We Inform. You Decide.VOLUME 104 ISSUE 38 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010Not officially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

Today

visit www.alligator.org

� After struggling from behind the

three-point line last year, sophomore

Kenny Boynton dedicated the

offseason to refining his stroke

with a shooting coach.

See Story, Page 18.

By RACHAEL PINOAlligator Writer

Gators looking for something to do on their day off this Friday have plenty of options.

This year’s Homecoming theme, “Celebration of The Gator Nation,” commemorates the university’s accomplish-ments in academics and athletics.

“The theme is supposed to encompass everyone involved with The Gator Nation, including students, the football team, alumni and even future students,”said Gracie Faulk-enberry, the associate general chair of communications for Homecoming 2010. “It’s supposed to connect The Gator Na-tion.”

Florida Blue Key, a leadership honorary organization at

UF, organizes and funds Homecoming and Gator Growl, the largest student-run pep rally in the nation.

Since kicking off on Sept. 27, the celebration has included a pageant, an education celebration recognizing contribu-tions made by professors and undergraduate research men-tors, a concert and Soulfest, a multicultural extravaganza

showcasing performances from student organizations.

Gator Gallop, a two-mile fun run that escorts the Homecoming Parade, is the

first event on Friday. The route starts at the Percy Beard Track at James G. Pressly Stadium, runs along University Avenue, and ends near Southwest 13th Street. University Avenue will be blocked off from the President’s House to Main Street an hour before Gator Gallop and until the pa-rade ends. The race will start at 11:30 a.m.

The 87th annual Homecoming Parade will follow the run at noon on University Avenue between Gale Lemerand Drive and Main Street. More than 100,000 spectators are ex-pected to attend, according to Dara Schopp, the Homecom-ing director of public relations.

The parade will be led by former Gator and Olympic gold medalist Steve Mesler, who will serve as grand mar-shal, and will feature floats made by student organizations, local businesses, and UF cheerleaders and football players.

“The parade is one of those events that really show-cases UF’s tradition and spirit,” Schopp said. “It gives you a sense of what being a Gator is all about.” On Saturday afternoon, visitors can tailgate at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Game Day BBQ & Alumni Celebration. There is no charge for admis-sion, but meal tickets cost $10.

“Little kids are welcome. Alumni are welcome,” Schopp said. “It’s really an event for everyone.”

Teen crashes into driver license center after passing driving testBRIDGEVILLE, Pa. (AP) — A teenager

who just passed his driving test crashed into a state driver license center in western Pennsylvania.

The accident happened Wednesday af-ternoon as the teen was trying to leave the parking lot of a driver license center in the Pittsburgh suburb of Bridgeville.

Officials said at least three people were injured, but their injuries were not consid-ered serious.

Township police Sgt. Brian Halbleib told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the ac-cident happened when the teen pulled into the parking lot of the driver license center to drop off the man who had administered the test.

Halbleib said the teen thought the car was in park.

It wasn’t.— THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Harrison Diamond / Alligator Staff

Pitch ManUF sophomore Rich McDonald, a forward on the UF Men’s Rugby Club team, tosses a rugby ball around on Turlington Plaza on Wednesday afternoon. The team practices on Tuesdays and Thurs-days at Hume Field and plays games on weekends, including this Saturday on the road against the University of Central Florida.

UF, Gainesville to host Homecoming events

LOCAL

By MIGUEL A. CHATELOINAlligator Contributing Writer

Jen Ambrose Cotter uses her blog, “Bipartisan Vic-tory Garden,” to bring atten-tion to Cabot-Koppers, the wood-treatment facility that has been listed by the federal government as a contaminat-ed Superfund site for more than 25 years.

She researches the 90-acre piece of toxic land and how the Environmental Protection Agency plans to clean up the site.

“I have not been so angry and outraged in years,” Cot-ter said. “I had to strip this beast called Koppers down to its bones to understand how this could have happened, and how it could be trans-formed.”

But the clock is ticking for Cotter and others poring over the EPA’s plan.

Friday is the last day al-

lowed for public comment on the plan.

After that, “it won’t go on record, which means they won’t be accountable for tak-ing you seriously,” said Cot-ter.

With her blog, www.bvg.cotterindustries.com, Cot-ter aims to educate and gain enough influence with peo-ple to “take on any federal agency.”

To make public comment on the EPA plan, Protect Gainesville’s Citizens Inc. encourages visiting www.protectgainesville.org or e-mailing EPA Project Manager Scott Miller directly at miller.scott@epamail.epa.gov.

Local bloggerexplains Koppers issue on website

“I have not been so angry and outraged

in years.”Jen Ambrose Cotter

blogger

The celebration officially kicked off Sept. 27

AroundGainesville