As UF starts third presidential search in 4 years, excitement wears thin
FACULTY FATIGUED AS SEARCH FIRMS AND POLITICAL RELATIONSHIPS AFFECT TENURE TIME
By Leona Masangkay Alligator Staff Writer
UF is searching for its next president. Again.
This is UF’s third presidential search in four years. Following the abrupt resignation of Ben Sasse in 2024, Dr. Donald Landry was selected by the UF Board of Trustees as interim president when Santa J. Ono, the University of Michigan’s then-president, was rejected.
The university announced the launch of its latest presidential search committee in December 2025, and it’s held three listening sessions since the Spring semester kicked off. However, these meetings differed from last year’s.
Following Sasse’s resignation, presidential search committee listening sessions were filled with comments on character, politics and conflicting opinions. This year, each meeting remained brief, with minimal comments.
“A presidential search should be inspiring,” said Pasha Agoes, a faculty senate member representing the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “Everyone should be, you know, giddy with excitement.”
Agoes said he began to feel
SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT
Criminal justice
less enthusiastic about UF’s presidential search following Ono’s rejection.
A search committee announced Ono as the sole finalist for the position in May 2025. But when the Florida Board of Governors questioned him on his stance on diversity, equity and inclusion prior to his confirmation vote, it decided he did not meet its criteria. Conservative board members cited Ono’s past climate justice initiatives and inclusion of gender pronouns on his Instagram profile as a threat to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ anti-woke agenda.
It was the first time in Florida public university history the Board of Governors rejected the sole finalist of a presidential search committee. Now, the overlap between politics and higher education is sparking fatigue among some faculty and students.
“We are an academic institution,” Agoes said. “We are not a political institution.”
Agoes said some of his colleagues are also feeling fatigued. UF’s presidential candidate should be a visionary, and they should be long term, he said. In recent years, faculty hasn't seen much of the latter in Tigert Hall.
In considering his ideal candidate, Agoes said it’s important for UF’s next president to recognize the university’s mission as a diverse center of re -
UF PRESIDENT, PAGE 4
Florida’s new state-approved sociology textbook omits units on race, gender, sexuality
FSU and FIU adopted the shortened version, while UF declined to implement it
By Sara Dhorasoo Alligator Staff Writer
Florida’s public university system has approved a significantly shortened Introduction to Sociology textbook that eliminates several core subject areas, a move faculty members say reshapes how the discipline is introduced to thousands of students statewide.
The Florida Board of Governors approved and distributed the revised syllabus and textbook framework for the course, which is now available for adoption at all state public universities. So far, Florida State University and Florida International University are using the new version. UF has declined to adopt it officially, treating it instead as a resource or recommendation, according to
professor William Marsiglio.
The state-approved textbook is 267 pages — compared to about 665 pages in the original Openstax Introduction to Sociology 3e edition used by UF. Introduction to Sociology at UF enrolled about 1,450 students during the 202526 academic year, according to public records acquired by The
SOCIOLOGY, PAGE 4
Story description finish with comma, pg#
Flock security cameras ignite privacy concerns in Gainesville. Read more on pg. 2.
Caimán: Immigration
Gainesville, Florida
Bayden Armstrong // Alligator Staff
Nicholas Hart and Cooper LaMontagne play guitar at a rehearsal of Hedwig and the Angry Inch in the fine arts building on UF’s campus, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. Find this story in TheAvenueon pg. 6.
Today’s Weather
Is Gainesville being watched? Flock Safety cameras ignite privacy concerns
THE GAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT DEFENDS ITS USE OF 10 SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS
By Maria Arruda Alligator Staff Writer
Gainesville residents have taken to social media over the last months to express disdain for surveillance cameras installed throughout the city.
“Flock is a cancer that’s been willingly invited to everyone’s lives,” one Reddit user wrote.
Another claimed residents now live in a police state.
Flock Safety is a private surveillance technology provider for over 5,000 law enforcement agencies across the country. Its cameras are designed to monitor vehicles and store plate and location data for 30 days. The devices also capture “vehicle fingerprints,” or details about a car, including make, model and any unique features.
The Gainesville City Commission’s approval of a contract with Flock in 2024 allowed law enforcement to enter an agreement with Flock, according to Art Forgey, the Gainesville Police Department public information officer.
Last year, GPD paid Flock $25,000, Forgey said, using 10 total cameras. Private companies can also buy and use Flock technology. Crowdsourced camera detection site DeFlock.me indicates about 100 of these cameras exist in total throughout the greater Gainesville area, many of which are clustered near Butler Plaza shopping center and around the main UF campus. The cameras’ controversies in Florida became apparent in 2022, when three South Florida residents sued the city of Marco Island, claiming constant surveillance is unconstitutional. Now, experts and activists alike are calling for restrictions on the technology.
A legal lens
Camera data is always vulnerable to hacks and misuse, despite reassurance otherwise, said Derek Bambauer, a UF law professor and cybersecurity expert.
“It’s something I worry about a lot, and I think that we should never take a vendor’s answer that it’s secure as worth anything,” he said.
Historically, the use of private data by the government is not “particularly encouraging,” he added. While it doesn’t mean Gainesville officials may misuse the systems, Derek said, there have been unexpected uses of camera footage.
A Texas sheriff’s office was found to have used data from more than 83,000 cameras to track a woman suspected of getting an abortion in 2025. Nearly 7,000 of the cameras searched by the officer were Flock Safety cameras, including ones in states like Washington, where abortion is legalized.
While systems like Flock Safety might encourage people to abide by the law, Derek said, he worries the possible oversight makes residents apprehensive. If people believe their local governments are monitoring
them, he said, they may not participate in community discourse, such as political protests.
“It would be very useful if there was a little bit more transparency,” he said.
Jane Bambauer, another UF law professor, said limiting individual access to the data would prevent “fishing expeditions,” or misuse by officials for political motivations.
A privacy and technology law expert, Jane said smaller law enforcement units may be less sophisticated, and thus are less likely to have rules specifying who can access camera information.
“That should be treated as a prying of genuinely private information,” she said.
She recommends legislators dictate when footage from Flock Safety cameras can be used. Incident-driven cases like a high-level or violent crime, she added, would be appropriate, allowing officers to use the data to examine a crime scene rather than to track individual suspects.
The Alligator contacted Flock representatives for comment on the privacy and access concerns raised and was redirected to the company’s privacy and ethics page. Under the personal information section, Flock said it collects images of vehicles and license plates, not names, addresses or social security numbers.
Front lines
Detective Sgt. Nicholas Ferrara, of the GPD's financial and organized crimes unit, said police forces can customize camera systems to only alert stations for cases of stolen vehicles, wanted people and stolen license plates.
“I think there are a lot of misconceptions to the usage of license plate readers,” he said.
While Flock Safety cameras are always on, Ferrara said, they’re not always recording. Instead, they are designed to pick up motion from a vehicle and record a license plate tag, essentially acting as a police officer monitoring traffic.
Flock cameras are solar-powered and operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But they only capture images of vehicles as they pass.
Cameras aren’t commonly placed outside of locations people frequent, such as bars or casinos, Ferrara added, so police can’t surveil residents in their everyday lives.
“And truthfully, we don’t do that,” he said.
To promote data safety, every police officer has unique login information to access the system, Ferrara said, and every log on and search is recorded. If a concern is raised about someone’s searches, officials may investigate searches and question officers if necessary.
Once an officer no longer works with GPD, their access to the camera systems is removed, he said.
Cameras like Flock Safety’s have helped solve crimes, Ferrara said, a merit people forget.
“It’s been a lifesaver for a lot of cases,” he said.
One case in particular, he added, “always sticks out.”
A few years ago, after an attempted ATM break-in on Newberry Road, camera footage allowed Ferrara and
other forces to uncover the suspects behind multiple burglary and grand theft auto cases in Alachua and Bradford counties.
On the ATM security video, Ferrara said he noticed a unique Volvo SUV, which he later tracked down as a stolen vehicle through Flock Safety footage. A car following the Volvo, however, was not stolen, so officers were able to track the owner and solve the cases, Ferrara said.
“It makes the community safer, makes me feel safer and allows us to do our job more efficiently and effectively,” he said.
The dissent
To Chad Marlow, a senior policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union, automated license plate readers aren’t the inherent issue. The issue is Flock Safety.
Using Flock Safety products for limited surveillance, Marlow said, is like buying a Ferrari with the intent of only driving at 5 miles per hour.
Flock’s business model is based upon broad sharing of local data throughout the country and the world, he said, and the company itself has access to footage, which Marlow said is not in the interest of local residents.
“If police want to use ALPRs [automated license plate readers] responsibly, then why are they contracting with the least responsible ALPR company in the country?” he asked.
Flock Safety’s privacy and ethics guidelines state customers own 100% of their data, and only they may decide who to share it with. Private customers, the website says, cannot access law enforcement records.
Marlow argued most citizens haven’t committed crimes warranting constant surveillance. Just because someone didn’t do anything wrong doesn’t mean they’re unconcerned about their privacy, he said.
“The idea that you only have to be worried about your privacy if you're doing something wrong just doesn't actually hold up when you run it by real world scenarios,” he said. “That doesn't necessarily mean they want every single aspect of their life to be an open book to the government.”
Ultimately, Marlow said he wants to see rules implemented to limit data sharing and data retention. Flock Safety systems, including that of the GPD, store footage for 30 days, which Marlow believes is too long.
He also hopes end-to-end encryption for data will be added, to protect from hackers, and for data to only be used in necessary circumstances, such as in the case of a kidnapping.
Marlow said Gainesville’s local government, police department and ultimately the state should issue guidelines to control camera data use.
“There's a lot of different guardrails that can be put in place, and really none of these systems should be used until those guardrails are in place,” he said. “That's the way you keep people safe.”
The Alligator strives to be accurate and clear in its news reports and editorials. If you find an error, please call our newsroom at 352-376-4458 or email editor@alligator.org 352-376-4458 NEWSROOM:
For Gator Grill Club, barbecue isn’t just a
THE NEW STUDENT ORGANIZATION BLENDS BUSINESS AND BURGERS
By Nevaeh Baker Harris Alligator Staff Writer
What makes a good burger? Is it the meat used to make it? Or maybe it’s how the patty is seasoned?
The executive board members of Gator Grill Club have a simpler explanation — it’s the grill.
Understanding how to grill meat to perfection, and bonding with others over it, is exactly why Gator Grill Club, a new student organization dedicated to the art of grilling, was founded.
The club’s first official meeting drew a crowd of around 300 students to Flavet Field. The e-board cooked burgers and hot dogs while teaching interested students the importance of grill safety.
Tyson Jimerson, a 19-year-old UF finance freshman, has been a member of the club since its first meeting.
Jimerson originally became involved with the club after playing a basketball game with its founder, he said. A desire to learn more about proper grilling drew Jimerson in, but the club’s focus on outreach made him stay.
The club plans to do cookouts for the homeless as its main form of community outreach. It also hopes to host grill safety events and bring in animal science students to showcase how meat is processed.
“At the end of the day, if you’re not doing something to contribute to the community, there’s something more you could be doing,” Jimerson said.
The club plans to meet on Wednesdays, with each meeting focused on different aspects of grilling. While some will be more akin to the first meeting, which was a grill-out, others will focus on food safety and how to grill properly.
Members have various degrees of barbecue backgrounds. The logistical head of the club, Ava Prator, a 19-year-old UF computer engineering sophomore, is among those helping out more behind the scenes than on the grill.
“I help a lot with room bookings. Right
now, I’m making merch. I take notes and keep track of what’s going on,” Prator said. “I don’t have a lot of grilling experience, but I do like to help when I can.”
Another member of the e-board, Reed Coene, a 19-year-old UF finance freshman, believes the logical next step for the club is part-
nering with businesses in Gainesville. Doing so could help the club, which currently pays for costs out of pocket, secure more stable funding, he said.
“It’s definitely going,” Coene said of his quest for sponsorship. “But we haven’t really gotten any responses back yet.”
Despite the difficulties with outreach, members are still hopeful they’ll be able to grow the club more than they have already, said Coene.
Coene said he’s grateful for the work club founder Cooper Zysk did to get the club started.
Zysk, a 19-year-old UF construction management freshman, has been an avid griller his entire life. In high school, Zysk and his friends had cookouts for football games. What started as a hangout between friends became a cherished tradition.
Read the rest online at alligator.org.
@nbakerharris nbakerharris@alligator.org
Rising rent across Florida hits Gainesville students close to home
Housing increases make off-campus living harder to afford
By Reagan Bresnahan Alligator Contributing Writer
Rising rent prices across Gainesville are pushing UF and Santa Fe College students farther from campus, making housing near the university increasingly unaffordable. A study published in September 2025 listed Gainesville as the 11th most expensive metro to live in out of the 196 most populous areas in the U.S.
With enrollment climbing and most students living off campus, rising rent prices are reshaping how Gainesville students decide where to live. Santa Fe College does not offer on-campus housing, and roughly 75% of UF students live off campus, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Median monthly rent for 2024 in Gainesville increased by about $250 since 2015, after adjusting for inflation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment was about $1,200 per month in 2024.
Brianna Bates, a Gainesville resident and the Lexington Apartments leasing manager, is not surprised at the increases in rent across the city.
“Gainesville as a whole is a market that always goes up,” she said.
When one apartment raises its prices, it sets the tone for other apartments that want to match the market and increase profits, Bates said. Competitors essentially push each other to raise prices, even for long-term residents who she believes should have lower rates.
Prices aren’t just based on the market; they are also based on demand.
“A lot of apartments here work off of a tier system,” she said. “Once you hit a certain price point at a certain amount of leases, your price goes up.”
The more leases she gets signed, the higher the price goes up. She tells students to sign sooner rather than later to avoid the hike in prices, she said.
Bates said while interest in off-campus housing peaked last year, she has noticed demand slowing down this year. She attributes the decline to how much rent is going up now.
Rents are expected to decline 1% nationally this year, according to Florida Realtors. If Gainesville continues to follow national trends, then students should expect some relief.
Many UF students who are eligible to live on campus choose off-campus housing for the amenities. Edmund Poon, a 20-yearold UF finance sophomore, moved from dorms to The Standard this school year for more space, a kitchen and proximity to his classes.
He currently pays about $1,350 a month for a room in a four-bedroom apartment, but next year, he expects the rent to increase to $1,550 a month. Because of this, he and his roommates are not re-signing their lease. Instead, they’re moving to Stadium House, a newer apartment that has a similar rent but better amenities.
Location is also an important factor for Poon, so his new apartment is still close to campus. He said proximity helps him make professional connections and friends, and he feels like he’s a part of UF.
“You could definitely take a lot of online classes, and that’ll probably make you feel a little lonely if you weren’t on campus as much,” he said.
To accommodate high enrollment but limited physical space, UF’s PaCE program allows students to take online classes before transitioning to on-campus classes after they’ve completed 60 credits. PaCE students cannot live on campus until they transition to on-campus courses, but many choose to live in
Gainesville to find a sense of community.
Adrian Socorro, an 18-year-old UF English freshman who is part of the PaCE program, moved to Gainesville for the “college experience.” If a student can’t live near campus, they would be missing out on social and professional experiences the school offers, Socorro said.
“You would be losing a year of your college life,” he said. “That stacks up when you realize that you’re behind everyone else.”
Although he’s enjoyed the involvement in college culture that comes with living near campus, the increase in rent is making it harder for him to recommend UF as a school, especially to outof-state students.
“It makes it more difficult for new students to feel comfortable financially,” Socorro said, adding that students will just opt to go to a school they can commute to from home.
He said “affordability definitely goes based on proximity” in the apartments he looked at. A UF report on average rental rates for the 2025-26 school year indicates a $345 difference in monthly rent between four-bedroom apartments 2 miles or less from campus versus those 3 miles or farther.
Socorro chose to live at Lexington Apartments, a 30-minute bus commute to UF’s campus, for the low rent, but he’s moving closer to campus next year because of the faster commute and ability to walk to campus. His new apartment’s rent will be just under $900 a month, but it’s a trade-off he’s willing to make.
“It’s gonna be $60 more to be infinitely close[r] to campus,” Socorro said.
Reagan Bresnahan is a contributing writer for The Alligator. @rbres24 rbresnahan@alligator.org
Ryan Friedenberg // Alligator Staff
Members of the Gator Grill Club executive board pose by a grill on the University of Florida campus, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.
Faculty fatigued from presidential searches
UF PRESIDENT, from pg. 1
search.
Juan Osorio, a 20-year-old UF political science junior, said the presidential search has been disappointing because he feels it’s becoming increasingly politicized.
UF’s struggle to find a longterm president is "embarrassing," he said.
Osorio is the president of UF College Democrats, and he said he’s received questions from shocked students regarding why Ono was turned away. He felt less shocked, personally, because of Florida’s traditionally conservative state government and its influence on the presidential selection process, he said.
Sasse, UF’s 13th president, denied involvement with DeSantis during his presidential search. However, reports showed DeSantis’s chief of staff, James Uthmeier, guided Sasse through the selection process.
Osorio said young students won’t fully understand the importance of what a president does if the current political climate persists. In other words, he worries incoming future students will not get to experience a president with no political background.
“It is definitely dismaying students who are paying attention," he said. “They know what kind
of pressure we’re under from the state legislature.”
The rise of search firms
Judith Wilde, a research professor at George Mason University, said a variety of factors affect shortened tenures and higher search frequencies.
Wilde, along with her research partner, has been studying university presidential searches for over a decade. They found one big factor in particular
that affects presidential searches: search firms.
A search firm is an external company hired to recruit executive leadership candidates in education, such as a university president. Hiring a search firm means less work for the presidential search committee and the Board of Trustees, Wilde said.
In the late 1970s, Wilde and her research partner saw search firms being used in about 2% of presidential searches, she said. By the late 2010s, the percentage
Bayden Armstrong // Alligator Staff Chairman of the Board of Trustees Morteza “Mori” Hosseini interviews Dr. Donald Landry on his stance on antisemitism. Dr. Landry testified in front of the Board of Trustees at the Emerson Alumni Hall, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla.
jumped to 92%.
UF hired SP&A Executive Search for the searches that brought in Sasse and Ono as candidates.
For this year’s search, UF hired Korn Ferry, a global organizational consulting firm. Korn Ferry was involved in the University of South Florida’s presidential search last year, producing current President Moez Limayem. In 2005, Korn Ferry also assisted Cornell University in finding its 12th president.
“We’ve found that there is very little due diligence done on the part of the search firms,” Wilde said. “If they do it, they do it for an extra cost, and often say they won’t guarantee the work.”
An aspect of due diligence is contacting a presidential candidate’s suggested references, she said. But just 51% of all search firm contracts she studied followed this step. Skipping parts of due diligence may lead to undisclosed areas of a candidate’s background coming out during their presidency, which could cut their tenure short, she said.
Despite issues within search firms, Wilde describes them as “a knight in shining armor riding in on a white horse” in the eyes of a board or committee. Search firms are appealing because they offer to do the work themselves, she said.
“Board of governors typically are appointed for … four to six years,” Wilde said. “They may never have been involved in a
Florida approves new sociology textbook
SOCIOLOGY, from pg. 1
Alligator.
Faculty say the new version removes entire units on media and technology, global inequality, race and ethnicity, social stratification, gender, sex and sexuality. According to Inside Higher Ed, it also eliminates a section addressing the government-led genocide of Native Americans.
Marsiglio, a UF sociology professor who has taught the introductory course for four decades, said the revised textbook is an “affront on academic freedom.”
“It’s something that never has happened in my career before,” Marsiglio said, “where administrators, even close or far removed from the topic, are pushing to have a course taught in a certain way which really is inconsistent with the discipline.”
Sociology studies have been the subject of increasing scrutiny from Florida lawmakers over the past few years. The Board of Governors eliminated sociology courses from general education curriculum in 2024, a move Gov. Ron DeSantis touted as “sensible” in a speech he delivered on UF’s campus last year.
Marsiglio said introductory sociology is designed to expose students to how social forces — including race, class and gender — shape outcomes in education, health and employment.
“It’s hard to imagine thinking about how people live their everyday lives and
assume that social stratification, class, race, gender don't matter, because they do,” he said.
Marsiglio added narrowing the curriculum could disadvantage students preparing for professional exams such as the MCAT, which assumes familiarity with sociological concepts including inequality and social determinants of health.
Some students who recently completed the course say the removed material represents central components of the class.
Heidi Storch, an 18-year-old UF biochemistry freshman who took the course in Fall 2025 with Marsiglio, said removing units on social norms, race and gender stereotypes, and social media would significantly diminish the class, as they were among the most valuable lessons she learned.
“It’s kind of the whole point of the class,” Storch said.
Faculty seek clarification
At FSU, sociology assistant professor Shantel Buggs said faculty members have sought guidance on how the changes affect classroom discussion.
Instructors have asked whether they may address removed topics if students bring them up independently, she said. The clarification hasn’t been provided. Still, she said she doesn’t feel demoralized and hopes people will push back against the change.
“If you want to say that race and gender don't actually have any impact on why people have different outcomes … then of course you're going to be opposed to sociology,” Buggs said. “Because sociology tells you that individual choices are not the only things determining our lives.”
As questions mounted, the Board of Governors scheduled a webinar with a sociology committee composed of FSU and FIU faculty members to address concerns in January. The board canceled the session hours before it was set to begin.
It is unclear whether it will be rescheduled.
Robert Cassanello, president of the statewide union United Faculty of Florida, said he believes the webinar was canceled after officials learned attendance would be high.
“This was not something that they wished to defend publicly,” Cassanello said.
Meghan Thomas, the Board of Governors communications coordinator, wrote in an email to The Alligator the subject’s newly formatted learning materials came alongside input from university faculty.
“University faculty participated in a statewide sociology workgroup and developed a framework that could be used for the course and developed a resource to align with the framework,” she wrote.
Still, the implementation of the new framework was met with some confu-
search before, and it may scare them to have this great responsibility on them.”
University presidential searches have been on the rise nationwide, Wilde said, but Florida is especially a hotspot.
“I think at last count, it’s six of the open presidencies in Florida somehow magically ended up getting a president that was a political friend of DeSantis,” Wilde said.
Florida International University President Jeanette Nuñez, University of West Florida President Manny Díaz Jr. and New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran are all former politicians with ties to DeSantis.
The Board of Governors answered a request for comment on the UF presidential search by redirecting The Alligator to the university’s own communications team, which did not have any comments.
Listening sessions have concluded for the meantime, and the next steps for the presidential search committee are unclear. The search for Ono took seven months from the date the search committee was announced to the date he was named as the sole finalist. If Interim President Landry is not selected to take the role permanently, his contract stipulates he receives $2 million in annual severance pay through August 2027.
@leo_amasangkay lmasangkay@alligator.org
sion. In December 2025, the FIU provost instructed faculty to adopt the board-approved syllabus and textbook for all sections of the course with one business day’s notice. Faculty had previously been told implementation would not be required until Fall 2026.
In January, FIU’s Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies submitted a letter to the university’s faculty senate raising concerns that the revised textbook could disadvantage pre-med and social work students, who rely on foundational sociological concepts.
The letter, approved 19-0 with one abstention, asked the Faculty Senate Academic Freedom Committee and UFF-FIU, the university’s chapter of the faculty union, to review the changes and recommend corrective action.
FIU faculty also said the textbook conflicts with the American Sociological Association’s code of ethics and prevents instructors from presenting the discipline comprehensively.
Union president Cassanello said he believes the revisions reflect a broader shift in state oversight of university curricula. He added while tenured faculty may feel more secure raising concerns, non-tenured instructors could feel pressure to self-censor.
“It sets a dangerous precedent by which people who are not at all content experts are demanding a veto power over subject material we teach in our classes,” he said. dhorasoo@alligator.org
‘Nothing
is final yet’: Second week of ACPS rezoning meetings brings concerns of closures, transportation
GAINESVILLE AND NEWBERRY RESIDENTS ATTENDED
By Grace Larson Alligator Staff Writer
Alachua County Public Schools finished its second week of community input meetings Thursday to gather feedback on its rezoning initiatives.
The district released nine draft plans — three for each school level: elementary, middle and high — on Feb. 2.
The elementary school maps call for the closure of up to four schools: Williams, Foster, Rawlings and Alachua elementary schools — five if Duval Early Learning Academy, a pre-K through kindergarten school, is considered.
At the middle school level, the district proposed the conversion of two middle schools — Mebane and Lincoln — into kindergarten through eighth grade schools. Oak View, a middle school in Newberry, is expected to become a pre-K through eighth grade school to compensate for Newberry Elementary School’s conversion to a charter.
Zoning changes across the high school maps were most apparent within inner-Gainesville schools like Buchholz and Gainesville high schools.
Buchholz High School
More than 100 community members filled Buchholz High School’s auditorium Monday to listen to a presentation on the district’s rezoning initiatives.
Following the meeting, residents gathered in the auditorium to provide feedback to district workers. Concerns were shared through note cards, conversations and an online survey.
Geof Gowan, a 55-year-old parent of an incoming middle school stu-
dent, was among those who voiced concerns at Monday’s meeting.
His child was originally zoned for Fort Clarke Middle School, he said, but two of the maps rezone them for Westwood Middle School.
The Florida Department of Education labeled Fort Clarke Middle School an “A” school for the 202425 school year; Westwood Middle School received a “C” grade.
“I understand the consolidation and the efficiencies of rearranging,” Gowan said, “but if the school sucks, it’s bad for the kids.”
He worries the quality of teaching will differ for kids not enrolled in Westwood’s magnet program.
Westwood Middle School offers the Cambridge Program, which combines collaborative learning with critical thinking and technology, according to the school’s website. However, students zoned for the school may attend without being enrolled in the program.
Laurel McAllister, a 43-year-old Gainesville resident, also expressed concerns over the middle school maps. However, her criticisms centered around the proposed K-8 schools.
“I would like to see a numbers breakdown of what these closures save versus what they’re going to have to spend to renovate schools to be K-8,” she said. “There are certain standards for what has to be in place for kindergarten.”
According to the Florida Department of Education, kindergarten playgrounds must be separated from surrounding areas by a 4-foot fence. Kindergarten classrooms must also have direct access to the play area.
It might be challenging for the district to implement changes to middle school campuses to accommodate an influx of kindergarten students and the wide range of ages in K-8 schools, McAllister said.
Oak View Middle School
Gainesville residents were not the
Raymond Rawls and Lorraine Duerden look at an elementary school rezoning map proposal at a community rezoning meeting held at Eastside High School, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.
only community members who attended this week’s meetings. Roughly 50 Newberry residents attended Tuesday’s meeting at Oak View Middle School.
During the meeting, Kathie Ebaugh, the director of planning at JBPro, stressed the importance of maximizing capacity at schools. JBPro is the company ACPS is working with to design the rezoning plans.
Empty seats in elementary schools throughout the county are enough to fill 4.2 schools, she said. At the middle school level, these vacancies fill 1.9 schools, and at the high school level, they fill 0.7 schools.
The proposed elementary school closures and the expansion of middle schools into K-8 schools is meant to account for the findings.
“If we’re stretching ourselves too thin by spending and keeping schools open that are not to capacity, then we are not utilizing our dollars completely well,” Ebaugh said.
Following the presentation, community members spoke with ACPS administration and JBPro workers to discuss the proposed changes and provide feedback.
Within these meetings, JBPro representatives recognized the three most prevalent aspects of community feedback: the need for better transportation, upgraded facilities and strong academic programs.
The representatives also stressed that faculty members — including teachers and guidance counselors — at schools recommended for closure will be offered positions at other schools in the district.
Students enrolled in magnet programs won’t be affected, even if their zoned school changes, they said.
Eastside High School
Over 50 community members attended Wednesday’s meeting at Eastside High School. Among those in attendance were a group of individuals protesting the proposed closure of Duval Early Learning Academy.
The individuals wore Duval Early Learning Academy T-shirts and held posters opposing the school’s closure.
Tina Days, a 47-year-old parent of a Duval Early Learning Academy student, was among those in atten-
dance.
With the proposed closures of Duval Early Learning Academy and Rawlings Elementary School, both the school her daughter currently attends and the school the family’s zoned for are at risk of closure.
Days, who has regularly attended school board meetings to emphasize the importance of Duval Early Learning Academy during public comment, is frustrated with the proposed plans.
“I’ve been talking about this,” she said. “Everything I have said has come true.”
She feels the school closures are disproportionately affecting the east side of the county. East Gainesville is home to several historically Black neighborhoods that have historically lacked access to infrastructure like grocery stores and health care as development clusters nearer the west part of the city.
Of the proposed school closures, Williams, Rawlings and Duval are on the east side. Foster Elementary School is located at the intersection between the east and west sides.
For Gainesville residents, like 75-year-old Jacquelyn Collins, the proposed closures of these schools may create problems with transportation.
“We’re back to the same thing we did before: busing,” Collins said. “So, why are we going backwards?”
The format of the community input meetings is another point of concern for Collins.
Rather than engaging in public discussion, participants watch a presentation in the auditorium and go to the media center for one-on-one discussions with JBPro representatives and district workers.
Read the rest online at alligator.org.
@graceellarson glarson@alligator.org
Alachua County greenlights Melrose WildFlowers Music Festival after 6 hours of debate
Nearly 250 community members attended the meeting
By Kaitlyn McCormack Alligator Staff Writer
After six hours of debate, the Alachua County Commission approved a temporary use permit for the WildFlowers Music Park festival at its Tuesday meeting.
A temporary use permit gives short-term permission for nonpermanent events to occur at a location for a specified amount of time. The application clarified the Melrose music festival will have an attendance up to 5,000 with overnight camping for more than three days, including setup and breakdown. The festival is scheduled for March 13-15.
The WildFlowers Music & Dance Festival has been a controversial topic since September 2025. At that time, the commission first opted for a temporary use permit instead of a special area plan, which would have evaluated the environmental impacts. In January, over 75 Melrose residents held a protest against the festival.
During the hearing, former commissioner and permit applicant Robert “Hutch” Hutchinson and his team addressed concerns regarding security, noise, traffic, sanitation, emergency services and environmental impacts.
About 250 community members — supporters and opponents alike — lined the seats of the commission meeting room and an overflow room.
During the quasi-judicial hearing, 10 Melrose residents gave testimonies as party members, which allowed them to ask the board and WildFlowers staff direct questions. This is different from public comment, which doesn’t allow for cross-examination.
Sandra Gottschalk, a 61-year-old Melrose resident, was the first to speak. Gottschalk’s property is directly adjacent to the WildFlowers site, and she has lived there for 23 years. Opponents argued the area isn’t equipped to hold a festival of this size because the site is located in a rural residential area.
“Overnight camping, amplified nighttime
activity, lighting and thousands of people represent an intensity that rural areas were never planned to absorb,” she said.
Gottschalk said the plot is designated for agricultural use, and the commission is not protecting that mission.
“A temporary use permit is intended for small, short durations. … Using it to authorize a high-intensity commercial venue sets precedents that rural land use protections can effectively be bypassed through proper labeling rather than compliance,” Gottschalk said.
Nearly 70 community members signed up for public comment. Some Melrose residents were in support of the festival.
Harriet Huss, a 45-year resident of Melrose whose property borders the land, was among those supporters.
“I feel like the festival is needed because the park is needed, and without the festival to fundraise it, I don’t know how they can meet the mortgage,” Huss said.
Hosting the festival for a couple of days
each year is the best way to keep the land mostly undeveloped and a community asset, she said. When the festival is not occurring, the WildFlowers land will be a public park.
“I feel like we can put up with it with a longterm goal of preserving this piece of land,” she said.
Ultimately, at 11 p.m., the temporary use permit passed through the commission unanimously. The commissioners cited positive economic impact as a main goal.
“These local communities are having a hard time keeping their young people there, because the businesses are not there,” said Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to encourage some of these young business people.”
Commissioner Mary Alford asked the community to remember that a temporary use permit can be considered a trial run.
“This is a one-time permit,” Alford said. “If they fail, we won’t do it again.”
@kaitmccormack20 kmccormack@alligator.org
Caroline Walsh // Alligator Staff
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026
www.alligator.org/section/the-avenue
Gainesville’s ‘little rock and roll guitar shop’ has a new home
FUNKY MUSIC CONTINUES ITS SUPPORT OF LOCAL MUSIC SCENE IN NEW LOCATION
By Isabel Kraby Avenue Staff Writer
Mike Kish has been passionate about electric guitars since his sister handed her 1981 Hamer Sunburst down to him as a kid.
Kish, the 42-year-old manager and guitar repairer at Funky Music, has always dreamed of working at a mom-and-pop music store, much like the one where he worked to raise money for guitar lessons when he was young. He shared that dream with Funky Music’s owner, Mike Hetrick, a longtime member of the local music scene.
That longing for a Gainesville guitar business was shared by locals who have seen stores like Tim and Terry’s Music and More close in recent memory.
“We’re doing our best to live the dream of the community,” Kish said.
Funky Music came to fruition in January 2024, and the business celebrated the grand opening of its new location Feb. 13 on Northwest 10th Avenue.
Bigger than its former location on 16th Avenue, Funky Music now occupies the front of the once unused section of the signage shop
THEATRE
Signs By Tomorrow and sits aside Goodbike, Hetrick’s bike sale and repair business.
“One of the things we always joke about is, what is more Gainesville than a bike-signguitar shop?” he said. “It’s just eclectic. It has a soul. That’s Gainesville.”
Funky Music’s interior certainly has soul, too. The walls are lined with skateboards, paintings and posters of music icons like Elvis Presley and Johnny Rotten. Copies of the DIY punk fanzine Razorcake are scattered across the store. Behind the front counter, Bluebell, a sleepy gray cat, lies in a chair, surrounded by an assortment of guitar necks, straps and cases and walls and bins of tools.
And of course, the main wall showcases an array of electric, acoustic and bass guitars, with more placed on the floor around a pile of amps. They sit atop a rug that patrons have said really ties the room together, referencing the film “The Big Lebowski.”
None of Funky Music’s electric and eclectic collection would be possible without the community, Kish said. From the support of local bands like the Dixie Desperados to help from the crew over at The Ox, the community’s assistance is instrumental to the store’s success, he added.
Jimmy Millsaps, a drummer of 50 years, has been a part of the local music scene for a long time. He has seen music stores come and go and has played in various bands, including the Dixie Desperados with Jeff Sims, the for-
Ave., Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.
mer owner of the old Sims Music and Sound.
As a seasoned multi-instrumentalist, Millsaps recognizes the importance of brick-andmortar music stores like Funky Music.
“Shops have died in this area because of the internet … and we buy from them, we do, but having a local store is really such an ad-
vantage,” he said. “You can put your hands on things, and you can get things immediately without having to wait.”
A guitarist for around 16 years, Kyle Flinchum often gets his hands on a particular Fender Telecaster he’s been eyeing at Funky Music. He stops in to buy strings for his Ibanez Steve Vai Signature, hang up flyers for his bands’ upcoming shows or simply hang out.
Flinchum, the 25-year-old guitarist of bands Cathluina and Vzulize, prefers to support local shops over large corporations, as businesses like Funky Music show up for and give back to their communities, he said.
“Funky Music is going to be a big supporter of the local music scene, and they have been already, whereas a place like Guitar Center is really not present in those communities,” Flinchum said.
Aside from being a bandmate, Flinchum has been teaching guitar for five years. He hopes to become an instructor at Funky Music, as the store plans to utilize a vacant room in its new space for lessons.
Decades after Kish himself took guitar lessons, paid for by his work at a local music store, he manages his own shop, one dedicated to allowing music making to be as easy and fun as it gets.
@isabelgkraby ikraby@alligator.org
Student theater group stages ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ in downtown venue
STUDENTS HANDLE LICENSING, DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE IN FIRST OFFICIAL PRODUCTION
By Aaliyah Evertz Avenue Staff Writer
An independently produced staging of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” is bringing student-led theater into downtown Gainesville, marking the first official production of a newly formed nonprofit company founded by UF students.
The production, organized by Mountain Productions, operates outside traditional university and community theater structures. Students involved in the project are responsible for all aspects of the production, including licensing, fundraising, design and performance.
Mountain Productions was founded by 20-year-old UF musical theater junior Cooper LaMontagne following the success of an independently produced staging of “Spring Awakening” his freshman year. The show, produced before the company formally existed, sold out multiple performances and informed the decision to establish a nonprofit organization.
“Producer’s just a fancy word for just getting a bunch of really talented people in the same room together to work towards a single vision,” he said.
LaMontagne serves as co-director and producer of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” while also performing in the onstage
Sports
band as Skzsp, the rhythm guitarist. The show incorporates a live band as part of the performance, reflecting the musical’s origins in underground venues.
Originally staged off-Broadway in 1998 and adapted into the 2001 film, “Hedwig” follows a genderqueer East German singer navigating identity and artistic ownership while pursuing a former partner who achieved fame using her music.
During development of the musical, Mountain Productions formalized its operations, securing 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and establishing a board of directors. Fundraising efforts included a sold-out cabaret concert at LaMontagne’s former high school, Satellite High School, raising about $4,500, as well as campus-based and online initiatives.
The musical will be staged at How Bazar, a downtown space known for hosting independent artists and community events. LaMontagne said the venue was selected after considering both financial constraints and artistic fit.
“This is our passion,” he said. “This is what inspires us every single day. ... Everyone really feels equally as passionate — everyone has stake in the game.”
The show is co-directed by 22-year-old UF musical theater senior Ethan Garrepy, who also serves as lead designer and portrays both Hedwig and Tommy. The production functions as Garrepy’s senior thesis.
In the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance program, students complete a “performance in lieu of thesis,” pairing a major role with a written analysis. Garrepy’s honors thesis expands that scope to include directing, design and production management.
Meet the Gator lacrosse captain whose younger sister also just committed to Florida. Read more on page 12.
Garrepy first proposed “Hedwig” after revisiting its music during a class project focused on rock musicals. Production planning began in March 2025, with casting, licensing and fundraising underway months before rehearsals began.
Garrepy said the independent structure of Mountain Productions reflects the group’s approach to building professional experience.
“This isn’t just a fun, silly little project,” he said. “We’re serious about this.”
Behind the scenes, stage manager Caroline McKinney, a 22-year-old UF graphic design senior, oversees rehearsal coordination and communication. She and Garrepy first worked together in high school theater in Winter Park, Florida, where she transitioned from performing into technical roles.
Her role includes organizing rehearsal schedules, tracking rehearsal timing and run-through progress and serving as a central point of contact as the production moves toward opening night.
“I think this is just one of the most collaborative spaces I’ve been in,” McKinney said. “These are the most driven people I’ve ever been in this space with.”
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” will run Feb. 26 through Feb. 28 at How Bazar in downtown Gainesville. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, with shows at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets cost $20 and are available online.
@aaliyahevertz1 aevertz@alligator.org
Bayden Armstrong // Alligator Staff Funky Music stands at 210 NW 10th
El Caimán
LUNES, 16 DE FEBRERO DE 2026
www.alligator.org/section/spanish
La participación estatal refuerza la vigilancia de ICE en el centro-norte de Florida
UNA RED DIVERSA DE REDES SOCIALES Y SITIOS WEB ESTÁ MONITOREANDO A LOS AGENTES FEDERALES
Por Angelique Rodriguez
Escritora de El Caiman
Traducido por Dulce
Rodriguez-Escamilla
Escritora de El Caiman
Tras los tiroteos mortales de dos ciudadanos estadounidenses en Minneapolis el mes pasado, miembros de la comunidad de Minnesota están encabezando titulares por advertir a sus vecinos sobre agentes federales de inmigración mediante una red clandestina de silbatos y
videos de iPhone. En Florida, que registró casi 10,000 arrestos del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés) solo en la primera mitad del año pasado, los activistas están siguiendo el mismo camino. Residentes de Florida están monitoreando y publicando alertas de agentes de ICE en presencia con el fin de proteger a la población inmigrante de posibles detenciones, interrogatorios y contacto físico. Estos avistamientos suelen publicarse en sitios web como ICE Activity Tracker y en redes sociales, como Reddit, Instagram, Facebook y YouTube. De los 135 reportes presentados en el sitio web del rastreador a nivel nacional durante la semana del 2 al 9 de febrero, nueve ocurrieron en Florida, incluyendo uno en Gainesville. Los reportes colaborativos no son exhaustivos; esa misma semana, los registros de detención muestran que tres personas fueron detenidas o
trasladadas por ICE en la cárcel del condado de Alachua.
Jasmine Brown, voluntaria del Partido por el Socialismo y la Liberación de Gainesville, dijo que su organización publica en línea los avistamientos de ICE, que a menudo son enviados por miembros de la comunidad. Ella y sus compañeros voluntarios han creado una red informal de personas para informar sobre avistamientos de ICE en la aplicación de mensajería cifrada Telegram, algo que planean ampliar a las redes sociales. A menudo reciben avisos a través de su línea directa para reportar la presencia de ICE.
“Estamos viendo muchas tácticas agresivas utilizadas para asustar a la gente y realmente acusan”, dijo Brown. “Y por eso es importante que las personas puedan unirse y ver cuándo ICE está operando”.
Muchos agentes de ICE se visten como
ciudadanos comunes, pero a menudo son identificados por chalecos o parches que confirman sus credenciales. Por lo general, conducen autos sin identificación en lugar de vehículos policiales con luces, sirenas o insignias de las fuerzas del orden. Brown dijo que espera que, a medida que crezcan los esfuerzos para monitorear a ICE, las personas comiencen a educarse, protestar y movilizarse por los derechos de los inmigrantes.
Lea el resto en línea en alligator.org/ section/spanish.
@angeliquesrod arodriguez@alligator.org
@DulceRodrigueze drodriguez@alligator.org
Statewide participation bolsters ICE watch in north central Florida
A PATCHWORK OF SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS AND WEBSITES ARE MONITORING FEDERAL AGENTS
By Angelique Rodriguez Alligator Staff Writer
Following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis last month, Minnesota community members are making headlines for warning their neighbors about federal immigration agents through a shadow network of whistles and iPhone videos. In Florida, which
saw nearly 10,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests in the first half of last year alone, activists are following suit.
Florida residents are monitoring and posting sightings of ICE agents in an effort to shield the immigrant population from possible detainment, questioning and physical contact. These sightings are often posted on websites like ICE Activity Tracker and social media outlets, including Reddit, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Of the 135 reports filed on the tracker website nationwide the week of Feb. 2-9, nine took place in Florida, including one in Gainesville. The crowdsourced
reports aren’t exhaustive; that same week, booking logs show three people were detained or transported by ICE in the Alachua County Jail.
Jasmine Brown, a volunteer for Gainesville’s Party for Socialism and Liberation, said her organization posts ICE sightings online, often sent in by community members. She and her fellow volunteers have built an informal network of people to inform about ICE sightings on the encrypted messaging app Telegram, something they plan to expand to social media. They often get tips from their ICE-spotting hotline.
“We’re seeing a lot of aggressive tactics used to scare people and to really harass them,” Brown said.
“And so it’s important that people are able to come together and see when ICE is reporting.”
Many ICE agents dress as everyday citizens but are often spotted with vests or patches confirming their credentials. They usually drive in unmarked cars rather than police vehicles with lights, sirens or law enforcement insignia.
Brown said she hopes as efforts to monitor ICE grow, people will start to educate themselves, protest and rally for immigrant rights.
Christina Neptune, a Miami cosmetologist and life coach, posts every suspected ICE agent and car she spots on Facebook, Threads and
Síganos para actualizaciones
Instagram. The videos and pictures she posts range from south to north Florida, many of them submitted by residents across the state who are too afraid to share them personally, she said.
As the daughter of Haitian immigrants, she said, she felt hurt seeing families torn apart and hearing stories about ICE physically harming citizens.
Read the rest online at alligator.org. @angeliquesrod arodriguez@alligator.org
Opinions
Shaine settles into Spain as Evie discovers the world of U.S. sports. Read more on pg. 8.
Para obtener actualizaciones de El Caimán, síganos en l www.alligator.org/section/spanish.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026
www.alligator.org/section/opinions
‘Shaine in Spain’: The week I stopped calling home
When I first arrived in Spain three weeks ago, I thought I had made a huge mistake.
As I stood jetlagged in Plaza Mayor the morning I landed, I couldn’t help but think about all my friends who were together in Gainesville. Meanwhile, I was alone and halfway across the world in a country where I barely spoke the language.
I sat on a bench watching the world clock on my phone, waiting for a reasonable hour to call my mom.
“I think I’ve made a huge mistake,” I choked out when she answered.
But over the next week, something shifted. I stopped calling home so often and started adjusting to life here. By making new friends, dusting off my Spanish skills and embracing the uncomfortable, I’ve found the city has started to feel less foreign and more like home.
During that week, what often made me feel lonely were the posts on Instagram from my other friends abroad. Just based on pictures, everything seemed great; they had tons of friends and looked super happy.
But when I spoke to them individually, they felt exactly the same way I did. Everyone was going through a major adjustment, regardless of what country they were in and who they were with.
As I mentioned in my last column, the culture in Spain is drastically different. And I deeply underestimated the shift.
In Gainesville, I’m used to being in bed before 2 a.m. on any given weekend. Here, the night doesn’t begin until midnight. As a vegetarian, I’m also learning to navigate menus that largely revolve around jamon and other pork-heavy dishes.
And then there’s the social adjustment.
Not everyone is the most fond of Ameri-
cans (which I understand).
Some people I’ve talked to from all over the world think Americans are too loud and obnoxious, with their voices being “heard from across the room.”
Not only that, but they are constantly asking “What’s going on in your country?” I never know how to answer.
But these moments have become bonding experiences. Shared confusion and cultural differences have brought me closer to the people around me. I’ve made friends in my apartment unit and in my classes from all over the world, particularly France, Mexico and Australia.
Last weekend, I met my dad in Valencia. He had been on a bike trip in southern Spain, and we reunited for a few days before he flew back to Philadelphia. We explored the old city, enjoyed long meals and even stumbled upon Florida State’s Valencia cam-
pus.
Shaine Davison
opinions@alligator.org
Saying goodbye to him at the airport was hard, but it felt completely different than leaving home three weeks earlier. This time, I wasn’t panicked or anxious. I was excited to get back to my friends, my classes and my life in Madrid.
Now that I finally feel acclimated, I’m in the process of booking weekend trips around Europe throughout the rest of the semester. Nearly a month ago, I thought I had made a huge mistake. Now, I understand that discomfort doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in the wrong place. In fact, you are exactly where you’re meant to be.
@shaine_in_spain sdavison@alligator.org
‘Evelyn Goes Gator’: Sport as a social language
Imissed UF’s famous fall football season, so my first real glimpse of American sports culture didn’t come through tailgates and Saturday kickoffs. Instead, it showed up in smaller moments: the way people talk about games while in line for coffee, the way a logo on a sweatshirt becomes a conversation starter and the way the Super Bowl can turn a normal Sunday into something that feels closer to a national holiday.
Back home in Ireland, sport is tied first to geographic location. Even if you never played, you usually belong to something: a club, a parish or a county. The Gaelic Athletic Association organizes Ireland’s main indigenous sports, Gaelic football and hurling, through local clubs. Because it relies on volunteers and local pride, sport ends up woven into ordinary social life.
At UF, what struck me is that the identity is less about place and more about the institution. Being a “Gator” is not something you keep for game day. It shows up everywhere. People wear UF gear like it’s a neutral outfit choice, the way
we might throw on a county jersey at home. I have seen it in lectures, at brunch or buying toothpaste.
Supporting the team is not always about being from Gainesville. It’s about being part of UF’s community. That shifts the feeling. Irish sports’ loyalty can look inherited. Here it often looks chosen, then proudly displayed.
The social side differs, too. In Ireland, sport lives in the pub. Match day is a shared room where strangers react together, and you can walk in alone but still feel part of something within five minutes.
In the U.S., the centre of gravity seems to be the house watch party. Someone hosts, someone brings wings and someone becomes strangely invested in the dip.
Then comes the Super Bowl, which is where this evolves to its final form. It’s not just a game. It is an appointment. Even people who couldn’t tell you the rules still know where they are “watching.” The build-up starts days in advance. Who’s hosting? What food are we doing? Are the ads going to be good this year? Who is the halftime performer?
opinions@alligator.org The Alligator encourages comments from readers. Letters to the editor should not exceed 600 words (about one letter-sized page). They must be typed, double-spaced and must include the author’s name, classification and phone number. Names will be withheld if the writer shows just cause. We reserve the right to edit for length, grammar, style and libel. Send letters to opinions@alligator.org, bring them to 2700 SW 13th St., or send them to P.O. Box 14257, Gainesville, FL 32604-2257.Columns of about 450 words about original topics and editorial cartoons are also welcome. Questions? Call 352-376-4458.
And it works because the Super Bowl is one of the rare moments when the country actually watches the same thing at the same time. This year, the Super Bowl averaged about 124.9 million U.S. viewers and peaked at roughly 137.8 million, with the halftime show averaging about 128.2 million. At that scale, it stops being just a game. Everyone is watching together.
In Ireland, we have massive sporting days, too: All-Ireland finals, Six Nations deciders and Champions League nights. But the extra layers are different, as the Super Bowl comes with a second storyline. The ads are part of the entertainment, and the halftime show is treated like a headline.
The whole thing is sport, but it is also pop culture, marketing and a social ritual rolled into one.
@evelynocarroll
eocarroll@alligator.org
The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Alligator.
Evelyn O’Carroll
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1. FOOD & DRINK: What is a bunch of bananas called?
2. MOVIES: Who is Neo's nemesis in "The Matrix"?
3. MUSIC: The Broadway show "Jersey Boys" is about which music group?
4. TELEVISION: In which U.S. city is the sitcom "New Girl" set?
5. U.S. PRESIDENTS: What is the name of the helicopter that transports U.S. presidents?
6. GEOGRAPHY: The Lake of the Ozarks is in which U.S. state?
7. HISTORY: When did construction begin on the Berlin Wall?
8. PSYCHOLOGY: What fear is represented in the condition called mageirocophobia?
9. ASTRONOMY: Which planet in our solar system has the Great Red Spot?
10. LITERATURE: Which country is the setting for the novel "The French Lieutenant's Woman"?
Trivia Test Sports Quiz
2. In 2017, UCLA basketball players
Jalen Hill and Cody Riley were arrested and detained after they were accused of shoplifting sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store in what country?
3. What former NFL wide receiver served as host of the CBS revival of the game show "Hollywood Squares" beginning in 2025?
4. For which team did U.S. Olympic speed skater Brittany Bowe play college basketball from 2006 to 2010?
5. Before earning Super Bowl XXII MVP honors with Washington, Doug Williams played quarterback for what NFL team from 1978 to 1982?
6. What term rose from British folklore to describe a sports tournament format in which every participant plays against every other participant?
7. What style of skiing, named after the region of Norway where it originated, uses toe-only bindings on downhill skis to perform turns with one ski forward and the other ski trailing?
2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
1. What controversial baseball diary, first published in 1970, is pitcher Jim Bouton's account of his 1969 season with the Seattle Pilots and the Houston Astros?
LiAngelo Ball,
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026
www.alligator.org/section/sports
MATTHEW KRESS TRAVELED FROM CALIFORNIA TO FLORIDA TO BECOME ONE OF THE NATION’S TOP PLAYERS
By Colby Kistner Sports Writer
During one of his early tournaments, Matthew Kress made what his assistant coach now remembers as some of the worst shots he’s ever seen. Luckily, Kress has come a long way since then.
Now ranked No. 50 nationally, the senior golfer has solidified himself as one of the best college golfers in the country. But it took a long and treacherous road, riddled by a pandemic, dozens of admissions essays and a battle with imposter syndrome, to get there.
Kress grew up miles outside of San Jose in Northern California. From the very beginning, he was up against the best players in his age group.
“I didn’t like losing to all these kids very often, but that was basically my whole junior career,” Kress said. “I was never the cream of the crop and was never one of the best in the country or in the state for sure.”
In junior play, he didn’t win many tournaments. However, he continually believed in himself and wanted to make others proud.
Kress didn’t go through the typical process for prospective college golfers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Coaches were not recruiting from his class coming out of high school. So, he had to go through the regular college application process.
“I wrote probably 20 to 30 different college essays behind the different schools across the country,” Kress said.
He applied to schools across the country, including UF, Florida State University, Boston College, the University of Southern California and Virginia Tech. He prepared to enroll as a regular student, with the intention of eventually joining the team as a walk-on.
During February and March of his senior year of high school, he played his best golf yet. This led his swing coach, Jeff Smith, to persuade Florida men’s golf head coach J.C. Deacon to give him a chance.
Florida admitted Kress, and he enrolled.
A late decision by European superstar Tom McKibbin to turn professional left the program without a recruit in the 2021 class. Combined with COVID-19 restrictions and no players, Deacon was forced to search for a replacement.
An email from Kress quickly caught the coach’s attention. Deacon said it was the most impressive email he’s received from a recruit.
When joining the team in Fall 2021, Kress made the decision to redshirt early on. But he soon realized he wasn’t far off from the top golfers across the nation.
“What separates the 100th best player on
the college level to the best player … is pretty small,” Kress said.
Deacon did not give up on Kress, despite his early struggles with shot quality and ball control. By March of his freshman year, his resiliency began to translate into results, prompting Deacon to believe he could eventually become a factor in the team’s success.
Little did he know Kress would help Florida win the SEC and national championship in Spring 2023.
However, during both runs, Kress was overrun by imposter syndrome.
“I felt like my role was to be happy you’re there and try not to mess up,” Kress said.
Perhaps the senior’s most significant form of transformation has been managing his emotions. Early on, Kress used to be rattled by slow starts, which would ruin the rest of his tournament.
Now, Kress’ emotional intelligence has contributed to his leadership skills. He leans away from an authoritative approach and more toward a collaborative one.
Kress emphasized the importance of time management.
“For the first time, you’re kind of the CEO of your life,” Kress said. “You’ve got to develop that skill of being able to manage your
time, especially with the travel we do for golf.”
Meanwhile, Deacon said Kress’ ball control and learning to hit bogeys under pressure are his biggest improvements. Deacon also said Kress has emerged as a leader and voice for the team.
“He’s not afraid to speak up now and call someone out,” Deacon said.
During qualifiers, associate head coach Dudley Hart recalled one of Kress’ toughest rounds, admitting it was one of the worst shots he's seen.
“I’m like, this kid’s not even remotely close to being able to play for this team,” Hart said.
Despite the rough start, he was impressed by Kress’ work ethic and motivation to better himself. Kress became better at responding to nervousness and regulating his emotions, Hart said.
In uncomfortable scenarios, he noted Kress consistently makes decisions that minimize risk while still giving himself opportunities to be aggressive when the conditions are favorable.
“It’s just understanding that making it par sometimes is a really good thing,” Hart said.
Gator lacrosse captain’s career paves the way for her sister
SENIOR
THERESA BRAGG
HAS EXTRA MOTIVATION TO LEAVE HER MARK ON FLORIDA LACROSSE
By Coral Uzgiden Sports Writer
Going into her last season as a Florida Gator, lacrosse captain Theresa Bragg has more than one reason for wanting to leave a legacy on the program she’s called home for the past three years.
“My attitude going into this season, more than ever, is to just not leave anything unfinished,” Theresa said. “Do the best that I can, because it is my last season.”
The two-time team captain’s leadership has been a fundamental part of the powerhouse team, but she’s leaving behind more than an array of accolades. Her legacy will continue at Florida in the form of her younger sister, Maria Bragg.
Maria, a 5-star midfielder, will be joining the Gators for the 2027 season, coming into a team that’s more than ready to have another Bragg around.
“I’m just really proud of her, and I’m really glad that she chose to come here,” Theresa said. “It’s really cool having my whole team here and knowing that, besides my senior
MEN'S BASKETBALL
class, all the rest of them are going to be here with her next year.”
The sisters hail from Severna Park, Maryland, and attended Severna Park High School, where each competed at the varsity level all four years. Theresa was a two-time team captain, and Maria became team captain her junior year.
In high school, Theresa was an Under Armour All-American and multi-sport athlete, also playing varsity volleyball and basketball. She was known for being a reliable, physical defender with strong fundamentals. Although she was not listed among the top national recruits out of high school, she built her national prominence from her dominant collegiate performances at Florida.
“Theresa has done a fantastic job. She leads that defense,” head coach Amanda O’Leary said. “She not only leads in the verbal side, but she leads by example. And she is our best matchup defender.”
Meanwhile, Maria has already started turning heads, despite having another year before she sees a collegiate field.
She was known as one of the most complete midfielders in her class, filling the stat sheet in her junior year with 37 goals, 16 assists, 94 draw controls and 33 caused turnovers. Maria was the No. 6 recruit in the nation for the class of 2026.
Fla.
Like her sister is expected to be, Theresa has been a starter since her freshman year, causing 29 turnovers and recovering 23 ground balls in her career. In 2025, she became only the second defender in Florida history to make the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association first team.
For many of her teammates, Theresa’s impact went beyond the stat
sheet and the accolades. Senior midfielder Kaitlyn Davies transitioned to the backline last season and turned to Theresa, one of her closest friends on the team, for guidance.
“She’s someone I was inspired by as I shifted gears to defense, and I just looked up to her a lot,” Davies said. “I would go to her for help when I needed something on the defensive side of the field.”
The veteran’s defensive performance helped Florida become the 12th-best scoring defense in the nation in the 2025 season, allowing just 9.43 goals per game. It was the defense that made all the difference in the Gators’ ability to deliver in the postseason.
“I think we’re all really proud to be the first team in Florida across history to make it to back-to-back Final Fours,” Theresa said. “Hopefully, we’re going to make another and make it even further.”
While winning games has been a significant part of Theresa’s motivation and rewards while at Florida, it isn’t everything.
When she leaves the Gators, she hopes the team’s senior class and herself left a standard of excellence, fun and love, she said.
“I think that winning a bunch of games and stuff wouldn’t really matter if you weren’t having fun with your time and loving the people around you,” she said.
The No. 4 Gators opened their season at home to a 12-10 loss against No. 19 Michigan Feb. 13. The team will look to fall back on leaders like Theresa for support as they look to improve in Baltimore to compete against No. 20 Loyola.
@coraluzgiden cuzgiden@alligator.org
Florida’s backcourt trending upward as March approaches
IN FIVE STRAIGHT GAMES, AT LEAST TWO BACKCOURT PLAYERS SCORED IN THE DOUBLE-DIGITS
By Jeffrey Serber Sports Writer
As Florida looks to grab its first SEC regular-season title since 2014, the backcourt is finding its rhythm at the right time. Over the past few games, the Gators' backcourt has contributed at least two double-digit scoring efforts in each contest during Florida’s five-game win streak.
Now, with a home matchup against South Carolina (11-14, 2-10 SEC) Feb. 17, Florida’s guards will look to maintain their recent dominance.
“The message, even before, was how good our ceiling could be when the shots start falling,” Florida’s Xaivian Lee said. “We are seeing a little bit of that now, for sure.” Lee is at the forefront of Florida’s backcourt success.
Xaivian Lee
After his 20-point outing against then-No. 10 Vanderbilt on Jan. 17, the Princeton transfer struggled to provide consistent offense. He had four straight outings in which he failed to record double-digit points, shooting 3-for-14 (21%) from beyond the arc.
However, the senior guard turned things around, starting with a 10-point outing against Texas A&M on Feb. 7. Despite the Aggies’ numerous full-court presses throughout the contest, Lee was the sole starter to finish the game without a turnover.
Building off of that performance, Lee recorded a team-high 18 points against Georgia on Feb. 11. His third and last 3-pointer of the contest put the Gators up 13 points with less than four minutes to go, creating a deficit the Bulldogs couldn’t overcome.
Most recently, the Toronto, Canada, native had one of his better offensive performances of his campaign against then-No. 25 Kentucky Feb. 14.
"He’s stacked some really good games over the last couple of weeks, and I thought he was fantastic today," said Florida head coach Todd Golden after the Kentucky game. "Just got off to a great start, knocking shots down."
He opened the scoring for UF with a 3-pointer almost immediately after the game began. He went on to tie a season-high of four made 3-pointers, earning his third 20-plus-point performance since transferring from Princeton.
Defensively, Lee has also made strides, recording a steal in seven straight outings. He played a crucial role in holding Georgia’s Jordan Ross scoreless for over a quarter of their Feb. 11 matchup.
“He's been fantastic defensively,” Golden said. “He's really smart, knows how to be in the right place at the right time and can kind of see things coming before they happen, which allows him to not get hit on many screens or get lost in actions.”
Boogie Fland
Lee isn’t the only Gator who had an impact on winning during Florida’s five-game win streak. His starting backcourt partner, Boogie Fland, has been crucial to UF’s success.
In Florida’s win over Georgia, Fland recorded 15 points. In the second half, the sophomore guard hit a 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down, giving the Gators their largest lead of the game. The shot marked his first 3-pointer following a sixgame drought.
Overall, the Arkansas transfer has put together three doubledigit scoring efforts during Florida’s five-game win streak.
During this span, he’s been crucial to Florida’s defensive effort, recording at least one steal per game. Against Alabama, he recorded eight swipes, tying a program record set by Clifford Lett in 1991.
“I think it gave us some juice,” Fland said after the Alabama game. “Coming out with that effort. It was definitely a team effort, and I could not have done it without these guys.”
While Fland did not reach double-digit points in Florida’s 9283 win over then-No. 25 Kentucky on Feb. 14, he logged a teamhigh three takeaways, including a steal with 15.5 seconds left in
the contest. His defensive effort against the Wildcats helped UF finish plus-13 in points off of turnovers.
However, the starters are not the only contributors.
Off-the-bench contributions
During this win streak, Urban Klavžar has been a consistent spark off the bench, recording double-digit efforts in four of his last five outings.
Like Lee, he had one of his better offensive performances against Kentucky, notching 19 points. The junior guard came to life in the second half, with a team-leading 14 points and four 3-pointers. His 5 points in about 40 seconds forced Kentucky into a timeout down 14 points with 9:07 left in the game.
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” Klavžar said after the game. “Especially when that first shot goes in. You just get a boost in confidence by just shooting it, which leads to more makes.”
His partner off the bench, Isaiah Brown, has also mustered some of his stronger performances recently.
Against Texas A&M on Feb. 7 and Georgia on Feb. 11, the sophomore guard recorded back-to-back double-digit outings for the first time in his collegiate career. In the dominant away win against the Aggies, the Orlando native provided 12 points off the bench.
Against the Bulldogs, Brown recorded 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including a career-high three triples.
“Zay's [Isaiah's] been playing great,” Lee said. “He's kind of getting some of the recognition he definitely deserves because he's put his head down and worked all summer, all fall."
With six games to go and a chance to finish the season atop the SEC standings, the backcourt will look to continue its recent ways, starting against South Carolina on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. in the O’Connell Center.
Noah Lantor // Alligator Staff
Florida defender Theresa Bragg (25) defends during the second half of an NCAA lacrosse match against Michigan, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Gainesville,
