Orange and Blue magazine - Fall 2022 - The Spotlight Issue

SPOTLIGHT THE ISSUE

KEVIN MARIS: THE SON OF A YANKEES LEGEND

Letter From the Editor

The power of journalism is truly remarkable. Journalists have the opportunity to shine a light on topics that aren’t talked about enough or people who are underrepresented and don’t have a voice in the media themselves. My favorite example of this was the work the reporters did in the movie "Spotlight" — which I’ll admit, was one of the leaning factors for this issue’s theme.

However, when my staff and I sat around and debated on what message we wanted to pursue when storytelling, I emphasized what spotlight truly means and why that should be our theme for this semester’s issue. Some people’s stories tend to go unnoticed and unread. That’s when our job as journalists comes into play — find stories that mean something to the community. Shine a light, a spotlight, on what makes a person, place or company unique.

And that’s what I’m proud to say our team has accomplished. This magazine showcases what we think deserves a spotlight, including stories and photos of everything from a son of one of the most famous Yankees baseball player and how he impacted the community to the rise of the opioid crisis and how fentanyl tragically takes the lives of those we love. A production company that’s produced your favorite horror films to why it's polarizing to have a conversation about politics.

It’s been a rewarding experience to fulfill my goal of becoming the editor-in-chief. A goal that I’ve strived to obtain since my first year at the University of Florida. I’m proud to have served as a leader in a field I am passionate about — magazines. The skills I’ve learned working previously at Esquire magazine, along with new found tools I’ve learned under Nicole Irving are assets I’m so grateful for and will take with me throughout the rest of my professional career.

I have loved magazines for as long as I can remember. While digital media is a significant and accessible form of journalism — especially in today's age, there’s something special about holding a physical copy of a magazine that makes one cherish the stories and photography inside that embody the publication’s theme.

While reading, I hope these spotlight stories spark an emotion in you that you’re able to connect with and enjoy our love letter to journalism.

Lexi Carson Editor-In-Chief

Photos by Summerleigh Stones

Photos

Entertainment

Gone But Never Forgotten: A Music Hall 50 Years Later

Gone was the summer of love, the rock psychedelia and the Civil Rights Movement that capped the end of the ‘60s.

In came the early ‘70s, and with it a new wave of Gainesville residents and University of Florida students who experienced further racial upheaval and antiwar protests. Black high schoolers were finally integrated into the main schools while Black students at UF fought for their representation in the famous “Black Thursday” sit-in. Students had also used protests to show their opposition to the deployment of young men to fight in the Vietnam War.

This was the world of 1973 that a then fresh-faced, 18-yearold, John Moran came into as a photographer. He would first photograph the campus life of students for The Independent Florida Alligator before moving into a role that captured a lightning-in-a-bottle moment for the city: live music. It was this live music that provided a soundtrack to the time of change that overtook Gainesville as Rock ‘n’ Roll, jazz, country and R&B musicians rolled into the former Florida Theatre to play to a crowd of college kids and townies.

Close to 50 years from its inception, the Matheson History Museum is celebrating the sights and sounds that sprung out from the old theatre’s walls when it used to live by the name “The Great Southern Music Hall.”

A LOOK BACK ON HALF A CENTURY

From 1974 to 1978, The Great Southern Music Hall served as Gainesville’s state-of-the-art concert venue. Its stage was graced by legends such as Ray Charles, Bo Diddley and Waylon Jennings. From Cheech and Chong, early Jimmy Buffett to Kraftwerk, Chick Corea and the Count Basie Orchestra, it’s arguably one of the most star-studded lineups Gainesville has ever seen come through one venue. But it’s taken almost half a decade for the plethora of images documenting this history to unearth until now.

Since Sept. 14, the history museum is featuring an exhibit built around Moran’s pictures taken as the house photographer and artifacts including Bo Diddley’s “twang machine guitar” that highlights the powerhouse of music that poured over the ears of Gainesville residents years ago.

“At this time, Gainesville was really punching above its weight in terms of the acts that were coming and performing here,” said Kaitlyn Hof-Mahoney, the executive director of the Matheson History Museum.

Hof-Mahoney said the exhibit was born out of a bump-in meeting at an arts festival a few years back by Moran and Jeffrey Meldon, the patriarch attorney of Meldon Law and the cofounder of the Great Southern Music Hall. Meldon had

Story by Manny Rea and photos by Summerleigh Stones

wanted to supply his offices with the photos of his former business venture which Moran had stored away as old Tri-x film negatives. The duo then realized they could also share this story with the public. With input from journalist Bill DeYoung and historian Rick Kilby as well as borrowed items from the Smathers Libraries collection, the history of the Great Southern Music Hall had finally come to fruition. Hof-Mahoney said the exhibit will be available until about September 2023 so that longtime Gainesville and Alachua County locals can reminisce and new residents can discover.

“We just hope everybody will come out learning something new about where they’re living,” Hof-Mahoney said.

THE EARLY YEARS

Meldon founded the Great Southern Music Hall in 1974 alongside Jim Forsman, a Gainesville business owner, who saw a gap in live music for the city outside the performances put on by the university.

“There was no excellent music venue where you could hear music in an optimal setting,” Meldon said.

The once-thriving ‘20s silent, later “talkie”, film theatre known as the “Florida Theatre” had been put up for sale on lively University Avenue downtown. Meldon and Forsman saw an opportunity to get the concert hall they wanted and opened its doors April 26, 1974. In its years, the Great Southern Music Hall succeeded in recruiting major acts at bookend dates as they made their way across Florida cities. A plus — the Great Southern Music Hall could serve alcohol to a thirsty audience unlike the dry venues at UF sponsored performances.

“I had a sense early on that I was shooting for a historical record,” Moran said about his photography that is on display throughout the exhibit from both his time at The Alligator and the Great Southern Music Hall. “That’s what compelled me to make these big scene shots that showed the context of shooting on campus. I realized that pictures are a universal language and that there was value in having decent work out,” Moran said.

THE LATER YEARS

Moran would eventually be whisked away by a graduation date and a journalism degree, but the Great Southern Music Hall continued to showcase talent. The country rock precursors to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers came with early shows from bands such as Mudcrutch (also featuring Petty) and the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band.

“After three or four years of producing shows at the Great Southern Music Hall, we realized we had the showplace of the South,” Meldon said.

It was in the hall’s nascent months that Moran came to Meldon and Forsman, who were still figuring out the business, with an offer to use his newfound skills.

For those first two years, Moran provided the electric photography that now sprawls the walls of the Matheson. His up close and personal pictures brim with the sweat of the musicians and the glare of the spotlights on the small stage that used to solely serve as a film screen.

Moran would fire photos from his mail-ordered Nikon camera sometimes feet away from the musicians before bringing them to a makeshift darkroom to be developed and autographed the same night. Some of those signatures are featured in the exhibit such as from Howlin’ Wolf, one of the most influential blues players of all time.

-Jeffrey Meldon

Steve Martin shined once as a stage comic at the Great Southern Music Hall before becoming a cast member of “Saturday Night Live” and a movie star. The venue also touted satellite-linked boxing matches of the likes of Muhammad Ali and George Foreman as well as in-person fights.

The venue also housed a full bar and screened movies just like it had done for the fifty years before. Finally, though, in 1978, Meldon and Forsman threw in the towel on their music hall. The late-night hours and stresses of managing multiple businesses were no longer sustainable. The location would undergo several other names and functions but today it once again goes by “Florida Theater.” It currently sits empty and under perpetual renovation and construction. But its legacy as the Great Southern Music Hall is being fondly remembered now at the Matheson.

PRESENT-DAY

The exhibit is titled, “Return to Forever” in reference to a song written by Dick Rudolph for his wife and singer Minnie Riperton, who both resided in Gainesville for a few years where they had raised infant daughter, Maya Rudolph, SNL cast member alum and comedian. Riperton would perform at the Great Southern Music Hall before signing a record deal back in Los Angeles that would seal her stardom. “Return to Forever,” however, is also a call to visitors to celebrate an irreproducible moment in Gainesville’s music legacy.

“It was an era of collective joy,” Moran said. “I loved and I thrived in being part of that scene. And with a camera in hand, it gave me permission to be front and very center for so much of life coming at me.”

"We had the showplace of the south."

"It was an era of collective joy."

-John Moran

7Days in Spain

When I went to Spain it was more beautiful than I ever imagined. As soon as I stepped out of the airport, I was a little overwhelmed because I did not know the language, but I felt a sense of calm when I felt the crisp air outside. Driving along the coast, I was able to see the glimmering ocean and enormous mountains for the first time.

During my week there I saw so many incredible places, but here are my top three places to visit.

1. SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Santiago de Compostela is a city that is a famous pilgrimage site. It has become a symbol of the Christians’ struggle against Islam. A famous activity to do there is to complete the Camino de Santiago. This is a network of routes that the pilgrims used that meet at the tomb of Saint James in the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. There are many routes to take, but the most popular route is the Camino Francés. This route stretches all the way from St. Jean-Pied-du-Port, France, to Santiago and is almost 500 miles. This journey can take weeks or even over a month to complete. I remember seeing people reach the end of their journey at the cathedral and falling to their knees or laying on the ground as they felt relief from finishing their journey. Family members and friends cheered them on and took pictures of the participants that finished the trek. The Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is home to Saint James with his tomb below the main altar. The main altar is completely decked out with gold cherubs and intricate details. As one walks below to the crypt and approaches Saint James his remains are in a silver chest and flowers fill the space.

2. MUSEO QUIÑONES DE LEÓN

The Museo Quiñones de León is a museum located in Castrelos Park in Vigo. The building, with its gardens, was given as a donation by Don Fernando Quiñones de León to the city of Vigo in 1924, and was arranged to be a museum after its donation. The gardens behind the building are divided into six different sectors: the access garden, the rose garden, the English garden, the French garden, the sun terrace and the forest. The museum inside is home to artworks, history and archeology of Vigo.

3. FORTRESS O CASTRO

The Fortress O Castro was built in 1665 to protect the city of Vigo from the British Royal Navy. The British were an ally of Portugal, and Spain was fighting for its independence from Portugal at the time. The fortress is located on the top of the mountain, Monte del Castro which is facing the water. That way people in the fortress could see if anyone was coming by boat. Toward the bottom of the mountain, remains of circular homes can be found. Next to these remains are reconstructions of what the homes used to be like. Inside the stone buildings are small spaces where families lived.

Story and photos by Alyssa Barnes

THE CUISINE

When traveling anywhere, people seem to be most excited about the food. Luckily, Spain is just the place for some of the best food and wine. I experienced a lot of different foods and wines I had never tried before, and these are some of my favorites.

Wine is a typical part of Spanish culture, and the most famous wine in the Galicia region is Albariño. This is a white wine that is native to Galicia. It is known for its dry taste, acidity and citrus flavor. Spain is the third largest producer of wine, after France and Italy. It is typical to drink wine throughout lunch and dinner, and even after dinner. Many Spaniards like to meet at bars and enjoy a few beers or glasses of wine with tapas. Tapas are a snack or appetizer that is served mainly with alcohol. Some favorite tapas are olives, chips, bread and cheese. The bread that is usually freshly baked that day was my favorite part. It comes out hot and is a perfect addition to a glass of wine.

Because Vigo is a coastal city seafood is very prominent there. One of the best seafood dishes I had in Spain was Paella. I do not usually like seafood, but this meal changed my mind. Paella is a saffron rice dish that usually includes seafood and other meat. The paella that I ate had chicken, beef, muscles, prawns, scallops and crab. But it can be much simpler than that if you want it to be. This is definitely one of the most well-known dishes in Spain and is a must-try for anyone visiting the country.

A Tortilla Española is a Spanish omelet and is a traditional dish in Spain. This meal is incredibly easy to make with only potatoes, eggs and onion. It is an essential part of Spanish

cuisine and is mainly eaten as a tapa but can be enjoyed any time of the day. Many Spaniards consider it a national dish of Spain. This was my favorite dish the entire trip. Even though it was simple, it was packed with flavor and easy enough for me to learn how to make at home.

Jamón is an essential part of Spanish food culture. Jamón Serrano is cured, flavorful ham that is extremely popular in Spain. The hind leg of the pig is packed in salt and then hung from rafters to allow it to cure properly. After a year to 18 months, the pig is ready. These cuts of meat are cut into paper-thin pieces that you can eat directly. No cooking is required because the meat is cured, and it is often enjoyed with cheese and wine or cooked in a croquette. There are stores that specialize in selling jamón serrano and prices can range from less than $100 to thousands of dollars. But it is almost a guarantee that whatever household, or restaurant you walk into, you will see a jamón serrano in the kitchen.

Coffee is like a religion in Spain. It is a quintessential drink in Spanish culture and is drank throughout the day. A typical coffee to start your day in Spain is a café con leche, which is what I had every day. This is a hot coffee that consists of a strong coffee and then frothed milk, almost like a latte, and served in a small cup. It is usually served with a pack of sugar on the side.

After my trip to Spain, all I can think about is when I will be able to travel more. Having the experience of going to Spain truly changed my perception of traveling and ignited my passion for learning more about new cultures. My time there was unforgettable, and I will be incorporating some of the things I learned into my daily life.

How Romantic Comedies Have Shaped How We View Relationships

Story and photos by Brooke Hughes

It’s a Saturday night, and you cuddle up on the couch with a blanket and your favorite snack. You turn on your favorite romantic comedy and soon enough Ben is on his motorcycle and is desperately chasing down Andi’s taxi, ending with the couple kissing on the Brooklyn Bridge in the climactic ending that is “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” Afterwards, you sit there and wonder, why can’t real life relationships be as perfect as they seem in the movies?

Romantic comedies have become a staple in the movie industry with over 200 movies belonging to the genre, according to Rotten Tomatoes. According to Glamour, romantic comedies go all the way back to 1924, with the first one being a silent film called “Sherlock Jr.” starring Buster Keaton and Kathryn McGuire.

Since then, romantic comedies have evolved into what we know and love today such as “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Love Hard” and “Set It Up.” Each movie is accompanied by a specific trope – opposites attracting, best friend turned lovers, enemies to lovers – you name it, there’s a romantic comedy for it.

“They just make you happy when you watch them and I think that’s why they’re so appealing,” Laura Westmark, who loves romantic comedies, said. Westmark’s favorite romantic comedy is the 2000 film, “Miss Congeniality” starring Sandra Bullock. So why do these movies have such a soft spot in our hearts?

Well for one, most of the time in romantic comedies, the audience knows that at the end of the movie, it will all work out and the two protagonists will end up together. According to Women’s Health, while watching a romantic comedy, your brain releases the hormones oxytocin and dopamine by activating the empathy center.

Although these movies create good hormones and pull at your heartstrings, romantic comedies may create unrealistic expectations with real-life relationships, which can create false expectations and hopes, leading to a myriad of problems if you aren’t careful.

It’s easy to glorify these movies simply because that is exactly what Hollywood has made them do – glorify relationships. Many times, these movies blur the lines between expectation and reality. They do not show the hard work that goes into relationships - such as having difficult conversations and compromising - As both characters seem to fall in love in a matter of days and solve whatever conflict arises in a matter of a few simple steps.

Lauren West, a family and marriage therapist who got her degree from the University of Florida said, “I like the escapism of rom coms where things are perfect, but it’s dangerous when you realize that that’s not the reality. It’s important to recognize that it’s not realistic but you can still want aspects of a relationship of what was in that [romantic comedy] movie.”

Even the romantic comedies that do represent reality such as the 2009 film, “He’s Just Not That into You,” ends with Jennifer Aniston and Ben Affleck’s characters getting back together after what would be a dealbreaker for most couples in the real world – one person in the relationship not wanting to get married.

“There’s this idea that everything aligns and it’s going to be perfect. And that’s just not the case. Relationships take work, you have to learn how to communicate and have hard conversations,” West said.

Hollywood and the culture of instant gratification has made it seem that these scenarios are easily attainable with little to no work, when that may not be the case. Although funny and heartfelt, if we take a deep look, some of these films romanticize toxic behaviors such as stalking and not taking no for an answer. This is seen in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” where main characters Ben and Andi try to manipulate each other in and out of a relationship, respectively. This is also seen in “Love Actually,” where Mark has stalker tendencies towards his best friend’s wife – but this of course, is deemed OK because of his declaration of love with notecards. This has taught society that even toxic relationships have happy endings.

According to a study done by Communication Research, women who watch romantic comedies are more likely to be OK with stalking in real life and take it as a romantic gesture rather than an alarming one.

A romantic comedy that actually highlights reality versus expectations in relationships is the 2009 film, “(500) Days of Summer” starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. In the film, Gordon-Levitt's character, Tom, falls in love with the idea of Deschanel’s character, Summer, even though she told him from the start she didn’t want a relationship. In the end Tom ignores what Summer truly wants and when they break up, Tom reflects back on their relationship and where it went wrong.

“I think it’s easy to get swept into the fairytales that are these movies because they don’t show the actual real parts of relationships and then when you wish for something like the movies it can, in my opinion, put down your self-esteem because relationships aren’t perfect,” said Westmark, who has been in a two-year relationship with her boyfriend.

So where should we draw the line between reality and fantasy when it comes to these movies that represent the perfect relationship that many people want in life? West says it’s OK to want the qualities that the relationships in romantic comedies possess. “It’s OK to have relationships to look up to and want to be like, but you have to think ‘OK, how is that couple like that? What are the qualities they have that make them be this lovey-dovey, what are the ingredients that make that kind of relationship?’”

To have and maintain a healthy relationship, it’s ultimately important to separate yourself from the fantasy of the big screen. However, as West says, you can take certain qualities

from a fictional couple and apply it to your own relationship through work such as compromise and communication.

“The number one thing is communication. When you have communication, it can lead to great relationships,” West said. “In some ways it [romantic comedies] set the ideals, but in other ways it sets us up for failure. They are made to have happy endings. Doesn’t mean you can’t get the happy ending; you just have to work for it to get it.”

So next time you decide to take the romantic comedy route for movie night and find yourself wishing for that perfect relationship, remember that real relationships take work, time and dedication. The real comedy would be if the fictional couples we idealize so much had to live in the unscripted world.

"They are made to have endings.happyDoesn’t mean you can’t get the happy ending; you just have to work for it to get it.”

-Lauren West

Food & Drinks

MiO: The Night Scene’s Worst Kept Secret

Story by Brooke Hughes

To save themselves from the hangover of a typical Friday or Saturday night out, some people will try anything. Now, a new drink hack has been created to not only prevent a hangover and save calories, but to prevent spending too much money on cocktails at the bar. MiO, a liquid water enhancer that can be found in the local grocery store is now essential for anyone to put in purses or pockets for a night out.

So, how did this MiO trend start? The origins of this trend are still unclear, but the drinking hack has been posted by users online, particularly TikTok, claiming that bringing the additive helps them consume less sugar and watch their calories while they drink.

University of Florida alumna, Julissa Lopez, 22, says, “I learned about putting MiO in drinks from friends and seeing other people do it. I was intrigued so I tried it and loved it.”

Cocktails in bars can get expensive for anyone, especially if multiples are bought throughout the night. An average bottle of MiO is 1.62 fluid ounces and provides 24 servings for $3.79. Meaning that one bottle of the liquid enhancer could last users months and in the long term save money on drinking.

MiO contains zero calories and comes in eight assorted flavors including Black Cherry and Strawberry Pineapple Smash. With various choices of flavor, it helps to enhance vodka waters or sodas and gives people a break from the regular menu at the bar. Not only is MiO for those wanting to change things up, but it’s a great option for people who need or want to be mindful of what they’re consuming, as lots of cocktails can have a high sugar content.

“I think it’s a great alternative and it has definitely helped me when I’m out drinking," Lopez said.

The liquid enhancer also contains zero sugar and two electrolytes, sodium and potassium, which help keep the body hydrated; this can help prevent hangovers in the morning.

Emma Byrd, a server at Bahama Breeze, 21, says, “It’s definitely appealing to people in their early 20s who are trying to save money, it’s just convenient, plus it’s a fun thing to do when going out.” Byrd says that her friends even mix different flavors of MiO together in their drinks.

For people in their 20s, they grew up with the trends of Sillybandz and crackle nail polish. Now there is a trend for adulthood that may be looked back on in 20 years with fond nostalgia or a sense of “why was that even a thing?”

Whether the favored drinking hack is simply just a fad or here to stay for years to come, there's no denying that it’s become a staple in many people’s nights out and has taken traditional drinking to a more creative level.

More About the People, Less About the Pork: The Brewer’s Journey to Opening Adam’s Rib Co.

Story by Lexi Carson and photos by Summerleigh Stones

When an opportunity that seems too good to pass up presents itself, sometimes the high risk is worth the high reward. That is the case with Adam Brewer.

If you have driven down NW 13th Street, then you’ve probably seen a gator sign with “Adams’ Rib Co.” on it. That is the popular barbecue restaurant Brewer founded with his wife, Michelle.

A place that has good food with even better people.

Brewer — a Gainesville native, who attended Gainesville High School has made several contributions to the community. He is on the board for the nondenominational Christian organization “Young Life” and the “Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Florida.”

In the early 2000s, Brewer was a typical college student going to classes and working on the side, as he had a part-time job in restaurant management. He attended the University of Florida with hopes of graduating with a degree in business management. After spending only a few years there he had to “put his career on hold” in order to pursue his passion of opening his own business. So, both him and his wife, Michelle, dropped out of school to pursue this endeavor full time.

The sacrifice of leaving college is not something Brewer regrets. “I wouldn't have been able to sleep at night had I not pursued this dream,” Brewer said. “There's no amount of education, no amount of degrees that's going to fix you chasing a dream.”

Brewer has won many awards for his restaurant and brand “Adam's Rib Co.,” which was founded in 2005. Although he credits his longevity in the restaurant business to the people involved. “You don't get in this business to get rich. You certainly don't get rich overnight. So, it's got to be about people. It's got to be about something other than yourself,” Brewer said.

Both Brewer and Michelle have the same belief of having “the core” with them at work. Meaning, they have had the same eight to 10 core group of people working with them for years. “They kind of help us hold the brand and the other few come and go, but I feel like as long as we've kept our core tight and kept the core group together, and on the same page, they kind of keep everything rolling in the right place,” Brewer said.

Ever since he’s been a consistent regular at the restaurant, dining in every couple weeks.

“There's a lot of things about Adam’s [Rib Co.] that make it special and unique. Adam is a part of that. Adam is just an outgoing wonderful guy. He's everyone's friend,” Paty said.

“You can go to a chain restaurant, anywhere and you'll see different staff every week. Not with Adams,” Paty said. “It's nice to go someplace where they know you and you know them, and you can support their business and it's local, and it makes a difference.”

Frank Paty, a Gainesville local, was more than likely one of the first customers Adam’s Rib Co. had. Paty found the barbecue joint back when it first opened by driving on NW 13th Street.

"There's no amount of education, no amount of degrees that's going to fix you chasing a dream."

-Adam Brewer

Sipping on Smoke

Story and photos by Summerleigh Stones

Smoky drinks are making a fiery comeback across bars.

Made famous in 2007 by New York bartender Eben Freeman, a Jack and Coke was infused with smoked alder wood and cherry to create a brand-new flavor, as stated in the article, “Eben Freeman: Beverage Director” by Punch mediabrand.

To some, the smoky drinks trend is a new and exciting hobby. To curated bartenders like Freeman, “Molecular Mixology” is a way to continuously experiment. According to the article “Shaken and Stirred: Smoke and Fire” written by Jonathan Miles in The New York Times, Freeman sees mixing drinks as a technological innovation. Other ideas of his creation are, “A jellied gin and tonic served atop a baked slice of lime, pearls of solidified vodka and cranberry juice served on a spoon.”

The vapors from the smoke swirl around the top of the cocktail and stick to the sides of the glass. It is the visual appeal of the drink that draws people in, but it is not the only reason bartenders are bringing smoky drinks back.

“The smoke adds a new depth and dimension,” said two-year Orlando bartender, Kelly Donfield. “The point is to enhance the taste and create a new experience for the consumer.”

Making a drink smoky modernizes old classics popularized during prohibition such as a Negroni, Martini or a Manhattan, according to Letters and Liquor. While there are a few methods to smoking drinks, one of the most common ways is to use a smoking gun and wood chips.

“Certain types of wood chips pair well with different types of liquor. Herbs and spices can also be used to create unique combinations,” Donfield said. “Scotch, bourbon and whiskey tend to pair with the smoked flavor the best. A fan favorite is a smoked Old Fashioned with hickory wood chips.”

“An easier way to get a similar taste is to torch the garnish on the rim of the glass and drop it in the drink. Another way is to smoke a chilled glass before adding your ingredients or smoking the ice. The low temperature of the glass can help the smoke bind to the sides,” Donfield said.

The essence of a smoked drink is to create an aromatic experience. Watching the smoke, smelling the mixture and tasting the smoked alcohol all takes drinking a normal cocktail to the next level.

“I was going to shoot content for my Instagram blog with a beautiful smoking cocktail. I didn’t expect much, but the taste of the drink was completely unique,” fashion and lifestyle Instagram social media influencer, Isabella Laurindo said.

Trying a smoking Cosmopolitan for the first time, Laurindo said, “the drink definitely tasted different. A Cosmo is usually sweet. The smoke adds a harsher taste to it. The lime and orange flavors come out a lot more when it’s smoked.”

If you're looking for the aesthetic, Laurindo also found a different method to create the look of a smoked drink without the hassle of using a smoking gun. “The internet says to use dry ice to recreate the look of a smoked drink, but you must let it fully dissolve before consuming,” Laurindo said.

The smoky drinks trend also began its upward slope during quarantine. Jennifer Conlin, a writer for Vogue wrote, “How I'm Getting Through Quarantine, One Specialty Cocktail at a Time," which explains how experimenting with specialty drinks got her through lockdown. Conlin and her husband vowed to make a different cocktail every day of quarantine. “The Death Eater,” composed of gin, Campari, sweet vermouth and pomegranate juice, was topped off with dry ice. This was only one of the 70 cocktails Conlin and her husband recreated.

Whether you like your drink smoky for the aesthetic appeal or enhancing the flavor of your drink, the simple fact is that smoking cocktails are back on the scene, according to Forbes.

A smoked Jack Daniels whiskey with an orange twist garnish.

Features

Arnold Von der Porten, The Oldest Person in Alachua County

Story by Alyssa Barnes and photos by Summerleigh Stones

Arnold Von der Porten never thought in a million years that traffic lights would work. In Hamburg, Germany, the speed limit was 15 kilometers, or roughly nine miles an hour, to not scare the horses, because most of the traffic in the street during that time was horse traffic. But one day there was something new. A red, yellow and green light in the middle of the street, and a police officer on the sidewalk who was operating the light. “That would never work,” Von der Porten said. “Well, I was definitely wrong.”

Von der Porten is the oldest person in Alachua County, according to Alachua County voter records. He was born in Hamburg on November 30, 1917.

At 104 years old, Von der Porten has lived through World War I and World War II and so much more. He has faced more life experiences and challenges than most people. Von der Porten was born amidst World War I, and life was not easy for him or his family because they faced a lot of poverty. His mother, Dora, had fainted on the street twice from hunger and was revived with help from the police. “My mother was all alone, and I couldn’t get enough food for her,” Von der Porten said.

Von der Porten’s father, Paul, was a doctor during the battles of the war. Battles were a bloodbath that caused Von der Porten’s father to have a nervous breakdown and because of this, he was sent to the Danish border.

Because his father was at the Danish border, he could not be with his family as much. In 1918, he returned to his family and his practice. However, money was not worth anything. “My father’s office would charge a loaf of bread or a pat of margarine but not money,” Von der Porten said.

Von der Porten recalls his memorable time at school as a child. “I had a wonderful time going to school,” Von der Porten said. His father took him to a private school and during an examination, he reminisced on a time when he made the entire class roar with laughter. The headmaster of the school asked him, “if you have seven apples and you and I want to divide them, how would you divide them?” Von der Porten responded by saying, “I’ll give you three and I’ll keep three.” The headmaster said, “is that all?” As he looked anxiously around the room at his father and peers, he said “And I’ll give papa one too.” The whole class burst out in laughter. This is one of his favorite memories from his school days.

At 104 years old, Von der Porten has lived through World War

British. “My family, including me, were very, very strongly anti-Nazi,” Von der Porten said.

In 1933, Von der Porten fled to Jamaica to live with his older brother. At 15 years old, he made the voyage to Jamaica and his family and friends waved goodbye to him as he left the railroad station. During his travel, he stopped back in London again for 10 days. In those 10 days, he learned how to play bridge, a game he still plays to this day. He has customized playing cards with a picture of him and his wife Amy Von der Porten on the back side.

In Jamaica, he learned how to repair refrigerators. But money was scarce, with only a dollar and a half pay a week. His brother mentioned how there were neon signs in Jamaica and how they always broke and needed someone to learn how to fix them, and suggested Von der Porten go to America to learn how to fix the neon signs. Von der Porten moved to America permanently in 1953.

Von der Porten moved to Gainesville in 1994 to be closer to his daughter who got a scholarship to the University of Florida. He and his wife bought a small house on 29th Street where their daughter lived with friends, and eventually got married there.

What is his secret to longevity? Simple — no smoking, no drinking and lots of exercise, specifically swimming. “I saw swimmers start to smoke and they dropped out,” Von der Porten said. “They couldn’t keep up with me.”

Even though he enjoyed his time in school, he said he was a very lazy student. When he was 10, he took English as a foreign language at school, and when he was about to flunk out his father insisted he go to England to live with his sister who was engaged to a man who lived there.

It was in London when Von der Porten fell in love with art. “I was very much impressed with the artwork at the art gallery, and it was really very beautiful,” Von der Porten said. Von der Porten’s artwork fills the walls of his home. He loves to paint his loved ones such as his children and late wife.

Richard Von der Porten, 69, is the eldest of Von der Porten’s four children. One of his favorite memories of his father is when Richard was at a boy scout camp and his troop leader thought that they could camp out in an area and not worry about rain. It not only rained, it poured and washed half of their camping gear away. “We were all soaked to the bone,” Richard Von der Porten said. “When we got back out of the mud, there was Pop picking us up.” Von der Porten took the soaking wet boy scouts into his car and rescued them from the rain. Richard remembers feeling relieved when he saw his father, a feeling he will always cherish.

When he came back from his time in London, the Nazi movement had begun. Von der Porten and his family strongly believed in freedom of speech and were fully against the Nazis. He was against Hitler in a time when the crowds were praising Hitler and wanted revenge against the French and

When he had free time, he loved to swim. He recalled being the best swimmer in his class. “Swimming was one of the compulsory subjects in Hamburg,” Von der Porten said. “I was ahead of most people my age.” Von der Porten has swum his entire life. He used to love swimming in his neighborhood pool on bright, sunny days.

If you would like to learn more about Arnold Von der Porten, check out his two books: “The Nine Lives of Arnold” and “50 Years of America” available on Amazon.

I and World War II and so much more.

Within an Icon: The History of Century Tower

Story by Manny Rea and photos by Summerleigh Stones I

n the midst of the in-between classes hustle and bustle, one student sits close to 150 feet above the rest. On a chilly October evening, Ryan Childress, a thirdyear University of Florida law student, arrives at the base of Century Tower 15 minutes before 4:55 p.m. Getting up the 194 steps to the top is no easy trek and he needs to be there to rock the carillon bells on time. But when he does reach his post, Childress plays the soundtrack to a whole campus.

anniversary as well as to memorialize the lives of UF students lost in the World Wars, Coates said. Built out of common bond brick, the project eventually wrapped in the summer of ’55. However, the interior remained unused for years. At one point, the Smathers Library used it as book storage. At another, a real-life alligator deemed the “Albert” mascot had its caged home outside the tower in the ‘50s and ‘60s. But the heart of the tower would not be installed until long after.

An electronic bell system was installed in 1956 but eventually broke down in 1975. Finally, by 1979, Robert Marston’s plea to students to use tuition fees toward finishing the inside of the tower coalesced into 49 bells and a clavier to perform music through the surrounding area. Another 12 were added in 2003, creating a 61-belled carillon instrument at the top of the tower.

THE SOUNDS

The tower stands out from between Turlington Plaza and the Plaza of the Americas as a Gainesville landmark. While the subject of countless photos from UF branding and overexcited Gator parents, few know the full history of the icon.

THE BACKSTORY

The space that the tower now occupies used to be filled with 13 holly trees in the shape of a “W” dedicated to the bicentennial anniversary of George Washington in 1932, said Sarah Coates, a university archivist. But it would take the university another two decades to finally fulfill William Edwards’, the original campus architect, wish to have a central tower to unify his design vision. Construction began in the summer of 1953 in commemoration of UF’s 100th

“The sound of the carillon is part of the soundscape of the historic part of campus,” said Dr. Laura Ellis, a professor and an associate school director of the UF School of Music. She is also the president of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America and the head of the Carillon Studio that plays daily and special recitals out of the tower.

A carillon is a series of at least 23 tuned bells played from a keyboard that allows expressiveness through variation in touch, Ellis said.

Throughout any given day, passersby can expect to hear a programmed clockstrike melody every 15 minutes

from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. — the same clock strike heard since 1979 composed by the Department of Music Chair, Budd Udell. At 12:35 p.m. and 4:55 p.m. though, listeners are privy to a performance from a student of Dr. Ellis’ studio.

THE MUSICIANS

Childress heard about the group from a friend five years ago, who convinced him that his piano playing background was enough — and it was. After a probing email to Ellis and a sight read of second-year piano sheet music, Childress got the spot.

The current studio is made up of students from all colleges and only one is a music major. Childress said all it takes is the ability to read notes and the dexterity and strength to play the bulky instrument. You do also have to be willing to climb up and down 11 stories and do them all over if you leave the wrong switch off at the top.

Visitors who are granted access within the tower’s bowels may be surprised to see not much of anything going on — at least for the first 10 floors. The only sight to see is the dusty “time machine” in the basement (which is some kind of useful structural appliance of some sort) and a once in a while critter such as a snake that manages to slither its way in. Childress said the climb up is still its own workout even five years later.

At the last floor lies the instrument which crudely resembles a piano keyboard or organ. Its keys, or more aptly called batons, are beefy and require a downward fist pound to play versus a finger tap. And with a stomp of the foot on the instrument’s pedals, the carillonneur can ring bells including the bourdon, sizing in at about 7,000 pounds and 5 feet tall.

Up here, Childress sets down his sheet music of classical carillon compositions. If the Florida Cicerones have ever told you that they play Cardi B on the bells, that is a falsehood, Childress added. But the students have arranged other pop songs on the instrument in the past including “Hotel California” by the Eagles and “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley.

The students aren’t the only ones who play. On university occasions, Ellis performs renditions of the UF alma mater song and “We are the Boys.” She also likes to open the school semesters with a piece titled “Florida Chimes” by Udell based on the clock-strike melody.

Carillonneurs come and go as their own college journeys take them to other places. However, they have the privilege of upholding a sonic tradition that radiates from the tower and to their peers. It requires steady hand-eye coordination to play the corresponding keys that ring the bells, but the results are beautifully echoed songs that have become tied to the sounds of Gainesville and UF and the everstanding image of Century Tower.

“It’s kind of cool to be a part of everyone’s day and then disappear into the crowd immediately,” Childress laughed. “It’s fun.”

The next time you pass by the tower, be sure to keep an ear out.

You might just hear Childress or someone else playing away.

Click,Click, Post.

Hit record. Click some buttons. Chop it up. Add some music. Upload.

Those are all the steps it took to start my full-time job as a YouTuber when I was 16 years old. To be honest, it really still is that easy.

I grew up playing video games alongside my two sisters, Brittany, 22, and Lauren, 15. Sure, we still played with Barbies and put on fashion shows for the family, but we sat behind our computer screens and video consoles more than anything else. I couldn’t wait to get home from school and play my favorite game at the time, whether it be The Sims, World of Warcraft, Minecraft, or even Grand Theft Auto (don’t worry Mom, the volume was all the way down).

During the summer, my cue to turn off the console and finally go to sleep was hearing my dad leave for work at 5:30 a.m. He couldn’t blame me, though. My obsession stemmed from constantly watching him play his “boy” games (as I would call them) such as Call of Duty and Supercross Racing. He was good at them, and I loved the competition.

I was pretty shy in middle school, and even though I had a lot of friends, I preferred to stay at home. One night, I was walking past Lauren’s room and noticed she was playing a game that I had never seen before (maybe I was snooping),

so I insisted she tell me what it was. It was Roblox, a platform that allows anyone to create playable games for other users. I was intrigued.

Roblox, released in 2006, is free to play with more than 100 million monthly active users. In fact, in 2020, Roblox told The Verge, an American technology news website, that over half of Americans under 16 were playing. These games, also called experiences, are made by other players and game developers through their own proprietary engine, downloadable for free. This means that anyone can make their own game — even you.

I started playing different games on the website with Lauren every day for the next year, and we eventually stumbled on one that closely resembled The Sims, a best-selling life simulator game, called Welcome to Bloxburg. A big aspect of The Sims is building, which was always my favorite part; in fact, I thought I was going to be an interior designer when I grew up.

I built my first house pretty quickly, amazed by how similar the gameplay was. However, a big difference was the lack of plots to build on. You only had one unless you paid real money or used Roblox currency, neither of which I had.

This is when I decided I would post my first video to YouTube in March of 2017.

Story and photos by Emily Cude

The thought process: Instead of paying for a new plot, why not screen record a tour of the house and upload it so I won’t lose it forever?

It blew up.

I ended up posting five videos that week. Soon I had 200 subscribers. That doubled a week later. In less than three months, I was at 5,000.

I was quickly surpassing other Roblox YouTubers and growing in popularity on the game. Upon researching out of curiosity, I found that I was only the fifth person to upload a video about the game, despite the 500 hours of content uploaded to YouTube every minute, according to Global Media Insight. People knew my name. I would get told every day that I inspired someone to start their own channel or explore their own building creativity. That was the best part — feeling like I was making a difference for people.

Before I knew it, I had the 100,000 subscriber plaque hanging on my wall.

It’s been five years now, and I have amassed over 572,000 subscribers and 66 million views across about 275 videos.

I really didn’t think this would become a job. When I posted my first few videos that went “viral,” I had no idea people were making money off of YouTube. In fact, I didn’t know until a random subscriber a couple months later asked if I had applied for monetization through the YouTube Partner Program.

YouTube pays creators through Google AdSense, and the amount of money earned depends on multiple factors, such as viewer engagement with advertisements on your videos and where users are located, according to Google Support.

My first paycheck was a measly $100, but it only went up from there. I soon was making four figures monthly, sometimes five.

YouTube monetization policies have changed often from when I applied. In general, your channel must follow all of their community guidelines, Terms of Service, and copyright and program policies. Because monetization comes from advertisements, the channel must be advertiser-friendly. This means videos containing violence, harmful or dangerous acts,

and adult content, for example, would not be suitable for advertisers. Lastly, your channel needs to meet the minimum requirements of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours, according to Google Support.

About a year after I started my channel, I became a Star Creator for Roblox. This group consists of widely recognized creators who get early access to events, free memberships and exclusive merchandise. One of the biggest perks, which quickly became my most profitable stream of income, is access to their UGC, or user generated content, program. Through this, I have worked with a fellow YouTuber and Roblox developer to create virtual items for players to buy and wear. Our items were sold by users millions of times, with one becoming a top seller on the entire platform. Crazy.

My parents divorced in 2015, around the same time as I started my channel, leaving my mom to take care of three girls. My older sister was going to college, divorce costs were high, and we were renting a different house every year. Once I became monetized, I quickly went from nervously asking my mom for $20 to see a movie with friends to not even thinking twice about pulling it from my own pocket.

Soon, I paid off my sister Brittany’s car so my mom would have one less factor affecting her credit score. About a year ago, I bought my own dream car: a sleek, black Range Rover. This August, I lent my mom $100,000 so she could close on her new house — the first one she hasn’t rented in six years.

It’s not normal that a mother could rely on her daughter to be self-sufficient and have her as a cushion to fall back on, starting at only 16 years old. Where would we be now if I didn’t post that first video? Would I have gotten to travel to Europe with my graduating roommate last summer? Would I have been able to go to that music festival last year? Would I have been able to go on all those spontaneous trips to New York City, Atlanta and Miami? No, it’s all thanks to that spontaneous decision to post my first video.

Having this job has allowed me to do more things in my life than I could have ever imagined. I haven’t had to hold back on experiences due to not being able to afford them, and I’ve met so many amazing people along the way.

I wouldn’t take back learning those five simple steps for the world.

Emily's gaming set up featuring her 100,000 subscriber plaque from Youtube and 100,000 follower trophy sent by Roblox.

Through the Lens

Story by Summerleigh Stones and photos by Kayla Kpanquoi

According to University of Florida junior Kayla Kpanquoi, the lack of Black presence and misrepresentation in the media needs a positive change.

Kpanquoi challenges the narrative and empowers the local African American community through her photography.

“There has been a lot of backlash lately with big magazines shooting Black models such as Vogue and Sports Illustrated. The photographers do not know how to shoot Black people properly. The lighting and editing are often overly manipulated,” Kpanquoi said.

According to the article, “Is British Vogue's latest cover the best way to celebrate Black beauty?”, written by Stephanie Busari for CNN, British Vogue faced scrutiny for darkening models' skin tones in its February issue. The article explains how Busari was perplexed by the portrayal of the “allstar African models.” Busari was confused about choice of clothing, hairstyles and lighting; detailing how their unique beauty was not able to shine through.

Focused on changing the narrative, Kpanquoi started her photography brand, “thekparchives” in January of 2022. Her company uses Instagram as an outlet to post unique and stylized photography. She now also has her own website

where she does bookings for photography and videography at affordable rates. Understanding her audience, Kpanquoi makes an effort to make her services affordable and accessible to the local community.

Inspired by old film photography, Kpanquoi likes grainy pictures. “Crisp and high-definition pictures are not really my style,” Kpanquoi said.

Kpanquoi is inspired by film photography from the '70s and '90s. “Color schemes, outfits, moods and feels from these eras heavily influence my photography and my personality. You look back at these pictures of Black people during that time, and it’s full of happiness, fun, enjoyment and excitement. That’s what I like taking pictures of and it’s what makes me happy,” Kpanquoi said.

“I like to showcase a specific demographic, especially Black people,” said Kpanquoi. “Having a mother from Mali and a dad from Liberia heavily influences my love of my culture. I speak three languages: English, French and Spanish.”

A specific memory that sticks with Kpanquoi is after a family photoshoot went wrong. The bad outcome and overall experience of the photos made Kpanquoi want to pursue photography. “I take photos of others that I would want to be taken of me,” Kpanquoi said.

When first coming to UF, Kpanquoi felt as though she lacked a sense of community. “I hated it when I first got here,” said Kpanquoi. “The lack of diversity demotivated me. I felt very alone.”

Struggling to connect with UF at the time, Kpanquoi also decided that her major, computer science, was not for her. “I switched to anthropology because it goes hand in hand with what I would like to become in the future, a user interface designer. Anthropology teaches the kind of thinking that is required for a designer,” Kpanquoi said.

Drawn to the graphic design and artsy creative element of coding, Kpanquoi said being in this new positive environment helped push her to begin a career in photography.

“After starting my photography business this year, I feel like I finally found my people — other creatives. I feel like photography has opened up a gate for me to be surrounded by people who have the same interests as me,” said Kpanquoi.

Photography has also allowed Kpanquoi to travel and work with a lot of Divine 9 organizations, historically Black fraternities and sororities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. She has done shoots and videography at UF, Florida State University and Florida A&M University for students and local events.

success. Her UF Summer Class Series of 2022, showcases primarily Black students and people of color at UF.

According to College Factual, out of 31,476 undergraduates at UF, this project spotlights four out of 1,787 African American students, and two out of 7,308 Hispanic students. In comparison, there are 16,247 white undergraduate students and one is showcased within the Summer Class series.

UF senior and history major, Monica Austell, who identifies as Black and Mexican said, “She never really noticed the lack of diversity at UF.” Growing up in Haines City, Florida, Austell said she is used to being around mainly white people. “I didn’t know anything about the demographics of the school when I applied, but I slowly started to realize that the majority of the people in my classes were white. When we talk about issues, it’s interesting to see how people that don’t have a connection with the topic try to explain a side,” Austell said.

Austell explains the complexity of feeling connected and disconnected to both sides of her identity. “There are times when I couldn’t figure out who I identified with. Sometimes I feel more or less like the other.”

Recalling the events of the British Vogue cover backlash, “The only reason I knew that what Vogue did was wrong was because people started calling them out. I did not realize that lighting could change something so drastically,” Austell said. Social media has changed not only the way that people receive the media, but how they react to it as well.

“Looking at KP’s pictures, you can tell that she understands how a Black person is supposed to be photographed and look like,” Austell said.

Although for now photography is her hobby, Kpanquoi would, “love it if it took me somewhere someday. I wouldn’t say no to being able to do this full time. A big goal of mine is to be a sole business owner. I am an entrepreneur and work hard to put everything I have into my photography.”

“My biggest goal is to change the way that the Black community is represented in the media. I want to empower the community, and make them feel proud, confident and beautiful. My brand, and my image, are about being by the people and for the people,” Kpanquoi said.

Highlighting the African American community, Kpanquoi works on projects that showcase Black pride, excellence and

A part of Kpanquoi’s work is aiming to bring up difficult conversations about how Black people should be photographed. Her pictures challenge mainstream media and question the intention of media outlets.

For Kpanquoi, photography is not only a passion, but a mission to create a strong community lacking positive and impactful representation.

“Photographing this community is so much more than just a photograph. It is vital to encourage people to remember where they came from and to embrace who they are,” Kpanquoi said.

"My biggest goal is to change the way that the Black community is represented in the media."

-Kayla Kpanquoi

Health & Wellness

Why you should seriously wear sunscreen

Story by Alyssa Barnes and photos by Summerleigh Stones

enny Bhatt, 20, never thought of sunscreen as a necessity in her daily life. Until she went to a dermatologist and they pointed out she had sunspots.

“I don’t really use sunscreen but when I do it’s mainly just on my face,” Bhatt said. “Even though I have melanin in my skin, I could so easily get skin cancer.”

The leading identifiable cause of skin cancers in the United States, and all countries across the world, is sun exposure, according to Dr. Tara Ezzell, at Dermatology Associates.

Gainesville, Florida, is an especially hot and sunny place to live, with summer months averaging a high of 90 F. This means that sunscreen is a necessity to protect against sunburns and skin cancers.

“Sun exposure directly to our skin changes how our skin works, it damages the DNA and it leads to skin cancers, which are one of the growing causes of death even among young people, because melanoma is a very serious type of skin cancer,” Ezzell said.

Only 11% of people wear sunscreen daily according to the 2020 RealSelf Sun Safety Report. Because of this low use of sunscreen in the population, it’s estimated around 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day in the U.S.

Although sunscreen is a crucial step in sun protection, there are other ways to protect from the sun’s harmful rays. “It's very important not just to wear sunscreen, but do all types of sun protection, like sun avoidance, choosing the times a day that we spend outdoors, also wearing hats and sun protective clothing,” Ezzell said.

One of the most common myths of sunscreen is that people of color do not need to wear sunscreen. “Certainly, people who burn easier in the sun are more at risk for damage because they have less active pigment in their skin protecting their cells from sunshine. But all people of all colors and all races are at risk for skin cancers,” Ezzell said.

There are plenty of misconceptions out there about sunscreen and sun protection, but the bottom line is that everyone needs to wear sunscreen when spending any amount of time outside, even driving in cars, checking mail or going to the grocery store.

Sunscreen even needs to be applied to your neck. Your neck is just as sensitive to the sun and an increase in sun exposure with no sun protection can result in loose skin, wrinkles, sunspots, and discoloration.

So, you’re probably now wondering what the best sunscreen to use is?

And the answer is the one that works best for you and that you’ll wear every day. There are a lot of different sunscreens to choose from and the two different types of sunscreens are chemical and mineral. But there are also other considerations when choosing a sunscreen. Dr. Ezzell prefers a physical block sunscreen, or mineral, because she thinks they are better for the environment and overall better for people. “The less chemical exposure we have, the better,” Ezzell said.

"Even though I have melanin in my skin, I could so easily get skin cancer."

-Jenny Bhatt

Give Me The ElectroLYTE

Story and photos by Emily Cude

As you take your mid-day run through the scenic trail of Depot Park in the blistering hot Florida sun, you will probably find yourself with sweat beading down your forehead. Every drop contains a very important substance — electrolytes.

WHAT ARE ELECTROLYTES?

Electrolytes regulate chemical reactions and balance the fluids in your body. As our bodies are mostly made of water, nearly every cell contains electrolytes as either a positive or negative charge. You gain them through food and drinks and lose them through sweating and urinating.

Your body will be sure to tell you if your electrolyte balance is off. For example, the opposite charges conduct electricity which allow muscles to contract. If you have too much sodium, the most abundant electrolyte ion in your body, it can lead to loss of muscle control and behavioral changes. Too little can mean weakened reflexes, nausea or seizures, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

“When they say Gatorade and other sports drinks are a good source of electrolytes it’s usually because they have a good amount of sodium…" said Ellie Kenyon, an occupational therapy graduate student at the University of Florida. "Sometimes if you’re dehydrated you might drink one and it tastes really salty — that’s why,”

Sodium works in sync with potassium, which is critical to heart function, to keep the fluids in your body balanced and essentially keep your cells from swelling and exploding or shriveling up completely, Kenyon said.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND THEM?

Sports drinks such as Gatorade, invented at UF in 1965, replenish electrolytes and nutrients lost during exercise, and may help your performance during prolonged vigorous activities like participating in a football game.

Gator football players have been surrounded by Gatorade after its invention. However, they’re provided with many more resources to make sure their performance is the best it can be. This includes personalized smoothies containing vitamins and electrolytes for energy, quenching thirst, weight maintenance and more.

“Usually they’re sitting on training tables or at a nutrition bar and you just grab them as you leave or head to the locker room,” said Zane Cole, UF wide receiver.

You may have picked up a Liquid IV from the store after a long night of dancing and drinking cheap vodka sprites in Midtown. They’re easy — you take a packet of your favorite flavor of the hydration powder mix, such as lemon lime or concord grape, and swirl it around in a cup of water. These mixes are great after a workout or when ill; just make sure none of these electrolyte boosters are replacing your daily water intake.

IT MAY TASTE GOOD, BUT…

It’s important to recognize if you’re having too much. If you consume a supplement after a low-engagement exercise, such as a 20-minute walk, those extra electrolytes may not be necessary.

Some individuals might enjoy electrolyte beverages such as Gatorade or Powerade on an everyday basis due to the tasty flavors. Because of the high amounts of sodium and sugar, drinking too much, even while staying active, may lead to poor dental health, weight gain or obesity.

Sometimes it’s better to stick to water.

Always check with your doctor before adding extra electrolytes to your diet.

Sports

Baseball is more than just a sport— it teaches one life lessons such as discipline, how to work hard and how to show respect. These are the skills Kevin Maris has aimed to teach the children he’s coached over the last 30 years.

Maris is the second son of Roger Maris, a New York Yankees icon. Most well-known for challenging Babe Ruth’s record of holding 60 home runs in a single season, Roger made history in 1961 by breaking that record, when scoring 61 home runs.

When you have a baseball great as your father, one learns more than a thing or two about the sport.

The Son of a Yankees Legend: How Kevin Maris Made His Own Legacy in the Community

However, it’s the values that run through the Maris family that have left a lasting impact on the community.

IT’S IN THE BLOOD

Maris has called Gainesville home since he was 10 years old. His family moved down to Florida from Kansas City, Missouri, after his dad retired and purchased a beer distributorship in Gainesville and Ocala.

“I was pretty much born in baseball,” Maris said. When Roger was with the Yankees, Maris and his five siblings were too young to go to New York. But, when his dad was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, Maris was a bit older.

Story and photos by Lexi Carson

St. Louis was only a few hours away from their hometown of Kansas City, so he remembers spending his childhood summers going to the ballpark every day to see his dad play.

The six Maris children really got to see Roger’s career during his last two years. He played in the World Series for the Cardinals, which the whole family attended.

“Dad took pride in all aspects of the game from running, throwing, catching everything. He told me to take pride in everything I do,” Maris said. “If you don't take pride in doing what you do, and do it first class, then don't do it. So, I've kind of stuck to that motto my whole life and if I can't do it right, I'm not gonna do it at all.”

Maris was taught how to play ball by his father as he grew up around the ballpark. But he didn’t play organized ball until he was 10 and started out as a right infielder.

Maris played baseball at Oak Hall School. When he first attended, there wasn’t a baseball team or field, until Maris gathered some friends together who were athletes, his dad, and, along with other parents, they designed a field.

“What you see is the product he put out,” Maris said about his dad, Roger. “He laid sod with his hands just like everybody else.”

The field is named after Roger, as it was donated by him and his connections from the Yankees.

WANTING TO GIVE BACK

After spending one year playing college ball for Santa Fe College and another in the minor leagues for the St. Louis Cardinals, Maris took some time off and then returned to baseball — but, this time, to coach.

Maris has been coaching, primarily kids, since 1990. He also founded the Florida Hardballers with John Colacci in 2006. A baseball program that focuses on developing younger players across North Central Florida.

Maris looks at baseball as a sport of lessons. “It's a game of failure. So, you’re gonna have to understand failure as an athlete, as a person on and off the field and how to handle it,” Maris said. “You don't ever accept failure, but you gotta understand how to handle it and how to manage through adversity and overcome adversity.”

These are the kind of values he instills in the kids he coaches.

Bobby Hill, the baseball assistant coach at Oak Hall, has worked with Maris for the past 20 years. The two

met, ironically, at an American Legion Baseball game where Hill was watching his son play, and Maris was watching his nephew. It was after Hill’s son graduated high school and got drafted to the New York Mets that he joined Maris to coach at Oak Hall.

Hill says his and Maris’ coaching is “commanding but not demanding.”

“I think that's why he and I mesh extremely well together because he's commanding, I'm commanding, and all we want is the players to perform at their best, not our best, but at their best,” Hill said. “That's why our program has been so successful.”

During the 2021-2022 school year, Oak Hall was awarded the Class 2A title for having the best overall athletics program.

Hill says that not only does Maris work with his players to become outstanding baseball players, he’s also working with them to be successful when they leave baseball.

“He makes them accountable for themselves and for each other,” Hill said. “They're not just coming to practice and wearing anything. They're not turning their caps backwards, and that's how you approach life.”

Beyond Maris’ coaching leadership, Hill says why they’ve continued to be in each other's lives both professionally and personally is because of Maris’ character.

“He's just an outstanding person,” Hill said. “When he’s come around some of my friends, he’ll treat them like he treats me. It’s not ‘I’m Kevin Maris, I'm Roger Maris’ son, I don’t have time for you,’ it’s never that.”

"If you don't take pride in doing what you do, and do it first class, then don't do it."

-Kevin Maris

currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 16th round of the 2012 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut on Aug. 3, 2015.

Ellington’s friendship with Maris has lasted for 18 years. They met when Ellington was 13 and joined the Florida Hardballers the first year of its program. He then played ball for one year at Oak Hall in 2007 where he was coached under Maris and their relationship continued during his time in the major leagues where Ellington says the two would speak weekly on the phone.

One of the things Ellington is grateful for is the “old school respect for the game” he learned from Maris at a young age by doing things the right way, showing up on time and dressing the right way. These skills, Ellington says, helped him when he entered his professional career.

“I learned very quickly that I was steps and bounds ahead of the other kids as far as my work ethic went and, as far as my willingness to be coached, as far as my willingness to listen and I credit that a lot to the people that helped me,” Ellington said. “Kevin was definitely one of those primary people.”

In 2018, Ellington suffered an injury and returned home to Gainesville during the offseason to get better and return to the major leagues in 2019.

attention to my career than anybody else.” A trait Ellington has noticed in Maris’ coaching style is how he treats every player the same regardless of their talent level.

“He puts in the same amount of time and care to the person that he thinks may pitch in the major leagues or play in the major leagues. And that speaks volumes to him, buying into each and every player that he works with,” Ellington said. “As long as somebody is willing to put in the effort, he's definitely willing to stand there with you and try to see how good you can get.”

Ellington believes it’s how Maris embodies his core fundamentals that his players are able to succeed in the sport — the right way.

“If you were to follow the program that he's trying to put forward to you, you're definitely setting yourself up for success,” Ellington said.

-Kevin Maris

Ellington says he wouldn’t have had anyone else to thank other than himself if it wasn’t for Maris’ support.

"Kevin threw with me every single day for months, and you're talking about a man in his 50s and at one point in my career, I don't think I got through fast balls below 98 miles an hour,” Ellington said. “There's probably a handful of people in my baseball career that cared about it as much as I did. Obviously, my parents and my loved ones. But outside of family, I would definitely have to say that Kevin probably paid closer

"I got some things to offer, hand down and pass it down to the younger generation."

Photo provided by Kevin Maris

According to Maris, this tribute to Oak Hall baseball players recognizes the accomplishments of the best who have come through Oak Hall.

For the Love of the Game

Story and photos by Summerleigh Stones

Every four years, The FIFA World Cup draws in billions of viewers from around the globe and is most likely the most popular sporting event in the world, according to Britannica. The competition brings people together from all different backgrounds and holds significance to cultures worldwide. Beginning on Nov. 20, 2022, the opening game, Qatar vs. Ecuador, is set to take place in Qatar.

The first FIFA World Cup occurred in 1930 and was won by Uruguay. Ever since then, the World Cup has been held every four years, with the exception of a 12-year gap between 1938 and 1950 during World War II. Unofficial tournaments occurred during this time, but FIFA did not recognize any of them. Due to the hostile nature of the world, players being drafted into the war and arguments over where the game would even occur during this time, no official game ever took place, according to the website Football History.

The World Cup has no rules based on age or player status, according to the article, “FIFA Eligibility Rule Change Offers World Cup Hopes For ‘One-Cap Wonders'” in Forbes Magazine by Steve Price. As of 2020, players are now also eligible to play for another national team regardless of, “a single appearance when they were younger,” for a different national team.

Players can now switch national teams provided they were eligible to represent a second country at the time they first played for their first country, as long as they were under 21, according to Price.

The competition also serves as a contest amongst the world's greatest players, some of them being Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior. Fans who love soccer get to watch all of their favorite world-renowned players competing for one trophy.

“I am really excited about this year’s World Cup because it is Messi’s last chance to win with Argentina. My mom is from Argentina, and I lived there from 5 years old until I was 9,” said University of Florida sophomore Lucas Rentz.

UF International student Evy Blok is originally from the Netherlands and grew up watching the World Cup. “Even though I am away from home, this makes me feel connected to my family. I grew up watching the game with my family. Every four years, the World Cup brings everyone in my country together for one thing,” Blok said.

The Netherlands has appeared in the World Cup finals three times and has never won a tournament, according to Blok.

“It will be really interesting to see what happens this year. Watching the games from America will be a new experience, and you never know what could happen,” Blok said.

Spectators worldwide join together to celebrate their country’s pride and heritage. “The buzz, joy and excitement that surround the game is unlike anything you can explain. The amount of pride you feel for your country when they win a game is indescribable,” said Felipe Caceres, a UF senior from Colombia.

"It’s like watching a part of history. Watching everyone come together for one thing."

-Jinelle Vazquez

Sometimes countries do not qualify. Separated into six FIFA continent zones, each confederation plays selected teams to advance to the finals.

“Even though Colombia didn’t make it this year, I will be supporting the USA and my friends' teams. We are all from South America, so there is a sense of pride when you see people from your side of the world win,” Caceres said.

Countries can also be banned by FIFA from participating. According to the website, Sport Star, Russia was on the path of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. After it invaded Ukraine, the country was no longer eligible.

Hosting the World Cup brings lots of publicity and honor to the country. Qatar will be the first Arab country to ever host the competition, and it is already sparking major controversy.

To a host country, the World Cup brings massive economic income, but it can also be the start of economic turmoil, according to Caceres. “Having the World Cup in Qatar has already started controversy. Requirements for stadiums are set to be really strict, and this is concerning to some. People travel from all over the world to watch the game. To international travelers, the rules of modesty might be a shock,” Caceres said.

Aligning with traditional Muslim values, fans visiting Qatar should expect to follow rules of modesty, according to the article, “FIFA World Cup 2022: Rules football fans should know before visiting Qatar” by Jennifer Bell for Alarabiya News. Fans are expected to not wear shorts and to wear clothing that covers the shoulders.

“I know that there is controversy surrounding the fact that the World Cup is in Qatar. It is also a big deal because it is the first time that a country will host the game during the winter. Qatar’s location within the northern hemisphere makes this World Cup exceptionally unique,” Rentz said.

Born and raised in England, Ash Exon is from Newport Isle of Wight. Exon moved to Florida as a child and has been in the state ever since. Still keeping connected to his British heritage, Exon has three massive tattoos dedicated to his country and to soccer. He can even be spotted sporting the famous three lions logo on his chest. “The World Cup is our greatest pride in England. The world stops in England when the game starts. Businesses will shut down depending on how far the lads get. It’s that serious,” Exon said.

“Everyone from all over each town will be in the pubs. The energy when we score a goal or beat a team is something you have to be a part of the experience. Strangers become your best friends over beers and goals. It’s incredible.” Exon said.

Looking forward to 2026, the next FIFA World Cup is to be set in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

Jinelle Vazquez grew up watching the World Cup. “I grew up watching the game with my family. The next World Cup has some matches taking place in Miami. I want to go and watch a match. To see it for myself instead of watching it through a screen like I have my entire life. It’s like watching a part of history. Watching everyone come together for one thing; it’s a beautiful thing,” Vazquez said.

"Strangers become your best friends over beers and goals. It’s incredible.”

-Ash Exon

Business & Politics

Graphic by Summerleigh Stones

NFT Gaming: A Hidden Gem in the Crypto World

Story

by Lexi Carson

The digital economy is a huge, and rapidly expanding sphere. Cryptocurrency has been all the rage over the past few years in the United States as it consists of a variety of digital assets that allows people to buy, sell or trade them safely.

WHAT IS CRYPTOCURRENCY AND NFTs?

Cryptocurrency is a digital currency where transactions are verified and maintained by a decentralized system. Not only that, but cryptocurrency exists in the blockchain world, which is the system that records transactions made in bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. The decentralized technology even lets consumers vote from their phone without fear there will be fraud involved. Basically, it’s a virtual world.

When cryptocurrencies enter the conversation, so does bitcoin, which was the first form of cryptocurrency that emerged and remains the most popular to this day, according to Forbes. However, there's a sector of the digital world that offers more than just financial profit.

And that sector is NFT gaming. This is a blockchain game where players can buy, sell or trade in-game items with other players using cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens. Think of it like this — one can get paid to play video games, what could be better?

HOW PLAYING VIDEOGAMES IS ACTUALLY PRODUCTIVE

Getting paid to play videogames has certainly been the case for Logan Lemery, a University of Florida alum and former NFT editor for ONE37pm, an entrepreneurship online news outlet. In 2017, the summer after Lemery graduated from college, he was stuck in an internship that he wasn’t passionate about. Already knowledgeable on the subject, Lemery still used his free time there to surf the internet and dive deep into the world of cryptocurrency.

“I just had a lot of free time when I was working in between because there's nothing going on in a small town and I just was able to fall down the rabbit hole that is crypto and I was able to learn while I was interning,” Lemery said.

Lemery shifted to NFT gaming when he attended the annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco in 2019.

In these games, users are able to prove how much of an asset you have, you’re able to rent it out to other players or sell it outright. The technology in these games allows you to prove you own the asset, instead of fraud occurring, which can result in people receiving money from playing NFT games.

and photos

Graphic by Summerleigh Stones

Politics are Hot While the People are Cold – Why Can’t We Talk to Each Other?

Story and photos by Brooke Hughes

The holidays used to be the only time you had to avoid the dreadful conversation of politics with friends and family members while sitting around the dinner table. But now, no matter what time of year or where you are, the conversation of politics is completely off limits for most people, as it is too taboo to talk about.

According to the Pew Research Center, this is due to the high tensions between Democrats and Republicans and the worsening of political polarization — the divergence of political attitudes from the center and towards ideological extremes.

So, what has this hot political climate done to freedom of speech? This political polarization has made individuals from both parties scared to speak up for what they believe in, in fear that they will face some type of backlash or become another victim of cancel culture. “Freedom of speech separates the United States from all other nations,” Raemi Eagle-Glenn said, an attorney who Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed as an Alachua County commissioner on June 9.

According to the Pew Research Center, the United States has always had some level of polarization between parties since the 1970s. Over the course of the 2000s it has increasingly gotten worse with instances of police brutality and the attack on the Capitol in 2021 which both have sparked debate between the two parties. And ever since Donald Trump took office in 2016, the divide is at a new extreme. One reason being that opinions about him were so split — you were

either for him or against him and there seemed to be no in between. And now it seems to be that way under the Biden administration.

In today’s world, it is nearly impossible to have a civil conversation when it comes to politics. Political conversation with others can feel uneasy and almost like walking on eggshells. Individuals on one side are quick to label the other as hateful and incompetent, without getting to know the person outside of their political standing.

Public Relations Director for the University of Florida College Democrats, Lily Kalandjian said, “Bipartisanship over the last couple of years has significantly diminished because of intolerance on both sides because people don’t want to hear what you have to say, it’s ‘you’re wrong - I’m right’.”

Not only is this the reality for all Americans, but even celebrities too. On Oct. 11, rapper and artist, Kanye West, did an exclusive interview with prime-time Fox News host, Tucker Carlson. During the interview, West wore an ultrasound image as a necklace to represent his stance on abortion – which West believes in the right to life. West has recently faced backlash for his controversial “White Lives Matter” t-shirts – a reference to the activist movement that highlights racial inequality, Black Lives Matter - that he debuted at Paris fashion week and for other conservative viewpoints. Because of his political standing, many people label West as “crazy”, “arrogant”, “attention seeking,” and the list goes on.

Eagle-Glenn, 42, says she knew once she came out as a registered Republican there was no turning back. It was a life choice.

Eagle-Glenn says that some of her neighbors won’t speak to her because of who she voted for in the 2020 election. However, being an advocate for free speech has become her community service. “I really believe in what I’m fighting for,” Eagle-Glenn said.

“I’ve always been a rebel, I’ve always been outspoken, I know that, but in 2016 is when I really started learning about politics and identifying myself as conservative,” Eagle-Glenn said. “Learning how to debate and learning how to defend myself, really there was a lot of anxiety associated with that.”

With Republican Senator Ben Sasse set to be the new president, many left-wing students are outraged at this decision, as Sasse has a history of being against the LGBTQ+ community. Sasse opposed the landmark decision in the Supreme Court case, Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage in 2015. Many students, faculty and residents see him as unfit for the position. This has caused even higher tensions on campus between students of opposing viewpoints.

Students took to protesting where Sasse was speaking at an open student forum on Oct. 10. In an official statement released by the UFCD, the official voice of the Democratic party at the University of Florida, they say in part, “...This selection does not reflect the diversity of our Gainesville and University of Florida community and blatantly harms the communities UF claims to value...”

"There's more activist movements out there and clashing viewpoints,” Kalandjian said.

Political polarization on campus has become so strong that Kalandjian says UFCD has come to the executive decision not to hold debates with other organizations on campus. “It’s gotten to the point where debate and discussion is not productive anymore. When we do have debates, it becomes a spectacle for people,” Kalandjian said.

So, what can we, as Americans do to lower the rising tensions that surround politics? How can we start to have productive and civil conversations about what’s going on in our country instead of feeling as though we’re constantly walking on eggshells around those closest to us?

There are just some issues that you may have to “agree to disagree” on.

The answer is far from simple, but both Eagle-Glenn and Kalandjian agree that it’s important to stand proudly for what you believe in, as long as you’re doing it kindly.

“Do what you will as long as you don’t hurt another person. That is what I believe,” Eagle-Glenn said.

Kalandjian says it’s important to try and understand the way people think the way that they do. “Think about people’s backgrounds, where they come from, their identities, their communities that they are a part of,” Kalandjian said.

However, Kalandjian says there are just some issues that you may have to “agree to disagree” on.

Something that Eagle-Glenn thinks would help is that people and the media need to start changing labels. Society has begun to label those who are either a Republican or Democrat under the umbrella of extremist views, even though you may not know someone’s beliefs on individual policies.

There’s no doubt that politics plays a huge role in our everyday lives as Americans - certain beliefs we hold help to enact the policies that shape our country. However, it’s now gotten to a point where those beliefs have affected relationships between family and friends who belong to opposing parties. So, will we ever get to a point where the political unrest between not only our citizens, but between our government officials comes to an end?

in

“I see things continuing to escalate and polarize,” EagleGlenn said.

Although there is not much you can do when it comes to the political climate in Washington, there are things you can do as a family member, friend, student and neighbor – put yourselves in the other person’s shoes for just a moment.

“It can give more perspective,” Kalandjian said.

So, whether you consider yourself a Democratic, a Republican or somewhere in between the two, next time you go to sit down at a family dinner, hangout with your friends or even during class, remember to think before you speak and use more empathy. At the end of the day, we are all much more than politics.

Put yourselves

the other person's shoes for just a moment.

Opinion

The Most Lucrative Production Company in the Entertainment Industry BLUMHOUSE Productions

By Lexi Carson

Blumhouse Productions — movies that don’t feel like other movies. They are original, entertaining, scary and often include a social issue. That is the formula to producing a movie under Blumhouse — what I think is the most lucrative production company today.

Blumhouse is a film and television production company based in Los Angeles, California, that was founded in 2000 by CEO Jason Blum. The production company is primarily known by audiences for producing not all, but mainly horror films including “Insidious,” “Paranormal Activity,” “Get Out,” “Halloween,” “The Invisible Man” and more.

With all their successes, one would think that Blumhouse is just like any other production company — they’re just focused on producing horror! Well, that’s not the only thing that’s made this company friends with the box office since 2007, when “Paranormal Activity” premiered.

WHAT MAKES BLUMHOUSE SPECIAL?

Blumhouse is different from every other production company in L.A. because of their film distribution process. Blumhouse is known for producing films under a budget that’s typically considered small in the film industry. Then, the film banks in profit by making millions, when their movies are released in theaters.

The average budget for a film from major production companies can range anywhere from $100 million to $250 million. While smaller production companies have a budget of around $30 million to get their movie made, according to Complex, a digital news source.

However, this traditional formula is vastly different under Blum. “Paranormal Activity” the first film produced under Blumhouse and the first film in the supernatural franchise was made for $15,000. Shocking, right? Well, the film raked in $200 million in profit. Not a bad return on investment.

This has not been the only case. The first movie in the “Purge” franchise was shot for $2.7 million and grossed over $300 million in the United States.

Blum also has a credible reputation of getting A-list stars to sign on for his small budget movies. Blum told CNBC he added Jennifer Lopez to the Blumhouse family for the movie “The Boy Next Door” and gave her a paycheck up front of $11,000 in exchange for a larger stake in profits.

THE REAL DARK SIDE OF THE RAINBOW

On October 14, 2020, my 19-year-old cousin Joy was found in bed by her boyfriend, limbs stiff and no breaths escaping her lips. Her body was purple. She had died from fentanyl poisoning.

I write this on the same day two years later, and it still feels like I hear my phone ringing from that fateful call.

I watched her funeral through a live stream, my eyes glued to my computer screen from the comfort of my memory foam mattress topper while my aunt and uncle sat in a wooden pew, staring at my cousin laying in a blanketed coffin. The rest of my family able to make it in short notice were seated behind them, and those who weren’t were in my same position.

Joy had a boyfriend, many friends, career aspirations and a loving family. She enjoyed taking over the personalities of different characters in theater and dragging colored pencils across a page to illustrate her friends' faces and create abstract figures. She was a writer, an activist and tattoo enthusiast. She was a normal teenager who fell into addiction.

“No one is immune to this epidemic,” my aunt, Jennifer Yarrington, said. And that is the truth.

The second you make the decision to consume a drug, you risk it being contaminated with fentanyl. Its liquid form can be unknowingly put in your eye drops and nasal sprays. Think about eating candy? Even that could have fentanyl in it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

You may not think you have to worry about the opioid crisis and turn a blind eye to all this information until it’s too late – but it can happen to you, too.

“We only hope that her death serves as a warning, that if you use illicit drugs, you are always taking a chance with your life,” my aunt said in a Facebook post honoring Joy, a scroll down from her header photo showing her daughter’s casket with the caption: “Family Photo! #fentanylkills.”

Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid primarily smuggled into the U.S. by criminal drug cartels in Mexico and China. Amounts equaling 10-15 grains of table salt is enough to kill you. Doctors provide pharmaceutical fentanyl to treat severe pain, but most cases of overdose are linked to the illegal drug market, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

It’s undetectable by sight, taste, smell or touch.

Story and photos by Emily Cude

The CDC says illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) in powder form looks like other drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. It is commonly added to these drugs, unsuspecting to many buyers, to make them “cheaper, more powerful and more addictive.”

On top of that, it makes them incredibly more dangerous.

to stimuli such as the sternal rub, a painful stimuli where one firmly and vigorously rubs a closed fist on a person’s sternum. An overdose victim may not respond to this.

Signs of an overdose include slow or shallow breathing, cold and/or clammy skin, choking or gurgling sounds, losing consciousness, limp body or discolored skin, according to the CDC and ISaveFL.

Fentanyl overdose can be reversed by a FDA-approved medication called naloxone, mostly known by the brand name

While it may be desired for its feelings of euphoria and short-term high, it can lead to dizziness, nausea and vomiting, respiratory depression and death. Over 150 people in the U.S. die every day from opioid overdose according to the CDC, and fentanyl is the most common.

One of the more recent scares this year targeting young Americans flooded the news and other media such as Twitter and TikTok. The DEA seized brightly-colored pills containing fentanyl and resembling candy or sidewalk chalk in 26 states, dubbed “Rainbow Fentanyl.” In some instances, it was real candy – a clear attraction by illegal cartels to young drug users. If it’s colorful and looks tasty, it must be fine, right?

This warning caused a ripple of terror in parents in Florida and other states across the nation. Not only is fentanyl showing up in forms of candy, it's taking over the forms of pills such as Xanax or Adderall. This shows how easy it is for fentanyl to sneak past our senses – and that there’s no such thing as a “safe” street drug anymore.

It’s important to recognize the difference between a person being high off of fentanyl or another drug versus an overdose. A person who is high may have small, pinpoint pupils and slurred speech. However, they are still breathing and respond

Narcan, which is available in all 50 states with no prescription necessary in most states.

If you encounter someone who is showing symptoms of opioid overdose, but aren’t sure, you can still administer Narcan on them; it won’t have any negative effects, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

In fact, everyone can — and should — be carrying this drug with them. It’s available at hotels, grocery stores, gas stations through GRACE Marketplace and UF HealthStreet in Alachua county.

In August, two Gainesville Police Department officers were hospitalized and treated with Narcan after an arrest on West University Avenue where they started to show symptoms of opioid exposure. The suspect, who was brought to the Alachua County Jail, was discovered to be in possession of suspected opioids.

Then, in September, a frightening text message circulated around Gainesville about a young woman being injected with a needle containing fentanyl outside of Fat Daddy’s, a bar in Midtown.

"No one is immune to this epidemic."

*Note: Not real fentanyl.

fentanyl.

The text, sent in a group chat seemingly between friends, claimed that someone had stuck a needle containing fentanyl and methamphetamine in the arm of one of their coworkers by the name of “Maddy” as she was walking out of a bar.

“She has like a huge bruise,” the text read.

She reportedly passed out and went to the doctor the next day where they took blood work and claimed “they’ve never seen someone survive that much fentanyl in their system.”

This incident was never proven, but it was a cause for alarm for many students and workers around campus. For weeks after this text came out, bars were on high alert.

“We started being more careful about watching out for people who look suspicious and not letting people with fake IDs inside,” said Alyssa Infante, employee of Grog House, a staple Midtown bar.

Matthew Castro, a bouncer for Downtown Fats and Confessions Entertainment, which holds events at JJ’s Tavern and The Range, said his manager never said anything to them as the story was never confirmed, but he discussed the matter with the people that he worked with. While they have always been pretty good with IDs, he said, they have been more focused on asking for student identification to ensure safety.

Castro said they are more cautious with the people they let in and have more bouncers per shift to keep eyes on suspicious activity with the bars.

“It’s a legitimate fear,” Castro said. “If people want to experiment, they could get the wrong batch. It’s a big deal.”

After all of this happened and the texts were never proven by Gainesville or UF police departments, UF Health or city officials, people moved on. While this incident may have not been real, it’s entirely possible.

The UF Health Florida Recovery Center is a great source for those who may be suffering from drug or alcohol addiction here in Gainesville. They provide a variety of treatments to help you or someone you know escape the dangers of drugs, including opioids. Even if you may not need it, knowing the actions to take to help friends and family could save a life.

Unfortunately, one of the resources to help prevent an overdose is illegal in Florida. While Narcan can help an overdose, fentanyl test strips can keep a person from even getting to that point. These strips are a quick, inexpensive tool to check drugs commonly laced with fentanyl, usually taking only five minutes. While they can’t tell how much might be in a drug, they can let a user know if it might contain fentanyl –but Florida considers them drug paraphernalia. This makes it a crime to own one.

A quick search on Amazon shows hundreds of results for these test strips, but red text reading “This item cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location” blocks you from adding the pieces of lifesaving paper to your cart.

The list of states decriminalizing these testing strips is increasing, and hopefully Florida isn’t far behind.

While this option may not be available to the people in our state, there are other ways to stay safe. Recognizing the dangers of any drug use and how to help in case of an overdose may save you or your loved one’s life.

Do it for Joy. Do it for the more than 80,000 people who died last year. Do it for yourself.

If you or someone you know is battling addiction, please reach out to the free, 24/7 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) national helpline at 1-800662-HELP (4357).

Thank you to our cover model, Lexi Vander, photographer, Summerleigh Stones, and friends who helped facilitate our shoot.

Thank you to our adviser Nicole Irving, as well as Ted Spiker, Dean Hub Brown, Spiro Kiousis, Cally House and the Hal Herman Magazine Fund.

Orange and Blue is published semiannually by the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications students enrolled in Applied Magazines.

This issue was printed by Publications Printers. Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any means without written permission. Orange and Blue is protected through trademark registration in the United States.

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