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UNF Spinnaker

UNF's #1 Student-Run News Source

UNF Spinnaker

UNF's #1 Student-Run News Source

UNF Spinnaker

All content by Emily Echevarria
I voted stickers.

COVID-19 and the 2020 Elections Cycle

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter April 16, 2020

It’s easy to forget, in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic and shelter-in-place orders, that elections are still taking place across the country. In many states, there have been concerns over transmissions...

President David Szymanski.

President Szymanski updates BOT on COVID-19 response

Emily Echevarria, Student Government Reporter April 14, 2020

As the UNF Board of Trustees convened over Zoom on Tuesday, April 14, University President David Szymanski presented an update on how UNF is handling the pandemic through continuity of education and financial...

SG - Student Government

SG contributes to the student relief fund

Emily Echevarria, Student Government Reporter April 11, 2020

Student Government held their last meetings for the semester on Friday, April 10. Emergency Budget and Allocations Committee and Senate meetings were held in order to address SG contributing funds to the...

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Judicial Branch change hands

Emily Echevarria, Student Government Reporter April 7, 2020

On the morning of April 7, Student Government's Chief Justice, Lucas Richter stepped down as Chief Justice and opened the floor for nominations for his successor.  Via Zoom, Richter told his fellow...

SG: Schneider-Dougherty Administration Begins

SG: Schneider-Dougherty Administration Begins

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter April 3, 2020

Ally Schneider and Kayla Dougherty officially took the offices of President and Vice President, respectively, on Friday, April 3. They were sworn in via Zoom, in the first virtual Senate meeting of the...

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SG: A final goodbye from Aloszka and Costello

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter April 3, 2020

When John Aloszka and Nat Costello pictured their last weeks as Student Body President and Vice President, they did not imagine a world of virtual meetings, working from home, and a campus that is almost...

Photo of American flag

The Constitution: How federalism plays a role in how we deal with pandemics

Emily Echevarria, Student Government Reporter April 3, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has not been met with one cohesive national policy in the United States. Instead, the response has been mostly left up to each individual state.  Why is the response so varied...

SG - Student Government

Aloszka answers questions on new grading system and refunds

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter March 30, 2020

***You can share how COVID-19 is impacting you by clicking here. Shared stories will be published on our site.*** On Friday evening, March 27, Student Body President John Aloszka went live on Student...

The Osprey Villages. Photo credit Jonathan.

UNF creates a plan to tackle housing and dining refunds

Emily Echevarria, Student Government Reporter March 27, 2020

The university made the anxiously-awaited announcement regarding housing and dining plan refunds via an email sent out on the afternoon of Friday, March 27.  According to the email, students who have...

Photo by Joseph Basco

What’s going on with refunds?

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter March 25, 2020

As the first week of online learning rolls out, UNF has yet to announce a decision on refunds to students for housing, meal plans, or parking. Here’s what we know so far.  In an Instagram live video...

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SG: Virtual breakfast with the Student Body President

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter March 23, 2020

Over a breakfast of toast and Bold Bean coffee, Student Body President John Aloszka answered student questions on Instagram live on the morning of Sunday, March 22. Using the Student Government Instagram...

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SG seeks Paid Leave for Part Time Employees During COVID-19 Break

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter March 16, 2020

Student Government is urging President Szymanski to grant part-time employees of UNF paid leave during the COVID-19 break from in-person classes. This was detailed in a Joint Resolution unanimously passed...

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Board of Trustees dicusses the university’s plan regarding Coronavirus

Emily Echevarria, Student Government Reporter March 12, 2020

Wednesday night, UNF announced via email that classes would move online for the two weeks following Spring Break. During a regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting early Thursday, the focus was on...

SG - Student Government

First look at Schneider-Dougherty Administration

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter March 10, 2020

After a round of uncontested spring elections, it was announced that Ally Schneider and Kayla Dougherty would be the acclimated President and Vice President of the Student Body. The duo was deemed...

SG - Student Government

SG seeks Sawmill Slough Expansion

Emily Echevarria, Student Government Reporter March 9, 2020

Most universities in Florida can’t boast that they have over 300 acres of protected green space directly on campus-- but UNF can. The Sawmill Slough, a 383 acre nature preserve located right on campus,...

Photo of someone washing their hands

Video: How to properly wash your hands

Emily Echevarria March 9, 2020

***Video done by Brett Nweeia and Aisling Glocke*** The Coronavirus has been reported in over 100 countries and has now made its way to Florida. In an effort to help slow the spread of the virus,...

photo of one dollar bills

SG proposes a new plan for student employee wage increase

Emily Echevarria, Student Government Reporter March 9, 2020

Earlier this semester, Student Government approved budget changes to raise the minimum wage to $9 for student employees funded by the A&S Fee. Now, SG is seeking to make this the minimum wage for all...

One-Stop

SG looks closer at One-Stop

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter March 3, 2020

In a University and Student Affairs Committee on Friday, Senators joked about the irony in the name One-Stop-- you always have to go more than once.  The USA Committee decided to focus this semester’s...

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Student Government Reacts to Uncontested Elections

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter March 2, 2020

The news that the spring elections would be uncontested rolled through Student Government last week, sparking a series of drastic changes within the organization. Chairwoman (and future Vice President)...

Aloszka approved to buy student ASUN tickets

Aloszka approved to buy student ASUN tickets

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter February 24, 2020

Student Body President Aloszka was approved by the Senate to purchase student seats for the upcoming ASUN Quarterfinal game at UNF, allowing students to attend for free. Student Government is partnering...

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SG Funds “Coming to Africa”

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter February 24, 2020

Every year, the African Student Association hosts a pageant celebrating African food, culture, and music. This year, they’re changing things up with a silent disco. The club’s president, Randa Abdelhameed,...

Facebook comments on Gunna story

UNF students react to Oz Fest headliner being Gunna

Emily Echevarria, Student Government Reporter February 20, 2020

The announcement of Gunna as the headliner of OZ Fest has been met with mixed reactions. Several people commented on Spinnaker’s Facebook post that they were unaware of who the rapper was. Many thought...

JEA logo.

JEA: What went wrong?

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter February 19, 2020

“It’s just ugly” are the words used by an employee of Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) to describe the situation the company has found itself in. Over the past few months, JEA has come under...

SG - Student Government

SG Presidential Election will be uncontested

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter February 18, 2020

The next Student Body President will be Kathryn “Ally” Schneider, and Vice President will be Kayla Dougherty. They were the only pairing to apply for the positions, meaning there will be no election.  Schneider...

Bount Island, JaxPort.

President Trump funds JAXPORT harbor deepening project

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter February 17, 2020

Jacksonville made its mark on President Trump’s proposed budget for the fiscal year 2021, with the Jacksonville Port Authority awarded $93 million to deepen the harbor to 47 feet.  The Jacksonville...

SG - Student Government

Aloszka Administration re-vamps study rooms

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter February 17, 2020

The Aloszka-Costello administration is tackling one of its last initiatives in office -- revamping study spaces outside of the library.  “A year ago now, this was something that Nat and I ran on,”...

What do the new immigration rules mean?

What do the new immigration rules mean?

Emily Echevarria and Alex Bowman February 10, 2020

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration would be allowed to move forward with its plan to implement new immigration rules that would allow officials to deny green cards...

SG - Student Government

Senate approves budget for 2020/2021

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter February 10, 2020

After months of hearings, deliberations, and decisions, the Student Government budget for fiscal year 2020/2021 hit the Senate on Friday, February 7.  Treasurer Kenneth Smith shared the breakdown of...

What is the Excess Credit Hours Surcharge?

What is the Excess Credit Hours Surcharge?

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter February 7, 2020

Most students are aware that 120 credit hours are required to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree. Within each program of study, there are more detailed requirements, but 120 credit hours is the universal...

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Ospreys request money to attend research conferences

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter February 3, 2020

During a Budget and Allocations Committee meeting on Friday, Jan 31, 6 students requested money to help with the price of attending various research conferences this semester. The requests, which totaled...

SG - Student Government

Budget for new fiscal year passes B&A Committee

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter January 29, 2020

After nearly 4 hours of deliberation, the Student Government budget for the 2020/2021 fiscal year was approved by the Budget and Allocations committee, unanimously.  The budget is funded through the...

The UNF Bookstore. Photo credit Emily Echevarria.

Why is the bookstore so expensive?

Darvin Nelson and Emily Echevarria January 28, 2020

It’s a world all of its own-- a place that has everything you could possibly need. Out of mascara? Need a notebook for your 8 a.m. class? Or maybe even a snack, or a new shirt? It exists in its own...

SG - Student Government

Aloszka delivers State of Student Body Address on Apathy at UNF

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter January 27, 2020

Over the past academic year, Student Government has been troubleshooting problems on campus. From lackluster attendance at sporting events to lack of participation in elections to a disjointedness with...

SG - Student Government

UNF’s biggest problems heading into 2020

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter January 20, 2020

The Student Government University and Student Affairs Committee get special insights into the problems plaguing UNF faculty and students through their Osprey Voice surveys. During the first committee meeting...

Warren’s war on student debt

Warren’s war on student debt

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter January 17, 2020

In bright blue letters, the website proclaims, “You’ll be debt free!” One of the tenants of Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign has been, from the start, the elimination of student loan debt,...

SG - Student Government

Senate sets up new semester

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter January 13, 2020

According to Student Body President John Aloszka, “SIC” isn’t just an acronym to represent the new Student Involvement Center. It also stands for, “Slowly, it’s coming.”  The new Student...

Castro drops out of presidential race; endorses Elizabeth Warren

Castro drops out of presidential race; endorses Elizabeth Warren

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter January 9, 2020

Just a month before the primaries begin, the scene of Democratic candidates is still shifting. Julian Castro announced he was ending his campaign for the presidency in a tweet and video message on January...

Trump becomes 3rd president to be impeached-- What now?

Trump becomes 3rd president to be impeached– What now?

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter December 19, 2019

The House of Representatives voted on two articles of impeachment late Wednesday night. Article 1 on Abuse of Power passed 230-197 and Article 2 on Obstruction of Congress passed 229-198, making Trump...

From Clinton to Trump: how impeachment has changed

From Clinton to Trump: how impeachment has changed

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter December 11, 2019

The last time impeachment trials for a president were underway, Blockbuster Video was in business. People talked on their Nokia cellphones about the newest *NSYNC song, used dial-up internet to instant...

People toasting with a beer.

UNF updates regulations, Florida medical amnesty law

Emily Echevarria, Student Government reporter December 9, 2019

When FSU fraternity pledge Andrew Coffey, was suffering from alcohol poisoning at a party in 2017, it took his fellow party-goers 11 minutes to call for help. They feared they would get in trouble, too....

The class during their visit to the Pentagon.

UNF students take on DC

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter December 4, 2019

College is the designated time for students to explore their interests, discover new career paths, and develop their professional skills. Many students come to college with grandiose ideas of changing...

Courtesy of Student Government

What’s the deal with durable goods?

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter November 25, 2019

UNF Student Government operates under a $4 million budget, which is constructed and voted on at the beginning of every spring semester. With the budget for 2020 currently being developed,  Student Body...

Courtesy of Student Government

Uncontested: Student Government struggles with student participation

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter November 11, 2019

Student government is one of the largest organizations on campus, and yet the Office of Elections recently announced that there would be uncontested elections for Senate for the second year in a row.  Elections...

A year out from elections, whos still running?

A year out from elections, who’s still running?

Emily Echevarria, Student Government Reporter November 5, 2019

As we kick off November and head into finals, it might have slipped your mind that we’re a year out from the Presidential Election. Need a quick catch up? The 2020 election is just under a year away,...

Courtesy of Student Government

Here to serve

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter November 4, 2019

What makes a college truly feel like home is a campus where students can come together in exciting new ways. The Aloszka administration has just reached its halfway point and has been directing its focus...

Courtesy of Student Government

Judicial branch plays a game of musical chairs

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter October 28, 2019

UNF’s judicial branch may not get the spotlight very often, but changes are happening behind the scenes with the justices.  Potential new justices have been meeting with Chief Justice Richter, President...

Courtesy of Student Government

Student Government troubleshoots confusion with senators

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter October 21, 2019

This year’s fall elections will be uncontested, meaning that all individuals who ran for election won their seats. Further, Student Government has noticed a high turnover rate in senators and certain...

Courtesy of Student Government

Student Government addresses campus safety

Emily Echevarria, Student Government reporter October 14, 2019

Halloween is just around the corner, and at this time of year, we tend to matriculate towards haunted houses, horror movies, and other spooky things. People love to be scared, but one place you shouldn’t...

Courtesy of Student Government

Plagued by parking

Emily Echevarria, Student Government Reporter October 6, 2019

It’s arguably the worst part of the day, a time that inspires dread and malcontent in all. Trying to find parking on UNF’s campus is no joke. Parking on campus can sometimes take up to an hour,...

Darvin Nelson

Is it game-over for the Game Room?

Emily Echevarria and Darvin Nelson October 3, 2019

Tucked away on the first floor of the Student Union, there’s a place filled with laughter, community, and the occasional battle cry. It’s where students go to relax, explore new worlds, and forge friendships...

SG Committee Meeting: Is UNF Bike-Share Ready?

SG Committee Meeting: Is UNF Bike-Share Ready?

Emily Echevarria, Government Reporter September 27, 2019

On Friday Sept. 27, the University and Student Affairs Committee met to discuss possible topics for future Osprey Voice surveys.  The USA Committee gauges student opinion about issues on campus with...

The John A. Delaney Student Union was dedicated on June 1.

Big changes for Student Union East

Emily Echevarria, Student Government Reporter September 22, 2019

In a Senate meeting on Friday Sept. 20, Student Government unanimously voted to approve a bill regarding executive branch plans to activate the first floor of the Student Union. The legislation was developed...

Photo by Spinnaker Media

What’s Student Government and why should you care?

Emily Echevarria, Student Government Reporter September 18, 2019

What is student government, and why should we care? It’s easy to hear John Aloszka’s name thrown around on campus, or to see “student government” tacked on to banners and announcements around...

Courtesy of Student Government

Student government to address on campus harassment, parking issues

Emily Echevarria, Student government reporter September 16, 2019

The University and Student Affairs Committee of student government met Friday, Sep.13 to revise proposed legislation addressing harassment from visitors on campus. Most students will recall the viral...

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