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UNF's #1 Student-Run News Source

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Education

DeSantis

Florida legislature passes two bills targeting diversity, pronoun use in state education, leaving UNF’s diversity efforts in limbo

Carter Mudgett, Editor in Chief May 3, 2023
The Florida legislature passed two bills to ban diversity programs in higher education and restrict the use of preferred pronouns in schools Wednesday afternoon. 
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FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis answers questions from the media in the Florida Cabinet following his State of the State address during a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. Advocates for open government are ringing alarms about plans by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration that could make it harder to learn what public officials are doing and to speak out against them. (AP Photo/Phil Sears, File)

Florida “Don’t Say Gay” law expanded to ban discussion of sexual orientation, gender identity in K-12 public schools

Grae Barron, Reporter Apr 19, 2023

The Florida Board of Education approved the expansion of what is widely known as the “Don’t Say Gay” law on Wednesday, banning discussion of gender identity in all K-12 public schools in the state. Gov....

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Rep. Stan McClain, R-Ocala, was relieved to finally pass CS/CS/HB 133 with a final vote of 76 Yeas to 44 Nays, on the House Floor. February 22, 2020. Photo courtesy of Florida House of Representative Stan McClain Photo Album.

“Don’t Say Gay” bill expected to expand with HB 1069

Grae Barron, Reporter Apr 7, 2023

Florida’s infamous “Don’t Say Gay” bill is in the process of being expanded into HB 1069 to include prekindergarten to eighth grade in its restrictions, among other changes. The current version...

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DeSantis delivered his state of the state on March 7, 2023 to open the Florida legislative session.

Gender studies student and professor provide perspectives on Florida HB 999

Mallory Pace, News Editor Mar 24, 2023

House Bill 999 is making its way through Florida’s Senate, adding to the list of proposals aiming to alter the role of higher education, and the implications are being felt by both students and professors...

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FILE -The number of attempts to ban or restrict library resources in schools, universities and public libraries was on track to exceed record counts in 2021, the American Library Association reported eight months into 2022. “The unprecedented number of challenges we’re seeing already this year reflects coordinated, national efforts to silence marginalized or historically underrepresented voices and deprive all of us – young people, in particular – of the chance to explore a world beyond the confines of personal experience,” said ALA President Lessa Kananiʻopua Pelayo-Lozada. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

UNF education students worry for the future as DeSantis releases approved books list

Grae Barron, Reporter Mar 13, 2023

Bookshelves are thinning in Duval County Public Schools in compliance with recent approved books lists from the state leaving some education students at the University of North Florida wondering if the...

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Florida Rep. Alex Andrade on the House floor in 2021. Photo courtesy of the Florida House of Representatives photo album.

HB 999 mirrors DeSantis pledge to eliminate diversity funding in Florida higher education

Grae Barron and Carter Mudgett Mar 10, 2023

Florida House Bill 999 has sparked mass debate over the future of Florida public universities as it looks to establish new guidelines for employment and degree programs if passed.  The new proposed...

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UFF-UNF, the University of North Florida's faculty union, ran an open-response forum during Wednesday's Market Day. They set up a white board and people could leave sticky notes answering the question "why is diversity, equity and inclusion important for your education?." (Photo courtesy of UFF-UNF alternate senator Dr. Ashley Faulkner)

Students, faculty and staff want diversity programs and coursework to stay at UNF, SG poll reports

Marissa Cannegieter, Government Reporter Mar 2, 2023

Almost 900 students, faculty and staff responded to a Student Government survey which found that a vast majority support diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and programming at the University of...

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Ron DeSantis)

OPINION: The “war on woke” has reached a tipping point. It’s time to fight back

Ethan Leckie, Opinions Editor Mar 2, 2023

Four years ago, surrounded by administrators from colleges and universities across the state, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called on them to adopt a “free speech resolution” similar to the University...

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University of North Florida students shouted chants over music in the Student Union as they participated in a Florida-wide walkout on Feb. 23, 2023.

“Why won’t you protect us?” students ask UNF president during heated town hall meeting

Carter Mudgett, Editor in Chief Feb 23, 2023

Students confronted University of North Florida President Moez Limayem about campus safety, transparency and diversity issues during a Thursday afternoon town hall meeting that began with an ask for respect...

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Alivia Kalin delivers a speech to the crowd during Tuesday's rally.

“Educate, don’t discriminate”: UNF community members rally for diversity in education

Mallory Pace, News Editor Feb 22, 2023

“President Limayem, can you hear our voices? Can you hear us cry out, scared that DeSantis will take away our diversity, our safety, our way of learning? Can’t you see that we fear for our university,...

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Speaker Paul Renner speaks to members during Special Session B on Feb. 6, 2023. Photo courtesy of the Florida House of Representatives photo album.

New Florida House request encompasses university employee emails, text and social media messages related to DEI

Mallory Pace, News Editor Feb 9, 2023

The Florida House of Representatives has requested new information from each of the state’s 12 higher education institutions, this time specifically for all communications and documents related to areas...

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White text reads "Spinnaker Editorial" above a white spinnaker logo and on a blue background

Editorial: DeSantis wants to scrub diversity from Florida’s education. Pay attention.

Releasing memo after memo and proposal after proposal, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is attempting to change Florida’s education system, erase history’s hard truths and suppress the voices of those who...

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