utility rates were the third highest of all utility rates in the state in August, according to the Florida Municipal Electric Association. Williston, which is about 20 miles away from Gainesville, had the lowest rates in Florida. Orlando also had lower rates than Gainesville, coming in at No. 20 of the cities surveyed. Low-income households tend to spend a larger portion of their

income on utilities than other households, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. One way to decrease energy costs is through efficient appliances and proper insulation. But as a renter, that’s something Torres had no control over. To try to cut back on energy costs, Torres kept her house at 78 degrees throughout the day. But because of her inefficient AC unit, her GRU bill still came back as $500 until she got her unit replaced. “The people who need the help most, the people who are struggling the most, the most disadvantaged people in our society, are the ones that are really facing the brunt of GRU’s mistakes,” Torres said. Taylor Smith, a 20-year-old Gainesville resident, shares a

SEE GRU, PAGE 5

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2 ALLIGATOR  MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021

Johnston Chiropractic Health Center closes Today’s Weather doors amid sexual assault claims, protests JOHN JOHNSTON, 67, IS NO LONGER LICENSED TO TREAT FEMALE PATIENTS

By Isabella Douglas Alligator Staff Writer

The sign at the front of Johnston Chiropractic Health Center is inviting. The purpose of our clinic is to support as many people as possible in their quest for health & to educate them about chiropractic so they may, in turn, educate others. On the sidewalk across the street, Rebekkah Williamson, 24, held up a sign Oct. 11 that tells a different story: “Coercion is not consent.” “I felt uncomfortable. I felt uneasy. But I trusted his professional opinion and I trusted his practice,” Williamson said. “I trusted him.” The chiropractic center, located on 1405 NW 13th St., permanently closed Oct. 11 following sexual abuse allegations made against the 67-yearold owner John Johnston. Between November 2020 and January 2021, a female patient accused Johnston of sexual assault under the guise of medical treatment, a report from the Florida Department of Health read. She visited the office about nine times under Johnston’s care for treatment related to migraines and hip pain, the report read. In January, the victim went to her last appointment where she was taken to a private room and told to change into boxers in front of Johnston. The report read Johnston went under the victim's clothes and touched her breasts and genitals. Johnston would become flirtatious during each of the victim’s visits, especially the last one, the report read. “What do you think we should do about that,” Johnston said in a suggestive tone according to the report. The victim changed back into her clothes with Johnston present in the room. That day she reported the sexual misconduct to the Gainesville Police Department. On March 19, Johnston was charged with sexual battery of an adult. Later, on June 28, the state barred Johnston from treating female patients. He is still allowed to treat male clients. Johnston was scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 26. He did not return requests for comment after five phone calls between Oct.11 and Oct. 14. As the investigation continues,

more patients of Johnston have shared their experiences under his medical care. Catherine Music, a 42-year-old UF Health employee, went to Johnston’s practice for an appointment over seven years ago and said she tells anyone who is thinking of chiropractic treatment to look elsewhere. Like the victim in the report, Music was taken to a private room and asked if he could adjust her hips. Agreeing, Music didn’t realize his hands would be underneath her underwear. She felt violated. When adjusting her upper body, his hands cupped her breasts. “I should have just got up and walked away but when you’re in that setting, you’re questioning ‘Is this right?’” she said. “You know he’s a doctor so your brain is going every which way.” She wonders if she had returned, if he would have gone further. She never gave him a next time. Music said the victim might have gone back because she could have paid for multiple sessions at once. If she had done that, she might have felt more inclined to go back even if the chiropractor made her feel violated. Protest organizer Rebekkah Williamson remembers walking into Johnston’s office for the first time in 2015 and feeling overwhelmed. That year, Williamson got into a car accident and injured her back. After receiving care from Johnston, she said she began to question his know-it-all demeanor. Coming from a medical family, she trusted his professional opinion and believed it was necessary for him to practice under her clothes. With new care providers, she realized too late that her adjustments could have been done above clothing. Williamson was under Johnston’s medical care four times a week for a year. In the past two years, she said she visited the office less than ten times. Six years later, Williamson's pain has gotten worse. “I really believed that the pain that I was experiencing was just so much more than what he could fix,” she said. “I put a lot of trust that it wasn't working because of my body not because of his lack of care.” On Oct. 11, Williamson, her fiance and a fellow protester created signs to protest Johnston’s continued medical care with three goals in mind: to relay to the public Johnston’s accused misgivings, to

Lauren Witte // Alligator Staff

Johnston Chiropractic Health Center is seen on Northwest 13 Street on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021.

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 9

ISSN 0889-2423

Not officially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications Inc., of Gainesville, Florida

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remove his chiropractic license and to send Johnston to jail. Honks of encouragement made them raise their posters higher. Thirty minutes after the Oct. 11 protest started, a text was sent out to all of Johnston Chiropractic Health Center patients alerting them of the closing of the office and opening of a new chiropractic facility, Florida Spine & Injury located at 7545 West University Ave. Suite A and owned by James Worthington. Worthington, who worked with Johnson in the same office, said he had no knowledge of Johnston’s alleged abuse. Worthington said his new business has no affiliation with Johnston. After learning of the allegations made against Johnston, Worthington left the office. Worthington thought Johnston could be a bit too friendly with clients to the point of flirting, but never saw it cross into the territory of sexual assault. After reading the report, he stands by the victim. Isabelle Gonzalez, a 19-year-old UF biology sophomore, said she had a good experience with the office staff and Worthington in September after her back pain increased this year. “He was very respectful,” Gonzalez said. “Always explained everything he was doing before he did it and asked me how I was feeling throughout the entire experience to make sure that nothing hurt.” Gonzalez remembers lying on her back and her shirt rolling up. Worthington proceeded to push her shirt back down and continue his chiropractic care. Her positive experience continued for her three visits where she said every adjustment was made above clothing. However, Gonzalez can’t imagine returning to the office if Johnston was somehow involved. She is considering going to Worthington’s new practice because of her positive experience with him. Nicole Montgomery, a 40-year-old Gainesville resident, was the third protester at the office. She has never received treatment from Johnston’s facility, but after hearing about the accusations of sexual assault, memories resurfaced of her own. Words like “felony sexual assault” and “sexually abusing patient” circled the mugshot of Johnston on her sign. “It really pisses me off that someone thinks that in a position of authority and power and with trust that they can physically and emotionally do harm,” she said. “It takes a lot of trust for somebody to be able to be that vulnerable with a stranger ... they take an oath to do no harm.” @Ad_Scribendum idouglas@alligator.org

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First half of Fall in photos

MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021 ALLIGATOR 3

As UF enters the second half of the semester, The Alligator looks back on some key moments so far this Fall

Catherine McCarthy // Alligator Staff

Ryan Wilder, Change Party founder and UF alum, celebrates the party winning 12 seats in the Student Government Senate election on Sept. 29, 2021 at the Reitz Union.

Eli Nino // Alligator Staff

Officer Jarell Delancy (left) and Officer Paul White (right) report from a motorcycle accident on the corner of 3rd Avenue and West University Avenue in front of Krispy Kreme on Oct. 1, 2021.

Alan Halaly // Alligator Staff

U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack stands alongside Gov. Ron DeSantis and his state cabinet on Sept. 13, 2021 at Clark Plantation Wedding Venue in Newberry, Florida. DeSantis was speaking to City of Gainesville employees who filed a lawsuit against the city for mandating vaccines for all its employees. The city is no longer requiring employees to be vaccinated.

Lauren Witte // Alligator Staff

Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff

Quarterback Emory Jones drops back into the end zone searching for an open receiver against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Sept. 18. Despite the battle, the offense couldn’t overcome Alabama’s defense and lost 29-31.

Karine Dieuvil, 21, GoDDsville Dream Defenders member, leads a chant during the Justice for Heaven and Ava protest outside Alachua County Jail on Aug. 21, 2021. Erica “Heaven” Thompson gave birth inside a jail cell at Alachua County Jail. Shortly after, baby Ava died.

4 ALLIGATOR  MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021

UF, Student Government have no plans to bring back 24-hour library despite demand A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN WHO SHOULD FUND A 24-HOUR LIBRARY LEAVES STUDENTS WITHOUT ONE

By Camila Pereira Alligator Staff Writer

As UF’s libraries tend to be at the highest capacity during midterms and finals, students are asking for a 24-hour library on campus. But no one wants to provide the necessary funding. Traditionally, Library West was the 24hour library from 2012 to 2017 and 2019, but UF Libraries more recently changed it to Marston Library. However, the 24-hour schedule came to a halt once COVID-19 hit, and it never came back. Now, some UF students are upset they do not have a 24-hour library option on campus. The cost to keep any of the libraries open 24 hours is about $250,000 each year, said Patrick Reakes, UF Libraries Senior Associate Dean, Scholarly Resources and Services. UF Libraries is not in control of the funding needed to keep facilities open for 24 hours, Reakes said. That responsibility falls onto Student Government and UF administration. “I’m always happy to do it as long as somebody provides the funding for it,” he said. Newell Hall was renovated in 2017 and made to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But the building is a social study space for students, not a library, so it is missing many student resources such as study rooms and computers, Reakes said. “I think the reality of it is, a lot of the use is just people want a place to go in and study,” he said. Daniel Antonio Miguel, 28, went to New-

ell Hall on a Tuesday night. The history senior, who relies on the libraries to work in a quiet space with stable WiFi, was met with insufficient seating and no quiet study areas. “By 1 a.m., once those libraries closed, the building was just flooded with students,” he said. Miguel said having a 24-hour library is essential, especially with UF now being a top-5 public institution and the top university in the state, according to U.S. News and World Report. “The fact that other state universities offer some form of 24-hour availability, but the University of Florida isn’t, it feels wrong,” he said “It feels almost like a betrayal.” Florida universities like Florida International University, University of South Florida and Florida State University, each offer a 24-hour library open four days a week for students. Miguel said he wants Student Body President Cooper Brown to reconsider offering some form of 24-hour library service. “If student body President Cooper Brown and the Student Government determines that they cannot offer a 24-hour library, I would ask President Fuchs to step in and provide that service,” he said. However, neither SG nor the school’s administration want to take on the added costs. Brown is disappointed in the school’s administration for avoiding its responsibility of supporting academic study space and forcing students to shoulder the burden with additional fee support, he wrote in an email. Student activity fees are used to fund RecSports, SG, Student Activities and Involvement, the Reitz Union, and Sorority and Fraternity Affairs, not academic units, he wrote. Brown encourages students to contact Dean of University Libraries Judith Russell and the UF Provost Joe Glover directly with

Newell Hall is seen on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. their desire to see a 24/7 library. He hopes students challenge the administration to do the right thing and fund academic spaces using tuition dollars that are intended to support academic buildings, he wrote. He believes that’s how it should have been from the start. Russell and Glover did not respond to questions about the reason for termination of 24-hour libraries or future plans to restore them. Brown also did not provide comment on when SG started funding the libraries or on plans to fund them in the future. Minority party leader Gabrielle Adekunle (District D, Change) wrote in a text that she, along with other Change Party senators, are working to set up a committee to advocate expanding student resources at UF, including making Library West a 24-hour building.

UF currently has no plans to restore funding for 24-hour library operations, UF spokesperson Steve Orlando wrote in an email. He said data collected in 2017 when the provost agreed to fund 24-hour access in Library West reflected minimal library activity during those overnight hours. “The fairly low number of students using the libraries during those extended hours did not justify the added costs and liabilities,” Orlando wrote. UF leadership is looking into other options for after-hours study spaces, he said, and will provide more information about that when the time is appropriate.

Committee, Senate seat approvals leave some disappointed GRADUATE STUDENTS CONTINUE TO LACK REPRESENTATION IN THE SENATE CHAMBER

By Allessandra Inzinna Alligator Staff Writers

The process of approving committee and Senate seats caused debate last week after a freshman was selected to represent sophomores and graduate seats remained vacant. The Replacement and Agenda Committee completed more than 50 interviews to fill 20 vacant Senate seats and 21 committee seats Oct. 10. After R&A recommended candidates to the Senate, all 21 committee seats and five Senate seats were filled Tuesday. The committee seats included chairs and members for the Information and Communication, Budget and Appropriations, Judiciary, and Rules and Ethics Committee. Senate approved students for the seats Public Health and Health Professions, Business, Sophomore and two Freshman. However, some senators were dissatisfied with the picks.

Minority Party Leader Gabrielle Adekunle, a member of the R&A Committee, was one of them. “There were many who were approved that I absolutely agreed with and other choices that fell more than short to me,” she wrote in a text. “Especially the decision to keep the graduate and graduate family and housing seats open.” The Graduate and Graduate Family Housing seats remained vacant after fewer than five applied to fill the positions. But Adekunle wrote she feels as though two graduate students that applied were more than qualified to fill the position. “As someone who advocates heavily for proper representation, leaving these seats open and denying graduate students two voices that could speak for them feels beyond inconsiderate,” she wrote. There are more than 13,000 graduate students at UF and nine vacant Graduate seats. Many graduate students, including Reza Esmaeli who applied for a Graduate and Family Housing seat, are concerned about 40%of graduate housing being torn down in UF’s student housing plan. Concerns like housing are

some of the reasons senators want to see more graduate student representation. Spencer Gorelick (a District D, Change) spoke during last Tuesday’s Senate public comment to plead for more outreach to get graduate students to apply. Without proper representation, he said, Senate is lacking the voice of thousands of students with unique issues on campus. “The adage that you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink may be true,” he said. “But if you lead 13,000 horses to water, at least nine of them will drink.” Another debated appointment was the Sophomore seat. Students who wished to apply for the seat had to have 30 to 60 credits to qualify fora sophomore standing. The seat is now filled by freshman Donald Webster, who received the most votes from R&A and Senate. Webster did not respond to requests for comment. His ideas included building roofed storage for bikes on campus to prevent weather damage. He also mentioned getting more TV screens or a digital billboard to disseminate information around campus.

Esha Nair // Alligator Staff

“I was taken aback by him,” Majority Party Leader John Brinkman (Sophomore, Gator) said in the Senate meeting. “I thought he was an amazing candidate. He really seemed to want to help others in a meaningful way.” Adekunle, however, believed his ideas fell short and lacked an action plan to get them done. “I think that we can all agree that bike repairs and having a roof over them is great,” Adekunle wrote. “But I think that there are more important things to focus on first.” Jonathan Stephens, Adekunle’s top pick, also applied for the sophomore seat. Stephens, an 18-year-old UF food science and agricultural education and communication freshman, came prepared with five action plans for each piece of legislation he hoped to advocate for. Although it’s his first semester as a full time student, he attended UF part-time last semester through an internship and has 50 credits. His first proposed initiative included allocating money through the Budget and Appropriations Committee to the Field and Fork Pantry or

@CamilaSaPereira cpereira@alligator.org

other community organizations to combat food insecurity on campus. He also planned to follow through with Gator Party’s platform point to be able to transfer unused flex bucks, an optional debit amount on Gator 1 cards, to students in need. “I think, overall, it’s not about why I didn’t get it. But how can I move forward from this to help use my influence as a leader within UF to really help push for change,” he said. “I hope to continue that throughout my years within this college.” As someone who has had to use the resources at the Field and Fork Pantry before, Adekunle felt as though his snub from the Sophomore seat only exacerbated the lack of representation within the Senate. “Every appointment that was made placed members of one party into power,” she wrote. “We should be working to build a more fair student government instead of playing power politics.” There are still 15 open permanent Senate seats including one for District E, Arts, Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary and Graduate and Family Housing. There are nine open Graduate seats. @ainzinna ainzinna@alligator.org

MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021 ALLIGATOR 5

Gainesville man charged with stalking, voyeurism after being caught on student Ring footage The man was arrested in 2008 for similar offenses By Faith Buckley Alligator Staff Writer

Bailey Pittman’s Ring camera captured a slender, middle-aged white man walking past Pittman’s apartment door toward the back window around 8:30 p.m. Minutes later, Henry walked past Pittman’s front door again. When she saw the video Sept. 25, the 23-year-old froze, and felt unsafe in her apartment in The Polos. Then, she emailed the police.

“I did think I lived in the better part of the apartment complexes, and I pay more for that opportunity,” Pittman said. “It still happened, and I wasn’t happy about it.” Matthew Henry, 56, was charged with stalking and three charges of voyeurism in the first degree after allegedly looking through a 19-year-old UF student’s window at Windsor Park, according to an affidavit filed Tuesday. As of Sunday evening, no

Ridiculous rates

GRU, from pg. 1

one bedroom, one bathroom apartment with her fiancé. She said her bills have recently doubled from $100 to almost $200. The couple turns off appliances like the AC when they’re at work, and they’ve stopped cooking at home. Instead, they use a grill to keep their electric bill down. “Their rates are ridiculous,” Smith said. “When we first started using GRU, it was pretty reasonable. Now, all of the sudden, it’s just outrageous.” Kinn’zon Hutchinson, GRU’s chief customer officer, said the rate increases affect everyone, regardless of income. But GRU provides assistance for residents who have difficulties meeting their monthly bills, such as providing payment plans and extending deadlines. “We’re not in the business of disconnecting anybody off the utility,” Hutchinson said. “We’re here for our customers.” GRU also has a program offering lowincome individuals free upgrades to increase the efficiency of their homes by installing insulation and replacing inefficient appliances. However, residents

arrest has been made. But these incidents are not Henry’s first. In 2008, Henry took photos of women through their windows to use for his own sexual gratification, according to court records. He was arrested but not placed on probation for his 2008 misdemeanors. Henry told police in 2008 he chose The Polos because it had the “prettiest girls,” the affidavit report read. The Polos sent out an email to all residents Sept. 30 following the peeping Tom incidents. “We wanted to take the time to remind everyone the staff is here

need to be homeowners to qualify for the program, meaning renters don’t qualify. The rates, Hutchinson said, are competitive when things like stormwater costs are cut out. However, GRU spokesperson Rebecca Allison was unable to provide data to support this claim in time for publication. Matt Howland, a candidate for Gainesville City Commission’s open at-large seat this November, wants to lower GRU’s utility rates. Other candidates, including Cynthia Chestnut, Patrick Ingle and Scherwin Henry have also discussed GRU rates. While door knocking for his campaign, Howland said he has spoken to many fixedincome families who struggle to pay rate increases. People who depend on social security or who are single-income parents may have to sacrifice paying for other things to make up for the rising rates, he said. “I think it’s very easy to get caught up in this idea of a couple dollars here, a couple dollars there,” Howland said. “Together, we can all chip in and we can make this happen. We can be cheerleaders and try to put a positive spin on it. But that’s not very pragmatic.” @meggmcglone mmcglone@alligator.org

Courtesy to The Alligator

Ernesto Martínez, 72, walks across University Avenue July 2019 while protesting tax increases from Gainesville Regional Utilities. About 12 people gathered outside of City Hall to peacefully protest the rising energy costs. Protestors waved signs, chanted through a megaphone and handed out flyers.

for YOU always!” the email read. The current affidavit victim’s Ring camera captured three separate instances of Henry creeping around her bedroom window. Henry was shown walking to the back of the student’s apartment Sept. 22 at around 9 p.m. The backdoor Ring camera the student has covers her bedroom window. Henry bent down next to her window and appeared to look into the window. On Sept. 23 at about 9 p.m. Henry was again shown looking through the victim’s bedroom window, according to the

affidavit report. A day later, on Sept. 24 at around 8:30 p.m., the victim was at a neighbor’s apartment when she received a Ring notification. The footage showed Henry walking up to her bedroom window once more. Two witnesses tried to approach Henry, but he quickly walked off. The Gainesville Police Department was unable to comment as to why no arrest was made as of Sunday. @_faithbuckley fbuckley@alligator.org

Halloween comes to Shands Children’s Hospital patients

Kids at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital will participate in various Halloween activities By Elena Barrera Alligator Staff Writer

One night a year, kids get to dress up and go door-to-door amassing as much free candy as possible — a core childhood experience. But for UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital patients, Oct. 31 will look a little different, and teams of people are working together to bring as much Halloween spirit as possible. The hospital’s Child Life Program is working with volunteers, student organizations and community donors to provide the young patients with candy, costumes and fall-themed crafts. “It’s very important for our children and families to have a sense of home, a sense of normalization while they’re here in the hospital,” Amy Wegner, the Child Life Program director said. “We want to make any sort of special event for them happen while they’re here.” The program has been organizing Halloween and other special events at the children’s hospital for the last 33 years. This year, the pediatric units will be participating in reverse trick-or-treating, where kids will have things brought to them instead of going door to door, Wegner said. Volunteers and staff hand out activity items like coloring books, pencils, crayons, Play-Doh and some candy. One of Child Life’s biggest sponsors is Spirit of Children, a fundraiser coordinated by the store Spirit Halloween. During the Halloween season, 100% of every dollar collected goes directly to the Child Life department, Wegner said. Since 2011, the program has been receiving costume donations through the Spirit of Children, she said. A variety of themed costumes in all different sizes are provided for any kid that does not have a costume from home. Many days look the same for the longterm patients, said Bethany Fisackerly, a certified Child Life specialist. Holiday specials break patients’ routines and are important to create memories for them within the hospital, she said. “One of my favorite events we’ve

done in the past is all our therapy dogs got dressed up in costume, and we had a therapy dog parade,” she said. Due to COVID-19, some of the events and surprises for the kids have changed, and the coordinators are focusing on planning activities that can be brought to the room, Fisackerly said. “We had one kid a couple of years ago when we had the therapy dog parade who kept saying how it was just the best Halloween she had ever had,” Fisackerly said. Additionally, COVID-19 limited who was able to interact with the kids, so volunteers were not allowed to come into the hospital. This year, volunteers and student organizations get to participate in the festivities and interact with the children again. Footprints, a UF nonprofit student organization, will assist the Child Life Program with the Halloween festivities in Shands Children’s Hospital Units 41 and 42. Footprints’ main goal is to go to the hospital and let the kids be kids during treatment and help them feel as normal as they can while they are at the hospital, which goes hand in hand with Child Life’s mission. Even though they could not be with the kids last year, the student volunteers made sure to still reach this goal and ensure that the children had a special Halloween experience by donating goody bags, said Madison Burns, the Footprints committee chair. “Being here this year is really special in that we spend time on these projects and we actually get to see them spend time with it and make their day,” Burns said. “It kind of makes a difference when you can walk into a room, and it’s really decorated, and it doesn’t feel so sterile and so much like a hospital.” Footprints and Child Life welcome any donations throughout the year to help make each holiday special for the kids. @elenabarreraaa ebarrera@alligator.org

6 ALLIGATOR  MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021

Citizens Field: Home to Gainesville high school football THE FOOTBALL FIELD HAS BEEN A PART OF GAINESVILLE TRADITION SINCE 1948

By Noah Ram Sports Writer

While many Gainesville residents spend their Friday night wining and dining, Fontella Moore makes her way to Citizens Field on Eighth Avenue and Waldo Road. Upon entering the stadium, Moore scans the concrete bleachers for a seat with a clear view of the band and cheerleaders. Her eyes land on her daughters as they ignite the crowd with their cheers. The duo attempts to invigorate Eastside High School’s fans at Citizens Field, despite the Rams’ 30-point deficit against North Marion late in the fourth quarter. Eastside’s brutal defeat doesn’t deter Moore, a 42-year-old alumna, from attending games at the field. She has frequented matchups for years — even before her daughters suited up to cheer for the Rams. And it doesn’t matter if Eastside or other Gainesville high schools play. High school football at Citizens Field has been a Gainesville tradition for nearly 75 years. “This is the thing to do,” she said. “There is nothing like Friday night football.” Residents have shuffled into Citizens Field every Thursday and Friday night since 1948. Eastside, Gainesville High School and Buchholz High School all currently coexist on the East Gainesville field. However, Buchholz began its Friday night football at Gainesville’s most venerated stadium: The Swamp. The Gators’ home switched to artificial turf when Buchholz opened in 1971 — inviting high school football teams to hold games at its facility. The GHS Hurricanes bolted for the larger stadium and left Citizens Field reserved for Eastside, which had been inaugurated in 1970. In the early ‘80s, Gainesville City Commissioner Harvey Ward donned a Rams football jersey. The school spirit enlivened the crowd and the local community. “Citizens was our thing,” Ward said. “I played a little bit, and I take great pride in it. I knew I was a link in a chain and part of the greater good of the community by embracing what goes on at Citizens Field.” Ward’s family claims a special connection to Citizens Field. His uncle helped lay sod on when it was built, according to fam-

ily lore. But Eastside’s reign as the sole tenant of Citizens Field ended when Steve Spurrier became Florida’s head coach in 1990, said Charley Wise, Alachua County Public Schools’ athletic director. The celebrated coach insisted the facility convert back to natural grass. Buchholz and GHS were dispelled to avoid extra wear and tear. In 1984, ACPS signed a 40-year lease at Citizens Field for $1 per year. The lease asserted the school district would handle field operations, which include maintenance, upgrades and staffing. This setup stresses Wise and his twoman team, especially when schools schedule back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday nights. “Luckily, we don’t have to paint the field twice, but it’s tough,” he said. “We got all that trash to pick up, bathrooms and press boxes to clean.” This season, which started Aug. 20, didn’t have a Thursday game on schedule until the Eastside-North Marion game Moore attended Sept. 30. Thursday contests continue through Oct. 21 while Friday battles stretch to Nov. 5. The game scheduling process starts in the spring, Wise said. He gathers all three coaches and school athletic directors, and they collaborate to slate their home games until the regular season ends. “There are certain weeks when all three schools want it, but they can’t,” Wise said. “Sometimes we have schools play home games elsewhere.” That alternative materializes Oct. 22, when Buchholz battles Jacksonville-based Bolles in Starke, a town almost an hour away from the Bobcats’ campus. That same day, Eastside will host Palatka at Citizens Field. Each school will host five home games this season. They also earn an extra “home game” due to crosstown rivalries: Buchholz v. Eastside Sept. 10; GHS v. Buchholz Oct. 7; and Eastside v. GHS Nov. 5. The three schools maintain their own fields on campus but elect to play games at Citizens Field due to the infrastructure. “You can fit 5,000 people there,” Wise said. “They don’t have the facilities to hold games. GHS is tightly packed in off 13th Street.” Buchholz, which is located on the west side of Gainesville, considered building its own on-campus stadium five years ago. Citi-

Lauren Witte // Alligator Staff

Keenon Johnson (middle), Newberry Panthers running back, runs the ball down Citizens Field during a game against the Eastside Rams on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021.

zens Field is 6.5 miles from Buchholz’s campus, compared to 4 miles for Eastside and 2.7 miles for GHS. The proposal never came to fruition. “The deal was on and off, but now it seems off,” Wise said. “When you are on campus, it’s all yours. You have to deal with everything, including cleanup.” Schools only need to pay for referees and police during games, Wise said. They also collect all profits from the $10 tickets. Wise and Commissioner Ward anticipate the triad will re-sign when the lease expires. However, the possibility of renovations loom over the future of the field and nearby areas. “That’s a really nice piece of land that I believe we can do something special with,” Ward said. “It needs to be something that draws the community to a focal point there. We don’t aspire to build something that just City Hall wants.” Due to slowed efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, no timeline has been set on potential projects, but the city intends to support a community football stadium, Ward said. Meanwhile, Wise said the commission has failed to consult ACPS on its goals. He yearns to bring Citizens Field to the 21st century by ditching the current LEDscoreboard for a Jumbotron. “You need a Jumbotron in today’s age,” he said. “Even little Starke has one, but those cost $200,000, 10 times more than ours.” But Moore, like other East Gainesville residents, isn’t optimistic about the city’s plans to renovate the stadium. “Every year, they say they are doing something to enhance the east side, and then they put it off for so long,” she said. “But then you go to Archer or Newberry Road, and things are being put up in months. It makes you wonder where their priorities are.” Moore believes Citizens Field helps lure people to the east side. “If you don’t have to come to the east side, you don’t,” she said. “The fact that kids have to play here makes people think, ‘Wow, the east side isn’t as bad, and it’s a melting pot for everyone.’” In addition to football, Citizens Field also hosts soccer and the occasional lacrosse game. The site mainly closes during the summer except for some charity events. Wise’s favorite event, however, transpires every spring — the fifth-grade Fun Day. More than 2,000 students from the schools across Alachua County migrate to the stadium. Football still entices the largest crowds to Citizens Field, especially during rivalry games. “The largest crowd ever was probably somewhere between 5-6,000 people,” Wise said. “The fire department says a max of 4,000, but more people are usually squeezed in.” Andre London embraces the sense of community at Citizens Field when he watches his son, a sophomore defensive end for the Rams. The 46-year-old Gainesville resident began attending matchups seven years ago. “I knew different people in the community, and I would come support their kids,” he said. Friday night football, he said, provides a safe but energetic experience. Rivalry games provide even more of a spirited aura. “It is where you want to be on a Friday night,” London said. Commissioner Ward believes Citizens Field’s influence extends beyond Thursday or Friday night entertainment. It levels the playing ground for all three Gainesville high schools. “No matter what part of town you grew up in, you have a connection through what happens at that stadium,” Ward said.

Lauren Witte // Alligator Staff

Citizens Field is seen during a game between the Eastside Rams and Newberry Panthers on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. London, however, questions if Citizens Field retains that impact. “Schools like Buchholz and Eastside have totally different programs and facilities,” he said. “The only thing they share is this field.” Jaquan Lee, a senior wide receiver and cornerback at Buchholz, has experienced the field through two atmospheres. The 17-year-old swapped his Rams jersey for a Buchholz one after his first two seasons. And the change came paired with a new team dynamic. “I feel like it’s more of a brotherhood from a Buchholz perspective,” he said. “At Eastside, I feel like everyone does their own thing.” Buchholz’s boisterous fans bring an inherent advantage. They drown out rivals’ cheers during close games and rile up the stadium after wins. Lee first attended games at Citizens Field when his brother, Ralph Webb, played for GHS in the early 2010s. Webb suited up for Vanderbilt and the NFL. Webb is one of many legends to forge a legacy on the local mecca. A recent Eastside graduate now competes at the fabled site on the west side of town: Gators freshman quarterback Anthony Richardson. Richardson committed to UF in 2020 as a four-star recruit. He inspires the community, including Lee, who played alongside him for two years. “He’s a great character,” he said. “He was that big brother role model, and I knew if he can do it, so can I. Coming from Eastside, not many kids get the opportunity to lead the way.” But Richardson’s success holds a deeper meaning to East Gainesville’s community and Ward. “You got your Tim Tebows, who are amazing, and I am a proud Gator alum,” he said. “But it’s even more special when it’s an Eastside Ram.” Citizens Field may be the only place in Gainesville where everyone unites. “It doesn’t matter what side of town you are from,” Moore said. “This is the one place where kids and adults can gravitate to and have a good time.” The same faces often scatter the crowd on Thursday and Friday nights. Moore encourages anyone to escape their usual Friday night routine. All they have to do is make their way to Waldo Road and Eighth Avenue. They can meet Moore in the stands Fridays at 7 p.m. and leave having experienced a different aspect of Gainesville culture — all at Citizens Field. @Noah_ram1 nram@alligator.org

MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021 ALLIGATOR 7

Sixth grade Alachua County sixth-grader provides EL CAIMÁN clean water sources for hundreds in Uganda GRU afecta de manera desproporcionada INSPIRED BY HIS TEACHER, THE STUDENT WASN’T AFRAID TO PURSUE HIS PASSION

By Desiree Anello Alligator Contributing Writer

Craig “Tre’” Smith III, a sixth-grader at Oak View Middle School, shot his hand up as he sat in his English class. His idea would serve and inspire hundreds of families thousands of miles away. His goal of raising $2,500 to provide clean water sources to people in Uganda almost doubled within two months. Tre’ was inspired by his reading teacher, Lori Barber, who introduced him to “A Long Walk to Water,” a novel that educated him about the lack of access to clean water in remote villages in Sudan. When he realized there were children his age who don’t have easy access to clean water, he set a firm goal to raise funds for those children and began Aug. 16. “It started with a teacher who sparked an idea, a kid that’s super passionate and then it was a dinner conversation at home with parents that helped him get started,” his mother Deanna Smith said. Smith then contacted an organization called Ekisinga Ministries, which partners with local churches in Uganda to provide business training, safe water solutions and community outreach. She has since worked with Steve and Debbie Nutzmann, the director of the ministry and his wife, to assess the needs of Ugandans and distribute funds and resources where they would make the most impact. Tre’ first put the money he had raised into water-purifying devices called MadiDrops. The devices are ceramic tablets embedded with silver that can be placed into 10 to 20 liters of water daily and left to purify for 8 to 24 hours. MadiDrops can provide an entire

family with purified water for up to 12 months. “His desire was to help 100 people,” Debbie Nutzmann said. “We were able to do that instantaneously through the use of these MadiDrops, but it’s snowballed in a way that I think was bigger than anything he could imagine.” Tre’ sent the first $1,000 to provide 40 MadiDrops that were distributed by local churches. As the fundraiser gained traction, Tre’s next goal was to raise enough funds to install a water kiosk that would help 300 to 350 people, Smith said. The kiosks, which are set up with direct power or with solar and filter out 99.99% of bacteria and 99.1% of viruses, would provide clean drinking water in a matter of seconds. “He’s also really kickstarted something that’s not just going to last 12 months, but it’s going to last years in a sustainable manner, which is one of our key things,” Debbie Nutzmann said. “I think that’s kind of a cool legacy that he has been able to give people in Uganda.” Hoping to inspire Ugandans, the Nutzmanns shared pictures of Tre’ with locals, Debbie Nutzmann said. Barber, his English teacher, planted the seed of his inspiration that continues to impact hundreds of people. But she said she doesn’t want to take credit for his work. “He thought of it himself,” Barber said. “Of course as a teacher, to inspire any child is great, so I was very proud of him.” Tre’ plans to continue raising money for Ekisinga Ministries and pursue more hands-on projects in the future. He has a heart for children and desires to put together care packages for orphanages and kids in Africa, Smith said. Tre’ looks forward to working on future service projects and plans to continue making his ideas into realities. @desiree_anello

a los residentes de ingresos bajos y fijos LAS TARIFAS ELÉCTRICAS DE LA CIUDAD SUBIRÁN UN 15% PARA 2027

Escrito por Meghan McGlone Escritora de El Caimán

Traducido por Saira Gonzalez Escritora de El Caimán

Durante más de un año, Estefanía Torres pagó más de $500 por su factura de servicios públicos, casi el costo de su alquiler mensual. Cada mes, mientras miraba impotente su factura, empezaba a llorar. Luego, su arrendador reemplazó su unidad de aire acondicionado y su factura se redujo a $200. “Se redujo a la mitad con solo comprar la nueva unidad de aire acondicionado, eso es lo que me enojó tanto”, dijo la residente de Gainesville de 24 años. Torres es una de los muchos otros residentes de Gainesville que dependen de Gainesville Regional Utilities, pero vivir en un vecindario de bajos ingresos la afecta desproporcionadamente por los aumentos de tarifas actuales y futuros que GRU continúa implementando. El costo promedio de GRU por electricidad, agua y aguas residuales aumentó un 4% en octubre. El costo promedio de la electricidad de GRU aumentó alrededor de $6 y la factura total aumentó casi $10. De 2023 a 2027, las tarifas eléctricas subirán un 3% y las aguas residuales subirán un 5% anual, según GRU. Las tarifas de servicios públicos de Gainesville fueron las terceras más altas de todas las tarifas de servicios públicos del estado en agosto, según la Asociación de Electricidad Municipal de Florida. Williston, que está a unas 20 millas de Gainesville, tuvo las tarifas más bajas de Florida. Orlando también tuvo tarifas más bajas que Gainesville, ubicándose en el puesto 20 de las ciudades encuestadas.

Según el Departamento de Energía de EE. UU., los hogares de bajos ingresos tienden a gastar una mayor parte de sus ingresos en servicios públicos que otros hogares. Una forma de reducir los costos de energía es mediante electrodomésticos eficientes e aislamiento adecuado. Pero como inquilina, eso es algo sobre lo que Torres no tenía control. Para tratar de reducir los costos de energía, Torres mantenía su casa a 78 grados durante todo el día. Pero debido a su ineficiente unidad de aire acondicionado, su factura de GRU todavía le devolvía $500 hasta que la unidad de aire acondicionado fue reemplazada. “Las personas que más necesitan ayuda, las personas que más están luchando, las personas más desfavorecidas de nuestra sociedad, son las que realmente están enfrentando la peor parte de los errores de GRU”, dijo Torres. Taylor Smith, una residente de Gainesville de 20 años, comparte un apartamento de una habitación y un baño con su prometido. Dijo que sus facturas se han duplicado recientemente de $100 a casi $200. La pareja apaga electrodomésticos como el aire acondicionado cuando están en el trabajo, dejaron de cocinar en casa y en su lugar usan una parrilla para reducir la factura de la luz. “Sus tarifas son ridículas”, dijo Smith. “Cuando comenzamos a usar GRU, era bastante razonable. Ahora, de repente, es indignante “. Kinn’zon Hutchinson, director de atención al cliente de GRU, dijo que los aumentos de tarifas afectan a todos, independientemente de los ingresos. Pero GRU brinda asistencia a los residentes que tienen dificultades para pagar sus facturas mensuales, como proporcionar planes de pago y extender los pagos.

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8 ALLIGATOR  MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021

Gainesville residents paint seniors’ houses in Porters Quarters ORGANIZERS SAID IT’S AN EFFORT TO BEAUTIFY AND STRENGTHEN THE HISTORIC BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD

By Jiselle Lee Alligator Staff Writer

About 15 volunteers spent their Saturday morning painting houses for four hours with a goal in mind: to beautify the Porters

Quarters community. Ruby Williams, 85, watched from her living room window as her house’s outside walls turned from light blue to bright yellow — a color to represent sunshine. Williams lives on the corner of Southwest Sixth Avenue and Southwest Third Street in Porters Quarters, a historically Black neighborhood established in 1884.

Her 66-year-old daughter, Faye Williams, said her mother’s house is the perfect place to start the beautification because she’s one of the oldest residents in their neighborhood. Alachua Habitat for Humanity donated brushes and paint to help get the volunteers started in their mission. The volunteers who came to help paint were people of all ages and professional

Jiselle Lee // Alligator Staff

The Rev. Ron Rawls (left) and the Rev. Gerard Duncan (right) stand next to Ruby Williams’ house after painting it on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021.

backgrounds, working elbow-toelbow. There were more people than brushes. City Commissioner David Arreola and City Commission candidate Scherwin Henry also volunteered. “David came and that was great and Scherwin was here that’s great, but my position is you’re just another person,” Williams said. “If you came over to paint some houses, there’s a brush. Pick up the brush and start painting the houses.” They will probably paint the next house sky blue, representing going up to the heavens, Williams said. She wants the house after that to be green, representing the grass where everything is born together. “Everybody wants beauty around them,” she said. “That’s the best part of our culture as Black people. We have always been about nature and beauty in our music, poetry, dancing.” Jenn Powell, a 47-year-old Gainesville resident, has worked as a painter since 2017. She has worked on both commercial and recreational projects in the past, but this is her first time participating in a community volunteer project. “When Ms. Faye asks you to do something, you come,” she said. Powell said she came to volunteer as a way to try to protect historically Black communities in Gainesville. “If you make things nice, people living here can take pride in their community,” she said.

“When everything’s run down and paint’s peeling off, you don’t want to necessarily take care of it, so improving the look of it just brings up people’s morale.” The Rev. Gerard Duncan, now an Ocala resident, lived in Gainesville for 30 years. “This project is about revitalization and giving back to our seniors,” Duncan said. “Not only is the Porters community significant to the greater Gainesville, but the community historically is a major part of the culture of Gainesville.” Many of the seniors and other people living in the neighborhood cannot afford critical maintenance repairs for their houses, Duncan said. He has noticed how the development at the edges of the historically Black neighborhoods in Gainesville are negatively affecting its residents. He said neighborhoods like Porters Quarters were once believed to be suitable only for Black people to live in them. But once a Black neighborhood has been established, others come back to gentrify the area that they once claimed was not good enough for them. “[It’s] like the quality now of the homes and the pleasantry of a place that Black people were banished to now becomes prime real estate,” Duncan said. By beautifying Porters Quarters, Duncan said no one will be able to drive them out of the place to which they were driven. @jiselle_lee jlee@alligator.org

Professionals, pre-health students persevere in medical field despite COVID-19 pandemic

Professionals and students continue to deal with long shifts, lack of lunch breaks and emotional trauma By J.P. Oprison Alligator Staff Writer

Nurses worked 12-hour shifts at the height of the pandemic — all without lunch breaks. Hesitant of the work hours and stress, Claire Sproule almost chose a different career path than nursing. The 20-year-old UF nursing junior, however, decided to stay in the nursing program despite the hardships her coworkers faced. “It also just puts into perspective how health care workers are heroes,” Sproule said. “That inspires me even more.” COVID-19 cases surged, and patients piled up at UF Health Shands Hospital throughout the pandemic. But tough circumstances haven’t deterred students like Sproule from pursuing their dreams. In July, the Delta variant surge hit Shands with dramatic increases in hospitalizations with patients facing harsher symptoms, said Nicolás Kattán,

associate chief for the Division of Hospital Medicine at Shands. The hospital prioritized beds for COVID-19 patients over those not infected. “It’s been a total of three months of craziness,” Kattán said. When COVID-19 patients arrive, staff can’t escape the emotional scars that come with seeing the virus’ impacts. Patients are told they’ll be on oxygen when they arrive in the COVID-19 unit, Kattán said. If patients need more oxygen, they’re moved into the Intermediate Care Unit, where there are more nurses available. In more extreme circumstances, patients are moved into the Intensive Care Unit to be intubated and hooked to a ventilator. If a patient isn’t ready to come off the machine, they’re induced into a coma for another 24 hours. Patients can refuse life support, which puts them at further risk, Kattán said. “That conversation really kicks people

on the teeth,” Kattán said. “Is this going to be the last time I can talk to my family? Am I going to be able to come out of the hospital?” With the pandemic’s added challenges, staff have had to work past their shifts, ICU nurse Shuyun Shi said. “You just say, ‘If I can stay in here for an extra 10 minutes and do what I can, it may make a difference,’” Shi said. Shi feels frustrated to witness patients die when vaccines could’ve curbed the severity of their infection. Nurses bonded with coworkers to cope with the losses amid pressure. “We had to work long shifts; we had to go without water breaks; go without food because we were so busy,” Shi said. “And we all looked out for each other and got through it.” The pandemic caused Ashley Parrish, a 29-year-old Santa Fe College nursing student, to reconsider her career. Her hesitancy stemmed from what she viewed

as unempathetic health care workers who politicized the virus. “There should be no bias when it comes to providing health care for individuals,” Parrish said. “Everybody deserves equal treatment.” To stay motivated, health students should remember what sparked their passion, Parrish said. “You just have to think about what kind of regrets you would have if you changed your career path decision based on a temporary issue,” Parrish said. The pandemic, however, motivated some aspiring health care professionals even more. Pratham Pinni, a 19-year-old UF health science sophomore, said he’s more motivated to become a doctor after witnessing how essential doctors were during shortages of medical staff. “It’s almost like a precious resource,” Pinni said. “It seems hard now, but if you can go through it, then you basically helped so many people. One doctor can save so many lives.” @joprison joprison@alligator.org

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021 www.alligator.org/section/sports

WOMEN'S TENNIS

Emma Shelton: A homecoming FLORIDA WOMEN’S TENNIS LATEST TRANSFER IS NO STRANGER TO FLORIDA TENNIS

By Brenda Bogle Sports Writer

Gators women’s tennis coach Roland Thornqvist reminds his players every practice of an ancient Greek myth — the story of Sisyphus. Sisyphus was a man condemned by the gods to roll a boulder up a mountain. Every time he reached the top, however, it rolled back to the bottom. Sisyphus would remain stuck in this cycle for all of eternity, but he eventually found joy in his struggle as he hoped for success. Florida junior Emma Shelton draws from this Greek lesson. She finds joy in her dedication to reach the top of the mountain with her boulder: becoming a top collegiate tennis player. Now, two years after she left Gainesville to embark on her tennis journey, she finally returned home. “If you have players that are super talented and work hard and are helpful, then you can go really far as a team,” Thornqvist said. “Emma in particular is super motivated, you don't have to tell her twice to do anything.” Shelton’s path to playing for Florida wasn’t as clear as Sisyphus’ trek up the mountain. As the daughter of Florida men’s tennis coach Bryan Shelton, she first ventured on the university courts at around 10 years old practicing with her father as Thornqvist observed. Those hitting practices over the years paid off. She attended Buchholz High School and was highly sought-after as a five-star recruit. She eventually committed to play in the SEC — but not with her father’s program. She left the shadow of the Gators in 2019 to play col-

lege tennis for the South Carolina Gamecocks. During her two years at South Carolina, Shelton racked up accolades for her efforts on and off the court. She was named the 2020 ITA Carolina Region Rookie of the Year, and a ITA Scholar-Athlete and SEC Academic Honor Roll athlete her freshman year. Even across states, her family never drifted too far apart. She fondly remembers her victory as a Gamecock in the USTA Winter National Championships in January 2020. Her brother, Ben Shelton, now a sophomore on the Florida men’s tennis team, competed in the same tournament at the same time. “I thought it was cool to go back and play a junior tournament after I was already in college,” she said. “And it was also a good experience because... a lot of my family was there.” With former professional players on both sides of the family tree, tennis is a family affair for the Sheltons. Now, so are the Gators. Thornqvist recalls how quickly Shelton immersed herself into the Gators program’s culture. “She's seen our program through a decade of dominance, so I think Emma had a good idea of what a good team [looks] like,” Thornqvist said. “I was very impressed with some of the questions and concerns she had as far as getting the team back to a championship level.” Shelton also takes it upon herself to act as a positive force and a support system for her teammates. She was the first to welcome two European freshmen tennis players, Bente Spee and Alicia Dudeney, when they arrived in Gainesville earlier this year. She picked them up from the airport and took them to Target. Thornqvist factored into Shelton’s decision to transfer: His positivity and calming presence on the court drew her back to Florida. “He's an awesome coach, and he's super

positive which really helps me on the court sometimes to lighten up and see the good things,” Shelton said. Their shared vision for the team made Shelton’s transition to her old training ground seamless. “I'm so excited to be back,” she said. “It’s already so nice being home and having my family here and having that support system for us to all be lifting each other up.” Shelton harbors high expectations for herself and the team this season. The junior itches for the prospect of achieving the success her brother and father found a year ago with a national championship. The thought spurs her to push her own boulder up the mountain, every day. “I'm super excited to be on the team with a lot of new faces, another transfer and some upperclassmen,” she said. “I think that our team has everything that it takes to be at the top.” Fellow SEC transfer Carly Briggs, another one of the team’s new faces, came from Tennessee. She and Shelton crossed paths at junior tournaments in the past but never really got the chance to get to know each other before uniting in Gainesville. “Seeing her coming here actually made me want to go here even more,” Briggs said. “She's the kind of person that you want to be on your team.” Being an older transfer can be isolating, but Briggs and Shelton connected right away. The two began to share inside jokes in the weight room within a month of their first meeting, drawing curious and confused looks from teammates. “She's already like my best friend,” Briggs said. “There's actually not been a single day that I have not seen her.” The SEC Championship will run through the Gators’ turf this year at Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex. The team’s desire to defend its home offers additional motivation for Shelton and the rest of the team. As teammates continue to push the boulder

up the hill, they marvel at the intensity Shelton brings to the court. Senior Marlee Zein knows what it is like to play with and against Shelton. “She has a lot of energy when she plays,” Zein said. “She's super loud, and that's always a good thing.” Through hours of practice, Zein and Shelton have forged a strong bond. They consider the short fall season an opportunity to prepare and lay the groundwork for the spring when the Gators can compete for a conference or national title. The Gators still have a long way before they try to roll the rock up the mountain again this season. With Shelton on their side, though, they may find joy in the struggle. @bogle_brenda bbogle@alligator.org

Courtesy of the UAA

Florida’s Emma Shelton returns a ball at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex.

SOCCER

Outgunned: Florida’s shot struggles holds team back OUTSHOT ON BOTH SIDES, THE UNRANKED GATORS NEED A QUICK TURNAROUND BEFORE THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

By Jesse Richardson & Ryan Zehnder Sports Writers

Standing patiently on her side of the pitch, Auburn goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska awaited the first shot attempt from a lackluster Florida offense. The first half ticked by, second by second, but the shot never came. It wasn’t until the 60 minute mark when redshirt sophomore Nicole Vernis finally found a

crack in the Auburn defense to bend the first shot toward the net. The ball fell comfortably into Prohaska’s gloves. Vernis’ effort was Florida’s only shot on goal of the match. The uninspiring performance by the Gators offense on Sunday offered just a small sample size of how the team has failed to produce goals this season. After beginning conference play with two wins and a draw, the Gators appeared prepared for the difficult SEC schedule that lay ahead of them. Florida has lost four matches in a row and has been held scoreless three times since an emphatic away win versus

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Mississippi State on Sept. 26. With just three matches remaining in the regular season, Florida’s offensive woes remain its primary impediment to consistent success. The Gators have failed to score in seven of their 15 matches this season. Florida has struggled to not only create enough quality chances, but overall chances in general. The Gators average just 8.7 shots a match to their opponents’ 17. Of these chances, roughly 46% are on target, meaning they force the goalkeeper to make a save less than half the time. So, all it takes for an opposing keeper to hold Florida scoreless on an

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average afternoon is about four saves. Teams can skate by on a few shots per game when the key chances are converted into goals, but Florida has shown a lack of killer instinct this season. Despite defensive improvements within the last month, its backlines have failed to consistently prevent an opponent from using UF as a turnstile. Over the past four games, opponents racked up 72 shots within the goal area, which translated to eight total goals. Two of the scores coming from the 2-0 shutout loss against Auburn. Sophomore goalkeeper Alexa Goldberg slid and dove from

post-to-post, but she can’t be The Flash and defend everywhere at once. The SEC championship tournament is on the horizon, and only the top 10 squads in the conference will qualify to participate in Orange Beach, Alabama. The result on Sunday places the Gators in a tie for ninth with three matches left to play. Florida will hit the road again in an effort to get the wheels rolling on the right track with a trip to face the Georgia Bulldogs.

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12 ALLIGATOR  MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021

FOOTBALL

Gators defense flashes back to 2020 LSU gashes Florida to the tune of 321 rushing yards By Zachary Huber Sports Writer

The 2021 Florida-LSU game should have been known for the emergence of Gators backup quarterback Anthony Richardson. The redshirt freshman scored four straight touchdowns and added a crucial 2-point conversion once he seized control of the offense after Emory Jones’ second interception of the game. The Gators defense, however, spoiled his arrival. LSU running back Tyrion DavisPrice jab stepped to his left and took the handoff from quarterback Max Johnson, running right. His left tackle and guard paved the way for the junior to scamper 18 yards for a touchdown, and LSU led 7-6. The Tigers repeated this halfback counter over, over and over again, and the same play call flattened No. 20 Florida 4942 Saturday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in a defensive disaster reminiscent of a season ago. “I mean, we made the adjustments we were given to make,” linebacker Mohamoud

Diabate said after the game. “It seemed like they were hitting with a similar scheme, kind of counter run. We had whoever we had in the box, so we had to play it how we played it.” The Tigers entered Saturday’s contest as the nation’s fourthworst rushing offense, but DavisPrice led LSU with 287 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He shattered the record for most rushing yards against Florida in a single game (238), set by former Georgia running back Herschel Walker in 1980. Diabate gave credit where it was due. He said Davis-Price is great at running through tackles and being patient behind his offensive line when searching for a crease. He didn’t have any compliments to offer about the game plan or adjustments Florida and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham made, however. “That’s not my decision to make,” Diabate said. “I don’t look into those things. I’m like a soldier. When the general tells me where to shoot, I shoot. I don’t really ask too many questions.

That’s y’all’s job.” The defense seen against LSU gave Florida fans flashbacks to last season, when Grantham’s unit surrendered 34.4 points per game, the worst Florida scoring defense since 1917. Instead of starting from scratch on the defensive side of the ball, head coach Dan Mullen elected to just fire two secondary coaches. This year, the defensive numbers are inflated due to cupcake games versus Florida Atlantic and South Florida that were absent during last season’s all-conference slate. Florida allowed 200 yards of offense versus common SEC bottom-dweller Vanderbilt and avoided a one-possession lead at halftime thanks to an overturned touchdown and the Commodores’ kicking incompetence. With the defense struggling again, Mullen has to fan the flames he lit when he didn’t cut Grantham loose. The fourth-year Florida coach’s main response to multiple questions about the defense after LSU’s game was that he’ll evaluate and watch film. One reporter asked Mullen point blank if he

Samantha Harrison // Alligator Staff

Florida defensive coordinator Todd Grantham stands on the field before the Gators’ game against Vanderbilt on Oct. 9. would consider a coaching change midseason. He said he won’t jump to conclusions. “Nothing changes my perspective on anything,” Mullen said about Grantham. “We’re always evaluating things throughout the course of the season in everything we do. It’s a long season. We’re in the middle point of the season going into our bye week.”

Mullen and the Gators have drowned recently versus Power Five foes: They are 2-6 in their last eight games, mainly due to porous defense. The road after the bye week doesn’t get easier. They face No. 1 Georgia, who has given up 46 points total while the Gators gave up 49 versus LSU, on Oct. 30 in Jacksonville. @zacharyahuber zhuber@alligator.org