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Who's been running the show and
how they’ve been running it
A GUIDE TO UF’S ADMINISTRATION AND WHAT TO EXPECT
By Maria Avlonitis Alligator Staff Writer
The University of Florida has developed a reputation far from its Gator pride and excellent academics.
Aahan Thakkar, a 22-year-old UF sustainability senior, traveled to Chicago for a family event last weekend. When he told people he went to UF, he said it didn’t seem like the university is known for its great STEM programs or school pride anymore.
“[They say] ’How are things there? We know everything's really crazy politically,’” Thakkar said. “That's the reputation we have now.”
It shouldn’t be that way, he said.
While Orange and Blue pride may never die, and the university holds a No. 7 public school ranking, UF has also been on the map for reasons not every student is proud of. This summer introduced impactful changes to students and faculty, adding to an already complex administrative history.
Thakkar didn’t fully understand university politics until the end of his undergraduate career, but he wished he’d learned more about it during his first few years at UF. He felt like he would’ve been able to better advocate for himself and educate others, he said.
“I just think being aware of the matter isn't enough anymore because we have to actually start engaging in actions,” he said, “or start having conversations or have a student body start talking to these people who are supposed to be teaching and representing us.”
The twists and turns of UF’s presidential search
UF hasn’t had a permanent president in a little over a year and it isn’t expecting one until 2026.
Former UF president Ben Sasse resigned unexpectedly in July 2024, citing concerns for his wife’s health. Sasse was criticized for his political ties and tripling his office’s spending during his UF presidency, and students protested his confirmation.
Kent Fuchs, who served as UF president for eight years before Sasse, stepped up as interim president after
his resignation.
The UF Board of Trustees began its presidential search in January, and on May 4, the Presidential Search Advisory Committee selected Santa Ono as the search’s sole finalist.
His selection received mixed reactions from students and faculty. At the time of the announcement, Ono was the University of Michigan’s president and faced criticism for his actions toward pro-Palestine protesters and for shutting down the university’s DEI office.
Some students and faculty were skeptical of the secretive search. Before Sasse, previous searches produced several candidates instead of a sole finalist. Others thought Ono’s academic resume as former president of the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati spoke for itself. They were hopeful an academic would be running UF, as opposed to a political figure.
The UF Board of Trustees confirmed Ono unanimously, and he received full support from Mori Hosseini. The board’s chair pushed for UF to achieve a higher national ranking after dropping its top-five public university ranking. He believed Ono would spearhead UF’s continued ascent.
For the first time in the board’s creation, the Florida Board of Governors rejected a candidate, stopping Ono in a 10-6 vote June 3, indicating a changing frontier for higher education.
In the month between Ono’s announcement as the sole finalist and the Board of Governors rejection, Ono received criticism from Florida Republicans for his former left-leaning values. After the vote, Sen. Rick Scott and Reps. Greg Steube and Byron Donalds asked for an open and transparent search process in a letter to the UF Board of Trustees June 18.
Alexander Peterson, a 20-yearold UF history and classics studies junior, said someone as qualified as Ono getting rejected for the presidency should warrant concern from the student body.
He believes it’s in students’ best interest to be aware of the inner workings of the presidential search process and the role Florida plays in it, he said.
“It was really disheartening to see Santa Ono get disapproved despite bending over backwards for the De-
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Santis administration,” Peterson said.
Nikki Fried, the chair of the Florida Democratic Party, tweeted that Casey DeSantis, the wife of Gov. Ron DeSantis, would become UF’s interim president weeks before Fuchs’ contract as interim president ended. Though UF officials said there was no truth to the rumor, Peterson said another political appointment would be the worst-case scenario for UF.
“A lot of students don't know just how bad the Sasse presidency was,” he said.
Two days before Fuchs’ contract was set to end, he chose to extend it until Sept. 1. UF officials said they expect to select a new interim president by then and plan to launch a new presidential search in the first quarter of 2026.
Even though he doesn’t agree with all of Fuchs’ choices, Peterson said he commends Fuchs’ willingness to come back repeatedly.
“I feel a little bad for him,” he said. “He wanted to retire once they hired Sasse, or I assume so, and I feel like we kind of just keep bringing him back.”
Interim instability
Alejandro Pasten, a 19-year-old UF music education sophomore, said while it’s reassuring Fuchs will remain at UF a little while longer, it’s still concerning UF doesn’t have a solidified candidate to take on the presidential role.
“[It] generally makes me wonder whether or not they'll be prepared for when we do find and we do hire an actual president,” Pasten said.
Dozens of other positions across UF are currently filled by interim designees. Five of UF’s 16 colleges have interim deans, and departments like the Emerging Pathogens Institute and the Hamilton School of Classical and Civic Education are being run by in-
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Hispanic and Latino student groups usher in new school year at UF
ORGANIZATIONS OFFER CULTURE, CONNECTION AND SUPPORT TO NEW AND RETURNING GATORS
By Candy Fontana-Verde Alligator Staff Writer
The Hispanic community at the University of Florida represents the largest minority group. To offer a space for students who want to feel connected to their heritage, student organizations host activities and programs that celebrate Latin culture, promote connection and help new and returning students find their place on campus.
In Fall 2024, 21.9% of undergraduate students at the University of Florida identified as Hispanic or Latino, making it the second most represented ethnic group on campus behind white students, who made up 48%, according to data from FloridaShines.
The university houses a wide variety of organizations, from cultural associations and dance clubs to student groups for specific majors and mentorship programs.
The Hispanic Student Association is one of the largest on campus. It functions as an umbrella organization for more than 20 affiliated groups, including cultural clubs, professional associations and artistic collectives. HSA will
collaborate with the UF Student Government this year.
Gabriella Garibaldi, the 21-year-old HSA president and a UF behavioral neuroscience senior, said HSA’s main mission is to offer a space where every student feels included.
“Our goal really is to get as many people feeling at home as much as we can,” Garibaldi said.
Among HSA’s regular activities are Familia Fridays at the Institute of Hispanic-Latino Cultures, better known as La Casita, she said. The event acts as a social and study gathering open to all students. The group hosts solidarity sessions run by HSA’s Office of Political Affairs, which are spaces to discuss current events, politics and issues affecting the Latino community.
HSA’s final event of the Fall semester is the Winter Formal, a big celebration to close off the year.
The organization also manages programs like the Mentorship and Leadership Program meant for first- and second-year students and transfer students, which offers professional and social development through mentorship.
In collaboration with HSA is the HispanicLatine Student Assembly. It’s a welcoming event for Hispanic and Latin students that is crucial for showing UF students the vibrant Hispanic and Latino community. HLSA introduces students to different cultures, organizations and
opportunities available on campus.
This Fall, the event will take place Aug. 27 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom with free admission and food available for attendees. The evening will include a tabling fair with cultural and student organizations, artistic performances and a guest speaker, who will talk about current issues affecting the community.
Hector Collazo, the 21-year-old HLSA executive director and a UF microbiology and cell science and anthropology senior, said HLSA is a space for connection and cultural pride.
“It’s a collaborative event that shows off what the Hispanic community at UF has to offer,” Collazo said.
The goal is for new students to build community the moment they arrive, by finding places where they feel represented and discovering opportunities to get involved throughout the year, he said.
Hispanic-Latine Heritage Month is another organization that celebrates the Hispanic and Latino community. It hosts several events during Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Sept. 15, that celebrate and bring visibility to Hispanic and Latino cultures at UF. With a smaller team in 2025, their focus will be on strengthening collaboration with affiliated organizations and the local community.
Nicole Pantoja, the 21-year-old HLHM exter-
nal vice president and a UF political science and women’s studies senior, said the organization will do more than just host events; it aims to foster unity and resilience among Hispanic and Latino students.
“We want to emphasize showing up in our spaces without fear and being able to connect with other people, even though a lot of legislation and policies have made our community vulnerable,” Pantoja said.
The HLHM opening ceremony will be Sept. 15, and the closing ceremony will take place Oct. 15. The group will also host a pageant tentatively scheduled for Oct. 2, a formal event where participants present talents, wear traditional attire and celebrate Latin America’s cultural diversity.
Andrea Orozco, a 20-year-old UF chemistry senior, joined HSA in Spring 2025 and participated as a mentor in the MLP program.
“Of all the organizations I’ve participated in, [HSA] has been the one I’ve liked the most,” Orozco said. “I have met many of my friends there, and honestly, my experience here at the university would not have been the same without that organization.”
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Crash course on Gainesville’s public transportation
UF AND THE CITY OFFER RTS, CAMPUS CONNECTOR AND SNAP
By Logan McBride Alligator Staff Writer
While preparing for the next semester, new and returning students are running through back-to-school checklists. They’ve unpacked, set schedules and bought textbooks. Now comes the question of how they’ll get from place to place — whether that’s across campus, downtown or back home after dark.
Between free bus routes, a network of bike paths and ridehailing apps for when it’s pouring Florida rain, understanding local transportation helps UF students spend less time figuring out the system and more time living in it.
Gainesville RTS buses
The Gainesville Regional Transit System is a public transportation option jointly funded by the local government, UF and federal grants.
Since 1998, approximately 70% of RTS riders have been enrolled at UF. RTS routes run through various locations within the city and on campus.
During Fall 2025, Route 1 will go from Rosa Parks Downtown Station to the Butler Plaza Station, while Route 17 loops from Shands to Southwest 16th Avenue.
RTS Route 20 will provide transportation from the Reitz Union to Oaks Mall, while Route 33 provides service to apartment complexes on Southwest 20th Avenue and Southwest 38th Terrace, going from the Hub to Butler Plaza Station.
Route 37 goes from the Hub to Southwest 35th Place, Southwest 37th and 39th Boulevards and the Butler Plaza Station, while Route 38 goes from the Hub to Gainesville Place.
Routes 9 and 12 travel from the Hub to Hunter’s Run and Williston Road respectively. Route 13 provides service to the Alight, Legacy and Monarch apartment complexes.
UF’s campus Route 118 will go from the Hub to Southwest Recreation Center Monday through Friday. Route 126 will be its weekend campus circulator, traveling between Sorority Row and Lakeside.
Recent cuts to RTS resulted in a 22% reduction to its operating budget, said Gainesville City Spokeswoman Rossana Passaniti.
The city is committed to continuing to support students and the Gainesville community through RTS, she said.
Since 1998, Gainesville and UF agreed to unlimited ridership for students, faculty and staff. Students can utilize RTS
A guide to university administration
ADMIN REVIEW, from pg 2
terim directors.
Nick Kozlov, UF’s chief financial officer, and Joe Glover, the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, are both interim leaders. Patrick Reakes was recently confirmed as Interim Dean of the George A. Smathers Libraries.
The number of interim positions doesn’t signal stability to Pasten. While he thinks the interim leaders are qualified, Pasten said he doesn’t think the setup will benefit UF in the long term.
“If a position's constantly changing and there's people going in and out, or people who are uncertain for how long they're staying in their position,” he said, “then that creates issues down the line long term.”
The constantly shifting leadership has an impact on employees and students who rely on them, Pasten said. The vacancies can benefit faculty who can move into administrative positions, he said, but students can be impacted by professors moving in, out and around departments.
“Whether or not you are confident in their ability, you definitely feel the transitionary phase,” he said.
UF called off its search for a dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences after Gov. Ron DeSantis intervened in April.
Officials said they will hold off on conducting dean searches until the university has an official president, leaving departments in the care of temporary officials.
A summer of surprises
Since Ono’s rejection, the UF Board of Trustees has made several keynote decisions over the summer.
The board voted July 23 to hike out-of-state students’ tuition by 10% starting this Fall. Interim Chief Financial Officer Nick Kozlov said instructional costs have increased 25% over the last decade while out-of-state tuition has remained the same.
UF would still maintain the lowest tuition cost by more than $10,000 compared to the top 10 public universities in the country. The additional funds will offset instructional costs serving non-resident students.
Hosseini said the hike can impact some students more than others. The board approved his proposal to provide one-year waivers from tuition hikes to out-of-state students who demonstrate significant financial hardships.
The tuition hike is a result of a June 18 Florida Board of Governors vote, which allowed universities to increase nonresident fees by 10% headed into the Fall semester.
Jennifer Chistik, a 20-year-old UF accounting junior, said the hike can make attending UF inaccessible for students who can’t afford the new tuition cost.
“Instead of encouraging education, [UF is] curbing a lot of the progress that it's made,” Chistik said.
She thinks UF’s recent decision to close the Office of Sustainability will also impact a lot of students, she added.
“It's going back a step instead of going forward,” she said. As a sustainability student, Aahan Thakkar said it was heartbreaking to see UF shut the office down for what he believes are political reasons.
UF terminated the Office of Sustainability due to a 5% reduction in administrative expenses UF leadership initiated July 1. It closed for efficiency, a UF spokesperson said, and it has embedded sustainability into its operations.
Sustainability is extremely important right now, Thakkar said. It doesn’t make sense to cut an office for efficiency if its closure might recreate the waste the office worked to eliminate, he added.
“We should not be making science political,” Thakkar said. He believes rolling back sustainability efforts is frustrating because the environment's not improving. Florida is impacted by climate change in several ways, including hurricanes, he said, and sustainability offers a framework for how to move forward.
He said operating without sustainability is like trying to build a house without a foundation.
“Right now, sustainability is a need,” he said. “It's not a want, it's not a request. It's a genuine need.”
On July 23, UF announced a full return to in-person work for faculty and staff. The sudden change took many by surprise, and it sparked discussions on how it will be implemented.
Employees expressed frustration and shock with the announcement, which gave staff and faculty 30 days to prepare for the return.
UF Spokesperson Cynthia Roldán Hernández wrote in an email the only exceptions are for staff and faculty whose assignments require them to be off campus. She added that UFHR is working with deans and vice presidents to ensure space is available or make alternate arrangements where necessary.
UF employees voiced concerns about how the return will impact their work-life balance, childcare and healthcare. Many also questioned whether current infrastructure can accommodate a full staff. Several people worried about parking, of which Roldán said there is plenty to accommodate staff and faculty.
“Arriving early greatly improves employees’ ability to find a parking spot close to their campus work location,” Roldán wrote.
UF Spokesperson Steve Orlando confirmed UF’s Chief Information Officer Elias Eldayrie decided to end hybrid work arrangements for UFIT employees in June, which took effect Aug. 11.
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2025
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ENTERTAINMENT
The best spots to watch Gators sports
WHY THE SWAMP RESTAURANT AND MACDINTON’S IRISH PUB & RESTAURANT ARE A MUST
By Jeffrey Serber Avenue Staff Writer
If you can’t get tickets to a game or the Gators are on the road, don’t worry: Gainesville has plenty of options for where to watch Florida sports.
Heading into the 2025-2026 school year, Gators sports are buzzing with opportunity. The football team looks to build off of last year’s late-season success, the men’s basketball team will defend its national championship title and several other teams are determined to maintain the
STUDENT LIFE
Maintaining
bragging rights of being Florida’s “everything school.”
To make the most of the UF sports scene, The Swamp Restaurant and MacDinton’s Irish Pub & Restaurant are two of Gainesville’s game day staples.
For Brandon Worley, a MacDinton’s front-of-house manager, game days are something he always enjoys.
“Game days are insane,” Worley said. ”It’s probably the funnest environment I’ve ever been part of.”
The Swamp Restaurant
The iconic Gainesville sports bar opened in 1994 across the street from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on West University Avenue. After a 2019 demolition, the restaurant relocated to its current location on Southwest Second Avenue in 2022,
just down the road from Infinity Hall.
The new location opened just in time for the first football game of the 2022 season, where Florida defeated then-No. 8 Utah 29-26 at home. Ever since, the spot has maintained the legacy of its old location.
“Our restaurant is unique in the fact that it is a small business but nationally known,” event coordinator Kylie Coulter wrote in an email. “People all over have heard about The Swamp Restaurant and come to Gainesville to experience the atmosphere we have curated.”
Enclosed by an iconic white picket fence, the restaurant’s large outdoor seating area is the first thing you see upon arrival. The seats face an enormous TV, creating the ultimate spot for Florida watch parties. The outdoor area
also includes cornhole boards.
The restaurant also uses the outdoor space to feature a portable bar, provide extra seating and host live music for special events. It also hosts the Swamp Market, an event that showcases local small businesses.
“We have an outdoor footprint unlike any other restaurant in Gainesville,” Coulter said. “It is incredible what we can do with it.”
When you walk into the first floor, you are greeted by plenty of TVs and a variety of UF merchandise on the wall. You can get lost in Gator memorabilia from UF’s football, men’s basketball and baseball teams. At the end of the first-floor area is the bar, which features even more TVs.
The second floor has less indoor seating but includes a wraparound outdoor patio that ends at the res-
taurant’s outdoor bar and seating area.
The Swamp offers traditional gameday food, such as burgers and wings, and healthier options like bowls, salads and wraps. There is even a dog menu for those who wish to bring their pets along for game day.
Many of its features resemble the old location on West University Avenue while still allowing the restaurant to keep up with modern trends.
“The Swamp Restaurant emphasizes the spirit of Gator Nation,” Coulter said. “We are built off the loyalty of the fans and students.”
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the spark: Avoiding college life burnout for future prosperity
UF GRADUATES, FACULTY REFLECT ON COPING MECHANISMS FOR STRESS IN HIGH-PRESSURE SETTINGS
By Autumn Johnstone Avenue Staff Writer
UF’s prestige and high rankings often attract hardworking and academically driven students. Yet, through endless days and sleepless nights, it’s important to prioritize one’s mental health to avoid burnout and reach for success.
While burnout often goes unspoken, it’s prevalent among students who overcommit to extracurricular activities and lack time for themselves. Without time dedicated to selfcare, mental exhaustion kicks in, leaving students overwhelmed with stress.
Whether it’s students who spend hours ap-
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plying to medical school each week or UF faculty members teaching more than six classes a semester, Gators often balance multiple lives at once.
Anaïs Ortiz, a 32-year-old UF psychology graduate student, believes in “thinking preventatively” to prioritize one’s mental, physical and emotional health. Rather than comparing themselves to others, students should pay attention to what they need to be successful.
Everyone has different mental thresholds, Ortiz said. During busy semesters, it comes down to routinely checking in with one’s emotional state to see what needs to be done to care for their well-being.
To balance schoolwork, occupational duties and social lives, blocking out time can set students up for success, she said.
“It’s easy to get wrapped up in the newness of everything when you’re starting the year, especially if you’re a first-time student,” Ortiz said. “It’s important to remember that if you
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start building these habits now, you’re going to make it to your goals.”
Charlotte Trabbic, a 23-year-old UF graduate, worked at her own pace as an online student, mentoring herself by scheduling time for school and work. She took 13 credits almost every summer to stay on track to simultaneously graduate with a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
Her burnout became overwhelming when she began to experience a fear of missing out, she said. She’s since realized how important it is to give herself grace and time to recover from academic stress.
“The pressure to excel the most you could is just what people would want for students in a university like this,” Charlotte Trabbic said. “I felt the pressure … but it’s something to rise to and push yourself to achieve rather than to think it’s unattainable.”
Wandering the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens and sitting by Lake Alice are two ways
Organizaciones hispanas y latinas dan la bienvenida a nuevos estudiantes. Leer más en la página 14.
to break the cycle of lectures and libraries, she said, giving students a well-deserved mental break.
Brigitte Trabbic, a 20-year-old UF food and resource economics junior, recognizes college is extremely stressful for students, but many of them don’t realize the people around them are also going through similar situations.
Forming friendships through shared experiences can foster deeper connections to Gainesville’s community, she said.
“Reaching out to people in different sections of my life grounds myself and reminds myself that if I feel pressure in one specific situation, that is not all my life is,” Brigitte Trabbic said. “Taking a deep breath and appreciating the area you’re surrounded by is one of my favorite things about UF. It’s in such a beautiful place.”
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Finding your place: UF students and faculty share their favorite campus spots
Gators share the best spots to study, relax and connect
By Swasthi Maharaj Alligator Staff Writer
On a campus with around 2,000 acres of red bricks, palm trees and secret pockets tucked away between buildings, every Gator eventually finds a corner of campus to call their own.
Looking around the UF campus, you might catch friends sprawled out under the shade of trees, tour groups weaving through the rush of Turlington or someone feeding the campus cats near Pugh Hall. These small rituals turn a massive campus into a series of personal landmarks.
These spots hold memories of thousands of students and faculty members, marking traditions and shaping a campus life beyond lecture halls and exams.
Hidden spots and traditions: Fuchs’ favorites
Interim President Kent Fuchs said some of his go-to locations aren’t generally open to the public, but they’re worth a visit if the opportunity arises.
“I have three favorite spots,” Fuchs wrote in an email. He encouraged students to
climb to the top of Century Tower to watch a carillon player play the bells. The tower has a 49-bell carillon, containing cast bells that are suspended and played using a keyboard with wooden levers that hit the bells.
Century Tower, an iconic UF landmark, stands at the heart of campus. Its bells mark the passage of time, and its lights often reflect the time of the year, with orange and blue lights to mark athletic wins or white, red and green lights as Christmas nears. Watching a carillon player is a rare glimpse into a long-existing Gator tradition.
Fuchs also recommended a quiet reflection in the Baughman Center. The center’s stained-glass windows overlook Lake Alice, offering a retreat from the main campus’ business.
He said one of his rarer studentaccessible recommendations is taking a ride in the Dasburg House elevator. The Dasburg House is the UF president’s private residence.
“The elevator has the UF seal embedded in the floor, which I always tried to avoid stepping on when using the elevator,” he wrote.
Architectural UF gems
Professor John Marshall Maze, a UF associate professor of architecture, is passionate about how places can be more than just bricks and cement, holding meaning in various ways — something he teaches in his “Places and Spaces” quest class.
“The University of Florida has many fantastic spaces, from large gathering spaces to very small intimate spaces,” Maze wrote in an email.
Many spaces are considered “sacred” to the UF community, he wrote, “in Emile Durkheim’s sociological sense,” meaning it’s important to students not just as individuals but as members of a larger UF community.
Maze recommended some of his favorite architecturallycrafted buildings around the UF campus, including Weimer Hall’s glass atrium. Weimer Hall is the home of the UF College of Journalism and Communications and is recognized for its glass rooftop, which allows for sunlit study spots and shelter on rainy days.
He also encouraged students to visit the unique inflated-roofed
atrium of Antevy Hall, which belongs to UF’s College of Design, Construction and Planning.
“This one I am biased about since I have spent almost 25 years working in this space with students and colleagues from the School of Architecture,” he said.
Maze said he enjoys the small courtyard between Turlington and Rolfs Halls.
“I love sitting quietly under the banana trees while reading or collecting my thoughts,” he wrote.
The path between the halls is its own work of wonder, he said. A passerby might travel through Turlington’s tunnellike breezeways with sculptural skylights, down the stairs, through the courtyard and around Rolf Hall, centered on the front door to Pugh Hall.
“This series of spaces and the eventual alignment with Pugh seems so perfect that it has to have been deliberate,” he wrote.
Maze has played the bagpipe, one of his favorite hobbies, in most of these places, even playing for several weddings and funerals at the Baughman Center, he added.
ART AFTER DARK
Student favorites: where Gators study, relax and connect
For many students, their favorite places balance studying and socializing.
Some students find the best spots outdoors. Angie Pleitez, a 20-year-old UF psychology and women’s studies junior, often spreads a blanket in the Plaza of the Americas to study in the sun.
“Camping out there, having a nice little blanket, being under a tree to provide a little bit of shade,” Pleitez said. “It’s definitely an area that I really take advantage of if I just want to not be cooped up in the library all day.”
Plaza offers a green space for any activity from studying to frisbee games and is often filled with students engaged in different hobbies. It’s a social hub where students can relax as they swing on hammocks or churn through assignments under the tree canopy.
Zorielle Bursac, a 20-year-old UF public health junior, said she appreciates outdoor spaces like Liberty Pond outside of the Reitz Union. The pond is surrounded by cushioned stairs, tables and umbrellas, offering a shady study or socializing spot with a view.
Open until 9 pm every Thursday!
Museum Nights
Thursday, August 14, 6 – 9 pm
French Moderns
Tours, art activities and music offered in conjunction with French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950 Paint your own impressionist wine or juice glass and listen to Parisian soundscapes by Hot Club de Ville.
Wine Down
Thursday, August 28, 6 – 9 pm
Wine down with the spinning tunes of DJ Wax Atom. Free lite bites and desserts by Chef Bert Gill, along with wine and beer.
image: Robert Delaunay (French, 1885–1941). In the Garden, 1904. Oil on canvas, 28 ¼ x 22 3/16 in. (71.8 x 56.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Iris and Gerald B. Cantor, 86.28.
(Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
UF Hangouts
CAMPUS SPOTS,
from pg. 8
It lets you study but still take in the nature, Bursac said. She also enjoys the space between the Chemistry Laboratory buildings, leading up to Library West. The area consists of concrete benches and tables with the shade of trees overhead. Bursac describes it as a “positive area” perfect for enjoying good weather.
Other students prefer to spend their free time indoors.
Jinyi Lian, a 21-year-old UF computer science senior, mainly studies in the libraries in spots like Library West’s reading areas.
Empty lecture halls around campus, such as Turlington and Keene-Flint after classes conclude, are another of Jinyi’s favorites.
“It’s truly isolated space,” Jinyi said. “I sometimes go to the individual lecture halls because you have access to the full projector.”
He and his friends sometimes turn the lecture halls into impromptu movie theaters, projecting films onto the big screens for a break between or after classes, he said.
Adriana Navarrete, a 20-year-old UF international studies and philosophy junior, favors spending her time in a mix of indoor and outdoor spots.
“A go-to study spot for me is Pugh, just because of how varied the seating arrangement is,” Navarrete said. “If the booths are out, there’s always going to be a seat downstairs.”
When she wants to enjoy time outside, she chooses the concrete picnic tables outside Little Hall, especially during the spring months.
“It’s gorgeous outside,” she said.
Navarrete said she also often sits on the brick walls near Matherly Hall. Matherly is located behind Library West and is surrounded by concrete benches and brickwall seats in a shaded area. The location is the perfect
place to sit and people-watch or catch up with her friends, she said.
For a change of pace, she visits the Reitz Union to play giant chess with her friends or sit on the recently installed bench swings, which she said are “a classic.”
@s_maharaj1611
smaharaj@alligator.org
“There’s always something new to find,” Navarrete said. “You’re probably going to find your most comfortable and ideal spot in the most unknown location. Campus is so big. There’s so much to it.”
Alligator File Photo
A young alligator drifts near the shore of Lake Alice on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2023.
www.alligator.org/section/opinions
A new student’s guide to the Gainesville food scene
Freshman year of college is a mountain to climb. Many obstacles lie in the wake of the best times most college students will experience. Maybe you’ll make new friends or join clubs. Maybe you’ll change your major a couple times, like I did, or make huge mistakes and end up dropping out of college. Who knows?
Aidan Ragan opinions@alligator.org
Through all the uncertainty, there is one activity of permanence: eating. Unless you’re secretly a robot or can photosynthesize, you’re going to need food. You’ll probably start with eating at the dining halls on campus or cooking for yourself. But eventually you’re going to decide to treat yourself, and when you do, it helps to know the restaurant scene.
Whether it’s going on a date, exploring with friends or enjoying some alone time, eating like a local will benefit you greatly. With that in mind, I wanted to give my top five restaurants in Gainesville and some must-order options.
Take these recommendations with a grain of salt, as they’re not in order, nor could I include every amazing Gainesville restaurant. I urge you to engage with Gainesville culture beyond this list. Go to funky restaurants, start a conversation with the employees and try unique foods. An open stomach often leads to an open mind.
The Paper Bag
Let’s start with an easy one. This restaurant recently added a campus location, vouching for its popularity. Their off-campus locations are still worth visiting. Gainesville’s spirit is tightly woven into its nostalgic setting. The food is diverse, and the sandwiches are innovative. For a quick snack or amazing lunch, this is the place to go.
My official recommendation: #16 The Vegas-Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
Tikka Express
The pinnacle of Indian cuisine is located across from campus on West University Avenue. If you’re close to this restaurant, you can smell the curry from your dorm. Walk, bike, run — whatever. Just go and be immersed in the amazing Indian food and unbeatable customer service.
I highly recommend it for people who love meal prepping. One order here contains at least three meals worth of food.
A must-get order here: Chicken Tikka Masala accompanied by garlic naan.
Germain’s Chicken Sandwich
There’s no better place for a chicken sandwich than Germain’s. Dressed like an ‘80s diner but packing the greatest fried chicken known to man, this place is incredible. Their service is just as good as their food. They outperform chicken-serving fast food chains on every level. I suggest bringing friends with you to this restaurant as the picnic tables allow for a casual atmosphere.
The restaurant also sometimes brings in DJs to play while you enjoy your food. The food feels passionate and unique, reflecting the vigor and personality of the Gainesville community. I highly recommend visiting.
My personal favorite menu item: the Honey Bird.
Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/opinions.
Aidan Ragan is a UF computer science senior.
Goodbye column
No more hesitant steps
I’m sitting in my freshman year dorm room. Its weathered walls and uneven steps unsettled me at first, but I ignored the constant hum of construction and the calls beckoning me to go back home.
I would often lie on the floor, eyes fixated on each divot of my popcorn ceiling, contemplating what would become of my life at the University of Florida. I had all this passion with nowhere to put it.
I first learned about The Alligator when I was seated in the back of a lecture hall, too scared to take up space in the front row.
Then I couldn’t stop noticing it. I walked past the bright orange news boxes in Turlington, trying not to trip as I debated picking up a copy every week. The paper became a benchmark for an aspiring journalist with zero experience.
As my first semester of college concluded, my finger wavered over the link to apply. I couldn’t do it. I hesitated, shutting off my phone and swallowing the feeling that I wasn’t the sort of candidate they were seeking. What could I offer?
The day applications opened for Spring 2024, I hesitated again. My feet dragged before nearly getting my shoelace stuck on the Library West escalator. But I found a table at my typical haunt — the third-floor reading room — and began filling out the Google Form with shaky fingers.
I started my first semester as a graduate and professional school reporter. It was unlike anything I had ever done. I found myself cold-calling students and emailing professors. I panicked before every interview, forcing myself through a series of deep breaths and shuffling steps before I walked into each one-onone, wondering if I was up for the challenge.
My first editor, Alissa Gary, was everything I wanted to be as a reporter. She was the best editor I could’ve asked for. To this day, I’m blown away by what you do, Alissa. Your work ethic is inspiring, and your genuine love for what you do is something I’ll always remember. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish.
Slowly, entering rooms and asking questions — making my voice heard — became second nature. My steps were more determined as I propelled myself forward despite unanswered emails, offthe-record conversations and a creeping doubt ready to swallow me whole each time I fumbled. And I fumbled a lot.
I finished my first semester at The Alligator with a new feeling in my chest: hope. I was a reporter now, and I needed to do more.
With steadier hands, I opened the application link for Fall 2024. I was on the university desk again, this time as a general assignment reporter. As I entered the somewhat apocalyptic
building The Alligator shares with the Gainesville Sun, my footsteps felt light, more confident.
My second editor, Sophia Bailly, was a rock to me in ways I don’t think I ever fully made known. Her constant support and guidance — even when I submitted stories at 2 a.m. — was something I’ll never forget. Sophia, you have one of the biggest hearts in the universe. Your compassion and intelligence are unrivaled.
Even so, I still questioned every story I pitched. Would my editor like it? What if no one cares to read it?
I debated each interview. Did I get good quotes? Did I dig deep enough?
I second-guessed every copy I submitted. Could I have done it better? How would another reporter do it?
Whenever I questioned everything, my journalistic nature was hard at work. It always made me indecisive, unsure if what I was doing was right or valuable.
But at The Alligator, what I did felt like it mattered. I wanted to keep moving forward, growing more confident in myself with each step I took.
By the time summer rolled around, my hands began to shake again. Suddenly placed in a position where I became the decision maker, I carried the lessons of the editors and reporters who inspired me. Pushing through my uncertainty, I remembered the lessons they taught me and took on the challenge of managing a newspaper.
It would’ve been an impossible feat without the editors who helped ground me despite the hundreds of obstacles the world consistently threw at us.
Zan, Avery and Noor, thank you for your help in a summer that never seemed to stop.
Jin-Hee, your hard work kept this paper afloat. Your messages were a lifeline during Sunday prints, and your dedication was admirable. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish after you graduate. The world isn’t ready for you.
Kairi, you balanced an internship with being an editor. Your work ethic is equally incredible and impressive. Your ability to encourage others to jump out of their comfort zone and find new ways to express themselves makes you a phenomenal editor. I looked forward to reading the columns you selected each week. You amaze me every day.
Max and Luke, you two were the best sports editors anyone could ask for.
Max, your positive attitude radiated through the computer screen. Your joyfulness was more grounding than you know. Your eagerness to help reporters succeed pushed them into excellent coverage at a time when readers wouldn’t expect sports coverage to shine.
Luke, your uplifting energy made Sundays less stressful. Even while deadlines grew daunting as the hours passed, your enthusiasm for The Alligator was
a driving force for us all. Your commit -
ment to your craft is unmatched, and it reflected in every aspect of your work. Thank you for always hopping on flats at the drop of a hat. You’ll be amazing at anything you do.
I spent the summer telling my roommate I wish I could have “a bunch of little SJs running around.”
SJ, your spirit is something that will always blow me away. You put your body and soul into everything. You took two reporters under your wing and guided them to write some of the biggest stories of the summer. You encompass what it means to be a journalist: dedicated, fearless and persistent. I admire you so much. Never stop doing what you do.
Last but definitely not least, Bailey. We faced so many obstacles this summer. From an unprecedented start to the semester to some kind of karma we’re still questioning to this day, you were my anchor. I could not have done anything without you. Your efficiency, creativity and compassion were the glue that held this paper together. I’m always amazed by your quick thinking and adaptability. Most importantly, your kindness and levelheadedness kept us sane.
You encompass what it takes to work for The Alligator: an unshakable passion and determination.
The Alligator has given me something I can never lose: strength and security in myself.
Despite the stress, sleepless nights and crash outs, I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. I don’t know who I’d be without The Alligator, and I don’t know where I’d be without the people who inspired me and made the paper the powerhouse that it is.
That’s not to say I don’t still secondguess everything. I worry about every email, text and edit I send or make. I question if I made the right decision and if I acted in the best interest of The Alligator’s extensive legacy.
But now, I pick my feet up and move without a second glance. I won’t know if I did things right if I don’t step forward. I’ll navigate winding roads and uneven staircases with the might and heart of a journalist. It’s a part of me I would never have unlocked if I hadn’t stepped through the propped-open door of The Alligator office.
The next time you find yourself memorizing the patterns in your ceiling and wondering if you’re meant for something bigger than yourself, step up to the challenge, even if you stumble. Turn your doubt into determination, because then, you can tackle anything.
Delia Rose Sauer was the Summer 2025 Editor-in-Chief.
Delia Rose Sauer opinions@alligator.org
A guide to where to work up a sweat in Gainesville
Gainesville
has a vast range of fitness offerings on and off campus
By Elizabeth Maguire Alligator Staff Writer
Adjusting to college can be an emotional experience, but physical activity is commonly cited as an effective strategy in navigating it.
Routine physical activity can benefit a student’s life on campus, and Gainesville has a wide range of exercise options. These include gyms and guided fitness classes at budgetfriendly prices, ensuring there’s something for everyone interested in exercise.
Southwest Recreation Center
Southwest Recreation Center is the biggest indoor recreation center at UF.
Located at 3150 Hull Road, Southwest has a large strength and conditioning room, indoor basketball courts, racquetball courts, an indoor track, massage therapy rooms and more. Students can exercise independently or take group exercise classes offered through RecSports. Different sports equipment is also available to borrow.
For the fall semester, Southwest will be open 5:30 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Hours are adjusted for holidays and home games.
Rec Sports facilities are free for students to use, as student membership is included in the university’s tuition and fees. There are premium offerings at an extra cost, which include personal training, group fitness premium
classes, massages and trips with the Center for Outdoor Recreation and Education.
Dining services are also available to Southwest, including one of Shake Smart’s on-campus locations.
Two proposed plans aim to increase access to Lake Wauburg and expand what Rec Sports offers. Marty Dempsey, the Rec Sports director, said the organization is considering adding a rock climbing wall at Southwest, renovating fitness spaces and adding a competitive lap pool.
Apex | Yoga Pod
Apex | Yoga Pod, previously two separate brands, are offered at both locations, 3045 SW 34th St. and 4136 NW 16th Blvd. Yoga Pod offers hot yoga classes, and Apex has reformer pilates classes.
Yoga Pod has 12 class styles divided by room temperature and the type of movement. Class options include vinyasa yoga, HIIT workouts and guided meditation.
Apex offers four types of reformer pilates classes with varying difficulty. It’s introducing “deep space” contemporary pilates classes, which emphasize a range of movement and cardio. Both Apex and Yoga Pod run classes from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
Pricing varies and is available on each brand’s respective website. An infinity membership offers members access to both brands. Intro offers, student discounts, class packs and limited and unlimited memberships are also
available.
Yoga Pod prides itself on having a welcoming environment and a strong community among its members.
Emily Tharp Pendley, the Yoga Pod regional studio director, said the location’s liveliness makes it alluring.
“Our community is vibrant,” Pendley said. “We learn people's names, and lights here are always rainbow colored, and every room has a crystalline art piece to look at. It's just a cool place to be.”
Gainesville Health & Fitness
Gainesville Health & Fitness has three locations: the Main Center, the GHF Women’s Center and the Tioga Center.
The Main Center is closest to campus and open 24 hours, located at 4820 W Newberry Road.
Hundreds of fitness classes are offered at all three centers, said owner Joe Cirulli. The facilities also have basic training equipment, pilates, hot yoga studios, pools and basketball courts.
Outdoor facilities like CrossFit are also available. Orthopedic rehabilitation services are included with membership.
Each location offers amenities, including relaxation areas, steam baths, saunas, cold plunges, warm therapy pools and child care.
GHF’s recent $4 million expansion celebrated its grand opening last month, he said. The growth includes new personal training centers,
Gainesville’s transportation options
fare-free with a valid GATOR-ID. Students will still have free access to RTS services during the upcoming academic year.
During the Fall, RTS will operate Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. On Saturdays, it operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Sundays, it operates from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Students can track RTS buses and find routes through the city’s GNV RideRTS app. The app tracks vehicle arrival time and offers a real-time map and trip planner feature. Riders can provide feedback by clicking the link in the “Questions or comments” section at the bottom of the app's homepage.
Students can also use the student-created NaviGator app, which provides bus tracking, route planning and arrival notifications.
Semesterly routes aren’t set in stone, and students should be aware of frequency changes and cuts before new semesters.
“There have been so many changes to help improve service for our community,” Passaniti said. “We’ve added electric buses to the fleet. We introduced the free-fare transit program for RTS riders who are 18 and younger and 65 and older.”
Passaniti hopes the stations reflect the city’s commitment to keeping public transportation “available” throughout UF and Gainesville despite cuts to the service, she said.
Amber Nguyen, a 20-year-old UF biomedical engineering junior, said she’s used Gainesville’s Regional Transit System buses to get to campus since her freshman year.
“I lived in one of the farther dorms, so walking was kind of unbearable,” Nguyen said. “I would take the bus to class or go eat dinner at one of the dining halls.”
RTS has been “pretty efficient” during her time at UF, she added, especially when she lived on campus.
Campus Connector
UF is reallocating funding previously reserved for RTS to its private shuttle service: Campus Connector.
The route-based shuttle service is offered Monday through Friday, excluding UF holidays. Students, faculty, staff and campus visitors can ride from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The buses have 22 seats each and hold a maximum capacity of 40 passengers.
Campus Connector provides two routes: the Westside and the Eastside.
turf and a hot yoga studio.
“We’ve never stopped trying to find ways to get better, and there's other things that we will be working on right now,” Cirulli said.
All three centers are accessible through one membership, which is $30 every two weeks. There are 12-month, 24-month and pay-asyou-go memberships available. Memberships can be cancelled with 30 days of notice.
“Our goal is to help people get healthy and stay healthy,” Cirulli said. “Get in shape, and at the same time, enjoy coming to the gym.”
Fit As Fire
Fit is opening its first Gainesville location at The Standard apartments in late August, offering 16-person modern pilates reformer classes with varying class difficulties.
The classes teach the FIT method of slow resistance training, which is designed to build strength and endurance.
Memberships and class credits can be purchased on the FIT 407/FIT AF app. The unlimited membership is $249 with a three-month commitment. Packages of one, five, 10 and 20 classes are also available.
Student discounts can be redeemed by direct messaging Fit’s Instagram page. Fit has two grand opening specials: a $99 two-week unlimited new member special and a $40 twoclass for the price of one deal.
Free intro classes are offered each hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during Fit’s grand opening, Aug. 22 through Aug. 24.
@emaguireee emaguire@alligator.org
The Westside Circulator route provides service between campus' central area and its west side. It travels to Southwest Rec, Reitz Union and Turlington Plaza, among other locations.
The Eastside Circulator travels to the Hub, Norman Hall, Broward Dining, Sorority Row and more.
Roshni Sawlani, a 21-year-old former UF student, used the service during her junior and senior years and found it “reliable,” she said.
Sawlani lived near Midtown and preferred using the service to get around campus instead of RTS, she said. She typically used the service in the mornings around 9 a.m. and in the afternoons between 4 and 6 p.m.
Although it was sometimes “really busy,” she never had an issue, she said.
“I’ve never not found a seat,” Sawlani said, “It’s pretty nice. It’s air-conditioned, it’s a small van, pretty quiet.”
According to TAPS, shuttles during Fall 2025 will arrive every 10 to 12 minutes between 9:15 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., and every 15 to 18 minutes from 3:45 to 9 p.m.
Read the rest online at alligator.org.
@LoganDMcBride
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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
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1. U.S. STATES: Which state is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
2. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital of Saudi Arabia?
1. MEASUREMENTS: How many inches are in a mile?
3. TELEVISION: Ron Swanson is a character on which sitcom?
4. MOVIES: Who is the villain in the animated film "The Little Mermaid"?
2. ASTRONOMY: What does the acronym SETI mean to the scientific community?
5. SCIENCE: What part of the cell contains genetic material?
6. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president established the Peace Corps?
3. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin prefix “sub-” mean in English?
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9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: When did the Great Smoky Mountains National Park open?
10. MYTHOLOGY: What animal did Zeus turn into to kidnap Europa? © 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
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. East Germany's Margitta Gummel and the Soviet Union's Nadezhda Chizhova were rivals who competed in what Olympic athletics event in the 1960s and 1970s?
2. The "Punch-up in Piestany" was a bench-clearing brawl during a game between which two teams in the 1987 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships?
9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What was the name of the United States’ first nuclear-powered submarine?
3. Two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi LEOnard played two seasons of college basketball from 2009-2011 with what team?
4. What insurance company was the title sponsor of NASCAR's second-tier series from 2008-2014?
10. GAMES: What are the four railroad properties in Monopoly? Answers
5. In road cycling, what French word is used to describe a rider whose primary goal is not to win the race, but to aid the team and its leader?
1. 63,360 inches
2. Search for extraterrestrial intelligence
6. What Federal Prospects Hockey League team based in Athens, Georgia, is named in honor of a song by the new wave band The B-52s?
7. In 1970, what Los Angeles Dodgers player hit a foul ball that struck 14-year-old fan Alan Fish in the head, resulting in Fish's death four days later?
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Sudoku solution
El Caimán
www.alligator.org/section/elcaiman
Grupos estudiantiles hispanos y latinos dan la bienvenida al nuevo año escolar en UF
ORGANIZACIONES OFRECEN CULTURA, CONEXIÓN Y APOYO A ESTUDIANTES GATORS NUEVOS Y REGULARES
Por Candy Fontana-Verde Escritora de El Caimán
La comunidad hispana en la Universidad de Florida representa el grupo minoritario más grande. Para ofrecer un espacio a los estudiantes que quieren sentirse conectados con sus raíces, organizaciones estudiantiles realizan actividades y programas que celebran la cultura latina, promueven la integración y ayudan a los estudiantes, nuevos y regulares, a encontrar su lugar en el campus.
En el otoño de 2024, el 21.9% de los estudiantes de pregrado en la Universidad de Florida se identificó como hispano o latino, lo que lo convierte en el segundo grupo étnico más representado en el campus, detrás de los estudiantes blancos, que conformaron el 48%, según datos de FloridaShines.
La universidad cuenta con una amplia variedad de organizaciones, desde asociaciones culturales y clubes de baile hasta grupos estudiantiles de carreras específicas y programas de mentoría.
La Asociación de Estudiantes Hispanos es una de las más grandes en el campus. Funciona como una organización que engloba a más de 20 grupos afiliados, que incluyen clubes culturales, asociaciones profesionales y
colectivos artísticos. Este año colaborará con el Gobierno Estudiantil de UF.
Gabriella Garibaldi, presidenta de HSA, de 21 años y estudiante de último año de neurociencia conductual en UF, dijo que la misión principal de la organización es ofrecer un espacio donde cada estudiante se sienta incluido.
“Nuestro objetivo realmente es lograr que la mayor cantidad de personas posible se sientan como en casa”, dijo Garibaldi.
Entre las actividades regulares de HSA están los Viernes en Familia en el Instituto de Culturas Hispana y Latina, mejor conocido como La Casita. El evento funciona como un encuentro social y de estudio abierto a todos los estudiantes. El grupo también organiza Sesiones de Solidaridad, espacios dirigidos por la Oficina de Asuntos Políticos de HSA para conversar sobre temas de actualidad, política y asuntos que afectan a la comunidad latina.
El evento final del semestre de otoño es la Noche de Gala de Invierno, una gran celebración para cerrar el año.
La organización también dirige programas como el Programa de Mentoría y Liderazgo, diseñado para estudiantes de primer y segundo año y transferidos, que ofrece desarrollo profesional y social a través de mentores.
En colaboración con HSA está la Asamblea de Estudiantes Hispanos y Latinos, un evento de bienvenida para estudiantes hispanos y latinos que busca mostrar la vibrante comunidad hispana y latina de UF. HLSA presenta a los estudiantes distintas culturas, organizaciones y
oportunidades disponibles en el campus.
Este otoño, el evento se llevará a cabo el 27 de agosto de 6 p.m. a 9 p.m. en el Gran Salón de Baile del Reitz Union, con entrada gratuita y comida para los asistentes. La noche incluirá una feria de mesas informativas con organizaciones culturales y estudiantiles, presentaciones artísticas y un orador invitado que hablará sobre temas actuales que afectan a la comunidad.
Hector Collazo, director ejecutivo de HLSA, de 21 años y estudiante de último año de microbiología, ciencias celulares y antropología, dijo que HLSA es un espacio de conexión y orgullo cultural.
“Es un evento colaborativo que muestra lo que la comunidad hispana en UF tiene para ofrecer”, dijo Collazo.
El objetivo es que los nuevos estudiantes empiecen a construir comunidad desde su llegada, encontrando espacios donde se sientan representados y descubriendo oportunidades para involucrarse durante todo el año, dijo.
El Mes de la Herencia Hispana-Latina es otra organización que celebra la comunidad hispana y latina. Durante el Mes de la Herencia Hispana, que comienza el 15 de septiembre, organiza varios eventos que celebran y dan visibilidad a las culturas hispana y latina en la UF. Con un equipo más reducido en 2025, su objetivo será reforzar la colaboración con las organizaciones afiliadas y la comunidad local.
Nicole Pantoja, vicepresidenta externa de HLHM, de 21 años y estudiante de último año de ciencias políticas y estudios de la mujer en
UF, dijo que la organización busca ir más allá de solo realizar eventos, fomentando la unidad y resiliencia de los estudiantes hispanos y latinos.
“Queremos enfatizar que podamos estar presentes en nuestros espacios sin miedo y que podamos conectar con otras personas, incluso cuando muchas leyes y políticas han hecho que nuestra comunidad sea vulnerable”, dijo Pantoja.
La ceremonia de apertura será el 15 de septiembre y la de clausura el 15 de octubre. El grupo también realizará un concurso, tentativamente el 2 de octubre, donde los participantes presentan talentos, portan trajes típicos y celebran la diversidad cultural de América Latina.
Andrea Orozco, estudiante de último año de química en UF de 20 años, se unió a HSA en la primavera de 2025 y participó como mentora en el programa MLP.
“De todas las organizaciones en las que he participado, [HSA] ha sido la que más me ha gustado”, dijo Orozco. “He conocido a muchas de mis amistades ahí y la verdad, mi experiencia aquí en la universidad no hubiese sido igual sin esa organización”.
Aconseja a los nuevos estudiantes hispanos involucrarse desde el primer año.
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@CandyFontanaV cfontanaverde@alligator.org
Recursos de salud sexual en el campus y en Gainesville están disponibles para todos
VARIAS ORGANIZACIONES
BRINDAN SERVICIOS DE SALUD SEXUAL DENTRO Y FUERA DEL CAMPUS
Por Alanna Robbert
Escritora de El Caimán
Traducido por Candy Fontana Verde Escritora de El Caimán
Sophia Scribani dijo que creció con poco conocimiento sobre la salud sexual, un tema tabú en su ciudad natal.
Scribani, estudiante de último año de ciencias de la salud en UF de 21 años, dijo que comenzó a aprender sobre “las barreras reales que las mujeres tienen que enfrentar cuando intentan acceder a atención de salud reproductiva” durante su primer año en UF, cuando se unió a la organización estudiantil Planned Parenthood Generation Action.
Rápidamente se apasionó por el tema, dijo ella.
Planned Parenthood Generation
Action es un club estudiantil de UF afiliado a Planned Parenthood. El club ofrece recursos y educación sobre salud sexual, además de abogar por la justicia reproductiva mediante la presión a legisladores locales y estatales.
En Florida, donde las leyes y el estigma persistente pueden hacer que las conversaciones sobre el sexo parezcan un tema tabú, la universidad ya ofrece suficientes sorpresas, por lo que encontrar atención médica sexual no debería ser una de ellas. Aquí te indicamos dónde acudir, qué debes saber y quién te puede ayudar en UF y en Gainesville.
Leyes reproductivas en Florida
La Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos anuló en 2022 la decisión de Roe v. Wade en 1973, que establecía el derecho constitucional al aborto. Su anulación dejó las decisiones sobre el acceso al aborto en manos de las legislaturas estatales.
Florida es uno de los estados más restrictivos en cuanto al acceso a anticonceptivos.
El Proyecto de Ley del Senado 300 establece que no se pueden realizar abortos seis semanas
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después del primer día del último período menstrual. La ley se conoce oficialmente como “Ley de Protección del Latido del Corazón" porque el latido fetal se detecta aproximadamente a las seis semanas de embarazo.
Las víctimas de violación o incesto pueden recibir abortos hasta las 15 semanas de embarazo. Sin embargo, la prórroga sólo se concede si la documentación de la persona incluye una orden de restricción o un informe policial.
Las personas que deseen someterse a un aborto deberán acudir a dos citas médicas presenciales exigidas por el estado. El estado también exige un periodo de espera de 24 horas entre ambas citas.
Estas leyes se aplican tanto a abortos quirúrgicos como con medicamentos.
Para que un menor pueda abortar en Florida, necesita el consentimiento de sus padres, salvo que sea una emergencia médica, haya sido emancipado por un tribunal, esté casado o sea víctima de abuso sexual.
Para embarazos de más de seis semanas, la Federación Nacional de
Football
An introduction to Florida’s rivals. Read more on pg. 15.
Aborto ofrece una línea telefónica con información sobre el centro de abortos más cercano. No existen restricciones estatales para viajar fuera del estado a recibir un aborto.
La Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de los Estados Unidos aprobó la primera opción anticonceptiva de venta libre en 2023. La píldora, llamada Opill, se vende sin receta médica en farmacias, tiendas de conveniencia y supermercados. El suministro mensual cuesta 20 dólares.
Recursos en el campus Los estudiantes pueden encontrar productos menstruales gratuitos, como tampones y toallas sanitarias, en los baños de mujeres del campus de UF.
El Centro de Salud para Estudiantes del campus ofrece servicios de salud sexual. Los estudiantes pueden recibir asesoramiento sobre cualquier tema relacionado con el sexo por parte de los profesionales médicos de la clínica.
El centro de salud también cuenta con una Clínica de Ginecología
y Salud Sexual. La clínica es una colaboración con el Departamento de Salud del Condado de Alachua, y su personal está compuesto por especialistas en salud ginecológica y enfermeras registradas con práctica avanzada.
La clínica ofrece pruebas de ITS como gonorrea, clamidia, sífilis y VIH para los estudiantes de UF. Todas las citas tienen un costo de 15 dólares por gastos de laboratorio, que se cargan “directamente a la cuenta de UF del estudiante”, según el sitio web.
Las citas son limitadas, y los estudiantes que deseen ser atendidos en la clínica deben llamar para reservar una cita, según su sitio web.
El objetivo de Planned Parenthood Generation Action es hacer que la gente se sienta cómoda hablando de sexo a través de reuniones generales y eventos de divulgación, dijo Sophia Scribani.
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2025
www.alligator.org/section/sports
UF’s essential enemies: Teams you’re obligated to boo
THE SWAMP’S OFFICIAL RIVALRY GUIDE
By Curan Ahern Sports Writer
You’re in The Swamp. As 90,000 fans are on their feet, the sun melts your face after you lost your voice sometime in the second quarter. Or maybe you’re in Jacksonville, listening to the echoing cheers of “Go Gators!” and looking at a chaotic sea of orange and blue at the Florida-Georgia game. Somewhere across the field, a Georgia fan is barking like a dog.
This is college football in the SEC, where rivalries are the backbone of collegiate sports culture, and school colors course through loyal fans’ veins like blood.
As a Florida fan, being able to throw out a perfect Gator chomp — it’s right over left, in case anyone hasn’t told you — and sing every word to “I Won’t Back Down” is a good start, but it’s not enough.
You’re also expected to know who to boo, who to trash-talk and why a casual mention of “The U” or “Go Dawgs” might earn you a death stare from upperclassmen.
University of Georgia
Formerly called the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” Florida’s yearly matchup against Georgia in Jacksonville is an intense
THINGS TO KNOW
game with a split crowd. In a neutral city, the rivalry is less about home-field advantage and more about bragging rights. As the Gators bring their chomp and Georgia fans bring their famous bulldog bark (yes, it’s as loud and relentless as you imagine), a century-old rivalry full of close calls, wild finishes and legendary moments continues to deliver every year since 1915.
Kyle Nolasco, an 18-year-old UF finance major, can’t help but poke fun at Georgia fans’ infamous antics.
“They bark,” Nolasco said. “Like, dude, you’re not a dog.”
In the 102 meetings between Florida and Georgia, both teams have enjoyed dominant stretches, with each boasting a seven-year win streak at different points in time. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 56-44-2 and currently possess a four-year win streak over the Gators. However, momentum in this rivalry is never guaranteed.
For Georgia, the yearly pilgrimage to face the Gators in Jacksonville stands alongside its annual Auburn and Georgia Tech games as one of the program's most legendary showdowns. The matchup’s neutral setting is what makes the rivalry stand out. The chaotic battleground and schools’ long-standing shared disdain give the games a personal edge that is unusual in home-and-home rivalries.
Liam Dreesen, a 22-year-old UGA journalism major and sports editor for The Red &
Black, explained that the gameday atmosphere is usually chippy and that being at the FloridaGeorgia games in person allows you to catch the moments that TV cameras miss, all while soaking in an electric crowd.
“It’s definitely one of the more personal rivalries that Georgia has, is in that Florida game, especially because it’s held at that neutral site each year,” Dreesen said. “I would say there’s definitely a little bit of hate there.”
As a Gator, the Florida-Georgia game is a must-watch for your time at UF and a classic example of a fiery SEC rivalry. Alumni and students alike feed into the strong rivalry, and with a buzzing gameday atmosphere in Jacksonville, this clash has to be seen in person.
“Good rivalry games are always nice to have,” Dreesen said. “[They] up the intensity a little bit, if not for the players, but at least for the fans.”
Florida State University
For many Gator fans, no rivalry cuts deeper than Florida State. It’s the cause for the in-state battle for bragging rights, family arguments at Thanksgiving dinner and that smug coworker who shows up in garnet and gold after an FSU win.
Manuel Alvarez, a 20-year-old UF biomedical engineering sophomore, said he can’t stand UF’s rival state school.
“I don’t like the colors, I don’t like the chants,” Alvarez said. “It doesn’t even seem to
get any better, if you’ve seen any of their training camp clips.”
Unlike the neutral-ground rivalry with Georgia, Florida’s rivalry with FSU alternates between The Swamp and Tallahassee’s Doak Campbell Stadium, giving each team a chance to defend its home turf. Whether it’s a matchup of two powerhouses or an attempt to spoil playoff hopes, the annual UF-FSU game doesn’t play by the rankings.
Since the rivalry’s first game in 1958, the results have been fairly volatile, with the Gators and Seminoles rising to their highest level when playing one another. This has resulted in a record of 38-28-2 in UF’s favor. Florida’s 11-9 record against FSU over the last 20 years attests to the rivalry’s unpredictability.
Gabe Dahan, an 18-year-old UF accounting freshman, believes family ties have a large impact on who you grow up hating. His cousins went to UF and sided with their alma mater in the deep-seated in-state rivalry, he said.
“I didn’t even apply to FSU; there’s no chance I was going there,” Dahan said. “We beat them last year, so that was good, but we got to run it back. We're going to beat them again this year.”
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@CuranAhern cahern@alligator.org
An ear inside the student section that won’t back down
THE SWAMP GETS LOUD. HERE’S WHAT THE GATORS ARE CHANTING
By Ava DiCecca Sports Writer
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is known for having one of college football’s loudest student sections. It ranks among ESPN’s top 20 college football stadiums and is 247Sports’ seventhbest stadium atmosphere.
In-game traditions and songs elevate the game day experience and make it one of the most distinctive places to watch college football.
“Our fans were incredible, [they] played a major role in the game,” head coach Billy Napier said following Florida’s 24-17 win against Ole Miss. “Just incredible atmosphere today. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
Beaming with school pride, Gators football unites students, alumni and Gainesville locals in orange and blue.
The university’s chants set the tone and bring raucous energy to the stadium each year.
Among those excited for this season is UF’s first Mic Ma'am, Abigail Eckhardt.
Eckhardt, a 21-year-old applied physiology and kinesiology senior, will be responsible for getting The Swamp as loud as possible by engaging with fans and keeping them cheering. As a Gainesville native and lifelong Gators fan, she knows all the Florida chants and traditions by heart.
Gator Fight Song
So give a cheer for the Orange and Blue Waving Forever!
Forever pride of Old Florida, May she droop never.
We’ll sing a song for the flag today,
Cheer for the team at play!
On to the goal,
We’ll fight our way for Flor-i-da!
Go Gators!
Played at the end of each football game, the fight song is one of Eckhardt’s favorite traditions. It hypes up fans and players alike, she said,
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especially after a victory.
“I always tell all of my friends and everyone I meet, ‘You have to stay ‘til the end of the game,’ because it's just nice to see that and round out your night with a big win,” Eckhardt said. “Seeing the excitement on everyone's faces is just so much fun.”
Orange and Blue
This chant began soon after the school colors were selected in 1911. The stadium is split in half by the “Mic Man” who leads the back-andforth chorus. The student section chants “orange,” and the other half of the stadium chants “blue.”
“It's just incredible to hear 90,000 fans respond to you on the field,” Eckhardt said. “It's a feeling that I will never, ever forget or take for granted.”
We Are The Boys
We are the boys from old Florida, F-L-O-R-I-D-A.
Where the girls are the fairest, The boys are the squarest … Of any old state down our way. We are all strong for old Florida Down where the old Gators play.
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In all kinds of weather … We'll all stick together for … F-L-O-R-I-D-A.
This chant has been a part of UF tradition since the early 1900s, making it one of UF’s most longstanding traditions. It begins between the third and fourth quarters.
“Everyone gets to join arm in arm,” Eckhardt said. “You put your arms around everyone, regardless of whether you're super close friends or not, and you all sway back and forth, and you get to sing that.”
Tom Petty’s “I Won't Back Down”
Since its start in 2017, this tradition quickly became a Gainesville favorite. Played between the third and fourth quarters, the entire stadium sings along. At night games, The Swamp twinkles with thousands of swaying flashlights.
The tradition started shortly after the death of Tom Petty in October 2017. Singing the song was a way to honor the Gainesville native while complementing the established chants’ themes of resilience and strength.
Aiyana Cremisio, a 20-year-old UF graphic design junior, said it was the tradition she’s most looking forward to this year.
“It’s chaotic but so organized, and it’s fun, and everyone is ready for it,” Cremisio said.
The chant even garnered attention beyond the Gainesville community.
In an ESPN article, sports reporter Alex Scarborough named it his favorite unique in-game tradition.
“It's hard to find anything that can match the feeling when Florida plays Tom Petty's hit ‘I Won't Back Down’ between the third and fourth quarter,” Scarborough wrote. “The sing-along that ensues is more rock concert than college football game. I was there the first time they did it, in 2017, shortly after the death of Petty, a Gainesville native, and I'll never forget the emotion and energy inside The Swamp that day.”
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@avadicecca24 adicecca@alligator.org
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