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

All content by Tamlynn Torchon
Graphic by Sam Chaney

Opinion: We should all follow Anthony Bourdain’s message of understanding

Tamlynn Torchon August 6, 2018

The wonderful and unforgettable celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain passed away on June 8 of this year due to suicide. It was, and still is, a rather painful event for many people of different backgrounds....

Photo by Morgan Purvis

Opinion: Congratulations on graduating, and may the best come your way!

Tamlynn Torchon August 3, 2018

When one stops to think about graduation, it brings shivers and even stress. Everything must be perfect: the outfit, the cap design, the makeup...everything. Really, the graduation ceremony is ironically...

Opinion: International Day of Friendship and what it means to be a good friend

Opinion: International Day of Friendship and what it means to be a good friend

Tamlynn Torchon July 31, 2018

We all (or perhaps most of us) have friends; those people who come into our lives and bring change. Of course, that change can be either positive, negative or nuanced. Those individuals, regardless of...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

Opinion: The usefulness of principled nonpartisanship

Tamlynn Torchon July 30, 2018

Today in U.S. society, there have been extreme shifts that people are either blindly following or fighting against. What you might constantly hear is the bantering from the left or right, Democrats...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

Opinion: Gun control is useful, necessary and complicated

Tamlynn Torchon July 26, 2018

Gun control is an extremely touchy subject. It is perhaps the most divisive topic in the U.S. where there seems to be no middle ground. It is a difficult conversation to have but, as time goes by,...

A shot was fired inside The Cove dorm, Building V this morning. Phot by Colin McCann

Opinion: How to be a great and unforgettable roommate

Tamlynn Torchon July 23, 2018

There are generally two types of reactions to having a roommate. The first is joy because there’s excitement to meet and share life with someone else. Then, there’s this feeling of dreadful horror...

Opinion: Some universities are dropping the SAT, but does it really matter?

Opinion: Some universities are dropping the SAT, but does it really matter?

Tamlynn Torchon July 22, 2018

It’s been reported that several ivy league universities are dropping their required SAT and ACT writing scores, opting for an essay portion graded by the university. This list includes Harvard, Yale,...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

Opinion: Political education and awareness are essential to vote in any election

Tamlynn Torchon July 20, 2018

The U.S. presidential election is perhaps the single most important event every four years, and reasonably so: the outcome can change the lives of everyone, whether they are U.S. citizens or not. Therefore,...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

Opinion: Everyone must understand affirmative consent

Tamlynn Torchon July 17, 2018

If you’ve been around bus stops, or have even tried registering for classes at UNF, you’ve probably encountered Title IX. Though the focus is on gender discrimination awareness, there is a part...

Its okay to be white signs were found around UNF campus.

Opinion: It’s OK to be white; not a white supremacist

Tamlynn Torchon July 14, 2018

As reported by UNF Spinnaker, white supremacy has been on the rise on campus. “The ADL report finds a 77 percent increase in documented propaganda during the 2017-2018 academic year compared to 2016-2017.”...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

Opinion: What cognitive dissonance is and why it might be good for you

Tamlynn Torchon July 12, 2018

As human beings, we are naturally complex. We have a degree of self-awareness that is very amazing. We’ve come this far, to the point where we can observe our environment as well as others. But we...

Starbucks. Photo by Ronnie Rodgers.

Opinion: It’s the last straw for straws

Tamlynn Torchon July 10, 2018

The popular coffee chain Starbucks has announced a plan to do away with disposable plastic straws in all of its stores by 2020. This news comes after a wave of other similar measures taken by cities such...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

Opinion: Buying your professor’s self-authored textbook is annoying, and there’s a complex reason for that

Tamlynn Torchon July 7, 2018

What’s a class without books? Perhaps much more affordable and favorable, but it might feel a bit incomplete. Of course, the majority of classes require textbooks matching the curriculum. However,...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

Opinion: There is a big difference between noble patriotism and toxic nationalism

Tamlynn Torchon July 4, 2018

Around the world, there are several countries experiencing waves of nationalism, and many people are rightfully concerned. It is altogether called the global far-right movement. More governments are...

Graphic by Kaitlyn Sinardi

Opinion: Why legalizing and decriminalizing cannabis is crucial during the opioid crisis

Tamlynn Torchon July 2, 2018

*Correction 7/3 2:48 p.m.: An original publication of this article contained a spelling error in an older, alternative name for marijuana. The correct spelling of that term is marihuana. On October...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

Opinion: Vaccination matters

Tamlynn Torchon June 28, 2018

As recently as last week, there have been numerous cases of feral and domesticated cats being diagnosed with rabies. In Hillsborough County, Florida, 13 people and two domestic dogs were exposed. Similar...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

Opinion: We need to talk about PTSD

Tamlynn Torchon June 26, 2018

This month is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month, and PTSD Awareness Day is Wednesday, June 27. With these dates in mind, it’s the right time to discuss the reality of PTSD and the importance...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

Opinion: The U.S. is heading deeper into isolationism

Tamlynn Torchon June 24, 2018

The United States of America has decided to withdraw from the United Nations’ Human Rights Council (UNHCR) as of Tuesday, June 19. It is the only country to have voluntarily withdrawn itself and...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

Opinion: Modern politics lacks empathy

Tamlynn Torchon June 21, 2018

On Wednesday, June 20, President Donald Trump signed the executive order titled “Affording Congress an Opportunity to Address Family Separation.” This order supposedly solves the controversial...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

Opinion: Juneteenth Should be Valued

Tamlynn Torchon June 19, 2018

Every American citizen- and even foreigners - know about the Fourth of July, also commonly known as Independence Day. However, many have perhaps never heard of Juneteenth, also referred to as Freedom...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

OPINION: The World Cup may not be worth the cost

Tamlynn Torchon June 18, 2018

The United States has its big sports: basketball, American football and so on. For the rest of the world, soccer (or commonly known as football) is an unstoppable and uncomparable force no other sport...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

OPINION: Net neutrality matters

Tamlynn Torchon June 15, 2018

As of Monday, June 11, net neutrality has officially been repealed. There have been many mixed reactions to this news, notably negative ones, due to concerns of fairness of an open internet and freedom...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

OPINION: We need to talk about it – suicide

Tamlynn Torchon June 11, 2018

The past week has been very turbulent one: like many other societies, the U.S. values life over death, which explains why it’s always shocking to hear that someone committed suicide. As much as life...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

OPINION: Miss America and body image

Tamlynn Torchon June 6, 2018

If one searches through missamerica.org, their statement is that the organization is “one of the nation’s leading achievement programs for young women.” Miss America is a tradition of celebrating...

Graphic by Sam Chaney

OPINION: Freedom of speech does not equate to freedom of discrimination

Tamlynn Torchon June 4, 2018

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Masterpiece Cakeshop, the Colorado bakery that refused to make a cake for a same-sex couple's wedding. The case was decided by a 7-2 majority vote,...

The eleventh season of Roseanne has been cancelled after Roseanne Barrs tweet.

OPINION: Roseanne and Free Speech

Tamlynn Torchon May 31, 2018

More than just her show, Roseanne Barr's career has been canceled. From ABC to her talent agency ICM Partners, to her co-workers such as Michael Fisherman and Wanda Sykes dropping her, it’s safe to say...

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