September 28, 2018 by The Independent Florida Alligator

www.alligator.org

We Inform. You Decide.

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 16

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

Not officially associated with the University of Florida

Rock & Roll legend to speak at Fall commencement Faculty member Onye Ozuzu will also speak. By Jessica Curbelo Alligator Staff Writer

Stephen Stills is well acquainted with Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. When he wasn’t parading the field in his Gainesville High School marching band uniform, he was selling Cokes to thirsty fans in concession booths, UF President Kent Fuchs said. “He’s said he considers himself a part of the Gator Nation,” Fuchs said. “And now, it’ll be official.”

Stills, an inductee of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, will be this Fall’s commencement speaker at the university-wide ceremony, along with UF College of the Arts Dean Onye Ozuzu, Fuchs said. Neither speaker is being paid for the ceremony. Stills will be the ﬁrst guest commencement speaker the university has had in decades — maybe 40 years, said Stephanie McBride, the director of commencement. After

changing the format of UF graduation, the university noticed an opportunity to bring in speakers. “Before, we had so many ceremonies back-to-back, it would be a great request to ask someone to do 10 ceremonies over four days,” McBride said. The speakers will present at a single commencement held for everyone, McBride said. The band and choir from the College of the Arts will also perform at the ceremony. “We’re really taking time to cel-

ebrate this college,” she said. If Stills wanted to perform during the ceremony, he would be welcome, Fuchs said. When Fuchs asked Ozuzu on Sept. 15 to be the faculty speaker, she was surprised. Having just started her time at UF in August along with about 200 other new faculty members, Ozuzu was not sure she was the right person. “We’re in a moment of welcoming change,” she said. “In some ways, I represent 200 people that arrived on campus brand new in the Fall. Having that voice represented makes sense in the moment.”

Fuchs had also been open with Ozuzu about inviting her, a black woman, to speak at commencement partially to make sure the stage is inclusive, Ozuzu said. Not only did he want to invite a speaker who would represent the university’s diverse community, but Fuchs also wanted a speaker with close ties to UF and Gainesville, he said. Stills spent some of his childhood in Gainesville, Fuchs said. In the 1950s, Stills attended J.J. Finley Elementary School before

SEE GRADUATION, PAGE 5

Former Gators running back arrested By Amanda Rosa Alligator Staff Writer

Christopher King / Alligator Staff

Lexie Atlas, a 19-year-old UF computer engineering sophomore, celebrates with her friend Kyle Levy, who won a District B Senate seat for the Impact Party. The results were read Wednesday night in the Reitz Union. Impact won 35 of 50 seats.

Institute of Black Culture, La Casita break ground THE PROJECT WILL COST ABOUT $10 MILLION. By Gabrielle Seminara Alligator Contributing Writer

Not even heavy rain and muddied shoes could dampen spirits Wednesday. In the middle of thunderstorms, about 120 students, faculty and alumni gathered under a small tent to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new Institute of Black Culture, called the IBC, and the Institute of Hispanic-Latino Cultures, or La Casita. The ceremony took place at 1510 and 1504 W. University Ave. The rain ceased just in time for the of-

ﬁcial groundbreaking. Wearing white construction hats and yielding golden shovels, the speakers broke ground for both buildings, followed by cheers and applause. Miguel Raya, a 22-year-old UF construction management senior, said students have been waiting a long time to ﬁnally start the project. “This is a revitalization of civil rights on campus,” he said. “This is our space and we fought to revitalize it.” Construction for the two buildings was delayed due to disagreements between faculty and students over whether the buildings should be combined. UF Multicultural and Diversity Affairs originally proposed a single U-shaped building, but students ar-

CLANGA, CLANGA. Mullen returns home.

Mullen and the Gators have a lot to worry about in Starkville. Find out what the players and coaches said were their biggest challenges against the Bulldogs, pg. 14

gued the plan would not properly honor the two separate communities. UF President Kent Fuchs said in his speech the $10 million project is an important part of the community. “This project will topple walls of ignorance and topple walls of prejudice,” Fuchs said. Akil Reynolds, the president of the Black Student Union, said during his speech he thinks it is important students have a voice on campus. “Students should never feel guilty to ask for what we deserve,” Reynolds said. Students will have continued input on the two buildings’ furniture and interior

SEE GROUNDBREAKING, PAGE 5

Tom Petty tributes across town

Take a look at how Gainesville is commemorating Petty a year after his death, pg. 10

Impact Party sweeps

A former Gators running back is accused of slamming his girlfriend against the wall and choking her last Friday, Gainesville Police said. Adarius Lemons, 21, of Oldsmar, Florida, was arrested Wednesday night, according to court records. Lemons was upset about a social media message while arguing with the woman in her apartment last week, a sworn complaint alleges. He smashed her iPhone on the ground several times. He then slammed the victim against a wall and bed, the complaint said. They continued arguing and went into the hallway. Lemons slammed her into two walls while choking her, police said. Two witnesses in the apartment told police they saw Lemons choking her in the hallway, the report said. One witness tried to separate the two but could not. The woman could not breathe, and Lemons eventually let her go and left the apartment, according to the report. During the struggle, she got a cut upper lip, a bloodied left big toe, a scratch on her left forearm, a cut on her right pinky and redness on her left elbow, the complaint said. Police ﬁled a warrant for Lemons’ arrest Monday. Lemons announced his intention to transfer from UF on Twitter after the Gators’ loss to Kentucky on Sept. 8. Lemons is charged with battery, domestic battery by choking and criminal mischief. He is being held in the Alachua County Jail in lieu of a $65,000 bond.

See a full breakdown of election results on pg. 9

@AmandaNicRosa arosa@alligator.org