As a proud Florida Gator, I’d like to say a few words in defense of our University of Central Florida rivals.
UCF has been rocked by a “scandal” recently. The Orlando-based university came under fire after it was revealed that UCF administration had used $38 million in leftover operating funds to build Trevor Colbourn Hall, a new academic building. The backlash was swift and unrelenting. As the Orlando Sentinel reported, four top UCF administrators resigned in the aftermath of the news. UCF President Dale Whittaker’s resignation letter was voted on and approved Thursday. All the while, the Florida Legislature hounded UCF, calling for intense investigations and giving stern chidings. One state legislator, Rep. Randy Fine of Brevard County, Florida, even suggested that UCF be closed due to the scandal. If you’re thinking this all seems excessive, you’re right.
I do want to make one thing clear. While I do find UCF’s actions understandable, that doesn’t make them acceptable. At the end of the day, this is still an inappropriate use of funds. Funds that are separated into different pots should remain separate, especially when the funds are from the state and taxpayers' money. I must admit the Florida Legislature is right in wanting the state’s money to go to the things it is designated for.
That said, the controversy over UCF’s misappropriation is overblown and a symbol of the declining funding of higher education in Florida and around the country. Misusing designated funds is wrong, however is the use of these funds for a new academic building really worth all this outrage? Many of us have heard of misspent money being used on more illicit and unethical things, and at least this new building will likely serve UCF’s Student Body for many years to come. You could even make the argument the money was better spent on the building than on normal operating expenses. At least the UCF administration must have thought so, otherwise it wouldn’t have redirected the money. Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell pointed out, for all the state legislature’s chiding over this, the Florida Legislature has an even bigger spending problem, such as raiding a fund for affordable housing and reducing education funding after voters approved a lottery to fund education. At the very least, UCF is in good company when it comes to misappropriation.
Furthermore, this issue points to a broader problem: the states' declining funding for higher education. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, state funding for two- and four-year colleges in the U.S. declined by $9 billion from 2008 to 2017. Every state except Wisconsin spent less per student in 2017 than 2008, with an average of 16 percent less per student. The Atlantic reported that most public colleges and universities get more money from tuition than they do from state funding starting last year. This has many consequences, such as making colleges more like businesses where they try to outdo each other (new buildings, more amenities, expanded services, etc.) to attract more paying students. This struggle, plus lower funding, may have been what drove UCF to spend money on a new building.
To sum up, was UCF’s action in this scenario wrong? Yes. Was it understandable? Sure. Was it bad enough to warrant Whitaker’s resignation, a chorus of legislators calling for investigations and subpoenas and one raising the possibility of a schoolwide shutdown? Certainly not. The state legislature is free to investigate UCF and its funding until the end of time, but if it wants to avoid something like this happening again, perhaps the solution is as simple as giving universities like UCF more money.
Jason Zappulla is a UF history junior. His column appears on Mondays.
