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MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2025
VOLUME 119 - ISSUE 27 Not officially associated with the University of Florida
Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida
MARCH MADNESS
Florida ascends into National Championship The Gators will face Houston on April 7 By Noah White Sports Writer
SAN ANTONIO — As the buzzer rang throughout the corners of the Alamodome, Walter Clayton Jr. wandered into the back of the frame. In the senior guard’s line of sight were his teammates launching into the air in jubilation, ceremonially hugging one another amid a range of joyous motions, and the celebrations in San Antonio were only starting. But Clayton Jr. was already looking forward to the NCAA National Championship. The senior guard awaited the line of celebratory players in the arena’s southeast corner, briefly
exchanging the same message with each of them: “One more.” That was one of the many pertinent snapshots from April 5 night. The evening opened with a heavyweight fight between the SEC’s two greatest giants, a fitting way to open one of the strongest Final Four fields ever, and no player delivered more than Clayton Jr. His career-high of 34 points, which makes him only the 15th player in the modern era to score 30 or more in the Final Four, willed Florida past Auburn 79-73 to its first national championship since 2007, where it’ll face Houston. And “willed” might be too reserved.
“The togetherness of our team, the love we all got for each other, allows us not to break apart during adversity,” Clayton Jr. said. “We just stay together in those moments.” The next frame comes moments earlier, with a minute and a half left in the second half. Clayton Jr. is on the ground, after having heaved up a layup through heavy contact, collapsed among the many photographers eagerly snapping photos of the weathered star. The ball had gone in, and with a shove from Auburn senior guard Denver Jones, Clayton Jr. had to get up and head to the line. That
made it a six-point game in the closing m o m e n t s , Florida’s largest lead of the day to that point, and yet he didn’t look fazed whatsoever. Six of his 11 makes on April 5 were layups, as the Auburn frontcourt rarely could stop Clayton Jr. when he drove. That was especially notable when Florida looked aimless and half-awake throughout parts of the first half. “He's incredible,” Florida sophomore forward Thomas Haugh said after the
SEE MARCH MADNESS, PAGE 11
Looming trade war spooks Florida businesses, consumers TARIFF FLUCTUATIONS SOW UNCERTAINTY AND STOKE RECESSION FEARS
By Natalie Kaufman Alligator Staff Writer
Robert McMahon’s broccoli, beets and basil aren’t in jeopardy. That’s because Southern Fresh Farms, a small agrotourism property in Fort Myers, will be insulated from tariff shock, according to co-owner McMahon. But he doubts that’s the case for others in the agricultural industry. “Most everything we use is produced in the United States anyway,” he said. “So as far as this farm is concerned, the tariffs are gonna have zero effect on us.” His counterparts in Florida and across the country don’t have the same assurance. President Donald Trump’s administration slapped 25% tariffs on all Mexican and most Canadian imports March 4, with lighter burdens on Canadian energy products like crude
SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT
Newberry charter Story description finish with comma, pg#
Vote sparks legal questions . Read more on pg. 2.
oil and natural gas. The administration then doubled the existing levy on China and is set to add 34%, so the effective tax will exceed 50%. China has already announced trade measures targeting United States agricultural products, including the multibillion-dollar soybean market. China, Mexico and Canada are the top three destinations for nearly half of U.S. agricultural exports. Trade disruptions could increase domestic grocery prices, but those who grow the food will not gain any extra profits. “You’re at the mercy of the markets,” McMahon said. “They’re not gonna give the farmer any more than the market will dictate anyway.” Growers won’t go it alone. Economists suggest businesses and consumers nationwide will weather their share of turbulence. Shifting sands The Trump administration is wielding tariffs, or taxes on imports, as a weapon against nations it believes have “ripped
The Avenue: Lent
What Gators are giving up during Easter season, pg. 6
off” the U.S. The tariff rollout has been less than smooth, marked by a series of announcements and subsequent reversals. Trump delivered some clarity during his April 2 remarks on tariffs, vowing to impose a 10% tax on all imports and a range of more bruising levies on about 60 countries. “We are essentially entering uncharted territory,” said Tobias Pfutze, an economics professor at Florida International University.
SEE TARIFFS, PAGE 3
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