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

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The year threw the world many curveballs including event cancellations, campus shutdowns, election results and more. One curvebaii that affected people worldwide was the sudden passing of important figures such as Kobe Bryant. Naya Rivera Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Chadwick Boseman. Jordan Kahn, third-year undergraduate student, felt the impact of these beloved celebrities passing away '2020 has been hard overall.' Kahn said, 'so the death of these iconic celebrities definitely made it worse.' As these icons passed away mere months apart, fans all over the world personally mourned the losses while appreciating what these icons did for society. While Ruth Bader Ginsburg was opening doors and breaking ceilings for women, Kobe Bryant was breaking records and stunning crowds all over the nation. Naya Rivera gave LGBTQ+ representation on television screens and Chadwick Boseman had the strength to carry on filming intense movies while hiding his struggles with colon cancer from fans. Whether these losses were shocking or anticipated, the internet spread the news like wildfire. Big franchises like the Los Angeles Lakers and the Marsel Cinematic Universe were quick to honor those lost. 'RBG was a very upsetting loss to me. especially with the political climate right now,' Ansley Diaz, first-year undergraduate student, said. 'We can't afford to lose someone so pivotal to human rights, but it was nice seeing so many different people honor her.' While the subject of loss is always a somber one. it was important for many to consider what these losses taught them and how they can grow from those lessons. Martin Vivas, fourth-year undergraduate student, said. 'Kobe Bryant's death taught me to enjoy life as best you can.' Writing by Kassandra Rodriguez Photography Compliments trom Jose Otero via Shutterstock

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animal encounters Located at the south-western corner of the University of Florida campus lies the Florida Museum of Natural History, home to the little known Butterfly Rainforest. The 6,400 square-foot exhibit houses not only dozens of butterflies from every corner of the world but also birds, fish, turtles, flowering plants, and exotic trees. The exhibit's renowned beauty to visitors, however, has not gotten it much of a standing among the University of Florida's student population. First and second year undergraduate students especially, are always surprised to hear that such an exhibit exists on campus, and are then even more surprised to hear that it's admission free to everyone with a Gator 1 Card. As Jacqueline McCloseky, second year undergraduate student, said, 'This exhibit is a welcome change of scenery that made me feel like I was miles away in a forest’. McCloseky had been blown away by the natural life and peacefulness she felt at the exhibit, and plans to visit again whenever the stress of her classes becomes a little too much. Another little slice of unknown pride for the gator nation can be found at the The University of Fbrida Bat Houses. The houses consist of three similarly shaped buildings overlooking Lake Alice. The first building of the three to be made was the bat house, constructed in March of 1991. followed years later by the adjacent bat barns in 2010 and 2017. respectively. As unlikely as it may seem, more than 450.000 bats ore housed in the bat barns, with the actual bat house itself having deteriorated and now due for removal after more than 26 years. This astonishing number is what makes the University of Fbrida Bat Houses the largest occupied bat houses in the world. Yet, despite its title, the Bat Houses do not attract many students. As Amanda Lorenzo, second year undergraduate student, said, ‘I had no idea what these houses were, and I've biked by them so many times. I can imagine I'm not the only one who doesn't know the history of these bat houses, or that every sunset so many thousands of bats emerge from them'. And indeed, not many know that every night, these colonies of bats emerge and eat up to 2.5 billbn insects before the sun rises, an amazing feat of nature. A staple to the University of Florida, campus squirrels are students' friends on the ground, their peers alongside early morning or late night walks to class, and nature's very own gardeners. It's hard not to notbe the ever-increasing population of squirrels around campus, and as Shannon McCloskey. third year undergraduate student, said, 'You can find squirrels in just about any corner of campus, from atop trees to inside trash cans'. As friendly as these fellow squirrels may be. it's our domestbated pets that really bring comfort into our lives. Many of the University of Florida's off-campus students reside with their furry friends, and have their own animal encounters behind closed doors. Uma Raja, a third year undergraduate student, remarks that her pet rabbit Cocoa has helped cheer her up various times throughout her years at UF. The University of Fbrida is a vast and animal filled swamp. Sometimes, however, it's hard not to get bst among the brick buildings and live oak trees, and forget about what lies in those trees. Curious and beautiful animals are jv-waiting to be discovered in every r •7 • . corner of campus, all one has to - • i, v - ... ’ ’: 1 do is go out there and expbre KC Writing and Photography by Emily Ponco Do Loon