We Inform. You Decide. www.alligator.org VOLUME 114 ISSUE 58 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020 Not officially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida SG parties NAMASTE debate THE PARTIES DISCUSSED ISSUES WITH IMPEACHMENT AND ILLEGAL RECORDINGS By Meghan McGlone Alligator Staff Writer Student Body executive candidates from Gator and Inspire Party got together Tuesday night to debate on topics such as diversity, sexual assault and personal po- litical beliefs. Inspire Party’s candidate for Student Body President, Matthew Diaz, was absent from the debate because he was sick. Mat- thew Barocas, candidate for Student Body Treasurer, and Emily Hyden, candidate for Student Body Vice President, represented Inspire Party. Trevor Pope, candidate for Student Body President, Lauredan Offi cial, candi- date for Student Body Vice President, and Jessica Jesurajan, candidate for Student Body Treasurer, represented Gator Party. In Inspire’s opening statement, Baro- Lily Strickland // Alligator Staff cas talked about racial and gender equity, Jackie Morone, 30, a certifi ed yoga teacher, leads yoga at Bo Diddley Plaza Tuesday evening. It is free and is open to the public sexual assault on campus and funding for every Tuesday and Thursday at the same location. student organizations. “Diversity shouldn’t just be for show,” Barocas said. “Funding for student organi- zations needs to be taken seriously.” In Gator’s opening statement, Pope dis- Sheriff Sadie Darnell running for reelection cussed his involvement on campus and said that UF needs to be more inclusive and accessible for students. He also said She’s Florida’s only female sherif that Student Government needs better leadership. By Allessandra Inzinna for 911 call takers and created a dog Darnell, a Democrat, will be running “At the end of this debate, I hope we Alligator Staff Writer training program in the county jail. against Republicans Steven Gordon and can come together and remember that we “What our primary duty as law John Long and Democrat Clovis Watson all want to make this university a better place,” Pope said. Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell is enforcement offi cers or deputies is to serve for the Alachua primary election Aug. 18. Pope said Gator plans to improve repre- making her fi fth run as the county sheriff. crime victims,” Darnell said. According to the Gainesville Sun, sentation by actively seeking out underrep- The Gainesville native has served in To start her campaign, her campaign Watson, 60, is a fourth-term house resented groups, such as non-traditional local law enforcement for 42 years and manager, Scott Austin, 26, set up a website representative and has experience as students in PaCE and Innovation Academy. has been sheriff for more than a decade. for campaign donors with her motto former deputy chief of police for Alachua He also said they want to work with trans- Darnell, 67, was fi rst elected to the position “Proven Leadership” which represents her County and city manager. Gordon, 52, is fer, international and graduate students. in 2006 and currently serves as the only decades of experience, she said. Her total a retired Broward County sheriff’s deputy Hyden said Gator Party makes SG cabi- female sheriff in Florida. campaign contributions have reached more SEE DEBATE, PAGE 3 Darnell said she has increased training than $7,000 as of Tuesday. SEE SHERIFF, PAGE 3 UF physics professors debunk broom social media trend IT CLAIMED GRAVITATIONAL professors say your broom can stand on its On Tuesday, NASA clarifi ed in a tweet, toward its bristles. FORCES ON MONDAY COULD own any day of the year. “There’s no special gravity that affects However, Bartos said the day of the year MAKE BROOMS STAND. The #BroomChallenge trend stemmed brooms, but the moon’s gravity creates will not change how easy it is for a broom from a viral tweet that claimed NASA tides on Earth.” to stand on its own. Gravitational forces By Sarah Mandile said Monday was the only day a broom Imre Bartos, an assistant physics “do not change on any level that would be Alligator Staff Writer could stand on its own due to Earth’s professor at UF, credits the reason people relevant to brooms,” he said. gravitational pull. Since Monday, curious can balance their brooms to a concept Danielle Sleight, a 20-year-old UF Despite an array of social media posts people have shared photos and videos of called “center of mass.” He said brooms nutritional sciences junior, fi rst saw on Monday claiming otherwise, UF physics their upright brooms or attempts at the can stand by themselves because their challenge. center of mass is located at the bottom, SEE BROOMS, PAGE 3 Got a secret? Can you keep it? SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUTGators fall to Team USA in their exhibition UF has group of student secret shoppers , pg.5 FOLLOW US ONLINE FOR UPDATES gameStory description fi nish with comma, pg# UF welcomed back several alumni Tuesday night Ballin’ with the boys in blue to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, pg.10 Local law enforcement celebrated the new basketball court @FloridaAlligator @TheAlligator_ @TheAlligator @alligator_newspaper they helped fund for a charter school, pg.4 2 ALLIGATOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020 Today’s Weather VOLUME 114 ISSUE 58 ISSN 0889-2423 Not offi cially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications Inc., of Gainesville, Florida NEWSROOM 352-376-4458 • Fax: 352-376-4467 Editor Christina Morales, [email protected] AM PM Engagement Managing Editor River Wells, [email protected] NOON Digital Managing Editor Lina Ruiz, [email protected] Metro Editor Alex De Luca, [email protected] Have an event planned? HIGH LOW University Editor Alyssa Feliciano, [email protected] 83° 65° Add it to the alligator’s online calendar: Enterprise Editor Hope Dean, [email protected] Digital Editor Stephany Matat, Local Events / News in Brief alligator.org/calendar [email protected] Sports Editor Kyle Wood, [email protected] What: Sally B’s Dashing Holiday Evan Lepak, Revue is a burlesque show featur- Assistant Sports Editor [email protected] ing jazz music performed by local Online Sports Editor Brendan Farrell, [email protected] swing band Swing Theory and Editorial Board Christina Morales, River Wells, Lina Ruiz burlesque performances by local Nushrat Nur, [email protected] and touring performers. Fancy Multimedia Editor attire is encouraged. Tickets are the Avenue Editor Cassandra Perez, [email protected] $18 in advance and $25 on day of Copy Desk Chiefs Ellen Bausback, [email protected] show. Show is 18 or over unless Meagan DiPolo , [email protected] accompanied by a parent or legal Blake Trauschke, [email protected] guardian and there is a $3 cover Copy Editors Annie Hassan, Manny Rea and charge for those under 21. Chloe Greenberg BLACK HISTORY MONTH VALENTINE’S DAY Valentine’s Day Party and Singles DISPLAY ADVERTISING Mingle 352-376-4482 • Fax: 352-376-4556 LGBTQ+ Affairs Celebrates Black Valentine’s Eve at the Museum Where: Silver Q Billiards and Advertising Office Manager Cheryl del Rosario, History Month Where: The Florida Museum of Sports Bar, located at 225 W. [email protected] Where: LGBTQ+ Affairs at the Natural History, located at 3215 University Ave. Intern Coordinator Ellen Light, [email protected] University of Florida, located at Hull Road When: Feb. 14 from 8-11 p.m. Sales Representatives Alejandro D'Agostino, Marc Fiol, the Reitz Union Room 2210 When: Feb. 13 from 7-10 p.m. What: Silver Q will offer $3 Aleesha Qureshi, Isabella Nino When: Twice a week throughout What: The day before Valentine’s champagne on Valentine’s Day. Emily Perpich, Bismarie Plasencia February at 1 p.m. Day at the Florida Museum of Singles can come with friends or What: LGBTQ+ Affairs will Natural History will feature three talk to others on the mezzanine. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING showcase films that depict black trivia games and admission into People 18 years of age and older 352-373-FIND • Fax: 352-376-3015 queerness such as “I Am Not Your the museum’s currently running are welcome and there is no cov- Classified Advertising Manager Ellen Light, [email protected] Negro,” “Moonlight,” “Brother Amazing Pollinators exhibit. er charge. Outsider” and “Paris is Burning.” The winners of the trivia games BUSINESS Trigger and content warnings will will get prizes provided by the Love and Laughter 352-376-4446 • Fax: 352-376-4556 be placed throughout the viewing Collectors Shop and the Florida Where: World of Beer, located at Comptroller Delia Kradolfer, [email protected] area. Event run times may vary. Museum. Deserts and alcohol 3265 S.W. 34th St. Bookkeeper Cheryl del Rosario, [email protected] will be available for purchase. When: Feb. 14 from 8-9:30 p.m. Administrative Assistant Ellen Light, [email protected] Anne Moody and Voting Rights - Tickets are $30 and pre-registra- What: World of Beer’s “Love and Leigh Ann Wheeler tion is required. Only those aged Laughter” is a standup comedy ADMINISTRATION Where: UF Smathers Library, lo- 18 and over can attend the event. show headlined by Harry Snover 352-376-4446 • Fax: 352-376-4556 cated at 1591 W. University Ave. and featuring comedians Houston General Manager Shaun O'Connor, [email protected] Wells, Zachary Weidner, Emma When: Feb. 13 from 4-5:30 p.m. Stop Light Valentine’s Day Party Administrative Assistant Lenora McGowan, [email protected] What: Leigh Ann Wheeler, a pro- Where: Big Top Brewing Porter, Weng Peng and more. President Emeritus C.E. Barber, [email protected] fessor at Binghamton University Company, located at 201 S.E. Presented by Keg of Laughs. in New York, will lead a discus- Second Ave.