Gandhi comes to campus
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Melissa Slater 
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The new Gandhi statue on the University of North Florida campus was designed to encourage students to adopt the humane values taught by Mohandas Gandhi during his life time.
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Oct. 1 marked the unveiling of an 8-foot, 1,500-pound bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi on the campus of the University
of North Florida. The unveiling was one of a host of activities held during the Gandhi Day celebration, which was
held at 2 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center and was free and open to the public.
The event kicked off with a peace walk from the Fine Arts Center to the monument site between Buildings 1 and 2.
After the walk, a moment of silence was observed to honor the memory of the bronze statue's famed subject. A violin
recital was also held before the unveiling of the new addition to campus.
The statue was donated to UNF by the Gandhi Memorial Society of Jacksonville. Ashok Bazaz, the president of the
Gandhi Memorial Society, said he hopes the statue will positively influence the students and faculty of UNF.
"We are glad to have gifted the statue to the UNF campus," Bazaz said. "Its purpose is to inspire everyone to adopt
the humane value system that Gandhi represented. We hope his beliefs will be reflected onto others and this will
lead everyone to help each other."
According to UNF Vice President Chief of Staff, Thomas Serwatka, the total cost of the statue was $70,000 and was
paid in full by the Gandhi Memorial Society of Jacksonville. The statue's base cost an additional fee of $33,000,
which the society also paid for in conjunction with Elkins Construction.
Student body president, Justin Damiano, was in attendance for the unveiling ceremony. He said that bringing this
statue to UNF will add to the ambience of the campus.
"There was a great turnout by the community for the event," Damiano said. "The statue will add a positive atmosphere
to the campus and reflects the compassionate nature of Gandhi. This was a lot of hard work by President Delaney and
Tom Serwatka and this will make an impact on all UNF students of the present and future."
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Delaney envisions 'unique' future
By Ace Stryker
MANAGING EDITOR
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Melissa Slater
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University of North Florida President John Delaney gave the annual "State of the
University" address Friday during Fall Convocation. He offered specific insights into the University's
hopes for academics and research in the coming years.
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President John Delaney's annual "State of the University" address at Fall Convocation Sept. 29 outlined the
University of North Florida administration's view for the future, including specific goals for academics and
student body size.
Delaney said that one of the focuses of the university in the coming years is to balance physical growth with a
commitment to a high standard of quality in academics and research. He said he envisions UNF one day becoming a
"destination university" that attracts bright students from across the country. With respect to the swelling
student body and plans for construction on campus, Delaney said he doesn't see the progress slowing down any time
soon. "We need to grow and we will grow," Delaney said, "We cannot and should not stop growth in our student body."
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SG works to fulfill promises
By Ace Stryker
MANAGING EDITOR
Student Government leadership at the University of North Florida has delivered on one of its campaign promises from
the spring 2006 elections and is making headway on another two while several more difficult promises await attention,
according to SG President Justin Damiano.
Among the promises first advertised by Damiano and Vice President Dorrell Briscoe in the March 29 issue of the Spinnaker,
one-24-hour access to the library during finals week-is said by Briscoe to be "in the bag," while three more-a test
express lane in the bookstore, a Martin Luther King Jr. civil rights class, and an on-campus car wash for students -
are nearing finalization.
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