I don't know about you, but the holidays came and went pretty quickly. The break may have included travel, gift-giving and for most people, hanging out with loved ones. By the time the New Year rolled around, I couldn't think of anything to change in 2009.

UNF administrators did a very smart thing a few years ago. They began planning and putting money away for a rainy day. And with the state, local and national economy facing a downturn and learning institutions across Florida being hampered by budget cuts, that rainy day has now come. But while other state institutions are scrambling to avoid drastic measures, UNF only has to tap into its reserve funds. The result: UNF accomplished a feat many other state universities could not – improving the learning level by bettering the campus community.

Mike Tomassoni Art Director John Weidner Assistant Sports Editor Rachel Elsea Copy Editor James Cannon II Assistant News Editor With more budget cuts targeted to affect Florida universities...

In times of economic downturns and the complete removal of free-market principles from macro-economics, an instance of resourceful capitalism is a refreshing sight, especially since this solution came from a government worker. Tom Farber, a San Diego high school teacher, was recently faced with a serious budget crisis: his copy budget for tests and quizzes was cut by one-third. He estimated his expenses for the school year at more than $500 while his budget was reduced to a little less than $300. Rather than complain about a lack of educational funding while either paying for copies out of pocket – which isn’t a possibility for some educators considering their paltry salary – or simply omitting the exams – to the detriment of the students – he decided to sell advertising space on his copies.

The smallest rabbit known to man, the pygmy rabbit, could fit in the palm of a hand – its fluffy fur and big floppy ears balled together to form one adorable little bunny. Not only was it cute, but...

After hearing Gov. Charlie Crist’s plan to increase Florida college tuition annually by 15 percent for the next eight years, many college students might have a negative reaction. Most college students struggle financially, and being forced to pay more money is not an encouraging thing. But Florida in-state students currently live as royalty anyway, paying the cheapest tuition rates in the country. The plan would cap the tuition increases at the national average, and it would take seven to 10 years to even skim the surface of that level. This plan, though costly at first, will make the college degree – and the experience – more valuable. There are 15.9 million students currently enrolled in college, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and some of those are only there because someone else – a parent, grandparent, or fiancé – is forcing them.

The UNF student population has been tested really hard during the last few semesters. The way the economy developed left many students facing the dilemma of their future at school and how they will make it during the upcoming holiday. Christmas is now less than a month away and is filling many people with a bitter taste of worry and uncertainty. Those who lost their homes due to the economy will spend their first Christmas at someone else’s place.

While different world religions celebrate their own holidays in various ways, there is one common ideal that can be found in them all: We should give back to others. A large number of Americans, despite their religious beliefs, celebrate Christmas as a day of giving presents to the ones you love. However, this is not what Christmas is intended to celebrate in the Christian religion, which was the norm our society was founded on and has – for the majority – maintained. Christmas is the day when Christians come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. They are told all the presents and gifts they receive mean nothing compared to the gift God gave them in Jesus.