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VOLUME 113 ISSUE 6
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018
Not officially associated with the University of Florida
Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida
‘Race against time’: Fundraiser aims to save historic Florida Motel sign THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO RAISE $2,500 TO KEEP THE SIGN. By Dana Cassidy Alligator Staff Writer
The rusted red and blue sign advertises luxuries: electric, cable TV and air conditioning. For the 1950s, it was a deal. The triangle marquee for the Florida Motel has sat alongside Southwest 13th Street for about 60 years. But now, the sign is at risk, said Chip Patel, the commercial broker and realtor of the Florida Motel. As the motel’s planned demolition approaches, Patel wants to save the sign. “The building is something that you might not see passing the road, but that sign — that sign is something that will hit you,” Patel said. Patel created a GoFundMe campaign last week to raise $2,500, the amount he said it takes to move the sign elsewhere, and have it donated to the city. The city could move the sign to another public space such as Depot Park, he said. As of press time, eight people have donated a total of $760, according to the page.
The motel and sign have been icons due to their retro aesthetic and historic value, the city’s Department of Doing director Wendy Thomas said. There was a request to preserve the building, but a demolition permit has been given to the new owner, the Comfort Suites Hotel, she said. “Things like the sign and old buildings in the community tell the story of who we are and where we come from,” Thomas said. “The sign has so much character.” Multiple people were interested in purchasing the sign, Patel said. If the community isn’t able to raise the money in two and a half weeks, the sign will be sold to one of the private buyers, Patel said. “I know that it means something to many, many people in this community,” Thomas said. “I feel like it’s a little bit of a race against time, but I just really hope that all the pieces fall into place.” Olivia Wilson, a 42-year-old Ocala resident, said not having the sign is like going to Hollywood and not seeing the Hollywood sign. “You can’t wipe away where we come from, we have to keep some of that history alive.” Wilson said. @danacassidy _ dcassidy@alligator.org
Lexie Miller / Alligator Staff
The Florida Motel sign sits along Southwest 13th Street. The motel’s realtor, Chip Patel, is trying to save the sign by fundraising for its relocation.
Delta Chi fraternity suspended from UF until 2020 By Amanda Rosa Alligator Staff Writer
UF suspended its chapter of Delta Chi for two years after a pledge nearly died following a Spring hazing incident. The chapter is suspended until May 9, 2020, according to letters sent by Dean of Students Heather White last Monday. The Greek Conduct Committee found the chapter responsible for violating four Student Conduct Codes, including serving alcohol to underage students and hazing, which led to “the hospitalization of a student in critical condition with risk of fatality,” the letter said. The chapter has not been allowed to host social activities or recruit new members since February when the incident occurred, UF spokesperson Steve Orlando said. The fraternity must move out of its house on Fraternity Row by Oct. 1 and complete a full review of its members, White wrote. The committee found that the chapter’s brothers “participated in a coordinated effort to cover up their actions and put a new member’s life in jeopardy,” Orlando wrote in an email. The chapter has until Monday to appeal
Gators defense prepares for SEC opener
Florida coaches and players both emphasized the need to improve on the defensive end of the ball ahead of its matchup with Kentucky Saturday. Find out who needs to prepare and how, pg. 14
the suspension. A student not affiliated with the fraternity told University Police he thought the then18-year-old pledge was being hazed, according to a police sworn complaint. The pledge later told police he went to a “Big Brother” ceremony, where Pablo Castillo, 22, was announced as his big brother, a mentor in the Greek organization. There, the pledge drank a bottle of “sweet tea vodka” and participated in a foot race, the complaint said. He said he didn’t realize how much he drank, and brothers found him unconscious and slumped in a chair in the backyard at about midnight, police said. Ty Simon, the then-Delta Chi president, told police he decided to take him to the hospital. Simon, Castillo and Kyle Basignani, the fraternity’s risk manager, drove the pledge to North Florida Regional Medical Center, the complaint said. They did not call 911. When they arrived to the hospital, his blood alcohol level was .324, which is four times the legal driving limit of .08. Doctors told the group if they waited five more minutes, the student would have died, the complaint said.
SEE DELTA CHI, PAGE 4
Sales tax could provide funds for school improvements NEW CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOL SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS MAKE THE LIST. By McKenna Beery Alligator Staff Writer
Alachua County Public Schools could get a major makeover if voters pass a half-cent sales tax initiative on November’s ballot. The school district released a list of improvements for every school Thursday, which would be put into place with the money from a half-cent sales tax initiative, if it passes in November. Although the updates will be different for each school, some of the most notable changes include building new classrooms and science labs and installing new furniture, lighting and flooring, according to the list from the school district. Depending on sales, the tax could bring in about $264 million over the span of 12 years, said Jackie Johnson, the school system spokesperson. “It is the only way that the school district can raise enough money to do the huge amount of work that needs to be done at all of our schools,” Johnson said. Although many of the updates will be
‘Turlington Dancer’ tresspassed UF, police say He was banned from campus in August 2017, pg. 4
unique to each school depending on its age, layout and what work has been done already, universal improvements to school safety and security would include limiting entrance points and installing electronic systems that can automatically lock all exterior doors from the front office, Johnson said. “That kind of technology is something we’d like to implement in all of our schools, but we just have not had the resources,” Johnson said. Parents were given a handout of improvements for each school Thursday night at elementary school open houses, Johnson said. Other lists will be handed out in the next few weeks during other open houses. The possibility of higher-quality facilities already has some parents delighted. Karen Gillette, the president of Eastside High School’s parent-teacher association, said she’s most excited about the prospect of new and renovated classrooms. “I think there is always more that can be done, but it’s a great start,” Gillette said. “Improvements are long overdue.” Gainesville High School would receive one of the most extensive facelifts, according to the list. The oldest buildings would be demolished and replaced with 29 new class-
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SEE SCHOOLS, PAGE 4