The ELI Weekly
Scholarship Nominees
It is very difficult to be nominated for a scholarship. The nominees all worked very hard this semester and achieved the following criteria:
- Full-time C semester student
- Academic Excellence
- Outstanding Progress
- Excellent Attendance and Participation
- Practices English
- Successful Academic Work Strategies
- Intercultural Understanding/ Relationships
- See more about the scholarship here: https://eli.ufl.edu/application-information/scholarship/
Please join us in congratulating these nominees for the ELI scholarship to study in the Spring 2025 semester!
Suha Almuwayni
Zennure Arga
Fernando Clavel Fuentes
Juliana Montealegre Ruiz
Chaeeun Seo
Out and About: November 5th Elections in the USA
by Luciana Modica, RW 60
In the 2024 elections in the United States, voters will choose the president and vice president. In addition to the presidential election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 34 in the Senate will be decided, which could change the majority and control of each chamber. Elections will also be held for governors in 11 states, as well as for hundreds of state and local positions, including judges and other key roles in public administration.
To choose the president, the United States has a popular vote and also the Electoral College, a system where citizens vote for electors representing each state. These electors then cast the final vote to decide the president and vice president. Each state has a number of electors proportional to its population. For example, California, the most populous state, has 55 electors, while less populous states like Wyoming, Alaska, and Vermont have only 3 electors each. In most states, the candidate who receives the majority of popular votes wins all the electors of that state (a system known as “winner-takes-all”). Some states considered “swing” in the 2024 election include Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, due to their history of variable voting between both parties and their ability to sway the electoral balance. These states receive special attention from both candidates and the media, as their results are often decisive.
This year, issues such as immigration, economy, and healthcare are top concerns for voters. Trump is characterized by his nationalist stance and restrictive immigration policies, emphasizing national defense that translates to increased military spending and using a populist discourse appealing to national identity. In contrast, Harris advocates for an inclusive approach prioritizing sustainability and climate commitment, promoting policies reflecting a progressive vision focused on reducing inequalities and fostering international collaboration.
CIP Weekday Activities
Weekend Event
Saturday, November 9th– Downtown Arts Festival – 11:00am to 1:30pm
Join this annual celebration of the arts in beautiful downtown Gainesville! There will be live music performances, food trucks, and local artists with crafts and art for sale! Bring money for food and shopping, but entry is free. Meet in front of the clock tower across from Bo Didley Plaza at 11am. Take bus 1 or 5. Please arrive on time at our meeting location. It will be hard to find each other once we leave that location.
Address: 168 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601
You must sign up to attend this event. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA9A823A02-52785493-downtown
Other CIP Reminders
Conversation Partners (CPs)
Want to meet with a fluent English speaker and make a new friend? Sign up for a CP! If you choose to sign up, you must meet with your partner for one hour a week. It can take up to two weeks to get a partner from when you sign up. Please sign up at this link: https://forms.gle/CZoP2zQ7nxWD4wcA8 (opens in new tab)
Please email Rachel at conversationpartners@eli.ufl.edu for any issues, questions or concerns or visit her in the CIP Office during office hours.
Please respond to your partners if you signed up for one. Many partners have been asking why their ELI partners have not responded to them. If you signed up for a CP and no longer want one, please let Rachel know as soon as possible so we can give your CP a new partner.
CIP Passports
Don’t forget to get your CIP Passport hole punched from the activity leaders at the event (not after). We do not hole punch passports after the event. Redeem your completed passport for a small gift, a photo for the ELI Instagram, and your name published in the ELI weekly!
Need a new CIP Passport? Stop by the CIP Office.
Remember the CIP Pineapple is hidden in a new place every Monday in the CIP office. Stop by and find it for hole punches!
Notes from the Office
Welcome to Heidy: Please welcome our new ELI Receptionist, Heidy Charbonier. Heidy holds a BA in Digital Arts and Sciences from UF and will be joining the ELI the week of November 4th. Come by the Main Office to say hi!
Thank you, Leah and Nicole: Thank you to LAs Leah and Nicole for taking care of the ELI Front Desk while we searched for a new receptionist!
People Out: Christine is out of the office on November 4-5 and November 12-13. Please plan around these dates if you need to talk with Christine.
Food Drive Donations: The ELI is participating in the Chop & Chomp food drive to help beat hunger. Join a friendly competition between UF and rival school FSU by donating nonperishable foods to the donation bin outside the ELI main office. Find more information and see a list of nonperishable foods here. Drop off items by Friday, November 22.
Veterans Day: Monday, November 11 is a holiday. There are no ELI classes, no CIP activities, and the ELI office is closed on Veterans Day.
Thanksgiving Holiday: The ELI main office will be closed and there will be no classes or CIP activities the week of Thanksgiving from November 25-29.
Letter Regarding the Matherly Ghost
Dear Reading/Writing 51,
Thank you for your article, “The Matherly Hall Ghost,” in the October 28th, 2024 edition of The ELI Weekly. UF ELI can neither confirm nor deny existence of the Matherly Hall ghost, but the covered room will remain sealed for the safety of our faculty, staff, ELI students, all of UF and Gainesville, and the world. We have been serving as protector of this room. The ELI was moved to Matherly Hall for this very purpose based upon our 35-years of successful inter-cultural communication with the ghosts of Norman Hall. We hope you had a fun Halloween!
Sincerely,
The UF ELI Team
Photo of the Week: Micanopy Fall Festival
Birthdays
Manners and Culture
Q: What is Veterans Day?
A: A veteran is a person who has served in the military. Veterans Day is a holiday in honor of people who have served in the US military. In Gainesville, there is a big celebration at Kanapaha Park, which includes skydivers, live music, helicopter displays, the UF Drill Team demonstration, and multiple patriotic ceremonies. On Veterans Day, many restaurants and businesses will give free meals or services to veterans to thank them for their military service. It is a national holiday, so many national, state, county, and city services will be closed like the US Postal Service and trash collection. The RTS bus service will also be closed for the holiday.
Grammar
Q: How many is “several” and “a lot”?
A: Indefinite quantities are so fun! “Several” is about the same amount as a handful. In other words, “several” is more than two, but not many. “A lot” means many or plenty. There is no specific number amount to define these terms.
Joke of the Week
What happens when winter arrives?
A: Autumn leaves!
Notes from the Editor
Come by my office (221 MAT) and help me write the Out and About section! There are so many topics to write about–a fun activity, an interesting place on campus, a club or hobby that you enjoy, or even tell us about a place to visit in your country. Bring a photo of your experience and put it in the Weekly.
Send stories and grammar, manners, or culture questions to Maya Shastri (mshastri@ufl.edu).