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Ethan Leckie

Ethan Leckie

Ethan Leckie is a Spring 2025 journalism graduate of the University of North Florida. He began his Spinnaker career as a volunteer reporter in fall 2021, later served as Opinions Editor and then as Managing Editor from Fall 2024 through Spring 2025.

All content by Ethan Leckie
UNF logo.

Tornado warning issued for UNF campus

Ethan Leckie, Enterprise Editor | Jun 28, 2024

On June 28, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for the area, including the UNF campus, which meant a tornado had been spotted. Per the alert, individuals in the region were to seek shelter...

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graphic courtesy of United Faculty of Florida

UFF release statement on student protests

Ethan Leckie, Enterprise Editor | May 7, 2024

[Updated May 7: A previous version of this article mistakenly reported that all 16 protestors arrested were released on their recognizance and that eight of the 16 individuals were students. Three protestors...

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Protesters calling for better COVID-19 health and safety procedures in Chicago public schools briefly block traffic at State Street and Madison Street in Chicago near Chicago Public Schools headquarters on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Four years of COVID-19, and Gen Z is still angry

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Editor | May 1, 2024
Four years ago, I wrote an article for my high school newspaper. At this point, the piece is lost to time and lackluster archival software, but I asked a question I thought quite poignant about the COVID-19 pandemic.
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OPINION: Self-imposed sobriety isn’t too bad

OPINION: Self-imposed sobriety isn’t too bad

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Editor | Feb 14, 2024
To paraphrase a book I’ve never read, it is a truth universally acknowledged that alcohol can be bad for you. From liver damage and high blood pressure to regrettable actions and memory loss, we’ve all become aware of the adverse effects of one too many. With holiday indulgences firmly behind us, a break was in order.
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The spread, in all its glory. (Ethan Leckie)

BDubs BOGO Boneless Thursdays: Great deal, spotty service

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Editor | Feb 8, 2024
Hey everybody, welcome back to another edition of Check It or Chuck It. Today, we’re going to do a quick 180. Instead of covering a one-of-a-kind restaurant, we’re switching gears to an establishment that’s one-of-many: Buffalo Wild Wings. In particular, their now-famous bargain, BOGO Boneless Thursdays.
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Back view of Xavier Perkins

OPINION: The CFP is just the BCS with a fresh coat of paint

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Editor | Dec 8, 2023
After almost two decades of the Bowl Championship Series, the postseason for Division I FBS college football would be organized into a four-team playoff system. This system, simply known as the College Football Playoff (CFP), was created to put an end to the BCS’ antiquated, convoluted rankings system. In theory, a 13-member committee will select the best four teams each year for a chance to play for the National Championship.
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(Emmanuel Offei/Unsplash)

OPINION: Guys, six tickets are actually a lot of tickets

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Editor | Nov 10, 2023
Parents and students come out of the woodwork yearly to complain about the graduation ceremony. Having been at UNF for three years, this has become as much of a tradition as the graduation itself. No matter the circumstances, the masses unify to voice this one grievance year after year.
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All entrees at JaxSpice are served family style, so be sure to bring your friends and family, or be prepared for leftovers.

JaxSpice: Big flavor, bigger prices

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Editor | Nov 8, 2023
Don’t worry, y’all- I’m back! I’ve had plenty of time to prepare my palate (and wallet) for a place I’ve been particularly excited about—JaxSpice.
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Faculty members filled the seats behind the Board of Trustees for their Monday morning meeting.

OPINION: UFF-UNF put the pressure on UNF to act; another W for the union

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Editor | Oct 16, 2023
Well, I guess it’s finally over… for now. Two weeks ago, the United Faculty of Florida (UFF) and the University of North Florida reached an agreement on new procedures concerning post-tenure review. These updated policies will ensure that faculty aren’t ranked against each other and undergo a simple review process, as well as receive financial benefits for participating in post-tenure review. In addition, faculty who meet expectations during their annual evaluations will not be at risk of losing their jobs or receiving low marks during the review process.
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The Luffy Meal is a feast fit for the king of the pirates.

Check it or Chuck it: Koushinryou brings Japanese spice to Jacksonville

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Editor | Oct 8, 2023
Konnichiwa! Welcome to the first of many more articles for my new food review column, Check It Or Chuck It. I recently visited Koushinryou - Curry and Sando, a Japanese curry house serving up authentic katsu and curry dishes. Located off Beach Blvd, Koushinryou is close enough for students to grab a post-class lunch or unwind after a long study session.
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OPINION: UFF-UNF fights the good fight. Good professors should keep their jobs.

OPINION: UFF-UNF fights the good fight. Good professors should keep their jobs.

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Editor | Sep 17, 2023
2023 has proven to be the year of the worker. Even with union memberships at historic lows in virtually every industry, there have still been over 250 work stoppages this year. From actors to auto workers, laborers nationwide have again taken up the struggle against corporate tyranny. This age-old fight has now reached our humble university.
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Student Government banner

OPINION: The Interfaith Space’s removal is a step backwards for SG

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Editor | Aug 18, 2023
Now that I’m back in the full swing of things post-summer, I want to take some time to share my thoughts on the recent removal of the Interfaith Prayer and Reflection Space. Back in March, the student-body presidential ticket of President John Grosso and Vice President Emily Sullivan ran uncontested, succeeding the previous Rodefer-Murray administration. After their election, the new Grosso-Sullivan administration listed two goals: to improve SG’s relationship with other UNF organizations and to address the university’s high transfer rates.
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Ryan Graves, Americans for Safe Aerospace Executive Director, from left, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) Maj. David Grusch, and U.S. Navy (Ret.) Cmdr. David Fravor, are sworn in during a House Oversight and Accountability subcommittee hearing on UFOs, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

OPINION: Aliens? In this economy?

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Editor | Aug 7, 2023

Hey everybody, I’m back. I’ve had a good summer because ChatGPT hasn’t taken my job (yet). Now, let’s dive into something that I found interesting over the break. So, we’ve all heard about...

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Limayem smiling, wearing a blue suit

OPINION: Limayem is in an impossible position

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Editor | Mar 23, 2023

[This article was corrected on Thursday, March 23, 2023, to reflect that the UNF Board of Trustees has not made a statement regarding proposals by the Florida legislature and DeSantis administration.] I...

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Love

The Singles’ Guide to Valentine’s Day

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Editor | Feb 14, 2023

Kings, Queens, and Regals In-Between, February 14th is upon us. For some, the day might be spent with their one and only, happily frolicking together and filling our feeds with their whereabouts (or...

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Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson, left, speaks to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL wild-card football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

OPINION: Florida’s eyes are on you, Jags

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Reporter | Jan 20, 2023

Well, hasn’t this been quite the playoffs? It only seems fitting that one of the craziest NFL seasons in my recent memory has had an equally unpredictable postseason to match. However, for us Floridians,...

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FILE - Rapper Kanye West speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House with President Donald Trump, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, in Washington. Kanye West was escorted out of the California headquarters of athletic shoemaker Skechers Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022 after he showed up unannounced. Skechers says West, also known as Ye, also engaged in unauthorized filming at its corporate headquarters in Manhattan Beach and was escorted out by two executives. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

OPINION: Does canceling really work?

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Reporter | Dec 2, 2022

Unless your name is Patrick Star, you’ve probably heard of “canceling.” You know, where someone does some kind of reprehensible act, and then the public shows their disapproval by ostracizing them?...

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Rows of cars in Lot 18

OPINION: Parking is bad, who would’ve thought?

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Reporter | Sep 26, 2022

There are three constants at UNF: The Starbucks line will be long, the cold weather won’t come until November and parking will be impossible to find. I didn’t take any polls before writing this piece,...

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Three artists perform on stage

OPINION: Country music doesn’t hide from life

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Reporter | Sep 20, 2022

It’s no secret: Generation Z — as a whole — does not like country music. Hip-hop was the top genre among respondents to a Ypulse 2021 survey. In fact, country didn’t even crack the top three genres.  This...

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The cast of Hamlet receives applause from the audience after their performance at MOCA Jacksonville.

A closer look at UNF Shakespeare’s Hamlet

Ethan Leckie, Volunteer Reporter | Jan 21, 2022

For the last week, UNF Shakespeare has been performing Hamlet to audiences in MOCA Jacksonville and UNF’s Lazarra Theater, respectively. Their production is unique in that students were integral in every...

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Photo courtesy of Rylan Monge.

UNF’s ‘Right Ice Machine’ demystified

Ethan Leckie, Volunteer Reporter | Oct 8, 2021

Lurking in the back of the Osprey Café, there sits a machine— an ice machine. Uttering its name will make even the longest-tenured students tremble in fear. From Aug. to early Oct., it would dispense...

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