Reitz Union Update

Good afternoon Gators!  I hope everyone had a fun and safe weekend.  By now, I'm sure everyone knows that our beloved Reitz Union is under construction that will renovate and expand our student union to be the best and most advanced union in the nation!  I've gotten a lot of questions about the renovation and what it means for students as well as student organizations.  My good friend Sarah Frick is the Executive Chair for Student Involvement in the Reitz Union Renovation and Expansion.  Here is what she has to say on the renovation and how students can be involved in the process: 

Hello, Gators! My name is Sarah Frick, and I am the executive director for student involvement for the Reitz Union expansion and renovation project. I would like to update you on the current construction, as well as inform you of the ways students are remaining engaged with the project.

Currently, there are three main entrances into the Reitz Union building. From the North, you can enter the ground floor at the Subway entrance or the first floor using the new stair which connects to the student lounge, right outside of the Career Resource Center. From the West, you can enter through the circle drive breezeway by the hotel desk or via the Concourse that runs along the east side of the building from the Welcome Center to the first floor lobby. From the South, you can enter via the Bookstore/Welcome Center entrance.

Coming in mid-November, construction barricade walls will be placed around the center stairs on the ground, first and second floors of the Reitz Union.  These areas are being closed off, so that the stairs can be removed and new restrooms can be built.  The elevators will still be in commission to get around the building.

There are many ways to get involved with the project as a student. The student advisory committee meets monthly to gather feedback from many student groups on campus about the project. Our goal is to represent a wide array of student groups that utilize the union regularly. We send our thoughts and opinions to the architect team to ensure the project is completed with students in mind. In addition to this committee, the Reitz Union ambassadors are working hard for this project. The ambassadors are willing to visit student organizations to provide a presentation on the project to keep students informed. If you would like a few ambassadors to attend one of your organization’s meetings to give this presentation, please contact me at reitz@sg.ufl.edu. Also, if you have any ideas or suggestions for the project, feel free to email me.

If you’re interested in learning more about the project, please visit the project website at: http://makeitreitz.com/. You can also see live video of the construction site at: http://oxblue.com/open/skanska/reitzunion.

Thank you for helping us Make It Reitz! Go Gators!

Online Course Syllabi

Today I would like to share a resource with you that many students don't know about. The University of Florida provides one website that centralizes every course syllabus, so that it is easy for students to find all the information they need for their various classes.

This is just one of the many ways that UF is simplifying school for our students. Instead of having to navigate Sakai to each individual class's individual syllabus to find out important information such as due dates and assignments requirements, students can find all syllabi at one location.

syllabus.ufl.edu is the website that provides this luxury for all students. Each class is organized by the college that it is taught under, further simplifying students' ability to find their course. This is also a great way to help students plan their future schedules, by giving them an opportunity to see what a class entails before they enroll in it. Along with that, it can also be a back up for those who have misplaced a syllabus. I encourage all students to use this useful resource to their advantage!

UF Counseling & Wellness Center: Therapist Assisted Online

College is an incredible experience; it will include some of the best times and memories of your life. However, college is also very challenging in a variety of ways, and can lead to levels of stress and anxiety that students have never experienced previously.

Therapist Assisted Online, or TAO, is a program offered by the University of Florida Counseling and Wellness Center that is designed to help students overcome these anxiety issues. It is just another one of the ways that UF is here to assist its students.

TAO is a 7 week online program that provides educational modules using researched and highly effective strategies to help overcome anxiety. Each weekly module lasts between thirty and forty minutes, and includes surveys of current symptoms, instructions, and interactive exercises to help relieve stress. The program also includes a ten to fifteen minute video consultation with an informed and caring counselor to track progress. Last but not least, there is a discussion forum where students can interact with each other to help cure anxiety.

If you are experiencing anxiety, do not be afraid to contact the UF Counseling and Wellness Center to find help. Being able to help relieve your problem behind close doors and in the comfort of your own home provides the program with a relaxed yet constructive feeling.

These amazing services are available to all currently enrolled students with anxiety that have access to a webcam. You must be 18 years or older to participate and live within fifty miles of Gainesville, and also cannot be experiencing severe depression or have a substance abuse problem. For more information, check out the TAO website.

Saturday in the South: Gators vs. Canes

This weekend our Florida Gators head 324 miles south to face the Miami Hurricanes, an underrated rivalry game that occurs only once every five years. In honor of tomorrow's game, I wanted to provide some history of what used to be the biggest rivalry in the state. The sun is supposed to be blazing when they kickoff at noon on Saturday down in Miami in front of an expected sellout crowd.

The Gators are favored by three points going into the contest, which is not surprising considering the two teams’ very even history. In 54 total meetings, the Gators have gone 26-28 against the Canes.

From 1938 until 1987 the Gators and the Hurricanes met every year, and many considered the game the biggest rivalry in the state of Florida. After SEC requirements changed in 1987 requiring that each SEC team play 8 conference games per year, the rivalry between Florida and Miami was forced to come to a halt.

Saturday marks the sixth time the teams have met in the last 25 years. The last time they played was in The Swamp in 2008, and the Gators routed the Canes in a 26 to 3 victory. Hopefully Saturday will yield similar results, as a heavy showing of orange and blue is expected in Sun Life Stadium. Make sure to tune in to ESPN Saturday at noon for what should be a great matchup! GO GATORS!