UF Apologizes to Students Rushed Off Stage at Graduation
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We Inform. You Decide. www.alligator.org VOLUME 113 ISSUE 12 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 Not officially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida UF apologizes to students rushed off stage at graduation IT GAVE THEM $3,920 Two students called UF to WORTH OF FRAMED thank the administration for fram- ing their diplomas, McBride said. DIPLOMAS. Jamal Waked, who graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in By McKenna Beery physics, said he is happy with his Alligator Staff Writer framed diploma. Waked wasn’t upset about the Thousands of people watched Spring commencement incident 24 people get rushed off the stage because he had already landed his at graduation in May. Now, UF is backfl ip when the marshal came trying to make it up to them with to rush him off the stage, he said. a gift. “I didn’t feel an apology was Christopher King / Alligator Staff UF mailed framed diplomas needed for me, but for others I to the students who were pulled Patagonia comes to UF can understand the apology,” the Chris Gaggia, the Patagonia global marketing manager for fi eld and fi sh, addresses students on how to run off stage during the Spring com- 22-year-old said. mencement ceremony, said Steph- He said some students were an ethical company. The program was held Tuesday night in Pugh Hall and offered students a chance to hear anie McBride, the director of com- unfairly moved off stage and were how Patagonia remains a profi table company while still focusing on improving the environment. mencement. They were sent as an upset, so it is a nice gesture from apology and a reminder that the UF to let the students know that university “appreciates and cel- they aren’t just a name. ebrates them.” “I think it’s noble that UF is UF came under fi re for be- able to realize their mistakes and ing inappropriately aggressive in Library West will be open 24/7 correct them,” he said. ushering students off stage during Oliver Telusma, who gradu- the Spring graduation ceremony. ated in May with a bachelor’s de- Since then, the commencement gree in political science, said he is again by the end of September model has shifted away from unsure if this was an attempt to individual name-calling in the make amends, but if it was, it isn’t IT’LL COST $160,000 TO bill twice before it could be imple- previously did not necessarily re- O’Connell Center. nearly enough. FUND THE LIBRARY FOR A mented. fl ect that interest,” Green said. “It In addition to the framed di- This will apply for the 2018 to was my job as student body presi- UF’s response to the com- YEAR. plomas, UF President Kent Fuchs mencement incident wasn’t only 2019 fi scal year. Then, it will be dent to show that the interest was reached out to all of the students an offense against him, but a clear funded for three years by the Of- there, and that it’s going to continue By Angela DiMichele fi ce of the Provost, said UF Student to increase, especially as we strive by phone and with a personal, statement of how UF regards com- Alligator Staff Writer Body President Ian Green. for top fi ve.” mailed letter, McBride said. munities of color, he said. The frames cost $3,920 in to- Money in the reserve account Raelin Ogburn, an 18-year-old “Resolution comes from not Students can soon study over- comes from student activity and ser- UF health science freshman, said tal, she said. UF spent $148.75 only substantive efforts to make night again at Library West after UF per frame for 24 of the frames vice fees, Green said. Library West she didn’t know the library used to amends with me, but with mar- Student Government voted to fund staff plans for the library to be open be open 24/7. and $175 per frame for two of ginalized students who experience the extra hours. them. The price discrepancy was 24/7 by the end of September once “Finding out that it was 24 hours a climate like this regularly,” the SG Senate unanimously passed more employees are hired. at one point is shocking to me,” she because the fi rst 24 were bulk- 22-year-old said. a bill to refund Library West with purchased, and the last two were “It’s been shown that students said. $160,000 from the SG reserve ac- want a 24/7 library on campus, bought later when UF realized two @angdimi @mckennabeery count as a 24/7 library Tuesday however, the study that was done students were double majors. [email protected] night. The Senate had to pass the [email protected] Alachua County to off er Spanish sample ballots THE COUNTY HOPES ballot this November. “I think that this will give them There isn’t an accurate estimate “It does affect people, because TO MAKE THE BALLOTS Thanks to a ruling by a federal the opportunity to read the ballot in yet for how much the new sample you can’t really understand what judge, 32 counties in Florida, includ- their native language and make their ballots will cost because it depends you’re voting for,” she said. AVAILABLE FRIDAY. ing Alachua County, will be required decisions accordingly,” he said. on printing expenditures, he said. Stefan thinks the new sample bal- to provide residents with sample The change comes after the Ala- For Marcie Stefan, the vice presi- lots will improve voter turnout in fu- By Kelly Hayes ballots in Spanish, said TJ Pyche, chua County Supervisor of Elections, dent of the Alachua County His- ture elections. Alligator Contributing Writer the director of outreach for Alachua Kim Barton, was sued in a class-ac- panic Caucus, the new sample ballot “It’s going to be much more com- County Supervisor of Elections. The tion lawsuit for violating the Voting means she won’t have to translate fortable voting when you understand Spanish-speaking voters won’t county is working to make the ballot Rights Act, which prohibits discrimi- the amendments for her parents what you’re voting for,” she said. have to struggle to understand the available Friday. nation in voting, Pyche said. from Puerto Rico. A park for Tom Petty Gators preparing for “Rocky Top” First a tribute on the 34th Street Wall, now the Northeast Park, FOLLOW US ONLINE FOR UPDATES The iconic Tennessee fi ght song has been blasting pg. 4 from loudspeakers this week in practice. How have Florida’s offensive playmakers reacted to it?, pg. 14 Puppies with a cool space @FloridaAlligator @TheAlligator_ @TheAlligator Twenty-three puppies are coming to a local shelter, pg. 5 4 ALLIGATOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018 ‘Runnin’ Down a Dream’: Tom Petty is getting a park named after NORTHEAST PARK WILL BE survey to residents asking how to best com- membrance.” way of memorializing someone,” App said. RENAMED IN PETTY’S HONOR. memorate Petty, who is from Gainesville. Petty Daniel App, a 32-year-old Gainesville resi- “It’s genuinely to understand them, their his- passed away last October due to an accidental dent, was only five years old when he heard tory, their legacy.” drug overdose. the car radio blast “American Girl,” App’s first Outside of physical commemoration, App By Dana Cassidy The six survey options included renaming Petty song, while his mother drove him to his believes the best way to carry out Petty’s lega- Alligator Staff Writer a city street, facility or park; adding a statue elementary school in Osten, Florida. cy is to pass on the stories of his life and play to the city; hosting an annual musical festival Twenty-seven years later, he became the his music. Tom Petty’s legacy will be memorialized in or concert; declaring Oct. 20 as “Tom Petty co-founder and lead guitarist of Heavy Petty, a “Pass the torch, expose everybody to the a Gainesville park next month. Day” or dedicating the month of October to his Petty tribute band that plays the artist’s songs, music that he played, and get excited about The Northeast Park, at 400 NE 16th Ave., is legacy in music. App said. it,” App said. “I think it’s amazing what people set to be renamed in honor of Tom Petty, said “When Tom Petty passed away, the com- Renaming the park is a nice gesture, but can do.” Gainesville City Commissioner David Arreola. munity at large here in Gainesville obviously there’s more than statues and buildings when An announcement will be made at 11:30 a.m. had a serious mourning,” Arreola said. “He it comes to commemorating an important fig- @danacassidy_ on Petty’s birthday, Oct. 20, at the park. meant a lot to this city, to the people here, and ure, App said. [email protected] In March, the city of Gainesville offered a they wanted something for the city to do in re- “The importance is not some superficial Alachua County STD rates rise with national trend THE COUNTY are growing, according to the Florida The most common cases of STDs derstand getting an STI is not the end oral swab tests to about 400 to 500 EXPERIENCED A SPIKE IN Department of Health. found at UF are chlamydia and gon- of the world,” Luna said. people a year, Evans said. Bacterial STDs, including gonor- orrhea, Luna said. If students were more aware Lauren Rafanan, a 20-year-old BACTERIAL STDS FROM rhea and chlamydia, have seen a The health center found different about safe sex practices and the risks UF psychology junior, believes UF 2014 TO 2015.