After almost nine years as UNF police chief, Mark Foxworth stepped down from his post to become a street cop for the Fernandina Beach Police Department. Assistant Chief John Dean took Foxworth’s place Dec. 13 as the new police chief of UPD. The Spinnaker sat down with him to discuss his past experience, his new role on campus and his plans for the future of UPD.

Let’s face it, holiday songs tend to be as cliché and cheesy as families wearing matching Christmas sweaters. Listening to Bing Crosby’s rendition of “White Christmas” 785 times in a month can be as nauseating as a three-day eggnog bender. But you don’t have to settle for the same 20-30 songs you’re likely to hear while doing your holiday shopping. When you’ve had enough, here’s a list of five songs with a holiday theme that won’t push you to the brink of insanity.

A little bit of sophistication, a dash of music and a whole lot of clowning around: those are the three main components of an unforgettable night at the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. The latest Pop Series performance by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Cirque de la Symphonie, proved to be a treat for both the ears and the eyes of all who attended Nov. 14-15, as the orchestra teamed up with an award-winning circus ensemble to bring its music to life. “We’ve played this piece many times before and never received that kind of reception,” Music Director and Principal Conductor Fabio Mechetti said after the audience erupted in applause. The difference was the combination of the senses, allowing viewers to experience the music in a visual way with bodies contorting to the beat, flying through the air or balancing on another person’s head.

UPD has been working harder to enforce a zero drug tolerance policy after a large-scale drug bust that resulted in the arrest of six UNF students and one employee in April 2008. The way UPD handles individual cases varies by the severity of the offense, but one of the changes brought about by the investigation lies within the tolerance of drug possession on campus and code enforcement.