WEB EXCLUSIVE ARTICLE: July 11, 2007
Missing West Side Man
Flyers have been posted on campus in the hopes someone might recognize or have information regarding the whereabouts of a 26 year old West Side man who has been missing for over two weeks.
Michael Austin Davis was last seen on June 25 at his sisterÕs house. His family and friends have not heard from him since he was picked up in a taxi (due to a suspended license) to run errands and there has been no activity on his cell phone or his bank accounts since. Personal items such as his computer, backpack and a blank check from his father are accounted for.
A friend of DavisÕs posted the fliers on campus hoping someone would recognize him and call in. Local news stations have covered DavisÕs disappearance and his parents took out an ad in the Florida Times Union July 10.
While they have received a some calls in response to the fliers and stories, and the Jacksonville SheriffÕs Office is handling the case, no new information has surfaced yet, said AustinÕs father Jim Davis.
Jim described his son as a laid back polite young man who has been depressed lately. His friend Amy said he is very family oriented and his disappearance is completely out of character.
ÒHeÕs not a real heavy partier but he loves people,Ó Jim said. ÒWeÕre just doing everything we can to find him.Ó
Davis is 5Õ8Õ and 160 lbs. with brown hair and a scar on the right hand side of his face. If you have seen or have information about Davis, contact his family at (904) 375-1900 or (850) 340-0446 or JSO at (904) 630-0500.
Contact Tami Livingston at news@unfspinnaker.com
WEB EXCLUSIVE ARTICLE: July 11, 2007
Giuliani Visits Campus
Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani spoke at the University of North Florida University Center July 7 to a packed room.
After having to open a retractable wall on one side of the room to accommodate all the people who attended, Giuliani walked in to a standing ovation and country band Brooks and DunnÕs ÒOnly in America.Ó Speaking for almost an hour, Giuliani addressed what he thinks is needed in Washington, the war in Iraq and fiscal responsibility.
Giuliani said politics is currently lacking in leadership, which requires two things. First, a Òleader should know what they believe in and tell people that.Ó Giuliani said too many politicians rely on opinion polls to tell them what to believe.
ÒA leader sets a course and tells you what direction he or she thinks we should go in,Ó he said.
Secondly, Giuliani said, a leader must be optimistic and believe in their country. He said according to recent polls a majority of the American people think the U.S. in going in the wrong direction.
ÒAmerica is not fundamentally going in the wrong direction,Ó he said.
ÒWeÕve got problems, theyÕre big ones É but thereÕs never been a country with more freedom, more prosperity É weÕre a good country with good, solid principles and should use them to solve our problems.Ó
Terrorism is a large problem facing the U.S. Giuliani said.
ÒThe response before 9/11 was incorrect,Ó Giuliani said. ÒThey shouldÕve been treated as acts of war, not just criminal acts,Ó referring to the attacks on the U.S.S. Cole and American embassies overseas.
Giuliani said we currently underestimate our enemies and think they are better people then they are. He said America needs Òto appeal to those in the Middle East that can be our friends,Ó and Òput our own defense first and peopleÕs opinion of us second.Ó He said Democrats ÒdonÕt get the magnitude of the threat that we face.Ó
Giuliani also said President Bush needs to do everything he can to create a society and government Òso when we leave, we leave with an ally against terrorism.Ó
When asked about his stance on Iran and nuclear weapons, Giuliani responded, ÒIran is the biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the worldÉ it should not be a nuclear power.Ó Hesaid stronger sanctions need to be enforced against Iran.
Giuliani also discussed his views on fiscal responsibility, stating he is Òcommitted to restoring fiscal discipline to Washington.Ó Giuliani said he plans to do this by lowering government spending and lowering taxes in order to put more money in the hands of the people. He also advocated for the downsizing of government. Giuliani referred to his time as mayor of New York to exemplify those practices in action.
During his speech and when answering questions, the audience was decidedly approving except for when Giuliani responded that he as of that moment would not sign the Fair Tax Bill unless it could be proved to him it would not tax the middle class more than now. Amid some booing, one audience member yelled Òread the bill and then talk!Ó
However, the mood lifted again when Giuliani said social security needs a bipartisan solution and people should be able to use some of their social security money in other ways.
When asked if he believe Florida would play as important a part in the coming election as it did in the last, Giuliani said has a critical primary and he focused on Florida early on with events and fundraising and expects other candidates to begin doing the same.
After answering some more audience questions, Giuliani left the room amid another standing ovation and Rascal FlattsÕ ÒLife Is a Highway.Ó
Contact Tami Livingston at news@unfspinnaker.com