The black population at UF has declined since Student Body President Ian Green’s parents graduated more than 30 years ago.
Now, Green is looking to be the catalyst for increased diversity on campus.
Six months after Green took office, more than 100 students gathered Tuesday night at the University Auditorium to hear his State of Campus Address, where diversity was just one of the things on the agenda. Green talked about new Student Government programs, outreach and student life.
The Bridges Minority Outreach Program, which was established in May, has been one step toward increasing diversity at UF, he said. The program works with six Florida schools from Jacksonville to Tampa to recruit minority students.
Green also talked about the new Diversity Programming Committee, which meets with the presidents of the university’s largest diversity organizations to talk about what the communities want from SG.
Val Raymond said he wasn’t surprised to see the University of Southern California’s Race and Equity Center study that surfaced in September, which gave UF an ‘F’ for race equity.
Raymond, the 23-year-old UF SG diversity affairs executive secretary, said the Bridges Program may be the most effective in combating this ranking.
“When the ranking came out, it was not a shock to many people,” Raymond said. “For some people who maybe are offended by the ranking, we don’t need to parse the numbers and say there’s been progress. We need to focus on what the numbers actually say.”
Beyond diversity, Green discussed several new SG initiatives, including an SG-funded lifted boat ramp for disabled students at Lake Wauburg North Shore.
Next year’s Gator 1 Card will include hotlines for the Counseling and Wellness Center and U Matter, We Care, Green said, and free on-campus tutoring services are in the works.
In January, Green said he’d lobby in Tallahassee to get UF more money to build more non-academic buildings on campus.
To help students rise in the top five public university ranks, Newell Hall’s quiet hours from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the third and fourth floors are instrumental in promoting individual studying habits, Green said.
Green said he has also worked to provide financial literacy classes to students called Cash Course with the Office for Student Financial Affairs.
“Programming is more than just putting on events and giving out free food,” Green said. “It’s about uniting us as Gators by strengthening the Gator nation as we know it today.”
Contact Angela DiMichele at adimichele@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @angdimi
Bold → done
Italicized → In the works
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Improve blue light system
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Put mental health hotline and emergency phone numbers on Gator1 Cards
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Covered shelter bus stops to protect students from rain
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Lobby for the bonding of state Capital Improvement Trust Funds to build a brand-new Health and Wellness Center and other projects
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Opportunities for students to attend meet and greets for ACCENT speakers and SGP guest artists
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Meal swipe program for food insecure students
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Gator football tickets available on phone
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Expand ATM locations on campus
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Integrate gender-inclusive housing options on campus
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Align financial aid disbursements for graduate and professional students with their calendars
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Bimonthly SG meeting with city officials and police addressing local issues
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Increase halal and kosher food options on campus
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Implement live capacity updates at Southwest Rec and Student Rec
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Expand free printing across campus and to residence halls
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2-ply toilet paper in on-campus buildings
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Introduce a textbook donation and rental program
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Advocate to promote the African American Studies Program to departmental status
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Implement virtual office hours for Student Body Executive officers
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Develop a scholarship for graduation caps and gowns
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Launch a financial literacy program
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Revitalize SG Diversity and Programming Committee
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Lobby for Bright Futures funding for Innovation Academy students
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SG programming to honor Gator ROTC and veteran students
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Grant program for innovative student-driven projects
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Advocate for Clean Dream Act
Ian Green
