Students and faculty react to UF presidential finalist
UF announces drastic summer changes to RTS, community says ‘No’
UF PLANS TO CUT MORE THAN A DOZEN RTS ROUTES
By Mallory Schumann Alligator Staff Wrtier
A crowd of protesters gathered outside Rawlings Hall late afternoon on May 8, chanting slogans like, “UF admin hear us now, save our routes or we shut it down.”
The protest gathered in light of proposed “alignment changes” to routes 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 17, 20, 23, 33, 37 and 43. UF had previously announced RTS funding would be cut in half beginning July 1. Routes 16, 21, 28, 34, 35, 38, 46, 118, 122 and 127 will no longer be in service.
Other routes will be merged, such as route 12, one of the most used routes by students living off-campus, and route 35, which will no longer travel to Butler Plaza.
All the buses will run on weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. All routes, besides 126, will run Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Route 126 will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.
Union support
During the pre-rally meeting at Rawlings Hall,
members of United Campus Workers, UF’s United Faculty of Florida and Graduate Assistants United spoke about how the decisions will affect RTS drivers and the community.
Marilyn Wende, a UF United Faculty of Florida member, said RTS workers already lack adequate support and funding.
“We are already overworked,” Wende said. “We’re already underpaid, and we’re not receiving the respect we deserve.”
Her voice was accompanied by supportive honking from passing buses and cars.
Other speakers argued route cuts will impact low-income neighborhoods, unhoused populations and disabled individuals who rely on public transport.
With signage such as “Respect RTS Workers” and “Public Transit is a Human Right,” the rally continued peacefully until 5:30 p.m.
The GTEC Meeting
Once the clock hit 6 p.m., the joint-committee meeting between UF and RTS opened to a tense crowd. There were no available seats, so most elected to stand in the doorway of the small conference room.
STUDENTS AND FACULTY AT UNIVERSITY FLORIDA AND UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HAVE MIXED REACTIONS TO UF PRESIDENTIAL FINALISTS
By Maria Avlonitis Alligator Staff Writer
On May 4, UF announced Santa J. Ono, the former University of Michigan president, was the sole finalist in the search for its 14th president. The announcement was met with a mix of emotions: optimism, concern and shock.
University of Michigan students weigh in Nicholas Love, a 22-year-old U-M psychology alumnus who graduated just a few weeks ago, said the announcement was a surprise to him.
“I don't think a lot of people knew that he was leaving,” Love said. “I thought it was definitely weird that he did it a couple days after graduation to get up outta here.”
Love said he was especially surprised by Ono’s leave because U-M’s Board of Regents had extended his contract until 2032 in October. The contract included a base salary increase to $1.3 million per year.
The announcement also shocked Siddharth Desai, a 20-year-old U-M neuroscience senior, because of how short Ono’s 3-year presidency was. Desai said he liked Ono as a president initially but didn’t think his time at U-M ended strongly.
UF students prepare for Ono
“I think as more and more of these stressors came in, and he had to make the big decisions, he kind of bent to the will of the university rather than siding with the students,” Desai said.
To Theo Jaffee, a 20-year-old UF computer science senior, the announcement came as good news. He said he likes what he has learned about Ono through personal research, and Jaffee thinks he has a well-balanced background of STEM, humanities and academia.
Before his time at U-M, Ono was president of the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine and serves on the American Council of Education.
UF held a series of public forums in Emerson Hall on May 6 for students, staff and faculty to meet Ono and ask questions on several topics. The forums came two weeks after classes ended and two days after the last day of commencement. About 75 students attended the student forum.
The university may have held the public forums after the semester ended to avoid protesting, Jaffee said, which he said he witnessed during Ben Sasse’s public forum.
“[Sasse] had a forum just like that, which I went to, and there were protestors everywhere, and a lot of people were very pissed,” he said.
Jaffee wasn’t in town during the forums, but he said he would have attended the student forum. He said he feels that Ono seems like a great choice for president.
Katherine Canev, a 20-yearold UF biochemistry junior, said she felt disappointed by the announcement’s timing. She couldn’t attend the forums because she had already left campus for the summer.
“At the end of the day, we are all a part of this university,” Canev said. “We deserve to participate in this process.”
She was also disappointed in Ono as a candidate because of his past presidencies, she said.
Ono pushed back against a strike by U-M graduate students, instructors and graduate assistants in 2023. The strikers eventually agreed to a new three-year contract with the administration. The Higher Learning Commission, which accredits U.S. universities, announced an investigation into U-M’s conduct during the strike.
Ono faced backlash for his actions toward pro-Palestine protests. 40 protesters were arrested in a protest staged
Jordan Klucharich // Alligator Staff
Santa J. Ono speaks to the crowd at a public forum held at Emerson Hall on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
Today’s Weather
Graduate students remain cautious of Ono
GRAD STUDENT UNIONS REFLECT ON ONO'S RECORD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AND QUESTION HIS FUTURE AT UF
Koushin Unber Alligator Staff Writer
The long-anticipated UF presidential search made significant progress on May 4 when the search committee unanimously recommended Santa J. Ono as the sole finalist to serve as the university’s 14th president.
As the former president of the University of Michigan, Ono moved to implement programs designed to improve student life, such as Campus Plan 2050, a comprehensive blueprint for the Ann Arbor campus’ future development, and the Go Blue Guarantee, U-M's commitment to cover undergraduate tuition and fees for in-state students for up to four years.
His administration faced significant criticism for reducing investments in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives after the controversial closure of the university’s Office of DEI. Ono and the student body clashed over concerns U-M’s Graduate Employees’ Organization had regarding graduate student workers’ employment contracts.
Union efforts at the University of Michigan
GEO represents about 2,300 graduate students who work as instructors and staff assistants across the school’s Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses.
Lavinia Dunagan, a third-year U-M natural language processing student and GEO’s communications co-chair, said she felt graduate students were ignored during the 20222023 bargaining cycle between GEO and U-M because the administration was unwilling to reach a compromise on a new three-year contract agreement.
“Ono has mostly focused on undergrad life and ostentatious, donordriven areas like football, leaving grad students out of the spotlight,” Dunagan said. “We really felt that Ono didn’t want to spend more on graduate students, which was a key reason for the resistance to our contract and why we ultimately went on strike.”
The organization argued that current pay is not sufficient for the cost of living in Ann Arbor, improvements to their health care plan and changes to campus security policies.
The livable annual wage of a single adult living in Ann Arbor requires just over $49,000, according to MIT’s livable wage calculator. The new union contract demanded a livable annual salary of $38,537.
A livable wage is the amount a person or family needs in order to meet their basic needs, including food, housing, healthcare and necessary expenses.
After five months of negotiations during the academic year, GEO initiated a strike because the university failed to reach an agreement.
The strike, which was the longest in the union’s history, included a walkout from classes on March 29, 2023, by graduate employees and instructors. During the protest, tensions escalated between U-M and GEO. Ono’s administration sought legal action against the protesters.
The university filed a complaint against them the next day in Washtenaw County Circuit Court, alleging the union breached its contract by striking. Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Carol Kunke denied Ono’s request for a preliminary injunction to end the walkout, and the strike continued.
It lasted most of the summer, ending August 25 when the union and the university agreed on a new three-year contract.
The final contract between U-M and GEO included annual salary increases, a $1,000 bonus and increased benefits.
GEO also focused on the status of international students since the beginning of U.S. President Donald Trump’s term, a concern made more urgent because the University of Michigan is home to over 8,000 international students. It heard very little from Ono about specific measures taken to support the university’s international students.
UF graduate student union outlooks
As Ono prepares to settle into Gainesville, UF graduate students are paying close attention. From concerns over labor conditions to protecting international students, many are looking at his past presidency to gauge what his leadership could mean for their future on campus.
Charles D. Langlois, a 32-yearold UF entrepreneurship, Latin American studies and international business graduate student, said he doesn’t expect much from Ono regarding graduate employment and wages.
“My higher education has generally shown me that graduate assistantships and tuition waivers are exceptions to the rules of college, and I have relied on minimal scholarships, grants, federal student loans and family support to get by,” Langlois said.
He said he expects Ono to expand the overall rights of graduate students for their employment and contract with the university and improve ratios of graduate assistants to professors and rev -
Have an event planned? Add it to the alligator’s online calendar: alligator.org/calendar
enues generated.
Paul Wassel, the former Graduate Student Council president, said he believes Ono coming from Michigan “could mean that he’s open to unions, given U-M’s culture of strong graduate student leadership.”
“I think having a leader who has experience with graduate student leadership will allow them to go ahead and get paid more, and I hope that he is open to having that discussion,” he said.
Nelson Calles, a 22-year-old UF political science alumnus, thinks Ono is similar to UF’s most recent presidential picks.
“I think President Santa Ono is going to maintain an anti-union stance,” Calles said. “Everything that I know about UF admin is that they are fighting to keep unions off campus.”
Issues at hand
Austin Britton, the co-president of UF Graduate Assistants United, said the largest issues facing the union and graduate assistants have been state overreach and high costs of living. To Britton, Ono’s failure to address GEO’s demands at U-M demonstrated how a negative relationship between graduate unions and a president can spiral quickly, something that GAU wants to avoid.
“GAs at UF are some of the least paid when adjusted for the cost of living among our peer institutions, where now GAs at the minimum stipend make the same as someone working a full-time minimum wage job elsewhere in Florida,” Britton said.
GAU is hopeful but uncertain about its future relationship with President Ono as they finish negotiations for a new contract. The union is open to having honest conversations about graduate assistants’ roles and their importance to the university, Britton said. He hopes Ono is equally open to working together toward meaningful solutions.
“While we will approach President Ono with caution, we also acknowledge that he will be stepping into a new university, a new state, and could have a different perspective on graduate unions than he did at U-M,” he said. “As such, we will not condemn him before we get a chance to work with him to address the issues that GAs face.”
@KUnber27 kunber@alligator.org
Not officially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications Inc., of Gainesville, Florida
Got something going on? Want to see it on this page? Send an email with “What’s Happening” in the subject line to engagement@alligator.org. To request publication in the next day’s newspaper, please submit entries before 5 p.m. Please model your submissions after the above events and keep them to 150 words or fewer. Improperly formatted “What’s Happening” submissions may not appear in the paper. Press releases will not appear in the paper.
The Independent Florida Alligator is a student newspaper serving the University of Florida, published by a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) educational organization, Campus Communications Inc., P.O. Box 14257, Gainesville, Florida, 32604-2257. The Alligator is published Monday mornings, except during holidays and exam periods. The Alligator is a member of the Newspaper Association of America, National Newspaper Association, Florida Press Association and Southern University Newspapers.
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
A new pope for a new era
THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY REFLECTS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF POPE LEO’S XIV’S ELECTION AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE
FUTURE OF THE CHURCH
By Swasthi Maharaj Alligator Staff Writer
A new pope, a new name, and for the first time, an American at the head of the Catholic Church.
White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel as Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, was chosen as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church on May 8. He will be the first American to hold this position in the Church’s over 2,000-year history.
Prevost chose the name Leo XIV as his papal name. Of the 13 who had the name before him, five are saints. Prevost said he was inspired by Pope Leo XIII, known for his emphasis on social justice and modern engagement with the world. By adopting this name, Pope Leo XIV shows a desire to continue this legacy of thoughtful reform and compassionate leadership.
“La pace sia son tutti voi!” he said. Translating to “Peace be with
all of you,” the newly elected pope’s first address was a message centered on openness and compassion.
Leo emphasized a vision of the Church that embraces inclusivity and dialogue, stressing the importance of fostering unity.
This historic election has sparked reactions across the global Catholic community, including at the University of Florida, where students reflect on what this new papacy means for their faith and the Church.
A surprising choice, but a promising one
Amanda Charbonneau, a 20-yearold UF psychology senior, said she was surprised the conclave chose Leo, as he hadn’t been on her or her friends’ radar.
“I was fairly surprised because he wasn’t a name that was being tossed around a lot in online discussions or among other Catholic students I know,” Charbonneau said.
She hopes the new pontiff will make efforts to connect with young people, especially as a new generation of Catholics comes of age, she said.
“I feel like there has been a revival in youth in the Catholic Church, and a lot of us have a lot of vigor and
‘Studentpreneurs’
zeal, so I think it would be greatly appreciated,” she said.
Seeing Leo’s emotional first address encouraged her, she said, as he seemed to be making the efforts she hoped for.
Mia Lang, a 20-year-old UF psychology junior, shared Charbonneau’s hopes. Witnessing a new pope’s election for the first time felt significant to her because she said she’s always seen the pope as a grandfather figure, a symbol of faith and tradition.
“It’s kind of surreal as a young Catholic,” she said. “This is the first time I’m old enough to fully understand what it means when we get a new pope. I’m very excited.”
The new pope’s selection reflected the nature of divine providence, she said.
“I love that this pope was unexpected,” she said. “The Holy Spirit chooses who He wants to, the people don’t.”
Lang’s not entering this papacy with specific expectations, she said, but rather with faith that Leo has the qualities necessary to lead the Church forward.
Balancing concerns and optimism
Some students expressed cautious skepticism toward the new papacy. Katherine Collins, a 19-yearold UF political science, philosophy, economics and law sophomore,
stream,
called the moment “exciting” but was concerned about Leo’s potential doctrinal positions.
“I’m hearing he’s a centrist, which makes me slightly skeptical,” Collins said. “I think we must be as staunch as possible on beliefs pertaining to the faith.”
Collins referenced the recent push in encouraging female priests and the acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals in the church.
“While we should certainly love all people, we can’t water down our faith or disregard sin simply to avoid difficult conversations,” she said.
She said she hopes Leo’s humanitarian focus could lead to positive change in areas like immigration and helping the poor while also ensuring nations are able to keep strong borders.
“He seems like a man of action, and I’m excited to see what steps he takes first,” she said.
The significance of an American pope
Others are eager to see how the new pope will turn his vision into concrete action. This sentiment is shared among those who are concerned about the potential global implications of an American pope.
Victoria Nguyen, a 19-year-old UF business finance and English sophomore, said she wasn’t surprised but concerned at the election of an
stitch and style
UF students turn hobbies into hustles
By Sabrina Castro Alligator Staff Writer
The idea struck in Budapest, Hungary. Over 5,000 miles from UF’s campus in Summer 2023, two students, Karl-William Nietert and Ethan Wolf, decided they didn’t want to wait for Spotify Wrapped to come out at the end of the year to see what their friends were streaming.
A growing number of UF students are proving that you don’t have to wait until graduation to launch a business. Balancing coursework with creative ambition, these “studentpreneurs” are building brands, chasing passion projects and redefining what it means to be a college hustler in 2025.
So, Nietert and Wolf did what any entrepreneurial, tune-obsessed college kid might do. They built their own social music discovery app, Siren.
“It started with just a way to see what people are listening to in real time and also show your stats in a 24/7 way, kind of like Spotify Wrapped all the time,” said Wolf, a 22-year-old UF sports management senior. “We ultimately think Siren will be kind of a lightning rod for music sharing and social connection.”
With no real technical experience between the two, they began designing and refining before bringing in 21-year-old UF computer science junior Jatin Verma to code the app.
After months of regular all-nighters, the trio gave themselves a harsh deadline of April 18, 2024, to complete the app, just in time for EDM artist Noizu’s concert at Vivid Music Hall, where they had a promotional booth set up.
But there were two problems. Spotify wasn’t giving them access to the web application processing interface, or API, which is a set of web services provided by Spotify that lets developers access the app’s music catalog and user-related data. And the app was
hacked just seven hours before launch.
After going down an X, formerly Twitter, rabbit hole, Nietert was able to figure out the founder of Spotify, Daniel Ek, was Swedish, just like him. Nietert also discovered Ek’s email address from a 2011 post.
Nietert decided to send a cold email to the founder of the multi-billion-dollar company in Swedish, their shared language. To his surprise, Ek forwarded the email to one of Spotify’s head developers the next day. Within a couple days, the Siren team received approval for the Web API needed to acquire user listening data, a process that can typically take up to a year.
“I honestly feel like any successful startup, they have some wild story like that where they were just trying stuff and needed that break,” Wolf said. “We always talk about expanding the surface area to get lucky.”
The app was finally ready to launch on the day of the concert — but hours before, it was hit by hackers demanding Bitcoin. Verma was then able to password-protect everything and remove the hackers with two hours to spare before launch.
Verma said getting the first 100 users took up to three months. Now, it’s grown by 100 users just last week.
“I learned more about coding doing Siren than I’ve done in school,” Verma said.
In just one year, the app garnered over 500 users. According to 23-year-old UF master’s of international business student Nietert, this is because of the community aspect the app provides through an ad-free, costfree model.
Nietert said the app wasn’t created to make money but was instead a passion project to alleviate their own problem. Despite the many hours put in, the rewarding feeling comes to Nietert, who religiously wears his Siren-branded hat, when he is approached by students who use his app.
“A lot of people have ideas, but ideas don’t mean sh*t,” Nietert said. “You really
have to start executing.”
American pope, especially given the global influence the U.S. wields.
“Some may view an American pope as a way to grow America, and others may see him trying to criticize America,” Nguyen said. “I became a bit scared that this decision would divide the world or our country.”
Still, Nguyen said the pope’s nationality should not define his papacy.
“I am very grateful I can live in a time where a pope is from my country,” she said. “As Pope Leo XIV put it beautifully — he’s a Christian like us. That’s what matters most to me.” She hopes the new pope leads with humility, holiness and a genuine sense of humanity.
“I hope he has a clear, burning love for God,” she said. “Speaking of though, I hope that he still shows his humanity.”
Nora Dean, an 18-year-old UF international studies sophomore, said, “Him being from the United States was secondary to the fact that we simply have a new Holy Father.”
Dean praised Leo’s personal qualities.“I have heard that Pope Leo XIV speaks about five languages and is a soft-spoken individual, which to me signifies that he is intelligent but also humble and kind,” she said. “I hope these rumors are true.”
@s_maharaj1611 smaharaj@alligator.org
their way to success
While the Siren team was busy untangling code and dodging hackers, another UF student was threading her way through a different kind of startup challenge, one stitch at a time.
For 20-year-old UF business administration sophomore Hayden McPharlin, embroidery has served as an outlet for creative expression and extra income through her business, Beads and Butterflies.
It all started with a Christmas gift during her senior year of high school: a sewing machine.
After seeing bead embroidery trending on TikTok, she decided to make herself a custom shirt for UF football games featuring a small green gator. After many compliments and requests for custom pieces, she decided to launch Beads and Butterflies last June.
Now, she fulfills custom orders out of her college apartment bedroom.
“It’s perfect while I’m at college, too, because college girls love just any kind of merch and everything like that,” McPharlin said. “I love to just come home and work on my designs.”
McPharlin said her minor in retail has helped her navigate the venture. As part of UF’s retail society, she credits its conference last year with insights on how to grow her business more, such as leaning into social media and reaching different audiences.
“It’s really rewarding,” McPharlin said. “This past basketball championship game, just walking around and seeing girls that I know wearing something that I made, and I’m also wearing something that I made, really makes me feel good.”
Not everyone’s building apps or threading custom designs. Some “studentpreneurs” are making magic out of what already exists. Opening last December in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, In The Attic offers one-of-a-kind vintage men’s and women’s clothing from various locations around the world.
The duo behind it all are two childhood best friends and UF students, McKenna Chase and Katelyn Spohn.
McKenna Chase, a 20-year-old UF English junior, said she has always been a lover of vintage fashion, so the idea for the store came from a desire to promote high-quality vintage clothing in a world of fast fashion.
“The premise of the store is that you can find anything for anywhere that no one else will have,” she said. “So it’s uniquely for you.”
The two chose their hometown for the flagship because they noticed a lack of curated vintage clothing in the area. However, mainly running the business from over 300 miles away at college has been a struggle.
The biggest challenges have been working around class times to handle problems as they arise and finding reliable staffing, Chase said. But the upsides have been growing closer with Spohn and having unlimited access to vintage clothing.
“I would say that I have a different style every single day,” she said. “Opening my vintage store has literally let me expand my style so much that I feel like I don’t even have a box to put myself in.”
Originally planning to go to law school, Chase said opening In The Attic has made her realize the retail store is something she wants to pursue full time once she graduates. She and Spohn eventually want to franchise the store and open more locations, she said.
In The Attic has previously made its way to Gainesville and Orlando for a brief stop at local vintage markets. Even though they were miles away from their hometown, customers from Fort Lauderdale came to visit the pop-up, which Chase said was the coolest part.
Whether they’re cold-emailing billionaires, hand-stitching gators or hunting down the perfect vintage tee, these UF “studentpreneurs” are making one thing clear: when inspiration strikes, even from Budapest or TikTok, it pays to listen.
@sabs_wurld. scastro@aligator.org
MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025
www.alligator.org/section/the_avenue
FASHION
Avenue Roundtable: The 2025 Met Gala
The Avenue desk staff weigh in on the extravagant night
The carpet where the adorned fight in resistance
By Jack Vincent
White daffodils speckled the midnight blue carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where iconic names walked the renowned carpet for the annual Met Gala fundraiser on Monday. From Alton Mason to Teyana Taylor, the stars shined bright under the flashing cameras in their jewel-dappled finery.
The Met Gala is a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The event traditionally marks the opening of its annual fashion exhibit. It hosts many designer brands, musicians, politicians and artists on its iconic, not-sored carpet.
Monica L. Miller’s book, “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” was the lead inspiration for this year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The book explores the rich cultural and historical background of Black dandyism and how it was a form of resistance to fight the stereotypes that depict those of African descent, specifically due to diaspora, as unadorned.
The style consists of wide-brim hats, fedoras, tailored and striped suits, tight-fitting silhouettes and flared base slacks. Each element creates a diverse display of high fashion while challenging degrading stereotypes.
From the biggest hits to the fashion flops, The Avenue has you covered on all fronts. Here are our writers’ takes on the 2025 Met Gala.
Pharrell Williams’ show-stopping contributions
By Ailish Coughlin
As this year’s Met Gala co-chair, Pharrell Williams’ influence was stitched into every corner of the event’s fabric.
In a Met Gala carpet interview, Williams revealed he had prepared for this moment for two years. Anna Wintour first approached him in 2023 after one of his own dandy-inspired outfits sparked the idea for this year’s theme. Since then, Williams carefully curated how best to bring Black dandyism to life through his personal fashion choices and creative direction.
His vision was embodied by Zendaya’s striking all-white Louis Vuitton ensemble, one of the most expensive, talked-about looks of the night. Designed by Williams himself, the outfit featured a custom threepiece suit with a sharply tailored blazer, a crisp vest and wide-leg trousers, topped with an oversized floppy white hat.
Keep up with the Avenue on Twitter.
Tweet us
@TheFloridaAve.
Williams extended this elegant tailoring to Pusha T, who donned a burgundy pinstripe Louis Vuitton suit embellished with crystal detailing that sparkled from collar to breast pocket. The look exuded a sense of refined extravagance: another facet of the creativity embedded in Black-tailored style.
Together, the two looks offered a visual duality: Zendaya’s pristine, monochromatic simplicity on one end; Pusha T’s rich, embellished luxury on the other.
Williams also designed an outfit for his wife, Helen Lasichanh. He countered his pearl suit with Lasichanh’s Louis Vuitton all-black leather ensemble.
If these looks don’t speak to the vastness of Pharrell Williams’ influence over the night, Anna Wintour’s look might. Williams had her dressed in a bespoke Louis Vuitton gown in tribute to the late Virgil Abloh.
As the face of the Met Gala since 1995, Wintour’s outfits are finely selected and always fabulous. Her floor-length dress paired with a light blue overcoat, stepped away from the suit style and provided a softer, more feminine look for the night.
Overall, Pharrell Williams was a fashion asset for the inspiration and execution of this year’s Met Gala.
Best gender-neutral looks
By Autumn Johnstone
Embracing the event’s theme and her own gender identity, musician Lorde arrived in a silver jacket over a two-piece ensemble with an open back. The outfit was inspired by a cummerbund, blending traditional masculine tailoring with “superfine” femininity and encouraging the artist to expand her understanding of gender.
Her design, cultivated by Thom Browne, was said to be an Easter egg for her upcoming album, “Virgin.” While men have stereotypically donned suits, this year’s Met Gala marked a beautiful shift toward gender-neutral fashion. Unlike many stars who wear more strikingly noticeable makeup, Lorde has shown us she is comfortable letting her natural features shine, even at the biggest fashion night of the year.
Emma Chamberlain has served as a red carpet special correspondent for Vogue since 2021, interviewing icons left and right. She left viewers speechless this year, rocking a blonde pixie cut that contrasted her dark, hazy eye makeup. With a sexy allusion to dandyism, Chamberlain wore a black backless and pinstriped dress that dripped all the way to the floor.
With every twist and turn to the cameras, Chamberlain’s edgy, androgynous look proves fashion is now viewed as a form of self-expression rather than a gendered “one size fits all.”
By Allison Bonnemaison
In a sea of sharp silhouettes and smart suits, actress Demi Moore made waves at the 2025 Met Gala by interpreting the theme in one of the most surprising ways.
Moore took a more conceptual approach. While many of the guests chose to wear sculptured suits and avant-garde dresses, she showed up wearing the most iconic piece from a suit: the necktie.
Her glistening black gown was shaped like a tie with white diagonal stripes wrapped around her body. The dress had a dramatic structure looped around her shoulder and behind her head, mimicking the collar of a tie.
Moore embodied the concept of the night by taking a traditionally feminine garment and making it much more masculine.
The look defied conventional expectations of suiting and tailoring, reimagining fashion norms and tying the whole theme together.
Not just a look: the Met Gala’s deeper impact
By Isis Snow
The Met Gala is known for its bold fashion and celebrity appearances, but there’s more going on behind the scenes. Each year, the star-studded event raises money for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Fundraising efforts broke records by bringing in more than $31 million. This staggering figure underscores the gala’s role as one of the most influential cultural fundraisers in the world. The occasion is more than just a party. It fuels exhibitions that allow fashion to be preserved, studied and celebrated as art.
The record-breaking total also highlights how fashion can mobilize philanthropy when tied to cultural storytelling and historical preservation. In a year when the spotlight was on Black style and craftsmanship, the fundraising success affirmed cultural representation isn’t just timely — it’s valuable.
Just the tie: Demi Moore ditches the suit
Henry A. Moore // Alligator Staff
From left to right: Lorde, Pharrell Williams, Demi Moore, Anna Wintour, and Damson Idris in their 2025 Met Gala outfits.
www.alligator.org/section/opinions
Work, spend, scroll: The collapse of community in a click
We’re lonelier than ever. Locked behind screens, buried in work and scrolling endlessly on social media, it feels like we’ve lost something completely vital: the places where we truly connect.
These spaces, otherwise known as third spaces, are areas where we build community outside of workspaces. Whether it be your neighbor’s house or your local coffee shop, they fulfill the human biological need for genuine connections. But they are becoming obsolete, and it’s left many of us feeling disconnected.
Since the 2020 pandemic, which was characterized by TikTok trends and finding ways to cheat on our online Zoom classes, a study launched by the World Health Organization highlights a major loneliness epidemic that is coincidentally occurring alongside the death of third spaces. These issues are fueled by the pervasive forces of technology, capitalism and toxic work culture that are gradually paving the way for an increasingly divisive society.
Third spaces are places that offer opportunities to meet potential new friends or partners, making them extremely important to our wellbeing by fostering belonging and connection. For many of us, these moments are slowly fading, replaced by isolated evenings glued to our phones.
The arts, entertainment and recreation have seen an 18.37% decrease in the number of establishments. Similarly, barbershops, beauty salons and laundromats have also suffered a 22.94% decrease, according to a National Library of Medicine study.
While these third spaces are in a steady decline, 30% of adults and 30% of people between the ages 18 and 34 are reported to experience feelings of loneliness at least once a week, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
Another study found half of American millennials are engaging in polyworking, or holding multiple jobs to keep up with financial pressures. It’s plausible that Americans are unable to find the time to interact within these third spaces, as 70% of Americans remain financially unhealthy.
Third spaces are being replaced by the internet, with people having unfulfilling interactions that lack depth. While this can have its benefits by temporarily building a sense of community, we are seeing a major impact in
the ever-increasing polarizing climate in the U.S.
Social media algorithms push content similar to what you typically interact with. As more people experiencing loneliness turn to the internet, it can become a slippery slope into darker, more radical parts of the algorithm.
Loneliness leaves you vulnerable to the seductive red pill content that attempts to open your eyes to the way the system has failed you. It offers you a seat at the table, playing into your anxiety and insecurities while indoctrinating you into its divisive ideologies. It’s how neo-nazi, pro-anorexia or similar communities slowly shift a vulnerable individual’s psychological and cognitive sphere. They prey on isolation by offering a sense of belonging many people crave.
While these online groups vary in severity, they ultimately highlight a dangerous phenomenon. Without interacting with different people of different backgrounds and perspectives, we isolate ourselves from one another. We begin to lose the empathetic lens that allows us to build a genuine sense of community and belonging. But we are falling into a more individualistic society.
Third spaces have become a major issue within Western cultures. Some people argue everything is too expensive, while some people are just homebodies. Technology makes us believe that we don’t need face-to-face interactions to form connections because we have access to everyone and everything, but it’s unfulfilling. People are no longer interacting the way they used to and are relishing in their neurosis.
We need each other to fulfill the innate biological desire pulling us to support each other. There are major social and economic factors that make it seem impossible, but it’s time we took back our spaces where real conversations and connections happen. Join that yoga class, strike up a conversation at a coffee shop or dust off your dancing shoes. Let’s face it — life’s too short to spend it scrolling alone, stuck in a vicious cycle of loneliness and anxiety.
Eriel
Pichardo is a UF English senior.
A disconnected generation
Irecently found a quote that said,
“The magic behind childhood wasn’t because I was a child, it was because I was more present.” Now every time I pick up my phone to scroll, I think twice.
It’s a generally agreed-upon statement that we all wish we could go back to our childhoods, or that “life was just so much simpler back then.” What substantial difference made then so much better than now? What is the true reason we are so inclined to idealize our childhoods?
Many say it’s just the harsh reality of growing up and adapting to the burdensome responsibilities that come with adulthood. Some pin the blame on the psychological power of selective memory and nostalgia. I don’t buy it.
When was the last time you sat down at a meal where no one touched their phone? How about the last time you hung out with your friends and didn’t worry about your notifications or, better yet, just left your phone alone altogether?
Walks to class are rarely free from almost running into someone whose face is glued to their screen or nearly running into someone because your own eyes are too focused on the pocket-sized addiction constantly begging for your attention. You may be noticing a pattern here, one that is both deeply disconcerting and, in all honesty, severely depressing.
Over 50% of people ages 13 to 28 have admitted to being addicted to their phones, with a Harmony Healthcare IT study showing an average screen time of 6 to 7 hours a day. This number doesn’t even include the time we spend looking at other screens, such as our computers, iPads and TV screens, which is over 9 hours a day. Last year, the American Psychological Association found teenagers spend around five hours daily on social media, with nearly half of the most frequent social media users reporting mental health struggles like anxiety and depression.
Mental health is at an all-time low,
The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Alligator.
and it is no coincidence.
Comparison is a silent instigator, pushing us into a trap of comparing ourselves to how others portray themselves on a screen, such as the stranger who somehow travels full-time with a passport full of stamps from all the places you’d rather be than where you are sitting and scrolling. Nonetheless, we rarely talk about it. We have become desensitized to a disconnected and dissatisfied world. How can we escape the addiction to technology and social media –designed to foster a society dependent on it?
If we are ever going to obtain a glimpse of the joy we experienced in our childhoods, we must expose ourselves to the threats of our technologically advanced world. We must train ourselves to see the lure of technology as an attack on our wellbeing, our intelligence, our creativity and –arguably most importantly –our connection with people.
Actively deciding how to spend our time can make all the difference, whether it be trying a new hobby, learning about something that feeds your mind and soul or putting your phone down long enough to have a meaningful conversation with a friend.
The plethora of choices can scare us back into anxious reliance on our devices, which have asserted control over our time that may otherwise be spent doing the things that make us human.
Embrace the humanity that lies in disconnecting from our devices and reconnecting with our surroundings. Only then can we fully experience and appreciate the world around us, the people within it and ourselves.
Kendall O’Connor is a UF English junior.
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.
Eriel Pichardo opinions@alligator.org
Kendall O’Connor opinions@alligator.org
PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for a quote or inspection today 1-877-644-9799. Have zip code of property ready when calling 5-12-63-15
AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER?
STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-888-967-1158 Have zip code of property ready when calling! 5-12-15-15
● Affordable RV Camping Near Campus! ● Convenient location just minutes from UF. Safe, quiet, perfect for game day weekends. Water, electric, and Wi-Fi. Reserve your spot today! 352-372-1026 katesfishcamp.com Book Early - Limited Spoits! 8-14-25-13-15
RadiCollab Consulting provides Salesforce UX Design and Corporate Workshop Facilitation Services. Learn more at: www.radicollab.com 5-12-25-1-15
DRUG PROBLEM?
WE CAN HELP!
24 HOURS 7 DAYS CALL NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS 352-376-8008 www.uncoastna.org pr@uncoastna.org
Need CPR Training?
(352) 727-4733 www.GatorCPR.com CNA Prep Classes from GatorCNA.com
8-14-25-13-16
ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. FREE information kit. Call 844-958-2473. 5-12-86-16
Alachua County Health Dept. Call 334-7960 for app’t (optional $20 fee)
Are you ready for financial freedom? Work when you want from where you want. Visit: www.cashcoach-paul.com 5-12-1-20
These Might be the Bible Answers you've been Looking for !!! www.MusingsAboutGod.com Logical, Clear, Respectful......ahhhh......... but a little Different ... 6-2-25-4-20
1. MOVIES: What is the name of Han Solo's ship in the "Star Wars" series?
1. MEASUREMENTS: How many inches are in a mile?
2. TELEVISION: What is Ray Barone's job on the sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond"?
3. U.S. STATES: The Baltimore Ravens' name is a nod to which past famous resident?
2. ASTRONOMY: What does the acronym SETI mean to the scientific community?
4. PSYCHOLOGY: What fear is represented in the condition called "alliumphobia"?
5. LITERATURE: Who created the fictional detective Lord Peter Wimsey?
3. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin prefix “sub-” mean in English?
6. GAMES: Which chess piece can't move in a straight line?
7. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a baby mouse called?
4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms?
8. SCIENCE: What does the acronym RNA stand for?
9. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was the first to wear contact lenses?
10. ASTRONOMY: Which constellation contains Polaris, the North Star?
5. LITERATURE: Which 20th-century movie star penned the autobiography “Me: Stories of My Life”?
6. HISTORY: What was the first National Monument proclaimed in the United States?
7. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the island of Luzon located?
8. MOVIES: Which sci-fi movie has the tagline, “Reality is a thing of the past”?
1.
1. Salukis is the nickname for Southern Illinois University's athletic teams. What is a Saluki?
2. Name the golf course in Lancashire, England, that hosted The Open Championship 11 times from 1926-2012.
9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What was the name of the United States’ first nuclear-powered submarine?
3. Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Rice, 1978 American League MVP, spent his entire Major League Baseball playing career from 1974-89 with what team?
4. Between brothers Sterling and Shannon Sharpe, who had more career NFL touchdown receptions?
10. GAMES: What are the four railroad properties in Monopoly?
Answers
5. What businessman and promotor, nicknamed the "P.T. Barnum of NASCAR," was president of Charlotte Motor Speedway from 1976 to 2008?
1. 63,360 inches
2. Search for extraterrestrial intelligence
6. In a May 1996 loss to Evander Holyfield, what boxer claimed he suffered vision problems and accused Holyfield's camp of putting a foreign substance on the gloves?
7. Linebacker Freddie Joe Nunn held what NFL franchise's career sack record with 66.5 from 1993 until it was broken in 2021?
3. Below or insufficient
4. Grover Cleveland
5. Katharine Hepburn
6. Devils Tower, 1906
7. The Philippines
8. “The Matrix”
9. The USS Nautilus
10. Pennsylvania, Short Line, Reading and B&O
Edgar Allen Poe, who wrote the poem "The
Dorothy L. Sayers.
A breed of hound favored by ancient Egyptian royalty.
Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club.
The Boston Red Sox.
Sterling, with 65 (Shannon had 62).
Humpy Wheeler.
Bobby Czyz.
The Arizona Cardinals.
Millennium Falcon.
Sportswriter.
Raven."
Fear of garlic.
Knight.
A pinky or pup.
Ribonucleic Acid.
Lyndon Johnson.
Ursa Minor (The Little Dipper).
2020 King Features Synd.,
El Caimán
LUNES, 12 DE MAYO DE 2025
www.alligator.org/section/elcaiman
Estudiantes y profesores reaccionan ante el finalista presidencial de UF
ESTUDIANTES Y PROFESORES DE UF Y U-M TIENEN REACCIONES
MIXTAS ANTE EL FINALISTA PRESIDENCIAL
Por Maria Avlonitis Escritora de El Caimán
Traducido por Candy Fontana Verde Escritora de El Caimán
El 4 de mayo, UF anunció que Santa J. Ono, ex presidente de la Universidad de Michigan, fue el único finalista en la búsqueda de su decimocuarto presidente. El anuncio fue recibido con una mezcla de emociones: optimismo, preocupación y sorpresa.
Nicholas Love, un exalumno de psicología de U-M de 22 años que se graduó hace apenas unas semanas, dijo que el anuncio fue una sorpresa para él.
“No creo que mucha gente supiera que se iba,” dijo Love. “Definitivamente me pareció raro que lo hiciera unos días después de la graduación para salir corriendo de aquí.”
Love dijo que le sorprendió especialmente la salida de Ono porque la Junta de Regentes de U-M había extendido su contrato hasta 2032 en octubre. El contrato incluía un aumento del salario base de $1.3 millones por año.
El anuncio también sorprendió a Siddharth Desai, un estudiante de neurociencia de U-M de 20 años, debido a lo corta que fue la presidencia de tres años de Ono. Desai dijo que inicialmente le agradaba Ono como presidente, pero que no
creía que su tiempo en U-M terminara de la mejor manera posible.
“Creo que, a medida que llegaron más y más presiones, y tuvo que tomar grandes decisiones, él se inclinó a favor de la universidad en lugar de estar del lado de los estudiantes,” dijo Desai.
Para Theo Jaffee, un estudiante de informática de UF de 20 años, el anuncio fue una buena noticia. Dijo que le gusta lo que ha aprendido sobre Ono a través de su propia investigación y cree que tiene una formación bien equilibrada en STEM, humanidades y academia.
Antes de su tiempo en U-M, Ono fue presidente de la Universidad de British Columbia y de la Universidad de Cincinnati. Fue elegido miembro de la Academia Nacional de Medicina y forma parte del Consejo Estadounidense de Educación.
UF realizó una serie de foros públicos en Emerson Hall el 6 de mayo para que estudiantes, personal y profesores pudieran conocer a Ono y hacer preguntas sobre diversos temas. El foro se llevó a cabo dos semanas después de que terminaran las clases y dos días después del último día de graduación. Aproximadamente 75 estudiantes asistieron al foro estudiantil.
La universidad pudo haber realizado los foros públicos después de que terminara el semestre para así evitar protestas, comentó Jaffee, quien dijo haber presenciado protestas durante el foro público de Ben Sasse.
“Él tuvo un foro como ese, al que fui, y había manifestantes por todas partes, y mucha gente estaba muy molesta,” dijo Jaffee.
Jaffee no estaba en Gainesville durante los foros, pero dijo que habría asistido al foro estudiantil. Sintió que Ono parece una gran
elección para presidente, dijo. Katherine Canev, una estudiante de bioquímica de UF de 20 años, dijo que se sintió decepcionada por el momento del anuncio. No pudo asistir a los foros porque ya se había ido del campus por el verano.
“Al final del día, todos somos parte de esta universidad,” dijo Canev. “Merecemos participar en este proceso.”
También se sintió decepcionada con Ono como candidato debido a sus presidencias anteriores, dijo.
Ono se opuso a una huelga de estudiantes de posgrado, instructores y asistentes de posgrado en U-M en 2023. Los huelguistas finalmente acordaron un nuevo contrato de tres años con la administración. La Comisión de Educación Superior, que acredita universidades en EE. UU., anunció una investigación sobre la conducta de U-M durante la huelga.
Ono enfrentó críticas por sus acciones hacia las protestas pro Palestina. Cuarenta manifestantes fueron arrestados en una protesta frente a su oficina en noviembre de 2023. Ono dijo que se harían políticas para gobernar la interrupción después de que otra protesta pro Palestina interrumpiera una ceremonia de honor en la universidad.
También eliminó las oficinas centralizadas de DEI de U-M.
“No fue universalmente popular, pero era necesario,” escribió en un artículo para Inside Higher Ed. “Lo mantuve, y llevaré esa misma claridad de propósito a UF.”
A pesar de esto, Canev dijo que espera ver más permanencia en el próximo presidente de la que vio con Sasse. Su renuncia abrupta dejó una sensación de inestabilidad en UF, dijo.
“Espero que, aunque él [Ono] no sea mi primera opción, si es seleccionado, tal vez calme un poco las aguas,” dijo Canev. Lars Noah, profesor de la Facultad de Derecho Levin de UF, dijo que Ono sería el sexto presidente de UF que ha visto en sus 31 años enseñando en la universidad.
Noah tiene preocupaciones sobre cómo se llevó a cabo esta búsqueda presidencial, especialmente porque le recordó a la búsqueda que resultó en la presidencia de Sasse, dijo.
“Cuando es un proceso cerrado, no hay oportunidad para que la gente exprese objeciones y preocupaciones,” dijo Noah. “El proceso reservado no permite que la universidad juegue un papel en el proceso, y eso es frustrante.”
Aunque le preocupa que la falta de transparencia pueda debilitar la legitimidad de Ono, dijo que cree que Ono es un buen candidato en papel.
“Es respetado en el ámbito académico, y tiene mucha experiencia como administrador que ha manejado situaciones difíciles,” dijo. Noah tiene dudas sobre la capacidad de Ono para resistir las presiones externas, dado el carácter de la política en Florida, dijo. “Será cuestión de darle la oportunidad de mostrarnos que va en serio, que está comprometido con proteger lo que tenemos,” dijo. “Tenemos algo bueno aquí.”
Noah ha visto más complacencia que resistencia en Ono.
“Le deseo lo mejor,” dijo. “Pero aún no estoy convencido.”
mavlonitis@alligator.org
UF anuncia cambios drásticos al RTS durante el verano, la comunidad responde ‘No’
LA UF TIENE PLANS DE CORTAR MÁS DE UNA
DOCENA RUTAS DE RTS
Por Mallory Schumann
Escritora de El Caimán
Traducido por Sofia Bravo
Escritora de El Caimán
Una multitud de manifestantes se reunió frente a Rawlings Hall la tarde del 8 de mayo, coreando consignas como, “Administración de la UF, escúchanos ya, salven las rutas o la cerraremos.”
La protesta se organizó en respuesta a los propuestos “cambios de alineación” a las rutas 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 17, 20, 23, 33, 37 y 43. La UF ya había anunciado que el financiamiento para RTS se reduciría a la mitad a partir del 1 de julio. Las rutas 16, 21, 28, 34, 35, 38, 46, 118, 122 y 127 ya no estarán en servicio.
Otras rutas se fusionarán, como la ruta 12, una de las rutas más
utilizadas por los estudiantes que viven fuera del campus, y la ruta 35, que ya no llegará a Butler Plaza. Todos los autobuses operarán entre semana de 6:30 de la mañana a 11 de la noche. Todas las rutas, excepto la 126, operarán los sábados de 7 de la mañana a 7 de la noche y los domingos de 10 de la mañana a 6 de la noche. La ruta 126 operará de 11 de la mañana a 7 de la noche los fines de semana. Apoyo sindical
Durante la reunión previa a la manifestación en Rawlings Hall, miembros de United Campus Workers, United Faculty of Florida de UF y Graduate Assistants United hablaron sobre cómo las decisiones afectarán a los conductores de RTS y a la comunidad.
Marilyn Wende, un miembro de United Faculty of Florida de UF, dijo que los trabajadores de RTS ya carecen de apoyo y financiamiento adecuados.
“Ya estamos sobrecargados de trabajo,” dijo Wende. “Ya estamos mal pagados y no recibimos el
Mantente al día con El Caimán en Twitter. Envíanos un tweet @ElCaimanGNV.
respeto que merecemos.”
Su voz fue acompañada por los bocinazos de apoyo de autobuses y autos que pasaban.
Otros oradores argumentaron que los recortes de rutas afectarán a vecindarios de bajos ingresos, personas sin hogar y personas con discapacidades que dependen del transporte público.
Con letreros como “Respeto para los trabajadores de RTS” y “El transporte público es un derecho humano,” la manifestación continuó pacíficamente hasta las 5:30 de la noche.
La reunión de GTEC
Cuando el reloj marcó las 6, la reunión del comité entre UF y RTS comenzó frente a una multitud tensa. No había asientos disponibles, así que la mayoría optó por quedarse de pie en la entrada de la pequeña sala de conferencias.
Jeremiah McInnis, director asociado de transporte de UF, respondió a preguntas sobre el financiamiento de RTS.
“Nuestra primera respuesta
no ha sido cortar rutas,” dijo McInnis en respuesta a los gritos de la multitud. “Hemos estado por encima del presupuesto entre 2 y 3 millones de dólares durante los últimos tres años.”
Admitió que la ruta 118, que conecta The Hub con Cultural Plaza, todavía necesita apoyo.
El dinero de la matrícula de los estudiantes financia RTS, pero solo puede aportar hasta cierto punto, dijo Amy Amstrong, directora de comunicaciones de asuntos comerciales. La tarifa fija que los estudiantes pagan por hora de crédito para RTS no ha aumentado desde un congelamiento del presupuesto de transporte de UF en 2015, lo que deja como única opción la reducción de rutas. No explicó por qué no ha habido aumentos en el financiamiento.
“Nuestra primera prioridad tienen que ser nuestros estudiantes,” dijo Armstrong. “Es su dinero.”
Cuando se le preguntó si la UF había considerado el impacto que los cambios de ruta podrían tener
en los estudiantes de Santa Fe College, McInnis dijo que RTS y Santa Fe tienen un contrato de rutas separado.
El coordinador de Alachua County Labor Coalition, Bobber Mermer, repartió calcomanías marcando las rutas afectadas por los cambios de RTS en la puerta de la sala de conferencias.
Respuesta de la comunidad Las rutas que viajan hacia UF ahora tendrán cuatro autobuses en el campus en lugar de seis, según representantes de UF en la reunión. Hunter Holtsworth, ex-conductor de autobús de RTS y miembro del sindicato de ATU, dijo que le preocupa el impacto de reducir el número de autobuses en las rutas.
“Realmente se va a convertir en un gran problema para el tráfico en el campus.”
Lea el resto en línea en alligator.org/section/elcaiman.
@SchumannMa92308 mschumann@alligator.org
Síganos para actualizaciones Para obtener actualizaciones de El Caimán, síganos en línea en www.alligator.org/section/elcaiman. Florida golf Teams
MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025
www.alligator.org/section/sports
GOLF
Florida golf reflects on season before heading to NCAA championships
THE GATOR MEN’S AND WOMEN’S GOLF TEAMS BEGIN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION
By Brooke Bastedo Sports Writer
On the golf course, perfection is nearly impossible; consistent excellence is the goal. Year in and year out, the Florida men’s and women’s golf teams look to live up to that expectation.
The Florida men’s golf team has earned five national titles in its 90year history. Over the past 45 years, the women’s golf team has added two of its own national titles to its collection.
Florida has established itself as a consistent presence among the best teams in college golf. While the golf teams may not dominate every tournament, they aim to compete and win every time they tee up.
Two everpresent people on the course are the teams’ coaches. Women’s coach Emily Glaser and men’s coach J.C. Deacon have been with their teams for 13 and 11 years, respectively.
Glaser was hired in 2012 after serving under former Gators coach Jan Dowling. As a former All-American and LPGA player, she brought a wealth of experience to the Gators. Her passion for the game grew in the shadow of her father, the head pro at Lincoln Hills Golf Club in Up-
MEN'S BASKETBALL
per Sandusky, Ohio. Her family has run the golf course for nearly 100 years.
Deacon joined Florida two years later. He replaced legendary UF coach Buddy Alexander, who won 10 SEC titles and two national championships but hadn’t secured a national title in 13 years.
In 2023, Deacon coached the Gators to the pinnacle of collegiate golf. The team won its fifth national title, tying with Louisiana State University for the fourth most in the country.
This season, both the men’s and women’s golf teams are on the hunt
for their next title. The men’s team won its 17th SEC Championship on April 27 when it entered the tournament as the No. 8 seed.
The phrase “in order to be the champions, you must beat the champions” came to fruition during the tournament. After breezing through stroke play and the quarterfinals against Oklahoma, Florida faced the reigning SEC and National champions: the Auburn Tigers.
The Gators sent Auburn home when sophomore Jack Turner clinched the final point of the match with a par on the 17th hole. Turner was competing against Auburn
sophomore Jackson Koivun, who was ranked the No. 1 player in the country.
“We've just been getting better all year, and today was probably the best day we've had,” Deacon said after the team’s semifinal performance. “I'm just so happy for them that they get the opportunity tomorrow and just really proud of them.”
Florida moved on to compete against the Texas A&M Aggies in the final. Freshman Zack Swanwick closed out the Aggies, making Florida SEC Champions once again.
Shortly after the tournament Turner, Swanwick and Ian Gilligan were named to All-SEC Honors. Turner also received an invitation to compete for Team USA at the Arnold Palmer Cup, which takes place after the National Championship.
The team’s next round of competition begins on May 12, when No. 7 Florida travels to Bremerton, Washington, for the NCAA Regional tournament hosted by the University of Washington.
The Gators will face 13 teams to compete for one of the five regional spots in the NCAA Championship.
Although the women’s team failed to secure an SEC title, it accomplished another feat this season. For the first time since 2019, the team will compete in the NCAA National Championships.
The women’s season was highlighted by their five tournament wins and freshman Jessica Guiser’s individual win at the
Gators Invitational.
From their first win in October to their last win in March the Gators demonstrated an ability to win. Florida’s sweep at the Gators Invitational in March was the peak of its season.
Despite the rainy conditions affecting play, redshirt freshman Addison Klonowski and redshirt sophomore Karoline Tuttle led the way for Florida and managed to capture a two-stroke victory over second-place Virginia.
Guiser also earned her first collegiate win. The team rallied around her even though she wasn’t competing for the Orange and Blue in the tournament.
“It's an individual win, but I think it's part of a group project because they're all pushing each other to make each other better,” Glaser said after Guiser’s victory.
The team finished in third place at the NCAA Regional tournament, advancing to the NCAA Championship in Carlsbad, California. On May 16, the Gators will make the final push toward a third national title.
The consistent thread between the Gators is their ability to work as a team, even in an individual sport. They have grown together to reach the highest level of collegiate golf throughout the entire season.
In the coming weeks, both the men’s and women’s teams will have the chance to prove that their dedication to the sport and each other can propel them to the title of National Champions.
@BrookeBastedo bbastedo@alligator.org
Todd Golden earns contract extension, garners high acclaim from students
By Adrian Carmona Sports Writer
One month after defeating the Houston Cougars in the national championship, Florida basketball head coach Todd Golden earned a significant pay raise. His contract extension is worth $40.5 million over the next six years.
"Todd has done an incredible job getting Florida men's basketball back where it belongs," UF athletic director Scott Stricklin said in a May 6 press release. "We believed in his vision, his competitive nature and his modern approach to the game back in 2022, and he has validated that belief in a relatively short time and helped create memories of a lifetime for another generation of Gator fans."
Golden is set to make $6.75 million per
year until 2031. He’ll become the fourth highest-paid coach in the NCAA behind Kansas’ Bill Self, Arkansas’ John Calipari and Connecticut's Dan Hurley. All three coaches have won at least one national championship.
"My family and I are grateful to be a part of Gator Nation and for the opportunity to lead this great program three years ago," Golden said in the same press release.
"I am so appreciative of each and every player and staff member who have been critical to the success we've experienced here."
Golden signed with the Gators in 2022 after spending the previous three seasons as head coach for the San Francisco Dons. He led the Gators to the NCAA tournament in his second season with the team.
alligatorSports has a podcast! The alligatorSports Podcast releases episodes every Wednesday and can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your other preferred streaming platform.
Although Florida lost to Colorado in the round of 64, the team’s future was clearly bright.
One year later, Golden and the Florida Gators sit alone at the top of the college basketball world. In his third season as head coach, Golden led the team to a 36-4 regular season record, tying for the best in program history. Then, the Gators won the SEC Tournament for the first time since 2014 and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The season culminated in a 6563 win against Houston in the NCAA Championship. At 39 years old, Golden became the youngest coach to win a title since Jim Valvano, 37, won with North Carolina State in 1983.
It seems no one is happier about the
Follow our newsletter Love alligatorSports? Stay up to date on our content by following our newsletter. Scan the QR Code to sign up.
extension than the fans and students. Addison Alsobrook, a 20-year-old computer science sophomore, exclaimed his excitement for the future of Florida basketball.
“He knows what it means to coach the University of Florida and the importance of perennial success for our program,” Alsobrook said in a text. “Words can’t describe my excitement to continue watching UF hoops in the coming years.” Golden and the Gators will look to make another deep run this coming season. Despite some roster turnover, Florida heads into the season with the 12th-best odds to win the championship.
The Gators look to repeat as national champions, a feat they accomplished in the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
@abcarmona04 acarmona@alligator.org
Follow us for updates For updates on UF athletics, follow us on Twitter at @alligatorSports or online at www.alligator.org/section/sports.
Alligator Archives
UF Women’s Golf Coach Emily Glaser stands next to former UF golfer Maisie Filler at Mark Bostick Golf Course.
