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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2025
VOLUME 120 - ISSUE 5 Not officially associated with the University of Florida
Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida
UF vigil mourns Charlie Kirk THE CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST, WHO VISITED UF THIS SPRING, WAS SHOT AND KILLED SEPT. 10
By Kaysheri Haffner Alligator Staff Writers
By Julianna Bendeck Contributing Writer
Noah Lantor // Alligator Staff
Two people in matching shirts stand during a vigil in memory of Charlie Kirk on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.
Among tears, prayers and bowed heads, over 250 people formed a circle on UF’s Plaza of the Americas to mourn the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. UF’s Turning Point USA chapter hosted the vigil on the night of Sept. 11 to honor the life and legacy of the organization’s 31-year-old co-founder. Kirk, a prominent conservative activist, was shot and killed Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University for the fall leg of “The American Comeback Tour.” Law enforcement had yet to identify the shooter as of Sept. 11. “He will go down as a martyr for this movement,” said Jennifer Gar-
cia, a 21-year-old UF criminology and political science senior and the president of UF Turning Point, as the vigil began. Kirk visited UF in February as part of his nationwide tour intended to bring conservative dialogue to college campuses. He founded Turning Point USA, a nationwide conservative youth activist group with over 850 chapters across college campuses, in 2012. At the vigil, Garcia said the Turning Point community needs to come together and continue Kirk’s work. “Our community is hurt, our community is weak, but our community wants to make sure that we honor his legacy,” she said. Garcia was the first of dozens to speak about the impact Kirk had on her life. The core of his legacy, she said, is open discourse. Having met Kirk over breakfast during his stop at UF, she said the news of his death was surreal to hear. She was shocked, she said, but she believes Kirk’s death will only further mobilize the conservative youth movement.
SEE CHARLIE KIRK, PAGE 3
Board of Governors approves UF interim president Donald W. Landry wins support of BOG, solidifies role as UF interim president By Swasthi Maharaj Alligator Staff Writer
Dr. Donald Landry, a Columbia University physician and academic leader, was approved to continue serving as UF’s interim president Sept. 11. Landry, chair emeritus of Columbia’s Department of Medicine and president of the American Academy of Sciences & Letters, began his term Sept. 1 under a oneyear contract that pays a $2 million base salary and allows for up to $500,000 in
SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT
Football Story description finish with comma, pg#
Florida falls to LSU. Read more in Sports on pg. 11
performance incentives. According to the contract, if he is not selected as UF’s permanent president within the academic year, he will receive an additional $2 million in severance. The agreement runs through Aug. 31, 2026. His predecessor, Kent Fuchs, earned about $1 million in his 13 months as interim president. Santa Ono, the former University of Michigan president who was briefly considered for the position, was comparatively offered a $1.5 million base salary with the potential to earn $3 million
Funding
Food security program cut, pg. 3
through bonuses and additional duties. Landry’s contract outlines responsibilities like addressing issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, student safety, school and research rankings and artificial intelligence integration in education. Landry is expected to uphold state laws prohibiting the use of public funds for DEI initiatives. He must also work with the state and federal Department of Government Efficiency to “eliminate waste, fraud and abuse.” This provision aligns with ongoing state efforts to reform higher educa-
tion spending, emphasizing accountability and efficiency within public institutions. Other focuses include UF student safety, particularly that of the Jewish community, and the university’s ongoing initiatives in artificial intelligence. Landry is also required to fill interim and vacant positions with people who “are firmly aligned with and support the principles guiding Florida’s approach to higher education.” That includes picking a permanent provost, interim dean posts, cabinet positions, directors and other academic leaders.
SEE UF PRESIDENT, PAGE 4
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Environment
National park in the works, pg. 5
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