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UNF's #1 Student-Run News Source

UNF Spinnaker

Siddie Friar

All content by Siddie Friar
A man holds a sign during a rally to show support for Uighurs and their fight for human rights in Hong Kong. Nury Turkel, co-founder of the Uyghur Human Rights Project and former president of the Uyghur American Association, is a new member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Hes a leading human rights advocate on behalf of fellow Uighurs, a Muslim ethnic minority group that has seen an estimated 1 million members detained in internment camps in China. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

What’s happening to ethnic minorities in China?

Siddie Friar, Intern Reporter July 24, 2020

During an interview with the BBC, Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming struggled to explain drone footage which captured a large procession of alleged prisoners with shaved heads, blindfolded, and bound on...

No matter the reopening plan, school will inevitably  look very different this year. (photo from unsplash.com)

Duval County teachers say no reopening plan is a good reopening plan

Siddie Friar, Intern Reporter July 21, 2020

As the first day of school draws near for Duval County Public Schools, teachers, students and parents are bracing for what is likely to be a rocky road at best, and a deadly catastrophe at worst.  Florida...

SG - Student Government

Student Government puts out survey about racial discrimination and BLM

Siddie Friar, Intern Reporter July 17, 2020

In an effort to better understand the climate around race and racial injustice on campus, Student Government has released a survey to gauge how Ospreys are feeling.  The survey is only a few questions,...

UNF faculty create petition to ban any RNC activity from campus

UNF faculty create petition to ban any RNC activity from campus

Siddie Friar, Reporter July 16, 2020

In a preemptive move, faculty at UNF have created a petition asking for a ban on any and all RNC activities at any campus facilities for the convention this August.  The petition cites two main reasons...

Conspiracy theories find fertile ground during COVID crisis

Conspiracy theories find fertile ground during COVID crisis

Siddie Friar, Reporter July 15, 2020

What do the death of Jesus, the death of Princess Diana, JFK’s assassinaton, Bigfoot sightings, aliens, and 9/11 have in common? They each have interesting, if not wild, conspiracy theories connected...

Dorm rooms, one of the on campus amenities that may end up being unavailable to students if Covid-19 cases surge. 
(image from unsplash.com)

Students return to on campus housing, who will shoulder the cost?

Siddie Friar, Intern Reporter July 13, 2020

As universities grapple with how to bring students back to campus housing, a rising tide of students and parents are concerned about the costs.  In a statement sent out by the housing director to students...

Royalty free image from unsplash.com. The recent Black Lives Matter protests have sparked such signs as the one picture above, connecting police brutality to larger social issues. 

Understanding Antifa

Siddie Friar, Reporter July 6, 2020

A Brief History of Fascism It was just 100 years ago that Benito Mussolini founded the Fascist party. A party which, to this day, promotes a damaging authoritarian, ultra-nationalism perspective.  Fascism...

A class action lawsuit filed in May suggests that no less than 341,000 students across Florida are entitled to partial refunds. 

Board of Governors to file dismissal for class action

Siddie Friar, Reporter July 1, 2020

In May, a University of Florida student filed a class action lawsuit against the Florida Board of Governors. Now, the Florida Board of Governors is filing a motion to dismiss. This lawsuit differs from...

Everyone needs a little help sometimes, knowing the right place or people to call is important.

Who to call instead of 911

Siddie Friar, Reporter June 30, 2020

Depending on the situation, calling the police is not always the best course of action. Here is a list of other organizations and groups you can call instead of the police.  Mental Health National...

Civil Rights Leader, Rodney Hurst, discusses Axe Handle Saturday: 60 years later, the struggle continues

Civil Rights Leader, Rodney Hurst, discusses Axe Handle Saturday: 60 years later, the struggle continues

Siddie Friar, Reporter June 26, 2020

Rodney Hurst Sr. is a natural orator. Hearing him speak, it is obvious he is no stranger to addressing a crowd. He has said these words, and had these conversations about systemic racism for decades,...

President Syzmanski presented UNF’s reopening plan and discussed our valuable and talented community partners who will be supporting UNF through the public hea

BOG approves fall reopening plans

Siddie Friar, Intern Reporter June 24, 2020

During a 5-hour-long meeting on Tuesday all 12 state universities presented their fall reopening plans to the board, all 12 were approved. Any changes to the approved plans will need to be approved...

Jacksonville Dance Theater explains dances role during the time of coronavirus

Jacksonville Dance Theater explains dance’s role during the time of coronavirus

Siddie Friar, Reporter June 23, 2020

In these ‘strange and unprecedented’ times, dancing may be the last thing on your mind. However, the folks at the non-profit Jacksonville Dance Theatre (JDT) think that dance, or creative movement,...

Even if you don’t express symptoms you could be a carrier of the virus, wearing a mask is to help protect other people.

Covid-19 direction unclear for FL residents

Siddie Friar, Reporter June 22, 2020

Jacksonville, Fla. - While there are still many mysteries about the Covid-19 virus, what we do know is that statewide responses have been confusing, often contradictory and the published test results are...

Royalty free photo from unsplash.com - DACA recipients, or Dreamers, are often highly integrated members of society. Ending the DACA program would be devastating for millions of people.

Supreme Court rules in favor of DACA

Siddie Friar, Intern Reporter June 18, 2020

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled today that the Obama era Deferment of Action on Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, would remain intact. Marking the second time in a week that the court ruled against...

Royalty free photo from unsplash.com. George Floyd protests in Uptown Charlotte.

A current timeline of the BLM movement

Zach Yearwood and Siddie Friar June 17, 2020

2020 has seen a historic rise in global civil rights protests. Here is a timeline of what has happened so far.  February 23  25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery is shot down while jogging in his hometown...

Typing on a laptop

Anti-racism training to be required for all incoming freshmen

Siddie Friar, Intern Reporter June 17, 2020

As part of a renewed diversity initiative, all incoming freshmen at UNF will be required to attend anti-racist training classes. The announcement was made by President Szymanski last week during a digital...

The Six Feet Away Gallery Q&A

The Six Feet Away Gallery Q&A

Siddie Friar, Reporter June 16, 2020

In the time of COVID-19, art spaces have been deemed non-essential. Museums and galleries have been shuttered for months and the vibrant culture those spaces help cultivate has largely been shuttered as...

Reading About Racism

Reading About Racism

Siddie Friar, Reporter June 15, 2020

The massive international protests surrounding ‘Black Lives Matter’ are making big waves, both physically and mentally.  Physically we see them in the way of reclaiming land, the defunding or pledges...

The RNC is coming to Jacksonville, sort of

The RNC is coming to Jacksonville, sort of

Siddie Friar, Reporter June 15, 2020

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - In a historic move, the Republican National Convention (RNC)  will be split across two cities for the first time ever.  The bulk of the ‘business’ of the convention will remain...

Sometimes life can feel really overwhelming, that’s usually a good time to take a little break. (Stock photo from pixabay)

Building a toolkit to address burnout

Siddie Friar, Intern Reporter June 9, 2020

Burnout, a state of utter mental, physical, and likely, emotional exhaustion. It’s a condition on the rise and it’s safe to say, we’ve all been there.  A time when we committed to one too many...

List of black owned businesses local & national

List of black owned businesses local & national

Siddie Friar, Reporter June 9, 2020

In light of the conversations about racial injustice sweeping the country, many people have put in work compiling lists of black and minority owned businesses to support.  Here is a compilation...

Jax Democratic Socialists take on tenants rights and fair housing

Jax Democratic Socialists take on tenants rights and fair housing

Siddie Friar, Reporter June 8, 2020

In their monthly meeting Thursday, the Democratic Socialists of Jacksonville discussed plans to organize around housing justice and tenants rights, noting that ‘housing is a human right.’ From...

The United Faculty of Florida are the states largest faculty union, representing over 25,000 faculty members at all 12 of Floridas public universities.

United Faculty of Florida wants their voices heard

Siddie Friar, Reporter June 4, 2020

When it comes to reopening Florida universities in the fall, faculty across the state have concerns they fear may not be heard.  Representatives from the United Faculty of Florida (UFF), which represents...

Accolades for UNF at the Board of Governors Meeting

Accolades for UNF at the Board of Governors Meeting

Siddie Friar, Associated Press June 1, 2020

UNF made waves at the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) meeting Thursday, May 28. As co-chair Brian Lamb ran through the list of accomplishments, he stated, “I hope everyone likes good news because today...

Photo from the Jaxon - the oldest of the Doro Fixture Co. buildings constructed in 1903/04. May be the last surviving commercial storefront building from the 19th century suburb of East Jacksonville. 

Another one bites the dust: Doro building

Siddie Friar, Reporter June 1, 2020

Like all of us, Jacksonville also has a history. Once upon a time, this region was called Wacca Pilaka, by the Mocama tribe. It was part of a thriving Timucuan kingdom of some 200,000, and spanned 50,000...

UNF one step closer to welcoming students back in the fall

UNF one step closer to welcoming students back in the fall

Siddie Friar, Intern Reporter May 29, 2020

Students may be hitting the books on campus this fall-- so says the Florida Board of Governors (BOG). Thursday during a teleconference meeting, the BOG unanimously approved a blueprint for reopening Florida’s...

Students at a university

What universities will look like in the fall: Link to BOG meeting LIVE!

Siddie Friar, Intern Reporter May 28, 2020

The Florida Board of Governors is set to meet today in Tallahassee. The hot topic to be discussed at this meeting, which can be seen live The Florida Channel: Home? What will the reopening of universities...

Photo from News 4 Jax archive

Technicality brings Jax HRO back to the negotiating table

Siddie Friar, Intern Reporter May 22, 2020

In 2017 the Jacksonville City Council approved a measure stating that anti-discrimination laws for the city would be amended to include sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity under a...

Photo courtesy of Down To Earth Farms

Small farms flourish through pandemic

Siddie Friar, Intern Reporter May 21, 2020

The coronavirus has exposed the vulnerabilities and fragility of the U.S. food supply chain. Trips to the market during the pandemic have shown bare shelves, and signs indicating products can no longer...

Photo courtesy of Folio Weekly

Folio closes its doors after 33 years

Siddie Friar, Intern Reporter May 21, 2020

“A major piece of the puzzle that is the city’s culture has died,” wrote local historian and FSCJ professor, Tim Gilmore. He was writing about the closure of one of North Florida’s long-running...

Distance Learning

Is distance learning here to stay?

Siddie Friar, Intern Reporter May 18, 2020

When campuses across Florida shut down in mid-March the general feeling for some was that, come summer things would return to ‘normal’ and campus life, in all its forms, would be able to resume.  Unfortunately,...

Ron Nelson

UNF mourns loss of esteemed adjunct professor

Siddie Friar, Intern Reporter May 18, 2020

Ron Nelson, one of UNF’s beloved earth science professors, passed away during the afternoon of May 11. According to his department, Nelson had a history of medical setbacks over the years but remained...

JU announces students will return to campus fall semester

JU announces students will return to campus fall semester

Siddie Friar, Reporter May 15, 2020

In an announcement made Wednesday by JU president, Tim Cost, he stated that JU was “100% committed to you being on this campus come this fall in late August, to take your classes, to live and to learn...

A Facebook profile picture of UNF Senior Anthony Rojas.

UF Student Files Class Action Against Florida Board of Governors

Siddie Friar, Reporter May 15, 2020

Anthony Rojas has a natural inclination to social justice issues. His parents immigrated to the United States from Colombia before he was born. They saw firsthand many issues with justice and equality...

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