The Gator Student Alliance formally announced its formation and its week of action at noon Monday on Turlington Plaza.
The week of action campaign is fighting against the recent 15 percent tuition hike for the 2011-12 academic year.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today on the North Lawn students can voice their opinions by signing the Gator Student Alliance banner.
Students can learn about tuition hikes at noon Wednesday on the Plaza of the Americas. The week of action ends on Thursday with a rally at 1:30 p.m. on Turlington Plaza. The alliance will march from Turlington to Emerson Hall to present demands to the Board of Trustees.
Of the 22 groups in the alliance, delegates from Students for a Democratic Society, Club Creole, CHISPAS, UF College Democrats, Colombian Student Association and Graduate Assistants United announced their association Monday. The Hispanic Student Association delegate was also present but did not speak.
"We're so excited to be part of the driving force on campus," said Erin Murphy, 21, the UF College Democrats delegate and an environmental science senior.
The Creole Club delegate, Merancia Noelsaint, a 21-year-old telecommunication junior, said she believes tuition hikes affect minorities the most. Her club consists mostly of Haitians who are expected to get an education but rely heavily on scholarships and grants to achieve that, she said after the conference. She will march in the rally on Thursday.
UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes said two students requested to speak at the Board of Trustees meeting.
"We are certainly willing to see what they have to say on Thursday," Sikes said.
Members of the Gator Student Alliance speak during a press conference on Turlington Plaza on Monday afternoon to protest tuition hikes and Bright Futures Scholarship program cuts.
