T Feel Like a Gator:’ a Year After Spencer, Students Refl Ect by Jessica Curbelo Sity Hosted Who Wants to Take Away My Coming to Campus
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We Inform. You Decide. www.alligator.org VOLUME 113 ISSUE 25 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2018 Not officially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida FEATURE FRIDAY ‘I don’t feel like a Gator:’ A year after Spencer, students refl ect By Jessica Curbelo sity hosted who wants to take away my coming to campus. and Gillian Sweeney life,” Syed said. The speech cost the university more Alligator Staff Writers From the outside, Syed witnessed than it cost Spencer, Fuchs said. He people pushing and spitting at the Spen- paid $10,564 to rent the space, but UF People ran away in horror when a cer supporter and eventually saw some- spent almost $600,000 on increased se- man with a swastika print T-shirt ap- one throw a punch at his face. curity. proached the Phillips Center for the Per- “He was punched rightfully,” he The event caused people to talk forming Arts. said. about their values and the need to One year ago, instead of fl eeing, Inside the entertainment center, counter hate with words of support, Omar Syed put his hand on the man’s Timothy Tia, a 22-year-old UF econom- Fuchs said. shoulder to escort him out of white su- ics graduate, was one of the hundreds “In some sense, the freedom of premacist Richard Spencer’s speech. who grabbed a ticket to hear Spencer’s speech really isn’t free,” Fuchs said. “It “I told him, ‘You’re not welcome speech. comes at a price not necessarily to those here,’ and he just smiled,” Syed, a Protestors chanted “Black lives mat- expressing it but to those who have to 25-year-old UF psychology senior, said. ter” and “Let’s go Gators.” Their words listen to it and endure it.” Syed was one of the thousands of echoed in the center and drowned Since the speech, the university re- protestors who spent more than nine Spencer’s speech, Tia said. viewed its policy that allows speakers hours shouting and waving signs Oct. “There was an electricity in the room to rent space on campus even if they, 19, 2017, at the UF venue, at 3201 Hull among protestors,” Tia said. like Spencer, are not affi liated with a Road, protesting white supremacist Spencer and his supporters may student group. Ultimately, UF decided Richard Spencer’s speech. For many not have gotten the reaction they had not to change the policy because the like Syed, this marked the date they lost initially hoped for, UF President Kent facilities of the university are valuable faith in the university. Fuchs said, and because of that, groups to the larger Gainesville community, like Spencer’s have largely stopped “There is a person that my univer- SEE SPENCER, PAGE 4 Q&A: Democrat Lt. Gov. candidate Chris King By Jessica Curbelo Q: How did you meet Andrew Gil- has been underfunded or unfunded at Alligator Staff Writer lum? key areas of the educational spectrum. A: I met Andrew when we were both When we say education, we’re thinking Chris King felt disappointment and running for governor. We competed about everything from early childhood peace when he lost the Florida Demo- against each other over and over and education to university education. May- cratic nomination to Tallahassee Mayor over again for 18 months. I spent about or Gillum and I believe very strongly Andrew Gillum in August, he said. as much time with Andrew as I did with that the best states and the best econo- Shelbie Eakins / Alligator Staff Days after Gillum won, King was my wife during that period of time. mies invest signifi cantly in preparing Khadir Trowell, 21, dances as “Rose Chamellion” Thursday night at the fi rst-ever UF Gaytor Drag Race in the Rion Ballroom of the Reitz surprised and honored when Gillum in- Q: Having gone to law school at the workforce for the future. That starts Union. Trowell earned the titles of best dancer and best outfi t and vited him to Tallahassee to ask him to a Florida university, what are your as early as early childhood education. won the competition overall. The prize for the winner was a time- run as his lieutenant governor, he said. thoughts on the current state of educa- So, we have a plan to invest nearly a slot to perform at the University Club on Friday night, Gainesville King talked to The Alligator about tion? billion dollars of new resources in early Pride on Saturday and The Copa Nightclub in Ocala, Florida. Go to page 8 for more photos. health care, education and equity. A: Overall, our thoughts are that it SEE KING, PAGE 4 About 160 UF Online students might have been in Michael’s path SO FAR, ABOUT 130 tried to look for the house she has ricane Michael hit, said Evangeline withdraw from the two courses in affected students about available AFFECTED STUDENTS lived in for 30 years in Callaway, Cummings, the director of UF On- which she is enrolled. resources such as U Matter, We WERE CONTACTED. Florida, from the shattered window line. Advisors contacted about 130 “I don’t want to redo it,” Perkins Care and Aid-A-Gator, an emer- of her parents’ car. affected students as of Thursday. said. “I don’t want to start over.” gency hurricane funding program. By Gillian Sweeney Her house was in the path of Hours after searching for her Advisers are contacting stu- “We are here to help them re- Hurricane Michael. home, Perkins fi nally found it with dents to tell them that instructors cover,” Cummings said. “We want Alligator Staff Writer “There were people walking up her garage destroyed, sunroom are aware of their hardships, Cum- them to know that the University of and down the street,” Perkins said. shattered and with extensive water mings said. Florida stands with them.” Tonia Perkins’ neighborhood “I had to ask them what road is damage. “We don’t want them to worry was unrecognizable. this.” At least the house was standing. about contacting us, but we want @gilliangsweeney Perkins, a 37-year-old UF On- About 160 UF Online students, Even with her circumstances, to check in,” Cummings said. [email protected] line business administration junior, like Perkins, might live where Hur- Perkins said she did not want to Cummings said they are telling Hotel, motel, Hotel Indigo Report cards: Grading every Gators position A new hotel is coming to Celebration Pointe, pg. 5 FOLLOW US ONLINE FOR UPDATES The bye week brings us all closer to UGA week. In lieu of a game, the alligatorSports staff breaks down every position on offense and defense, pg. 14 UF alumna to stay in Israel After being detained for more than two weeks, the Isreali Su- @FloridaAlligator @TheAlligator_ @TheAlligator preme court decided she can stay, pg. 3 2 ALLIGATOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2018 Today’s Weather VOLUME 113 ISSUE 25 ISSN 0889-2423 Not offi cially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications Inc., of Gainesville, Florida NEWSROOM AM PM 352-376-4458 • Fax: 352-376-4467 NOON Editor Meryl Kornfield, [email protected] Engagement Managing Editor Paige Fry, [email protected] Have an event planned? Digital Managing Editor Romy Ellenbogen, [email protected] HIGH 88° LOW 69° Add it to the alligator’s Opinions Editor Stephan Chamberlin online calendar: [email protected] Local Events / News in Brief alligator.org/calendar Desk Editors Christina Morales, [email protected] Amanda Rosa, [email protected] systems and operations man- freshments will be served. To Sports Editor Morgan McMullen, [email protected] WHAT’S HAPPENING? agement; Gabriela Buraglia, an RSVP, email UFFulbrightRSVP@ undergraduate student studying gmail.com. The event is free and Assistant Sports Editor Jake Dreilinger, [email protected] GatorNights - Twisted Fairy Tales industrial and systems engineer- open to the public. For more in- Online Sports Editor Mark Stine, [email protected] GatorNights guests can escape ing; and Lauren Laboissonniere, formation, contact mcardec@ Editorial Board Meryl Kornfield, Paige Fry, a locked tower at the fairytale a postdoctoral researcher at ufic.ufl.edu. escape room and revel at the Romy Ellenbogen, Stephan Chamberlin the Department of Molecular “Greeks Got Talent Showcase” Apply Now for 2019-20 Multimedia Editor Mackenzie Behm, [email protected] Genetics and Microbiology. tonight at the Reitz Union. Guests Financial Aid Young women interested in com- the Avenue Editor Emma Witmer, [email protected] can also become a “fairy god- To apply for financial aid, com- puters or generally curious about Copy Desk Chiefs Marlowe Starling, Lourdes Hernandez, parent” to a child at UF Health plete the Free Application for technology can visit the organiza- Madison Forbis Shands Hospital at the Global Federal Student Aid at fafsa. tion’s Facebook page at facebook. 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