Santa Fe College students signed banners covering a Regional Transit System bus Tuesday morning at the kickoff of SFC’s Start the Bus! campaign.
The event was held to support unlimited access to the bus system for SFC students.
Specifically, the students were supporting legislation that would allow all Florida colleges to add a small transportation fee to each credit hour for students.
“This is what the students want,” said SFC Student Government President Austin Brinza. “The students here also need the options that the universities have, and we want to pass this transportation bill.”
The event included food, a DJ, activities, a press conference and an information booth providing the students with information on the proposed legislation.
Most everyone who walked by the Oak Grove on the SFC campus signed the petition.
Among the speakers in attendance were Mayor Craig Lowe and the president of SFC, Dr. Jackson Sasser.
“The purpose of the whole event is to spread awareness and encourage others to take action and urge legislatures to pass the bill this year,” Brinza said.
“The biggest thing that helps out is the fact that we’ve got other state colleges that are in the same boat. It’s a statewide initiative.”
Brinza and the Student Government plan to present the initiative to the Florida Senate, the Florida House of Representatives and the governor's office during the 2011 legislative session.
"We need to take it to Tallahassee, lobby to our congressmen and get Santa Fe an unlimited bus system because it's economical and it's good for the environment," said Chase Doran, a SFC student at the kickoff.
Another student, Tisharold Pearson, also supports the initiative.
"I would use the bus all the time if it was free," Pearson said after she finished signing the petition.
