UNF's #1 Student-Run News Source

UNF Spinnaker

UNF's #1 Student-Run News Source

UNF Spinnaker

UNF's #1 Student-Run News Source

UNF Spinnaker

Jeanne Gilbert

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor in Chief

Jeanne Gilbert is Spinnaker's current editor-in-chief and a sophomore majoring in public relations at the University of North Florida. She joined Spinnaker in the summer of 2023 as a volunteer. After graduating, Jeanne plans to continue in the newsroom or work in public relations.

All content by Jeanne Gilbert
Chamberlain began his time as Hicks Honors College dean nearly seven years ago in 2017. (Photo courtesy of UNF)

Jeffrey Chamberlain stepping down as Hicks Honors College dean

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief April 23, 2024

Jeffrey Chamberlain announced Monday that he will be stepping down as the inaugural dean of the University of North Florida's Hicks Honors College, according to UNF Provost Karen Patterson. Patterson...

Dr. Richmond Wynn sits in front of his desk in the Counseling Center.

Richmond Wynn transitioning from chief diversity officer to VP of Community Engagement and Partnerships

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief April 17, 2024

The University of North Florida announced Wednesday that Richmond Wynn will transition from chief diversity officer to vice president of the newly formed Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships. UNF...

Photo by Alexis Molinaro

Summer and fall registration is here: Tips from advisors and students

Madelyn Schneider and Jeanne Gilbert April 15, 2024

Registration for summer and fall classes at UNF began at 7 a.m. on Monday, and time tickets and course schedules were released on April 5 for students to begin planning. Senior Director of Student Success...

UNF logo.

Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints real estate CEO Jay Demetree to UNF BOT

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief April 5, 2024

Updated on Friday, April 5, at 6:32 p.m. to include a statement from UNF President Moez Limayem Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed real estate investment CEO Jay Demetree to the University of North...

The UNF Physics Department and Astronomy Club often host eclipse watch parties when they are visible from Jacksonville. (Photo courtesy of UNF)

UNF Department of Physics and Astronomy Club hosting eclipse watch party

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief April 4, 2024

The University of North Florida's Department of Physics and Astronomy Club are collaborating to host a watch party for the upcoming solar eclipse next Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the J.B. Coxwell Amphitheater. This...

The Spinnaker office is in the east wing of the John A. Delaney Student Union, and students can walk in anytime.

Letter from the Editor: Support student journalism on Giving Day

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief April 2, 2024

When most people talk about the free press, they often think of organizations like the New York Times or the Washington Post, but Spinnaker and other student-run publications are also included in those...

The sign near Lot 18 was put up to satisfy noticing requirements before the city council vote. (Spinnaker)

Jacksonville City Council to vote on transferring land to UNF

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief April 1, 2024

A sign notifying the University of North Florida community of a potential permanent right-of-way closure has been put up near Lot 18, but that doesn't mean any roads will be closed on campus. The...

UNF logo.

UNF staff union among those decertified in recent wave of Florida union purges

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief March 29, 2024

The University of North Florida's unit of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which was the union that represented many USPS employees at the university, was decertified last...

The Lend-A-Wing food pantry.

Lend-A-Wing food pantry limits students to weekly shopping trips

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief March 11, 2024

Starting last week, UNF students were limited to weekly visits to the Lend-A-Wing food pantry, which previously allowed daily shopping trips. The statement on their social media said that because Lend-A-Wing...

Nine new matching squat racks were also added. (Rachel Bacchus)

Inside UNF’s new and improved Student Wellness Center

Jeanne Gilbert and Rachel Bacchus February 29, 2024

The University of North Florida's Student Wellness Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Wednesday to commemorate its reopening on Jan. 11 after the two months of renovations that caused it to close...

UNF accepting 400 housing contracts on March 4

UNF accepting 400 housing contracts on March 4

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief February 23, 2024

Housing contracts at the University of North Florida will reopen to all students on March 4, and approximately 400 contracts will be accepted that day, according to the Department of Housing and Residence...

First swastika drawing in the Building 51 womens bathroom (Photo courtesy of Hailey Jacobsen)

Swastika graffiti found in UNF Social Sciences Building women’s bathroom

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief February 16, 2024

A University of North Florida student found two swastikas in the first floor women's bathroom of the Social Sciences Building this week. Hailey Jacobsen, president of the Jewish Ospreys, found two different...

The University of North Florida entrance sign with a green palm tree behind and purple and white flowers in front.

UNF making changes to housing contract for 2024-25

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief February 14, 2024

Rising freshmen and sophomores who want to live on-campus in the fall should fill out their housing contract as soon as possible. The contract only opened for rising freshmen and sophomores on Jan....

UNF President Moez Limayem at the groundbreaking event along with members of the UNF Board of Trustees and other figures in the campus community (Photo courtesy of UNF)

UNF breaks ground on Honors Residence Hall

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief February 12, 2024

The University of North Florida broke ground on the new Honors Residence Hall on Friday, which is planned to open in fall 2025. The residence hall was designed as a living-learning community for honors...

What to know before OzFest 2024

What to know before OzFest 2024

Rachel Bacchus and Jeanne Gilbert February 2, 2024

This year, the University of North Florida will host OzFest, its annual homecoming concert, at UNF Arena on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. T-Pain and Flo Milli will be performing, with last semester’s Battle...

UNF closing Office of Diversity and Inclusion due to anti-DEI regulation

UNF closing Office of Diversity and Inclusion due to anti-DEI regulation

Jeanne Gilbert and Laura Filipov January 29, 2024

Last Wednesday, the University of North Florida announced its plans to phase out the Office of Diversity and Inclusion after the Florida Board of Governors passed Regulation 9.016 earlier in the day. The...

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Ron DeSantis)

Ron DeSantis ends presidential bid and endorses Donald Trump days before New Hampshire primary

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief January 21, 2024

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Sunday that he was ending his presidential campaign and endorsing leading Republican candidate Donald Trump in a video posted to his social media accounts, just two...

Osprey Cove (Jeanne Gilbert)

UNF issues all-clear after Tornado Warning expires

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief January 9, 2024

Updated 4:45 p.m. UNF issued an all-clear message in a Safe Ospreys alert at 4:37 p.m. after the Tornado Warning expired at 4:30 p.m. The message said students may now resume normal activities. The...

The University of North Florida entrance sign with a green palm tree behind and purple and white flowers in front.

UNF cancels Tuesday classes due to severe weather

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief January 8, 2024

Due to severe weather, the University of North Florida has canceled all classes and campus events for Tuesday, with heavy winds expected throughout the day. According to a UNF alert, offices will be...

UNF logo.

UNF BOT unanimously approves faculty pay raise

Jeanne Gilbert, News Editor December 4, 2023

The University of North Florida Board of Trustees unanimously approved a salary agreement between the university and UFF-UNF on Thursday to give faculty pay raises. Raises are based on market value....

Interfaith Center logo on a dark blue background

Interfaith Center left empty as director leaves for OneJax

Jeanne Gilbert, News Editor November 20, 2023

When Matt Hartley joined the University of North Florida Interfaith Center in 2018, he set about rebuilding student leadership and engagement that had faded years before. Last week, he traded that director...

Protesters chant as a line of approximately 50-75 police cars leave the Adam W. Herbert University Center Tuesday night.

Chants, police and metal detectors: Michael Oren’s visit to UNF

Carter Mudgett and Jeanne Gilbert November 17, 2023
When Michael Oren's lecture at the University of North Florida was first announced, people marked their calendars...
Text reads INTERFAITH on top of four ink splotches in UNFs colors of dark blue, light blue and gray. Two hands together in prayer is on a white circle on top of the ink and beneath the text

Religious students feel ignored by Student Government after Interfaith Space removal

Jeanne Gilbert, News Editor November 3, 2023

It’s been four months since the Interfaith Space in the University of North Florida Student Union was officially closed. Since then, numerous religious students have expressed frustration and said they...

Marlo Crosby, vice president of UNF SDS, chants into a megaphone as they walk across the Green during a student walkout in support of Palestine on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023.

Pro-Palestine, pro-Israel protesters clash at student walkout Wednesday

Coinciding with similar protests across the country, a few dozen students at the University of North Florida held a walkout Wednesday to demonstrate their support of Palestine. A small group of counter-protesters...

The words Police Beat are written in red and white, surrounded by a white square outline. In the background, a University of North Florida Police Department cruiser is tinted blue.

One person shot near UNF campus, alert says

Jeanne Gilbert, News Editor October 12, 2023

One person was shot at approximately 11:40 a.m. Thursday on Central Parkway, north of the University of North Florida, according to an emergency alert sent out by the university. There is no immediate...

UNF logo.

UNF student died in traffic accident over weekend, university confirms

Jeanne Gilbert and Carter Mudgett October 11, 2023

Updated Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023: The accident happened on Saturday, friends of Dowdy told Spinnaker, not Sunday as the university said. Spinnaker apologizes for the error.  Noah Dowdy, 23, died in...

Professors Sean Freeder and Seth Warner discussed free speech and affirmative action with students and fellow professors on Sept. 20.

UNF hosts forum for faculty to discuss free speech on college campuses

Jeanne Gilbert, News Editor October 2, 2023

Earlier this year, the Florida House of Representatives passed a bill requiring all Florida state universities to establish an Office of Public Policy Events and host at least four debates or group forums...

UNF logo

President announces 5% raise, extended vacations for eligible UNF faculty and staff

Jeanne Gilbert and Carter Mudgett September 26, 2023

Faculty and staff at the University of North Florida will soon get a 5% pay increase and extended time off for Thanksgiving and Winter Break, President Moez Limayem announced in an email Tuesday morning.  This...

The Red Zone is a heightened time of sexual assault on college campuses occurring from the beginning of the Fall semester to Thanksgiving break (Photo edited to appear red).

From now till Thanksgiving, staying safe during “the Red Zone” at UNF

Jeanne Gilbert, News Editor September 21, 2023

Women attending college between the ages of 18-24 are three times more likely to be sexually assaulted than women in general, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. During this period...

Faculty Association President Mike Binder.

Board of Trustees approve post-tenure review policy 12-1 as UNF faculty look on in disappointment

Carter Mudgett and Jeanne Gilbert September 18, 2023

“Good luck hiring people. They’re not going to come.” Those were the final words from faculty as they swept out of the University of North Florida Board of Trustees quarterly meeting Monday morning....

Microsoft Authenticator (Ed Hardie/Unsplash)

UNF to make the swap from Duo to Microsoft Authenticator

Jeanne Gilbert, News Editor September 16, 2023

The University of North Florida is introducing a new two-factor authentication system to campus: Microsoft Authenticator. Students, faculty and staff will have two weeks to make the swap from Duo, starting...

An area behind the UNF Library has been fenced off to serve as a staging area for construction.

Detour! What to know about construction across campus

Jeanne Gilbert, Reporter September 10, 2023

Students at the University of North Florida returning to school for the fall may have noticed many construction sites across campus; here’s what’s under construction this fall.  Most projects include...

The offensive line struggled to protect quarterback Trevor Lawrence, as he was sacked five times in Sundays game

Jaguars prepare for kickoff Sunday after second-ever undefeated preseason

Jeanne Gilbert, Reporter September 8, 2023

With a 31-18 win over the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 26, the Jacksonville Jaguars closed out their second ever undefeated preseason, over two decades after their first in 1997. Only two other teams of the...

The University of North Florida announced Monday that its campus would be shut down on Tuesday and Wednesday, aside from food and shelter for students living on campus. Construction materials were secured and campus was largely devoid of students before Idalia made landfall.

UNF classes, activities to resume Thursday, university says

Carter Mudgett and Jeanne Gilbert August 30, 2023

After closing for two days in preparation for Hurricane Idalia, the University of North Florida announced Wednesday evening that its campus will resume normal operations on Thursday. Shuttle and on-campus...

The Green, located at the center of UNFs campus, is a popular spot for students trying to relax between classes. A smaller school than UF or FSU, many students can find quiet spots across campus to study, read and hang out.

What do students think of UNF’s 25,000 enrollment goal?

Jeanne Gilbert, Reporter August 21, 2023

The University of North Florida Board of Trustees recently approved a new strategic plan, outlining a variety of goals for the university to accomplish over the next five years. Among these is a plan to...

Happy 4th of July graphic

Where to celebrate Independence Day around Jacksonville: Food, Fireworks, and More

Jeanne Gilbert, Reporter July 3, 2023

Independence Day is almost here and many exciting events are planned in the Jacksonville area. With no classes on the 4th, students and faculty have the perfect opportunity to spend their day off enjoying...

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