November 30th, 2005

Coalition against The Independent Florida Alligator

We, student leaders, faculty, and staff who represent many at the University of Florida, are asking for all UF departments/centers/colleges and Local Businesses in the Gainesville community to remove and stop advertising in the Independent Florida Alligator.

We are urging you to do this because of The Alligator’s continued history of insensitive, irresponsible, and offensive reporting both recently and in the past which has offended much of the Gainesville community.

(To view a record of the recent events, please visit http://plaza.ufl.edu/drevans/)

We ask that you support the College Edition of The Gainesville Sun so that you can continue to reach the UF community. Their phone number is 352-372-4222.

We are supporting this boycott until the following requests are met by The Alligator Staff:

1) An official apology printed on the front page of The Alligator in large print that clearly and specifically recognizes the ways in which The Alligator has disrespected and offended the UF and Gainesville community recently and in the past. This apology must be accompanied by an official statement that makes a sincere promise to the UF and Gainesville community that The Alligator will maintain a responsible attitude towards the entire community.

2) The Alligator staff must participate in current and future diversity and sensitivity training so that they can become aware of the complexity of issues dealing with race, gender, class, poverty, diversity, and minority enrollment.

3) Implement and support a Journalism and Professional Code of Ethics, which must be approved by The Alligator Staff and the University of Florida and Gainesville community.

These requests have been approved by the following representatives of the University of Florida and Gainesville community:

African Student Union, Alpha Phi Alpha, Asian American Student Union, Association of Black Faculty and Staff, Black Student Union, Black Graduate Student Organization, Black Law Student Association, Caribbean Student Association, Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations, Delta Sigma Theta, Give Black, Hispanic Student Association, Hispanic Graduate Student Association, Institute of Black Culture, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Council of Negro Women, National Organization of Women, Omega Psi Phi, Pride Student Union, Progressive Black Men Inc., Student Government, SISTUHS, Inc., Students Taking Action Against Racism, University Athletic Association, and Warrington College of Business.