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MONDAY, JULY 20, 2026

VOLUME 120 - ISSUE 40 Not officially associated with the University of Florida

Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

‘Gainesville's worst-kept secret’: Concerns rise over sex offender DJ formerly at University Club SOME DRAG ARTISTS SAID WARNINGS ABOUT A UNIVERSITY CLUB DJ’S CRIMINAL HISTORY WENT UNANSWERED AS HE CONTINUED WORKING AT THE VENUE

By Julianna Bendeck Alligator Staff Writer

Riana Morales // Alligator Staff

Protestors demonstrate against the death penalty and the execution of Dennis Sochor, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in front of the Florida State Prison in Raiford. Read more on pg. 6.

University Club said it acted immediately after learning concerns about a DJ who is a registered sex offender, but some drag performers said management had known of his background for months. Jason Eric Catron, now 46 years old, was one of seven DJs on University Club’s weekly entertainment roster, performing during the venue’s Sunday and Tuesday night events before his public removal July 13.

Catron is a registered sex offender on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement online registry. According to the listing, Catron is on the offender registry for a 2004 conviction of lewd or lascivious battery involving a victim between the ages of 12 and 15. According to an arrest statement from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, then-23-year-old Catron was arrested in November 2003 after a 15-year-old victim said he snuck into her home while her parents were asleep to engage in sexual activity. Catron told police he was aware of the victim’s age and had a relationship with her for nearly six weeks. He was found guilty in 2004 and sentenced to just over a year in prison followed by two years of probation. After being released from pris-

SEE UNIVERSITY CLUB, PAGE 4

The road ahead for Stuart Bell: Experts, faculty leaders discuss expectations for UF’s 14th president Higher education experts said he faces competing priorities from day one By Swasthi Maharaj Alligator Staff Writer

When Stuart Bell was voted in as UF’s 14th president, he inherited much more than one of the country’s largest public universities — he inherited years of leadership turnover, growing political scrutiny of higher education and a campus divided over what successful leadership should look like. For now, faculty leaders and higher education experts say Bell’s upcoming time in office may be assessed by how he can rebuild institutional trust among faculty, while also navi-

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT Student loans

Story description finish with comma, Cuts, reductions by One Big pg# Beautiful Bill went into effect July 1. Read more on pg. 3.

gating the political landscape around Florida’s public university system. Bell’s confirmation was delayed as a result of a dispute between the UF Board of Trustees and the Florida Board of Governors. His fiveyear contract took effect July 1 after confirmation by the Board of Governors. In a July 1 Board of Governors special meeting, Bell emphasized he would make it a priority to make UF one of the top public universities in the nation. Bell’s employment agreement outlines a list of 20 expectations for his time as president. Among them are appointing a perma-

Campus cats

nent provost, filling interim dean and leadership positions, expanding artificial intelligence initiatives and continuing major construction projects. The agreement also requires progress on the Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education, oversight of post-tenure review and maintaining campus safety, especially for Jewish students. According to his contract, completing these responsibilities will factor into Bell’s evaluation and pay. James Finkelstein, a professor emeritus of public policy at George Mason University, said

Destruction of Graham Woods could impact UF’s feline friends, pg. 5

Opinions

Did Trump ruin the World Cup?, pg. 8

Bell will be expected to operate within priorities established by the Board of Trustees and Board of Governors while simultaneously trying to advance his own vision for the university. “All of those things are going to be required of him whether he thinks they're important or not,” Finkelstein said. “He doesn’t have much room for his own agenda.” Among Bell’s greatest challenges, he said, will be recruiting and retaining top faculty while balancing Florida’s evolving higher education priorities. “You can’t become a top-three public uni-

SEE BELL, PAGE 4

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