Fans of comedy supported Louis C.K.’s latest special for sale online. See story, page 9. Not officially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida We Inform. You Decide. VOLUME 106 ISSUE 78 WWW.ALLIGATOR.ORG THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2012 Student hurt after explosion in chemistry lab � THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF SISLER HALL. JON SILMAN and JOEY FLECHAS Alligator Staff Writers A chemical reactant explosion at Sisler Hall injured a student and shut down traffi c around 5:50 p.m. Wednes- day, and authorities said the building will be closed all day today for cleanup. Gainesville Fire Rescue Department Chief Gene Prince said a student, whose name was not released, was work- ing alone in a lab on the second fl oor “under a protective hood” when the explosion occurred. “Nobody knows yet what he was doing specifi cally that could have caused the reaction,” Prince said. “We think it was less than 200 mLs [of the chemical].” Paramedics transported the student to Shands at UF to be treated for burns, Prince said. Two paramedics with him were treated after being exposed to the chemi- cal while aiding the student. After the explosion, a GFR hazardous materials unit Brett Le Blanc / Alligator Staff set up a makeshift bathing station in front of Sisler Hall where A fi refi ghter hoses down Union Road after a chemical reactant explosion at Sisler Hall on Wednesday evening. SEE EXPLOSION, PAGE 4 ENVIRONMENT Innovation Hub opens EPA approves plan to test doors to entrepreneurs Koppers Superfund site ADRIANNA PAIDAS 2011 at the request of the seven residents. ADRIANNA PAIDAS ture.” Alligator Writer A work group headed by the Florida Alligator Staff Writer Offi cials spoke for about an hour. Af- Department of Health, which included lo- ter, people toured the Innovation Hub After about 30 years of city resident cal, state and federal environmental and As a downpour slowed, the sun and saw some of the start-up businesses health concerns, the U.S. Environmental health experts, began developing the plan in shone just in time for a ribbon-cutting housed in the building. Protection Agency has approved a plan to fall 2010 after the test results surfaced, said ceremony at the Florida Innovation Hub “This is a historic landmark for test dust contamination levels in houses Chris Bird, director of the Alachua County at UF. Some took the weather as a sign near the Cabot-Koppers Superfund site. Environmental Protection of Gainesville’s bright economic future. the community, state and human In April 2010, seven Gainesville residents Department who helped About 300 people attended the In- future.” who lived near the plant fi led a federal class- formulate the plan. novation Hub dedication ceremony Bernie Machen action suit against the companies that once He said the tests will Wednesday afternoon under a white UF president operated on the site. cost the EPA at least tent beside the building, including U.S. Cabot Inc. and Koppers Inc. once oper- $100,000. Sen. Bill Nelson, UF President Bernie Innovation Hub is the brainchild of ated the plant. Koppers Inc. sold its facility Bird said the test re- Machen and other UF, city and federal UF and the city government, Mayor to Beazer East Inc. in 2009. sults from the suit could offi cials. Craig Lowe said. The neighbors’ lawyers had the homes DeLaney be faulty because they tested for dioxin, a toxic chemical and car- “It is rare to experience an occasion Located at 747 SW Second Ave., it is were not confi rmed by a cinogen commonly released during wood- government agency. that feels so historic,” Machen said to a a 48,000-square-foot business incubator designed to house start-up companies treatment processes like those performed at The fi nal indoor dust dioxin test plan was crowd. “This is a historic landmark for the Koppers plant. submitted to the EPA in late July. In Octo- the community, state and human fu- SEE INNOVATION, PAGE 4 Test results showed the chemical was ber, the Alachua County Commission wrote present in high levels inside homes around the site. The suit was dismissed in January SEE SUPERFUND, PAGE 4 Today 75/44 UF College Republicans to host mock election Pease hired as new offensive coordinator: FORECAST 2 CLASSIFIEDS 13 The event is tonight at 5 p.m. in the Reitz Union, pg 3. Coach Will Muschamp called the hire a ‘great fi t, OPINIONS 6 CROSSWORD 15 Alligator to hold open house Friday saying players will benefi t from his 21 years of the AVENUE 8 SPORTS 17 Interested students can come by from noon to 3 p.m., pg 6. coaching experience, pg. 17. 2, ALLIGATOR § THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2012 News Today VOLUME 106 ISSUE 78 ISSN 0889-2423 WHAt’s HAPPENING? Not officially associated with the University of Florida FORECAST Published by Campus Communications Inc., of Gainesville, Florida Career Resource Center’s TODAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY NEWSROOM Hawaiian Winter Open 352-376-4458 (Voice), 352-376-4467 (Fax) House Editor Joey Flechas, [email protected] Today, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. PARTLY PARTLY PARTLY PARTLY PARTLY Managing Editor / Print Emily Morrow, [email protected] Career Resource Center, First CLOUDY CLOUDY CLOUDY CLOUDY CLOUDY Managing Editor / Online Josh Isom, [email protected] Floor, Reitz Union 75/44 60/38 61/33 65/37 68/44 Assistant Online Editor Marissa Prieto, [email protected] The event will provide in- University Editor Clare Lennon, [email protected] formation about the range of Got something going on? cause the driver was agitated. Metro Editor Meredith Rutland, services the CRC offers to UF Want to see it in this space? The attendant says the man [email protected] students and faculty. There Send an email with “What’s was obviously relieved when Breaking News Editor Jon Silman, [email protected] will also be three mini sessions Happening” in the subject police drove past the station. Opinions Editor Justin Hayes, [email protected] about career planning for visi- line to emorrow@alligator. But officers drove around the Freelance Editor Erin Jester, [email protected] tors to attend throughout the org. To ensure publication back and cornered the suspect. Sports Editor Matt Watts, [email protected] afternoon. In addition, stu- in the next day’s newspa- Police say he tried to drive away Assistant Sports Editor John Boothe, [email protected] dents who bring their resumes per, please submit the event but crashed the stolen Honda alligatorSports.org Editor Joe Morgan, [email protected] can have them critiqued on before 5 p.m. Please model Civic into a light post. Editorial Board Joey Flechas, Emily Morrow, the spot. Refreshments will be your submissions after THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Justin Hayes, Josh Isom served. — above events. Improperly Photo Editors Dana Burke, [email protected], formatted “What’s Museum Nights / European Snow-weary Alaska town orders Brett Le Blanc, [email protected] Happening” submissions Nights more shovels the Avenue Editor Sami Main, [email protected] may not appear in the pa- Tonight, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Copy Desk Chiefs Tom Green, Phil Kegler, Greg Luca, per. Press releases will not Harn Museum of Art When you’re trying to clear Corey McCall, Rachel Rowan appear in the paper. Enjoy a free evening of ac- nearly 15 feet of snow, a regular Copy Editors Karly Kehres, Nika Zecevic tivities at the Harn celebrat- shovel just isn’t going to cut it. ing traditional and modern INTERNATIONAL As residents in the fishing town DISPLAY ADVERTISING cultures of Europe through Thai official’s behavior at of Cordova and 57 Alaska Nation- 352-376-4482, 800-257-4341, 352-376-4556 (Fax) music, dance and art. Match airport causes uproar al Guard members tried to dig out, Advertising Director Shaun O’Connor, [email protected] wits in a European history, BANGKOK — A Thai cus- they learned that they didn’t have Retail Advertising Manager Gary Miller, [email protected] art and culture quiz panel. toms official has been demot- the right tool for the job. Advertising Office Manager Victoria Livingston, Enjoy an Irish musical per- ed over a YouTube video that There were plenty of regular [email protected] formance by Fear Buile. View shows him hitting an airport shovels around. But what they Advertising Assistant Melissa Bell art, dance, play games and security officer while refusing needed was a larger version with a Display Advertising Clerks Stephanie Parker, Barbara Valle make silhouettes. Hear Czech to be patted down. scoop that can push a cubic foot of Intern Coordinator Ally Russo and Catalan poetry. Eat and Footage from a surveil- snow or better at a time. Sales Representatives Serina Braddock, Angela Hunter, drink. lance camera at Bangkok’s “We will be shipping 72 shov- Michael Jimenez, Sarah Platt, Suvarnabhumi airport shows els to Alaska by plane tomorrow Brandon Stern, Kristen Strobel, Wildlife Society Meeting the official striding through a to help,” said Genevieve Gagne, Courtney Sutherland Tuesday, 5:15 p.m. security check, fiercely object- product manager at the shovel’s Newins-Ziegler Hall, Room ing to being searched and then maker, Quebec, Canada-based Ga- CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 112 whacking the officer’s ears. rant. 352-373-FIND (Voice), 352-376-3015(Fax) The UF chapter of The The official then pointed to his The new shovels cost about Classified Advertising Manager Ellen Light, [email protected] Wildlife Society will be host- badge and the junior officer $50 each, and the city is paying for Classified Clerks Ashley Flattery, William McCloud ing its first general body bowed apologetically.