The students were no kinder to Martinez's opponent in next month's election. And while you're at it, forget the future, too." "I've got amnesia and you should, too," this Martinez campaign advertisement said. Bob Martinez, a non-Gator, as a man suffering from amnesia _ allowing him to forget the, well, sensitive issue of his support for the failed and much despised state tax on services. There were cheers and cheerleader dances and skits that poked fun at school officials and state politicians. From throughout the city, less august Gators converged at the football stadium for the Gator Growl, a loud, sometimes irreverent celebration of Gatorness. Thousands of students, alumni and townspeople crowded University Avenue to watch a parade featuring endless variations on Gator themes.īy Friday evening, many of the state's leading politicians _ most of them proud Gators _ gathered for cocktails and speeches. Public offices emptied out, businesses took a break. To the outsider, it's not always easy to appreciate the activities that were pursued with an almost religious fervor this weekend.Īs early as Friday, Alachua County schools had closed. So this weekend, the students, like the alumni visitors, seemed to turn to Gator tradition to put their worries on a back burner. Police have said they are analyzing hundreds of pieces of evidence and are confident they will solve the killings, but they have been unable to say how soon an arrest might be made. We're missing the one event that will make this all go away _ an arrest." Is still very clearly on everyone's mind. "Young people are incredibly resilient," said Art Sandeen, UF's vice president for student affairs. UF officials said that even during a weekend of celebrations, the murders generate an undercurrent of worry that has not left the campus. Since the August killings, authorities have kept up heavy patrols throughout the city, particularly in the area frequented by students and, this weekend, alumni. And, Sumoski said, police are everywhere. Students seldom are seen walking alone, he said, a shift from more carefree days. Still, Sumoski and other alumni say they did note changes _ particularly the effect the murders have brought to their school. "No one seems to be doting on the bad news." “I’m not too familiar with the opening act, but I’m definitely excited to see ‘Apple Bottom Jeans’ live,” she wrote."We just came here to have a good time, like always," said Jim Sumoski, a 1982 graduate. Jordan Drew, a 19-year-old UF agricultural operations management sophomore, wrote in a text message she believes SG’s choices for this year’s performances reach and satisfy students’ standards. “We have worked hard to secure our talent, and we are excited to put together a show for our students and alumni,” Gator Growl Executive Producer Jared Weingard wrote in a text message. She has more than seven million monthly listeners on Spotify. Gator Growl’s opener, Olivia O’Brien, is best known as the vocalist on Gnash’s 2016 song “I Hate U, I Love U,” which reached No. He’s also known for his 2012 songs “Whistle” and “Wild Ones” featuring Sia, and his 2015 song “My House.” Flo Rida, whose real name is Tramar Lacel Dillard, has more than 22 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
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