News Archives - Page 559 of 565

Numbers don’t matter; lives do

Spinnaker • Oct 15, 2008

Capping enrollment to colleges and universities is slamming the door on many prospective students’ futures while paving their way to unemployment, a strong characteristic of the Great Depression, which is a time many college students’ great-grandparents remember quite vividly. Mary Walsh, a 96-year-old Boca Raton resident, is no exception. Her dad didn’t work, but neither did the four other dads in the house. In fact, of the six families living in Mary Walsh’s home in 1930, only one man had a job. He was the one who provided the lone pot of potatoes each night for dinner – and a spoonful of butter if they were lucky.

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Subjective grading policy might damage futures

Spinnaker • Oct 15, 2008

UNF’s grading scale for students is very subjective. It’s a concern exemplified largely by the process all college graduates go through upon applying for jobs or graduate school – judgment and acceptance based on GPA. Although GPA isn’t the sole indicator for success in a job or graduate school, it is something very representative of a student’s performance, and there are a lot of pressures ranging from scholarship requirements to parental advice to keep it high. With no universal standard for a grading scale, how can students’ GPAs be a valid gauge of anything?

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Concerts unnoticed due to lack of variety, advertising

Spinnaker • Oct 15, 2008

Osprey Productions has brought several great musical and entertainment acts to UNF during the last several years. To help diversify and reach a broader variety of students, OP is trying to vary the type of entertainment it brings to campus. To accomplish this, OP goes through several steps to find acts that will attract students’ interest. Although OP is able to bring several great acts to UNF, its efforts will fall unnoticed due to lack of variety in the audience they are able to target.

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Everyone isn’t raised the same, that’s OK

Spinnaker • Oct 15, 2008

Dear Editor, While I respect the right of Corey Myers to express his opinion in his column, “College students abandoning values, virtues,” in the Oct. 8 issue of the Spinnaker, I would urge him to rethink the process of his argument. Perhaps I am misreading, but Myers seems to be under the mistaken assumption that, once upon a time, every member of society shared his particular values. Equally troubling is the implication that every member of society should share his beliefs, and anybody who does not is wrong.

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Involvement in scandal important to mention

Spinnaker • Oct 15, 2008

Dear Editor, I would like to comment on the recent column written by Arielle Schneider. While reading the article, I could not help but notice she ends her opinion about Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama’s platform with a statement that is clearly untrue: “Obama’s plans may seem good but apparently, only McCain truly gets economics.” It seems odd she would make this comment when McCain himself has stated he is not strong on economics.

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McCain doesn’t understand economics

Spinnaker • Oct 15, 2008

Dear Editor, In the last issue of the Spinnaker, Arielle Schneider made some strong comments regarding the upcoming presidential election. Leaving aside the problematic statement of America’s “Godly heritage,” I would like to comment on her portrayal of the McCain health care and economic plans. Sen. John McCain, the man who admitted to a Wall Street Journal reporter he needed to be educated on economics, stated the economy was strong while campaigning in Jacksonville. With banks failing, people losing their homes and citizens unable to get affordable health care, perhaps McCain is not in touch with America.

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McCain’s decisions are terrifying

Spinnaker • Oct 15, 2008

Dear Editor, In her student opinion titled "Obama's platform threatens U.S. foundations," Arielle Schneider writes Sen. Barack Obama is running on a platform "rife with socialist policies." Her solution to our current fiscal problems: Sen. John McCain, a man who "truly gets economics." Earlier this month, McCain – and Obama for that matter – voted to approve the $700 billion bailout. Then McCain pitched a $300 billion plan Oct. 8 to help struggling homeowners. In only eight days, McCain has managed to spend $1 trillion. Is this a man who truly advocates "limited government?"

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Country stars descend on UNF

Spinnaker • Oct 15, 2008

UNF welcomed several musical acts to its campus Oct. 10 and 11. Tracy Byrd brought his own style of country to the Robinson Theatre Oct. 10. Country superstars Billy Currington and Jo Dee Messina, accompanied by Alex Winston, rocked out the UNF Arena Oct. 11. The Spinnaker got the opportunity to sit down with Jo Dee Messina and Alex Winston and talk to them about their music careers and their experiences at UNF.

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UNF English professor teaches art to incarcerated juveniles

Spinnaker • Oct 15, 2008

UNF English professor Dr. Mary Baron has been teaching the Art in the Jail Program as a volunteer with help from UNF students for more than five years. The program teaches incarcerated juveniles at the downtown pre-trial detention facility how to analyze books, write poetry and create works of art including collages and paintings. The artwork is scheduled to be displayed at UNF the last week of October in Building 8. The Spinnaker sat down with Dr. Baron to profile the program and experiences she has had while teaching at the jail.

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Political satirist promises to perform in all 50 states

Spinnaker • Oct 15, 2008

In the midst of this election season, another candidate has entered the political ring by making campaign promises with hopes of selling his record. Musician and political satirist Roy Zimmerman furthered his stated campaign promise of performing in all 50 states before the election with a performance Oct. 9 at UNF in the University Gallery. “[California] is the bluest state in the union; I wanted to go out to the red states and see the most progressive people in the least progressive states,” Zimmerman said.

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"Top Five" songs about money

Spinnaker • Oct 15, 2008

In the wake of the complete economic fallout in the U.S. and the subsequent government bailout of Wall Street, here are five songs about money, greed and materialism. Here’s to the fat cats that once toasted each other with glasses of champagne to these tunes – may they enjoy them as much when they’re crying in their beer.

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Nick and Norah display endless possibilities of being young

Spinnaker • Oct 15, 2008

The storyline in “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” represents an ideal social scenario that many high school students only dream about: spending one sleepless night in a hip, metropolitan city, weaving in and out of bars and clubs surrounded by good friends, killer music and typical teenage hi-jinks. Based on the 2007 novel by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, Nick (Michael Cera) and Norah (Kat Dennings) are modern day star-crossed lovers. Both high school students from New Jersey suburbia, they encounter each other at a Lower East Village concert. Nick is playing a gig there with his band, The Jerk-Offs.

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