Jessie Wang expressed her frustration to UF Student Senators after being barred from dancing outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Monday night.
The UF Asian American Student Union member spoke about student groups not being allowed to meet or dance at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium anymore at Tuesday night’s Student Senate meeting.
The University Athletic Association put signs outside the stadium reading, “For your safety, unauthorized group dancing/meeting activities in this area are not permitted because of vehicular traffic.” The 20-year-old asked for the Senate to support organizations, like AASU, that practice there.
“Students have gathered, danced and just been at the stadium for years and years,” Wang said.
University Police removed all groups practicing outside the stadium around 8 p.m. Monday, the psychology junior said. Dancers were not given an explanation or contact information.
They were forced to move to parking garages, where they had no access to water and no cover from rain or wind, she said.
The sign cites traffic, but Wang said when vehicles have come through, dancers have been respectful and moved.
UF’s Indian Students Association and Sabor Latino Dance Team were also removed, she said.
“How are students supposed to feel safe and respected if they don’t even have space?” she said.
Sen. Anthony Black (Access, District D) said he was a member of UF’s Filipino Student Association’s dance team and urged senators to support the organizations.
“We need to give them the support they need,” he said.
Five student bills were also passed unanimously during Senate.
- $1,400 for Arab Students’ Association
- $2,463.50 for Signing Gators
- $657.50 for Bangladeshi Students’ Association
- $750 for Pakistani Students’ Association
- $1,304 for CaribSA
Three resolutions were also passed unanimously during Senate.
- Resolution Urging Instructors at the University of Florida to Include U Matter, We Care Information in All Course Syllabi
- Resolution to Authorize Student Government Spring 2016 Election Dates
- Resolution to Recognize the Continued Efforts by the University of Florida in Supporting Low-Income Students
Contact Caitlin Ostroff at costroff@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @ceostroff
Jessie Wang, a 20-year-old UF psychology junior, speaks at a Student Senate meeting on Oct. 27, 2015, about the University Athletic Association banning students from dancing or meeting outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. She asked senators to support the Asian American Student Union for its right to practice at the stadium.
