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UNF's #1 Student-Run News Source

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Nathan Turoff

Nathan Turoff, Volunteer

Nathan is a theatre/english major at the University of North Florida. He is very interested in theatrical works and dramaturgy. His hobbies include building Lego sets, acting, and watching movies. He is an avid gamer, playing video games, board games, and role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons.

All content by Nathan Turoff
election coverage graphic

Election Update: Where do things stand?

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter November 4, 2020

It’s the day after the election, and there appears to be no clear winner. As of writing, neither candidate has reached the 270-electoral threshold to win the presidency. Overall, Joe Biden is ahead with...

Photo from CDC

My experience of COVID-19 and three weeks of quarantine

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter October 28, 2020

Three weeks in UNF-administered quarantine has been one of the most unique and challenging experiences in my entire life. That’s saying a lot, considering I had to go through the college admissions process....

Photo from CDC

UNF sees slight decrease in COVID cases

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter October 26, 2020

The number of COVID-19 cases at UNF has decreased since last week. From Oct. 16 to Oct. 22, the University reported a smaller number of 31 new student cases, and 6 new employee cases. Previously, the...

SG - Student Government

Unofficial SG election results announced

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter October 22, 2020

The unofficial Student Government election results were released by the Office of Elections last night, and the preliminary results show that the Ignite Party have won the majority of the seats. By...

FILE - This combination of Sept. 29, 2020, file photos shows President Donald Trump, left, and former Vice President Joe Biden during the first presidential debate at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. Amid the tumult of the 2020 presidential campaign, one dynamic has remained constant: The Nov. 3 election offers voters a choice between substantially different policy paths. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

UNF PORL releases poll results on presidential candidates, which method people will choose to vote

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter October 20, 2020

UNF’s Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) released the results of their election poll Tuesday, which shows Joe Biden with a small edge over Donald Trump, and some other interesting trends. According...

Student Government elections begin soon

Student Government elections begin soon

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter October 19, 2020

The upcoming UNF Student Government fall 2020 elections will be the first contested fall elections for Student Government in nearly 6 years, and will begin this week. Here is some necessary information...

Election Commissioner Darryl Boyer

Election Commissioner Boyer and President Schneider open up about the recent impeachment hearing

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter October 15, 2020

Darryl Boyer, the Elections Commissioner for Student Government, had Articles of Impeachment brought against him on Friday, October 1st. This was the first and only attempted impeachment of a Student Government...

Graduates displaying their customized caps.

Graduation application deadline for Fall 2020 hits Oct. 9

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter October 7, 2020

The deadline to apply for Fall 2020 graduation is coming up this Friday, Oct. 9. All students seeking to graduate during this semester must submit the proper application. The University also highly recommends...

UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 6: slowdowns in the U.S. Postal Service have spurred concerns about delivery and receipt of ballots for the November elections. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

What’s on the Florida Ballot?

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter October 6, 2020

It’s election season here in Florida, and there are many things on the ballot -- not just candidates and positions. Florida, as outlined in its state constitution, has the capability to add amendments...

SG - Student Government

Impeachment charges against Elections Comissioner Boyer dropped following 6-6 vote

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter October 5, 2020

An impeachment trial was held against Elections Commissioner Darryl Boyer in the Senate meeting, last Friday. Commissioner Boyer was indicted on charges of “Malfeasance,” or wrongdoing, as outlined...

UNFs Ignite Party

UNF’s Ignite Party

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter October 1, 2020

Its election season here at UNF, and the Senate campaigns are in full swing. There are two parties competing for senate seats, and both seek to make life better for all students. Last week, Spinnaker sat...

UNFs Solidarity Party

UNF’s Solidarity Party

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter September 23, 2020

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter There’s a new Political Party among UNF’s election scene - the Solidarity Party. With the tagline of “Transparency, representation, and results,” the...

Songs with references to President Trump

Nathan Turoff, Government Reporter September 21, 2020

Donald Trump. The first thought in most people’s heads when they hear his name is probably something like “You’re Fired” or the fact that he’s our current president. But one aspect involving...

SG welcomes four new Senators

SG welcomes four new Senators

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter September 18, 2020

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter Featured Image is Original Artwork by Spinnaker Student Government welcomed four new Senators to its ranks this afternoon. In the weeks since Spinnaker...

What’s the fate of the film industry?

Nathan Turoff, Government Reporter September 18, 2020

Movie theaters? Can you even remember the last time you went to one? While the amount of human life tragically lost in this pandemic is 936,313 as of writing, the filmmaking industry has also been one...

Student Government seeking Senators

Student Government seeking Senators

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter September 11, 2020

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter The UNF Student Government Senate is facing a crisis - the lack of attendance. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the restrictions induced by the school,...

Breaking: There will no longer be a Moes on campus

Breaking: There will no longer be a Moe’s on campus

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter September 11, 2020

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter “Welcome to Moe’s!” It’s an iconic phrase numerous students were excited to hear on their own campus. Unfortunately, It will be a long time before...

Board of Trustees reviews COVID stats and construction projects in meeting Thursday

Board of Trustees reviews COVID stats and construction projects in meeting Thursday

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter September 10, 2020

On Thursday morning, the UNF Board of Trustees (BOT) met for the first time this month to discuss the budget and how UNF was handling the COVID-19 pandemic. For those who aren’t familiar with the...

A white duck that looks like Howard the Duck.

Howard’s whereabouts remain unknown

Mariana Mejia and Nathan Turoff September 3, 2020

In recent weeks, UNF’s only white duck has gone missing, and many of Howard’s fans are worried. While some white feathers have been found around Candy Cane Lake that may match Howard's, no other sign...

Game Room construction scheduled to begin this semester

Game Room construction scheduled to begin this semester

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter September 2, 2020

It was almost an entire year ago when Student Government voted to have about one-third of the Student Union Game room gutted for Lend-a-Wing space, which received harsh backlash from the UNF student community.  For...

Woman on the Street: How do UNF students feel about Kanye West for president?

Woman on the Street: How do UNF students feel about Kanye West for president?

Nathan Turoff and Sheifalika Bhatnagar September 2, 2020

“President Kanye West.” While often thought of as an elaborate joke, from the moment the rapper first suggested the idea five years ago, the reality is that Kanye West is in fact running for President...

Poster sale returns

Poster sale returns

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter September 1, 2020

Amid worry that it might not return due to COVID-19 restrictions, the University’s annual Poster Sale has indeed come back - along with some restrictions, such as hand sanitizer and social distancing...

Breaking: Provost Simon Rhodes steps down

Breaking: Provost Simon Rhodes steps down

Courtney Green and Nathan Turoff August 31, 2020

Dr. Simon Rhodes announced his decision to step down from his position as Provost in an email sent Monday, August 31. Dr. Rhodes cited a non-COVID medical concern as the reason and stated that he...

Asteroid heads toward Earth near Election Day

Asteroid heads toward Earth near Election Day

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter August 26, 2020

As if 2020 couldn’t get worse enough: BOOM, asteroid. All jokes aside, there isn’t any real reason to panic. For those who aren’t astronomers, Asteroids are large chunks of space rock that...

The outside of UNFs Student Wellness Center. (Jonathan Merin/Spinnaker)

Wellness Center changes during COVID-19; Climbing Wall resumes in Phase 2

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter August 25, 2020

One of UNF’s greatest aspects is it's incredibly unique and diverse range of physical activities and other programs designed to help students maintain physical and, by extension, mental health - even...

SG unanimously passes Ryan See Senator of the Year Award

SG unanimously passes “Ryan See Senator of the Year Award”

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter August 21, 2020

During the first Senate meeting of the semester, Student Government (SG) paid its respects to Ryan See, a fellow senator who passed away last month. The Senate then unanimously passed JR-20F-3511, a...

BREAKING: Howard the duck confirmed missing

BREAKING: Howard the duck confirmed missing

Nathan Turoff, Government Reporter August 20, 2020

UNF’s beloved waterfowl, Howard the Duck, is missing. Howard has not been spotted on campus in a while, leading to much concern among the UNF community as to his well-being. Howard is an icon...

RNC

Taking a quick look at the RNC and DNC

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter August 17, 2020

Today, August 17, marks the first day of the Democratic National Convention. Held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the convention is substantially toned down from what was initially planned, as a result of the...

Photo from CDC

Last call for all students to take mandatory COVID-19 education course; due Friday

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter August 13, 2020

Tomorrow -- Friday, August 14th -- is the last day for all current students to complete the mandatory COVID-19 Education Course. This course is relatively simple, with three modules and a final test....

FILE - In this July 31, 2019, file photo, then-Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., listens as Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a Democratic presidential primary debate at the Fox Theatre in Detroit. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden has chosen Harris as his running mate. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

Joe Biden selects Kamala Harris as his running mate for 2020 election

Nathan Turoff, Student Government Reporter August 12, 2020

After a long selection process and months of vetting, Joe Biden announced on Tuesday afternoon that California Senator Kamala Harris would be his running mate for the Democratic ticket in the 2020 presidential...

Voter Suppression in the U.S.

Voter Suppression in the U.S.

Nathan Turoff, Critter Column August 7, 2020

Voter suppression - Seems to be plaguing our modern day elections. Anybody and everybody is susceptible to voter suppression and it is a very relevant matter in present day America.  To help get a...

Bubonic Plague making a comeback?

Nathan Turoff, Critter Column July 21, 2020

Just when you thought 2020 couldn't get any worse, a squirrel tests positive for the Bubonic plague. For those of you unfamiliar with the Bubonic plague, it is a bacterial plague that is spread mainly...

Howard the Duck. Photo credit Nathan Turoff.

Howard the Duck is not among the fallen; petition to rename Commons circulates

Nathan Turoff, Critter Columnist July 14, 2020

Yesterday afternoon, news broke of a mysterious duck virus afflicting UNF ducks at The Flats. One of the earliest and most logical concerns of many students was the fate of UNF's own Howard the Duck. The...

Broadways Hamilton on Disney Plus review

Broadway’s Hamilton on Disney Plus review

Nathan Turoff, Critter Column July 7, 2020

Featured image from IMDb. "Who lives? Who dies? Who tells your story?." For Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, that answer is Broadway, and the captivating musical that bears his name.   The...

New trailer for Hamilton film

New trailer for Hamilton film

Nathan Turoff, Critter Columnist June 22, 2020

Last night, a trailer was revealed for the much-anticipated original cast filming of the iconic Broadway musical, Hamilton. From Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton is the critically-acclaimed and culturally-adored...

A brief history of modern police and ideas for a more just methodology

A brief history of modern police and ideas for a more just methodology

Nathan Turoff June 22, 2020

Where do we go from here? It is no understatement to say that we are living in very charged times. With several high-profile police and vigilante involved murders coming to light over the past months,...

Pangolins: The cause of coronavirus?

Nathan Turoff, Critter Column June 19, 2020

Pangolins - That might not be a term familiar with the average person, and it didn't resonate with many of the staff here at Spinnaker. Pangolins are a key link in the initial transition of COVID-19, but...

COVID-19 pushes JCPenney to file for bankruptcy

Nathan Turoff May 22, 2020

The coronavirus’ latest victim is not a singular person or individual, but rather a large corporate entity. JCPenney, the iconic department store chain, has become the latest major company to file for...

Photo credit Nathan Turoff.

Lockdown and the environment

Nathan Turoff, Critter Columnist May 1, 2020

During this COVID-19 pandemic, through a combination of lockdown orders, social distancing, and general common sense, humanity has gone through unprecedented and unparalleled changes in how we live our...

Cute dogs

Increase in pet adoptions due to stay-at-home orders

Nathan Turoff, Critter Columnist April 9, 2020

The quarantine of COVID-19 continues to grip the nation, with 42 states having issued stay-at-home orders at the time of this writing, and it has been almost a month since Coronavirus was officially declared...

City cat contracts Coronavirus

Nathan Turoff, Critter Columnist April 6, 2020

It was announced on Sunday that a New York tiger named Nadia has officially contracted coronavirus after her caretaker unknowingly had the virus. Nadia is a 4-year-old Malayan Tiger, currently living...

The Tree of The White Ibis

The Tree of The White Ibis

Nathan Turoff, Critter Columnist February 21, 2020

Candy Cane lake is home to many creatures and their environments. One of the lake's most truly bizarre sights, is the Tree of the White Ibis. The American White Ibis is a very unusual animal. The...

UNFs resident canine professor

UNF’s resident canine professor

Nathan Turoff, Critter Columnist January 16, 2020

A dog is man’s best friend. This relationship is no more apparent then with Eli: UNF’s resident therapy dog. Eli, and his human partner, Dr. Carlene Taylor, teach many classes together. Dr. Taylor...

Cats review: a tail of historic controversy

“Cats” review: a “tail” of historic controversy

Nathan Turoff, Critter Columnist January 7, 2020

To say the “Cats” movie was intriguing is nothing short of an understatement.  The whole film was a sight to behold: with CGI cats, eerie visuals and a plot as flimsy as the cats’ tails. However,...

Howard the Duck is surrounded by three mottled ducks. What will he do next? Photo credit Nathan Turoff.

Howard the Duck attacked on Candy Cane Lake

Nathan Turoff, Critter Columnist December 12, 2019

In the recent weeks since Thanksgiving break, UNF’s very own Howard the Duck, the traditionally sole waterfowl resident of Candy Cane Lake, has recently found his turf under threat from three mottled...

The Sawmill Slough Preserve

The Sawmill Slough Preserve

Nathan Turoff, Critter Columnist December 2, 2019

One of UNF’s most appealing attributes is its incredible selection of wildlife. This isn’t just about Howard the Duck or Mindy the Gator, I’m talking about the Sawmill Slough Preserve. For those...

Three turkey myths debunked

Three turkey myths debunked

Nathan Turoff, Critter Columnist November 19, 2019

The month of November means four things: Cooler weather, shorter days, Black Friday deals and Thanksgiving. The most iconic part of any Thanksgiving dinner is arguably the turkey, so in honor of the...

Canadian Geese invasion

Canadian Geese invasion

Nathan Turoff, Critter Columnist October 22, 2019

Last week, a large flock of Canadian Geese were spotted on campus.  Canadian Geese have spread all over North America, especially along the East and West coasts of the United States.  They are...

Celebrate Reptile Awareness Day with our campus critters

Celebrate Reptile Awareness Day with our campus critters

Nathan Turoff, Critter Columnist October 21, 2019

 Today, October 21, is National Reptile Awareness  Day. Reptiles are profound creatures, and they deserve the respect other animals receive. Reptiles are often confused with amphibians, but they are...

Rise of the Raccoons

Rise of the Raccoons

Nathan Turoff, Critter Columnist October 15, 2019

One of the most unique aspects of UNF is its diverse range of wildlife. One of the most elusive and dangerous creatures that inhabit our campus is the Raccoon.  Procyon Lotor, or commonly referred...

Turtles on Turtle Island in Candy Cane Lake

Hidden gems of UNF: Turtle Island

Nathan Turoff, Critter Columnist October 7, 2019

One of the most interesting aspects of Candy Cane Lake is its geography.  There are a few floating islands in the lake, one of them being located right next to the bridge spanning the lake. This island...

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