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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2024
VOLUME 119 - ISSUE 1 Not officially associated with the University of Florida
Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida
Fuchs steps up, presidential search ensues HE RETURNED AS INTERIM PRESIDENT FOLLOWING SASSE’S RESIGNATION
By Annie Wang Alligator Staff Writer
Former UF President Kent Fuchs was repairing wall cladding and fixing the plumbing system on his farm in Finger Lakes, New York, when he received an unexpected phone call this summer. Morteza “Mori” Hosseini, the chairman of UF’s Board of Trustees, who Fuchs hadn’t heard from in the 17 months since leaving office, said then-UF President Ben Sasse might resign. Would Fuchs be willing to return to the Gator Nation as interim president? Shortly after Sasse publicly resigned July 18, citing his wife’s declining health, the university announced Fuchs would step in. As the administration prepares for a new and unexpected presidential search, Fuchs is cementing his legacy before he retires from UF for good. “I've told the Trustees I really want to retire in a year,” Fuchs said. “It's wonderful to be president. It's a great job, [and] I love it, but I'm 70 this year, and I need to retire.” Fuchs served as UF's 12th president from 2015 to 2023. After leaving the presidency, he refreshed his knowledge of electrical engineering and taught Introduction to Electrical Engineering in Spring 2024, his first time instructing a course since 1996. Returning to his roots as a faculty member, Fuchs disconnected from the university’s administrative affairs.
“I worked really hard to be what I think is a good former president,” Fuchs said. “That is to not engage with the university administration, not to take interviews with anybody about anything, and try not to even pay attention [to university administration] and just focus on my work.” The presidential search begins with the Board of Trustees, which is responsible for appointing a search committee. Once established, the search committee selects a search firm, which it works side-by-side with to find potential candidates. After consulting with hundreds of people, gathering suggestions and collecting ideas, the search committee interviews 10 to 20 candidates and narrows the selection down to a few finalists. “I am thrilled that Kent has agreed to take on this important role at such a critical time to ensure a smooth and orderly transition as we prepare to initiate a national presidential search,” Hosseini said in a university-wide email July 23. “We owe him a huge debt of gratitude.” Hans van Oostrom, the Founding Chair and Associate Professor of the UF Department of Engineering Education, posted a selfie with Fuchs Aug. 9 and captioned it, “Great to serve with [UF] president Fuchs again.” Previous, current and future university presidents rarely interact, Fuchs said. However, he praised the progress Sasse made during his 18 months in office, like the expansion of the Hamilton Center and the establishment of the Honors Village.
SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT
Division I statusfinish — with comma, pg# Story description
UF club hockey makes strides. Read more on pg. 15.
Ryan Friedenberg // Alligator Staff
Kent Fuchs will serve as UF Interim President following Ben Sasse resignation.
SEE FUCHS, PAGE 5
Feeling overwhelmed? Here’s how UF can help
From counseling to cake pops: resources every Gator should know about By Grace McClung Alligator Staff Writer
As a Florida Gator, it's easy to get swamped. There are classes to attend, organizations to join, friends to meet and laundry to do. Add that to a campus bustling with tens of thousands of students, and college can quickly become overwhelming. Luckily, UF’s many mental health resources are here to help. The Counseling and Wellness Center
Mental health issues among students are stigmatized but not rare. Between 2020 and 2022, the percentage of UF students who reported having anxiety rose 40%, ADHD rose 81% and depression rates
Gainesville primaries See the winners, pg. 2
rose 43%, according to a student survey. UF’s Counseling and Wellness Center, a hub for student mental health help, offers 24/7 crisis support and counseling, workshops, off-campus support and psychiatry, among other services. Students can schedule a consultation online or over the phone, and explore outreach services that don't require a consultation. Referrals are also available. The CWC also encompasses AWARE, a student ambassador program that works to bring attention to mental health issues among college students and reduces the stigma around getting help. The program participates in various outreach initiatives including an Oct. 11 Fall Wellness Fair
SEE MENTAL HEALTH, PAGE 4
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