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UNF Spinnaker

UNF's #1 Student-Run News Source

UNF Spinnaker

UNF's #1 Student-Run News Source

UNF Spinnaker

Madelyn is wearing a black sweater over a white shirt. She has blonde hair and is smiling

Madelyn Schneider, Editor-in-Chief

Madelyn Schneider is Spinnaker’s current editor-in-chief. She is a junior majoring in English and minoring in mass communication at the University of North Florida. Madelyn began her work for Spinnaker as its news editor in the spring of 2024 and was promoted to editor-in-chief over the summer of 2024. In her free time, Madelyn enjoys writing, reading and camping out at all the local coffee shops.

All content by Madelyn Schneider
FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center right, is applauded by, from left, House Speaker pro tempore Rep. Wyman Duggan, House Speaker Rep. Daniel Perez, and Senate President Ben Albritton, as he gives his State of the State address to a joint session on the opening day of the 2025 legislative session, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at the state capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

UNF receives letter outlining first of Florida’s DOGE information requests

Madelyn Schneider, Editor-in-Chief April 10, 2025

The University of North Florida received another letter from the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis detailing its first Department of Government Efficiency information request.  The letter was sent to UNF...

The Arena Parking Garage, Building 38.

Campus petition circulator arrested after stealing money from UNF student’s car

Brennan Ambrose and Madelyn Schneider April 9, 2025

A man was arrested and charged with a felony after allegedly stealing around $20 in coins from a University of North Florida student’s car on March 31, according to police reports.  The man, 18,...

Here’s how UNF was able to shut down a protest last week

Madelyn Schneider and Sasha Koresh April 2, 2025

This story was updated April 5, 2025 at 12:58 p.m. to add confirmation from the arrestee's attorney that he is not a UNF student, and to clarify that he is not affiliated with Jacksonville Students for...

FILE - Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a meeting with the state cabinet, at the Florida capitol in Tallahassee, Fla., Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

UNF receives letter from governor notifying of Florida DOGE plans

Madelyn Schneider, Editor-in-Chief March 31, 2025

The following story was updated on April 6, 2025 at 7:23 p.m. with new information on the university's "preferred contact" for the EOG DOGE plan. The office of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent a letter...

Three protesters were escorted away from the demonstration by police and one was arrested. According to the UNF police chief, the person arrested was not a UNF student.

UPD confirms one person arrested at SDS protest

Madelyn Schneider, Editor-in-Chief March 28, 2025

The following story was updated on March 28 at 6:28 p.m. to clarify that there were two separate demonstrations. The one arrest was made inside the student union, and Spinnaker is working to obtain more...

Stacks of Spring 2025 Spinnaker magazines lined up on the newsroom table before distribution.

[Photo] Letter from the Editor: Still terrified, still showing up, still thankful

Madelyn Schneider, Editor-in-Chief March 27, 2025

Stacks of Spring 2025 Spinnaker magazines lined up on the newsroom table before distribution.

The slogan, "North or Nowhere," could be seen on the backs of T-shirts everywhere around campus after the university rolled out its brand refresh last October. 
Model: Molly Abbott

Identity Crisis: ‘It’s a North Thing’

Madelyn Schneider and Savanna Stillwagner March 7, 2025

“Inspirational,” “Hopeful,” “Northward”—these are just a few words that Vice President of Marketing and Communications Andrea Jones used to describe the University of North Florida’s brand...

SAM Party's Horatio Gilman on stage at the SG Spring 2025 presidential debate.

[Photo] SG presidential debate provides a first look at candidates’ initiatives

Mindy McLarty, Managing Editor March 6, 2025

SAM Party's Horatio Gilman on stage at the SG Spring 2025 presidential debate.

Soar Party's Anthony Balsamo on stage at the SG Spring 2025 presidential debate.

[Photo] Letter to the Editor: My Vision for the University of North Florida 

Anthony Balsamo, Soar Party Presidential Candidate March 4, 2025

Soar Party's Anthony Balsamo on stage at the SG Spring 2025 presidential debate.

How UNF students can eat healthy while saving money

Alekzander Jenkins and Madelyn Schneider February 26, 2025

With food prices rising, college students may find it challenging to incorporate healthy and affordable options into their diets. Spinnaker sat down with Anita Diaz, a registered dietician at UNF’s wellness...

Dr. Jason Mauro speaking at the UNF Peace Plaza when he dedicated the Thoreau Table in Nov. 2015. The table is named after the 19th century writer Henry David Thoreau, author of the essay, "Civil Disobedience." Thoreau's peaceful, nonconformist principles inspired Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King.

Students and faculty remember Jason Mauro ahead of memorial service

Savanna Stillwagner and Madelyn Schneider February 24, 2025

The University of North Florida English Department will hold a memorial on Friday, Feb. 28, to celebrate and remember the life of Professor Jason Mauro, a beloved faculty member who died unexpectedly last...

"Welcome to Hobbs Creek," by artist Emily Timmons.

[Photo] Graduating seniors celebrate artistic accomplishments featured at UNF art galleries

Lena Perkins, Staff Writer Intern November 25, 2024

"Welcome to Hobbs Creek," by artist Emily Timmons.

An OzFestival sign outside the UNF Chick-fil-A.

[Photo] UNF OzFest 2025: What to know before the event

Savanna Stillwagner and Alekzander Jenkins January 31, 2025

An OzFestival sign outside the UNF Chick-fil-A.

UNF Board of Governors meeting tables in the John A. Delaney Student Union on Jan. 30, 2025.

Florida Board of Governors meet at UNF: LIVE UPDATES

Madelyn Schneider and Mindy McLarty January 30, 2025

This page will be updated live starting Jan. 30 at 8:30 a.m. The Florida Board of Governors will meet at the University of North Florida on Thursday, Jan. 30, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The meeting will...

UNF President Moez Limayem announces the renamed Silverfield College of Education and Human Services at the student union, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025

UNF President announces newly-named Silverfield College of Education and Human Services

Madelyn Schneider, Editor-in-Chief January 27, 2025

University of North Florida President Moez Limayem announced that the college of education would be renamed the Silverfield College of Education and Human Services at a ceremony Monday afternoon, outside...

A statue of Martin Luther King Jr. stands in the UNF Peace Plaza.

Students serve community on MLK Day, one stitch at a time

Madelyn Schneider, Editor-in-Chief January 21, 2025

Some students at the University of North Florida spent the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday picking away at threads from dusty, old airplane seat covers.  In honor of the holiday, the Office of Service-Learning...

The Student Government Senate's seal on the wall of the Senate Chambers on the third floor of the University of North Florida's Student Union.

UNF Student Government schedule Spring 2025: What to know and where to go

Madelyn Schneider and Savanna Stillwagner January 7, 2025

Student Government at the University of North Florida released its meeting schedule for Spring 2025 last week. All meetings are set to take place in the Senate Chambers, Building 58E, Room 3200. Meeting...

University of North Florida sign

Faculty union takes formal legal action against UNF after university denies grievance allegations

Madelyn Schneider, Editor-in-Chief December 13, 2024

The University of North Florida faculty union took its legal action against the university a step further on Friday afternoon, over two months after the union filed its class action grievance with UNF. The...

The University of North Florida's Fall 2024 Commencement ceremony. Photo courtesy of UNF.

UNF celebrates Fall 2024 Commencement

Madelyn Schneider and Ethan Leckie December 13, 2024

Over 1,200 University of North Florida students are expected to earn their diplomas by the end of the Fall 2024 Commencement, which began at 9:30 a.m. on Friday and will end in the evening. This fall,...

A UPD officer sweeps broken glass off the road on UNF Drive outside Tom and Betty Petway Hall on Thursday afternoon. Two police cars with lights on blocked the right lane and a police truck (not pictured) was parked on the other end of the blocked section.

University police clean up shattered glass on UNF Drive, block right lane traffic

Madelyn Schneider, Editor-in-Chief December 12, 2024

University police swept away a large amount of shattered glass on UNF Drive outside Tom and Betty Petway Hall, blocking the right lane of traffic on Thursday afternoon. A UPD officer at the scene said...

A field of United States flags outside the UNF Student Union.

[Photo] The day after: Student thoughts post-Election Day

Sierra Parsons, Volunteer Reporter November 12, 2024

A field of United States flags outside the UNF Student Union.

This combination of file photos shows Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, left, speaking at a campaign rally in Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 12, 2024, 2024, and Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaking a town hall campaign event in Warren, Mich., on Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo)

2024 Presidential Election: Live electoral map

Presidential Election 2024 - Spinnaker live map by Spinnaker Newsroom. Updates by Madelyn Schneider. __ *Updates to the interactive graphic reflect electoral vote counts as of Nov. 10 at 3:22...

Lenny Carrillo from the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office sets up voting booths at the Meadow Woods Community Center in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. Early voting begins in Orange County on Monday and runs through November 3. There will be 22 locations across the county for early voting, open from 8am to 8pm daily. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

A Florida voter’s guide to the amendments on the ballot

There are six amendments on Florida ballots this election that, if approved, will make changes to state law on issues ranging from marijuana use to abortion access.  For enactment, each amendment needs...

A sticker that reads "I Voted in Duval County."

2024 Election: Key North Florida races, live updates

Candidate Guides U.S. Senate: Florida In the U.S. Senate race, Republican and incumbent Sen. Rick Scott faces Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in a statewide election.  Rick Scott (R) Scott is a former...

Still of "Coraline." (2009 Laika)

Editor Picks: Top 5 not-so-spooky Halloween movies

Madelyn Schneider, Editor-in-Chief October 30, 2024

This article expresses the views of its author(s), separate from those of this publication. Readers are encouraged to comment or submit a Letter to the Editor to share their opinions. To submit a Letter...

(Courtesy of UNF SG)

Student Government releases unofficial fall 2024 election results

Madelyn Schneider, Editor-in-Chief October 23, 2024

The Student Government Office of Elections released the names of the 17 winning candidates of its uncontested fall mid-term elections Wednesday afternoon, after canceling the voting process earlier this...

Trustees sit at around the table for their quarterly meeting at UNF Mednexus on Sept. 30, 2024.

BOT approves freedom of expression amendments, grants Limayem $100,000 bonus and raise

Mindy McLarty, Madelyn Schneider, and Ethan Leckie October 17, 2024

The University of North Florida Board of Trustees passed an amendment last month to a university regulation that changes the way people can demonstrate and protest on campus. The passing of this amendment...

The Lufrano Intercultural Gallery being prepared for "The Art of Hope" exhibit.

[Photo] New art exhibit tells story of life after incarceration

Sierra Parsons, Volunteer Reporter October 14, 2024

The Lufrano Intercultural Gallery being prepared for "The Art of Hope" exhibit.

Hurricane Milton upgraded to major hurricane - live updates

Hurricane Milton upgraded to major hurricane – live updates

Hurricane Milton has been upgraded to a major Category Four hurricane, according to a  National Hurricane Center 8 a.m. update. The University of North Florida sent out alert yesterday, saying...

A large, blue statue with the letters UNF on a concrete slab

Faculty union files class action grievance against UNF

Madelyn Schneider, Editor-in-Chief October 5, 2024

The University of North Florida faculty union filed a class action grievance against the university on Friday, alleging that UNF violated the union’s agreements on post-tenure review guidelines.  In...

Screenshot of the Phish Alert Report button, accessed via UNF Microsoft Outlook emails.

[Photo] Scam likely: Phishing emails take over University inboxes

Brennan Ambrose, Police Reporter September 30, 2024

Screenshot of the Phish Alert Report button, accessed via UNF Microsoft Outlook emails.

National Weather Service cone map of Tropical Storm Helene as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24. (NOAA, NWS)

UNF closed Thursday and Friday— Helene live updates

Madelyn Schneider, Editor-in-Chief September 24, 2024

All classes and on-campus activities have been canceled for Thursday and Friday, according to a UNF campus alert sent out at 4:52 p.m. All offices will also close. The University plans to resume normal...

A mural of sticky notes created by Korie ‘Gigi’ Novaton, spelling out “Voces y Caras.”

Self-discovery in community: How Voces y Caras celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Kaili Cochran and Madelyn Schneider September 26, 2024

Voces y Caras— the product of storytelling, discovery and community. The University of North Florida Art Gallery will host this immersive exhibit of Hispanic voices and faces for Hispanic Heritage Month.  Led...

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