University of Florida - Tower / Seminole Yearbook (Gainesville, FL)

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Below: The Telecommunigator displays a tower as a necktie. (Photo Jane Klimenko) Above: The Ms. Mallagator is ready for some shopping in the Oaks Mall. (Photo Jane Klimenko) Left: Starry Night Gator is displayed with his artist palette and a of Vincent Van Gogh ' s Starry Night painting. (Photo Jane Klimenko) From Liberty Gator to Darth Gator, gator statues have been popping up all over Gainesville. Beginning in April, the Gator Trails project organized local businesses to sponsor artists to paint fiberglass gator statues that have been placed all around town and on campus. Similar projects have been successful in places such as Chicago which the painting of cow statues before auctioning. Orlando also had a similar program with lizard statues, and Seattle with pigs. Gainesville, however, will feature UF ' s mascot, the gator. The artists have painted such statues as the Legisgator, Rainforest Gator, the All- American Gator, Van Gogh Gator, and even Ally the Snowbird Gator. The 57 statues will be displayed throughout Alachua county until April 2003 when they will be auctioned off. The auction will reimburse the city and county for initial funds, plus raise money for the city ' s Destination Enhancement project which funds art projects and helps increase tourism in the area. The gators have added what Priti Shah, I Pre-Pharmacy, describes as a creative, school spirited atmosphere. It ' s nice to see our mascot all around town. The different themes are really cool too. I think my favorite is the Legisgator holding the ' Vote! sign. It was a good way to encourage students to vote election time. Indeed, the gators have allowed artists to display their creativity to the public in a way we can all identify with; the Florida Gator. -Lane Cofer

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Above: UF student (right), Krista Armijo, 2CIS, sports Gator colors with her co- worker at Gator Mania in the Oaks Mall, Loretta Cernech. (Photo Jane Klimenko) Left: UF seniors, Kristin Antonson and Alma Grewal, showed up to the Auburn game ready to see the Gators break their losing streak. (Photo Jane Klimenko) Left: Nishba Arbham, 4BC, Heather Murphy, 6EG, Liz Long, 4LS, Adam Harris, 4JU, and Lynita Mullings, sport some orange and blue for a Gator football game. Below: Gator fan, Akincana Gocara shows her pride in America gator style. Jennifer Allen Kevin Paraiso Lane Cofer

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Left: The Legisgator features an Uncle Sam hat and red, white, and blue suit. The gator encourages Gainesvile residents to Vote with his sign on NW 13th Street. (Photo Jane Klimenko) Below: The Rainforest Gator in Oaks Mall is painted with forest plants for scales and is a resting place for several butterflies including his own butterfly wings. (Photo Jane Klimenko) My favorite gator statue is the Darth Gator because it has a light saber and the cool they behind bushes to scare people. -Jessica Lynn, 2PH (Photo Lane Cofer) Above: The Dr. Joel Gator was painted in memory of Joel Katz, DPM. (Photo Jane Klimenko) I think it ' s a cool project. It ' s nice to see the gators around town. -Katie Dayton, 2BA (Photo Lane Cofer) Left: The Orange and Blue Gator OF with his Gator flag in front of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. (Photo Jane KIimenko)