The Student Senate unanimously passed a resolution opposing the implementation of block tuition during a meeting Tuesday night.
“I think we need to fight against it because it is essential for preserving university life as we know it,” said Senate President Ben Meyers, who represents the Unite Party.
Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kleponis encouraged Senators and the students they represent to attend the Thursday and Friday Board of Trustees meeting where the block tuition proposal will be presented. If passed, the proposal will move on for consideration by the Board of Governors in February and can be instituted in fall of 2011 at the earliest.
Kleponis cited the actions of Florida International University’s student government, who passed a similar resolution. He said that in a matter of days, the administration eliminated the possibility of block tuition.
In a cross-party agreement, Meyers supported Kleponis in his call for attendance at the Board of Trustees meeting.
“Statewide, all eyes are on UF as to what we are going to do,” Meyers said.
Student Sen. Micah Lewis of the Unite Party also spoke in support of the resolution, stating that there is no clear correlation between block tuition and graduation rates.
“It is very obvious that the proposal presented by the university will place numerous undue burdens on the students, and it is our responsibility as representatives of the students to make our voices heard,” he said.
