Isabella Oefelein

2 weeks ago | usforacle.com | Clara Garcia |Clara García |Joana Riva |Isabella Oefelein

USF has assembled a task force to promote “efficiency, transparency and strategic reinvestment” among university departments and staff. The team will be responsible for managing Florida State Department of Governmental Efficiency requests at USF, according to public records obtained by The Oracle. Gov. Ron DeSantis the Florida DOGE in February to “identify and eliminate unnecessary spending, programs, courses, staff and any other inefficiencies” in state universities.

2 weeks ago | usforacle.com | Camila Gomez |Joana Riva |Isabella Oefelein

The USF Faculty Senate called on USF leadership to withdraw University Police from an agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that will allow campus police to enforce immigration laws. During a special Faculty Senate meeting on Friday, senators expressed concerns over how USF’s international community – faculty and students alike – would be affected by the agreement, which has not yet taken effect.

3 weeks ago | usforacle.com | Joana Riva |Anamaria Gomez-Arrigo |Isabella Oefelein |Lily Belcher

Peter Alspaugh, Abdul-Malik Zekri, Benjamin Barrera-Altuna and Taylor Rand received the Barry Goldwater Scholarship this year. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDAAbdul-Malik Zekri said he was “freaking out” during the application process for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, which supports students pursuing a career in research. Zekri, 19, was one of 441 students nationwide chosen to receive the scholarship this year.

3 weeks ago | usforacle.com | Isabella Oefelein |Anamaria Gomez-Arrigo |Maria Cortes

Just four days after University Police found an empty gun case and ammunition magazines in the Fine Arts Building, officers located an empty 9 mm gun cartridge in a parking lot next to the building. The police department assured students there is still no active threat to campus. UP used a canine unit to search for additional items or evidence related to the investigation, but nothing else was found in Parking Lot 9. The police found the cartridge after they were alerted by students.

3 weeks ago | usforacle.com | Maria Cortes |Anamaria Gomez-Arrigo |Isabella Oefelein

Caio Esmeraldi put on his suit at 5 a.m. on the way to his first visit to the Florida Capitol, not knowing what to expect. “Part of me thought we were going to stop by, take a look, wave and just walk away. But it was such a crazy opportunity,” said Esmeraldi, a junior psychology major. During a trip to Tallahassee for USF Day at the Capitol on April 15, students got to tour government buildings, meet with state officials and advocate for campus concerns.