NEWS
- Meet the Candidates
- Center celebrates religions Sarah Diener
- Student advocacy group pushes for uniform statewide grading policy Tami Livingston
- Spinnaker's apartment complex safety roundup
- Loanee beware: The dos and don'ts of college financial aid Marshall Loeb
- Osprey builds $1 million business from scratch Jessica Medina
- Burns: War brings out best, worst in people Ace Stryker
- Atheists battle misconceptions Chris McComiskey
Meet the candidates
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The future is up to you.
Here are the names, pictures and platforms of the students running for Senate seats. The names of the candidates have been spelled as they were submitted, and the platforms are in the candidates' own words. They have not been edited for punctuation, style or grammar. The Spinnaker allowed each candidate 50 words and in no way endorses any candidate over another. All platforms submitted to the Spinnaker by 5 p.m. Oct. 12 are printed here.
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Ashley Adams Senior, English No platform submitted. |
Chris Arsenault Junior, Political Science There has to be a change in SG. Our representatives need to start paying attention to what we want, and I'm going to set the example. If they say its YOUR Student Government, then why is it that nothing we want seems to happen? Let's make it happen, together. |
Danielle Barringer Senior, Political Science No platform submitted. |
Tom Blanchard Freshman, Political Science My name is Tom Blanchard and as a senator, I will work with the Red party to ensure a safer campus enviroment, a faster shuttle system, a more enjoyable dorm experience, more greek involvement with pep rallys, dances/formals for all students, and better UNF for all students. |
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Lindsay Bookstaver Junior, Political Science Hello Students, my name is Lindsay Bookstaver, a new member of Zeta Tau Alpha, requesting your endorsement for UNF Senate! I am here to serve you, the student, wholeheartedly and to the best of my abilities. I will make informed decisions to better the Student Body here at UNF. |
Amanda Brunson Junior, Political Science My name is Amanda Brunson. I am running for Senate with the student party, and I am confident that I can make a valuable contribution. I will work diligently to serve the interests of the student body. |
Brandon Eady Junior, English My name is Brandon Eady and I am your current Budget and Allocations Chairperson. I have served as Greek Council Secretary, Presidential Envoy and Vice-President for my fraternity. Re-Elect me to continue an experienced, economically efficient representation and Smart Government. Vote Green! |
Angela Green Freshman, Elementary Education I am Angela Green and I am running for student government for a senator position. I really want to improve the school for those who live on and off campus. That is why you should vote for Angela Green with the Red Team! So think Christmas! |
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Nina Guerriero Sophomore, Communications My name is Nina Guerriero and I am a sophomore at the University of North Florida majoring in Communications. Let me be your voice! Let's work together! According to Ron Burgundy, "When in Rome." According to Nina Guerriero, "When at UNF." Standing United, Moving Forward. |
Mary Elizabeth Hines Sophomore, International Studies No platform submitted. |
Chris Hovel Junior, Psychology Being given the opportunity to serve the students here at UNF this past year has been an awesome experience and I would love to continue serving all of you for a second term. That being said, don't forget to get out to the polls and vote! |
Yvette Kibwika Sophomore, Political Science Greeting students! My name is Yvette Kibwika & I'm a Sophomore here at UNF. After being appointed early this summer as a senator, I passed bills & resolutions with visible results. As a Student, & member of the AASU, I bring you a vision for a FORWARD & UNIFIED Student Government! |
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Anthony Mack Freshman, Political Science Greetings Fellow Ospreys! I have had the opportunity to serve in the UNF Senate for the summer and even presently. As I Senator, I have, and will continue to, represent the desires of the entire student body. See you at the Poles! |
Jimmy Mansfield Senior, Management I have been serving as an appointed Senator since the summer. I'm fully prepared to serve the students to the best of my ability with honesty, integrity, and vigor. Let's work together to ensure this school remains one of a kind. UNF; standing united moving forward in a new direction. |
Cherie Michaud Freshman, Political Science I am Cherie Michaud, current freshman at UNF. I am a SG Senator. I took on this task because I wanted to ensure that the students are getting what they need! I am running to make sure that YOUR VOICE is heard. Vote Cherie Michaud, the RIGHT WAY to go! |
Tony Miles Junior, Communications As a candidate for Senator of Student Government, it is my initiative to be an active voice for students. My plans include increasing the oppurtunity for enrichment in academics, social activity, community involvement and diversity. I hope to enhance the college experience of each and every student on campus. |
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Miguel Ortigao * Sophomore, Communications As a candidate for a senator of student government, I am committed to serving the student body in every way possible. With plans to only better the population of students and faculty, I will be dedicated to delivering the wants and needs of the campus. |
Matt Pagan Junior, Communications Greetings fellow ospreys! My name is Matt Pagan and I am involved in Greek life and Big Brothers Big Sisters and am looking to expand my leadership to our school. If you want to see progressive change at UNF, don't forget to vote for PAGAN and the GREEN party! |
Rachel Rosen * Junior, Elementary Education My name is Rachel Rosen and I am majoring in Elementary Education here at the University of North FL. Honest. Hardworking. Trustworthy. These are all the qualities that I posess and will use to serve the student body. |
Michael Saathoff Sophomore, Philosophy While "Standing United and Moving Forward"; I pledge to support the push for initiatives such as campus safety, school spirit, and courses that will benefit our future educational goals. Remember, Caring for you is what Michael likes to do! |
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Redner Salonga Senior, Communications VOTE RED...Redner Salonga for Student Government Senator! Serving and hearing the concerns of fellow students is my priority. Helping UNF reach its full potential is my goal. As a representative of your student body, let me be your voice. Together, we will stand united and move forward. |
Jessica Sexton Senior, Accounting My name is Jessica Sexton and I am running with "Standing United, Moving Forward." I am qualified to be a Senator because I have been active with many organizations on campus and I would like to make sure that every student has the best college experience while at UNF. |
Jason Trent Freshman, Political Science I would like to say on behalf of myself and the rest of the red party, that we are here to serve the student body. We are constantly working on safety, transportation, and improving the student experience. Your vote is greatly appreciated and we hope to see you on Election Day. |
Fall 2007 General Election Candidates whose platforms were not received by deadline Taylor Campbell Greg Curry Nelson Hernandez Nelson Lady
Election voting locations
Students can vote in front of the UNF Bookstore, the Coggin College of Business and the Fine Arts Center.
Elections will be open 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Oct. 23-24.
* These students are not included on the Student Government Election Supervisor's list of qualified candidates. However, they did submit campaign information to the Spinnaker.
Center celebrates religions
Event returns to campus after 13 years
Religious groups from all walks of life will be discussing issues, educating students about their doctrines and hosting church services during the University of North Florida's Religious Awareness
Week Oct. 22-28.
The event, sponsored by the Interfaith Center, is a weeklong opportunity to educate the student body about the different
religious factions on campus, said Angela Davis, office manager of the Interfaith Center.
The mission of the center is to care for the individual and to lead, educate and advocate the expression of religious faith and core values.
"We're doing really good at the caring, leading, and advocating, but we thought we should have more focus on education,"
Davis said.
Throughout the week, faculty members, student groups, and members of the Jacksonville community will be speaking about controversial issues in religion like homosexuality.
A panel discussion titled "Evangelism: Free Speech vs. Hate Speech" was prompted by many students at UNF asking for the Interfaith Center to address the preacher that often comes to the Green on campus and gets a large reaction out of students with his message, Davis said.
Nonreligious sects of the campus community will also be included. The First Coast Freethought Society will host a talk about defining atheism and dispelling myths.
"We planned this so that every student would have an opportunity to hear about something they were interested in," Davis said.
An information fair will take place Oct. 23 and 24 on the Green.
The "no-preaching zone" will have various student groups on hand to answer questions and provide information about their organizations.
"As long as one religious group doesn't dominate the activities, I think it will be a good thing," said junior sociology major
Lucas Guardo.
"This is going to be a time to have dialogue between faiths and to come together over common topics like faith and social
justice," Davis said.
The last religious awareness week at UNF was held in the
early 1990s.
"It's time to do something like this again," she said.
Contact Sarah Diener at news@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Student advocacy group pushes for uniform statewide grading policy
All state universities follow different grading scales
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Students across Florida are questioning the lack of a statewide grading policy for colleges and universities.
Currently, each of the 11 public universities in the State University System has its own grading scale.
The Florida Student Association, a lobbying organization, is working to address student concern by meeting with SUS officials to discuss possible remedies for the situation.
"It's an issue that's very much on our radar," said Mike Fischer, director of the FSA.
Fischer said students brought this issue to the FSA last year and were concerned about the fact that an A from one institution does not necessarily equate to an A at another institution.
Fischer said FSA is in the process of meeting with different university administrators, the Board of Governors, and SUS Chancellor Mark Rosenburg to determine each entity's possible issues or objections against creating a universal grading policy.
"Faculty at a lot of schools don't want to change their grading scales, but we're in the very preliminary stages of approaching the SUS to see what our
options are about changing the grading scale," Fischer said.
Currently, grading scales across the state range from A+ to F. But many variations of the possible grades between the two extremes and the points allotted to them exist at many universities.
For example, a B- at Florida State University equals 2.75 points, but at the University of Florida, it is not even possible to receive a B-.
Students can only get a B, which equals three points, or a C+, which equals 2.5 points.
Therefore, not only can the grades received for a class differ from university to university, but the GPAs students receive can also vary greatly depending on the point-scale used at their specific universities.
This allows some students to receive a higher GPA at some schools, while the same GPA might not be possible at other schools because those schools don't allow plus or minus grades to be given.
"I don't like that there's not an A+ but there's an A-," said David Kane, a junior computer science major.
Dr. William Klostermeyer, UNF faculty association president, said students approached the FSA with concerns about the grading scale about six years ago.
Klostermeyer, a computer professor, said the FSA looked into the situation and decided not to pursue a change because the grading scales across the state are "fairly similar."
The current scale was last
changed in the mid 1990s, he said.
Fischer said FSA will continue to pursue a
universal grading scale and it is
"still very much a priority."
Contact Tami Livingston at news@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Spinnaker's apartment complex safety roundup
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After the recent murder at Silver Springs Apartments and the shooting Oct. 8 at The Palms, the
Spinnaker requested and reviewed crime records from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. The following is a summary of the incidents at the six closest apartment complexes to the University of North Florida for March 27-Sept. 27. The following numbers are approximate. This list does not include all incidents at these addresses.
Compiled by Tami Livingston.
1.
The Palms at Beach Boulevard
11990 Beach Boulevard
6 Thefts
12 Domestic disturbances
46 Disputes
6 Suspicious persons
1 Suicide
3 Obscene or threatening acts
12 Misc. services
17 Premises/property checks
2 Assaults
1 Robbery
4 Discharges of a firearm
7 Noise complaints
7 Assist other agencies
7 Burglaries
3 Drug investigations
1 Act of vandalism
1 Missing person
Calls placed to the complex's management were not returned.
2.
Logan's Pointe Apartments
3544 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S.
6 Thefts
12 Domestic disturbances
24 Disputes
8 Suspicious persons
1 Suicide
0 Obscene or threatening acts
8 Premises/property checks
2 Assaults
3 Armed robberies
0 Discharges of a firearm
12 Noise complaints
5 Assist other agencies
5 Burglaries
9 Drug investigations
6 Acts of vandalism
0 Missing persons
Calls placed to the complex's management were not returned.
3.
Silver Springs Apartments
3737 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S.
2 Thefts
6 Domestic disturbances
19 Disputes
6 Suspicious persons
3 Suicides
0 Obscene or threatening acts
6 Misc. services
25 Premises/property checks
4 Assaults
3 Armed robberies
2 Discharges of a firearm
10 Noise complaints
2 Assist other agencies
12 Burglaries
1 Drug investigations
5 Acts of vandalism
1 Person shot
1 Dead person
Manager Leslie McDonald said students account for approximately 30 percent of the residents in the complex. She said the complex relies on the
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for security "just like all the other residents of Jacksonville."
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Avanti Condos
3544 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S.
3 Thefts
2 Domestic disturbances
15 Disputes
1 Suspicious person
1 Suicide
2 Obscene or threatening acts
5 Misc. services
2 Premises/property checks
1 Assault
0 Armed robberies
0 Discharges of a firearm
21 Noise complaints
0 Assist other agencies
0 Burglaries
0 Drug investigations
3 Acts of vandalism
1 Missing persons
Multiple calls placed to the listed office number were not answered.
5.
Pine Meadows Apartments
3451 Saland Way
1 Theft
9 Domestic disturbances
21 Disputes
1 Suspicious person
0 Suicides
0 Obscene or threatening acts
5 Misc. services
4 Premises/property checks
1 Assault
1 Armed robberies
0 Discharges of a firearm
26 Noise complaints
4 Assist other agencies
2 Burglaries
3 Drug investigations
2 Acts of vandalism
0 Missing persons
Multiple calls placed to the listed office number were not answered.
6.
Melrose Student Suites<
3601 Kernan Blvd. S.
A Spinnaker public records request yielded no incidents reported to the Sheriff's Office during the six-month period. Multiple calls placed to Melrose management were not answered.
Contact Ashley Beland at news@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Loanee beware: The dos and don'ts of college financial aid
With college costs continuing to rise, parents and students are increasingly turning to private lenders to cover the cost of
tuition.
Between 1995 and 2006, the amount of money borrowed from private lenders to pay for college went from $1.3 billion to $17.3 billion, according to MSN Money columnist Liz Pulliam Weston. Why should this concern you? Because not all loans are created equal.
There are three basic types of loans available to undergrads: federal loans issued directly by the government, loans from private lenders that are subsidized and guaranteed by the government, and private loans.
The interest rates on federal loans are typically in the neighborhood of 6.25 percent and
8 percent.
The interest rates on private loans, by contrast, regularly run from 12 percent to 13 percent and can sometimes go as high as 28 percent, according Alan Collinge, founder of Student Loan Justice.org, a grassroots organization dedicated to reforming predatory lending practices.
Private loans also offer less flexibility when it comes time to pay them back, Collinge said.
There are options available to borrowers who fall behind on their federal loans, such as forbearances and graduated repayment plans.
Some private lenders offer help for borrowers experiencing financial hardship as well, but they tend to be less forgiving.
It's not uncommon for a lender to significantly jack up the interest rate on a loan when you miss payments, Collinge said. Furthermore, unlike credit-card debt, private student debt isn't wiped out when you
declare bankruptcy.
The lesson: Proceed with extreme caution. Collinge offers a list of dos and don'ts for borrowers considering private
student loans.
Do:
- Tap all federal loans. Work closely with your school's financial aid office to ensure that you're taking advantage of all of the federal funds you have coming to you. According to a 2003 study by the Public Interest Research Group, 50 percent of borrowers take out private loans before tapping all of the federal loan money available to them.
- Try to negotiate a better package with your school.
"People don't realize that, unless you're going to a top-30 school, there's a good chance the school will be willing to revisit your financial aid package," Collinge said. If you're unhappy with the mix of loans being offered, go back to the bargaining table.
- Consider all of your options. Before you take out private loans, exhaust every other option available to you, Collinge said. Be diligent about applying for scholarships, grants or other loans, including loans from family members.
Don't:
- Stop with only the financial aid office. While many private lenders that advertise directly to the consumer charge high fees and exorbitant interest rates, there are deals to be had outside the financial aid office, so cast a wide net. If the lender your school suggests isn't offering competitive rates, try approaching another reputable lender. You may get a better deal.
- Have your parents cosign unless it's absolutely necessary. If you decide to go ahead and take out private loans for schools, avoid having your parents cosign, Collinge said. "Oftentimes, cosigners' houses and retirement packages end up as a part of the collateral on these loans," Collinge said. This means that if you fall behind, your parents may pay the price.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Osprey builds $1 million business from scratch
Former barista takes the reins of major company
A University of North Florida student got the chance of a lifetime one day two years ago when he was serving coffee in a Ponte Vedra Starbucks.
Mike McGlynn, a senior communicationsstudent,met Jacksonville local Brad Rosenthal, who offered him the chance to start a business. Now, McGlynn has a new condo and a new car.
Rosenthal was interested in helping college students start businesses. He approached McGlynn about a carpet cleaning company for hotels called Bluestone.
"I said, 'Look, Mike, you're working here, and that's great you have nice opportunities - you interested in running a business?" Rosenthal said.
The duo started with $5,000, and didn't make any money
during the first year.
But they decided to keep
going.
They even joked with each other that if they weren't the owners of the business they would fire each other, McGlynn said.
After the first year, things started to take off for the company. In the second year, they made $350,000, and this year they expect to make $650,000.
"I was a regular college kid with no business experience, and now I was able to purchase a new condo and purchase a new car," McGlynn said.
Recently Rosenthal and McGlynn sold 5 percent of their company for $50,000. That, according to Rosenthal, makes their company worth about $1 million.
This isn't the first time Rosenthal has helped young people start businesses.
Previously he worked with inner city kids in Washington D.C., and one of the students he worked with won a national entrepreneur of the year award.
"I told Mike for his graduation present he can take the week off and go apply for other jobs just to see what's out there, because it's very difficult for college kids," Rosenthal said.
Contact Jessica Medina at news_staff@unfspinnaker.com -- --> PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Burns: War brings out best, worst in people
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WWII filmmaker Ken Burns spoke to students Oct. 16 about his latest movie, "The War." |
Documentarian Ken Burns calls his latest film the hardest thing he's ever worked on.
"The War," a seven-part documentary about World War II that debuted on PBS stations across the country last month, is a product of six years of pouring over historical documents, letters, photos, video footage and more, he said.
"The cutting room floor is covered not with bad stuff, but with good stuff," Burns said. "It's the hardest thing I've ever had to wrestle narratively ... this is like a Russian novel."
Burns stopped by the University of North Florida Oct. 16 to discuss the lessons learned in the United States circa 1940 in a speech titled "Implications of World War II." He said during production of the film, he discovered both the heights and depths of humanity through exploring the stories of the
main characters.
"[War] not only brings out the worst in us, but the best, too. That's what this film is about," he said. "You don't know what we could do if Americans just rolled up our sleeves and did it."
It is a precipitous time in American history to make a film about the nature of war, Burns admitted, but he said neither he nor anyone involved with the film had a political agenda going into the project - especially since work began before the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Nevertheless, there are lessons that can be learned in retrospect, he said.
"There are unintentional similarities between all wars," he said. He pointed to poor decision-making, insufficient resources, torture, and the murder of civilians as examples of recurring characteristics of modern warfare.
Despite whatever political implications viewers may draw from the film, Burns said it is ultimately a picture about people. The series focuses on the stories of 15 or so people from all walks of life who were somehow impacted by the war, he said.
"You really follow them like your own family - like people you would have Thanksgiving with."
Contact Ace Stryker at copydesk@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Atheists battle misconceptions
Alex Mabee is an atheist.
Undoubtedly the label evokes a variety of opinions and conclusions concerning the character of the 20-year-old University of North Florida electrical engineering student, a great deal of which would portray him in a
negative light.
But that is the stigma that goes along with being an atheist in
today's society, Mabee said.
"Atheism is the lack of a belief in a god," he said. "Many non-atheists think that atheism is a religion that stresses a strict 'there is no God' stance. Atheists are often accused of simply
hating God."
Mabee said that as an atheist, there are several misconceptions about his personal belief system, and that more often than not it is these misunderstandings that cause atheism to be viewed so
unfavorably.
"Lacking a belief in 'X' is not the same thing as believing that 'X' is false," Mabee said. "There are some self-proclaimed atheists that will assert that there is no God. However, atheism at its core is not an assertion. It is the absence of a particular belief."
A 2006 Pew study found about 1/5 of 18- to 25-year-olds claim no religious affiliation or consider themselves atheist or agnostic - an increase from 11 percent in
the late 1980s.
There was formerly a UNF student atheist club called the Campus Crusade for Positive Atheism, but Mabee said it was scrapped in favor of a group with a less specific philosophical orientation: The Student Alliance for Freethought.
While not specifically atheistic in name, the SAF does share similar goals and beliefs with those of the former CCPA.
Mabee suggests that it was through the utilization of "freethought" - unbound exercise in matters of religious belief unrestrained by deference to
authority - that many atheists came to follow their current
belief system.
"Many atheists used to adhere to a particular religion, and through scientific inquiry, skepticism and critical thinking came to the conclusion that supernatural claims, outdated dogma and spiritually related things all do not have sufficient evidence to justify their alleged worth,"
he said.
Dr. Jay Huebner, former faculty advisor to the CCPA and current UNF physics professor, believes in a more open view of religious matters as well.
"I call myself a scientific naturalist," Huebner said. "By that I mean I believe that the modern scientific understanding of the universe is true. I am disinclined toward mysticism and superstitions and so do not believe mystic accounts of creations, though I do enjoy reading them. I suppose many people who do not know much about belief systems other than their own would choose to call my beliefs atheistic, but I do not use that term to describe my beliefs."
Contact Chris McComiskey at news@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE