I used to feel the exact same way as Dayme Sanchez does about the Cuban embargo, but last time I went to Cuba I changed my mind.
The issue about the Reitz Union expansion raises fundamental and core problems surrounding the attitudes of this university, its administration, its Student Government and the complete lack of distinction between any and all of these categories.
I would like to give a response to Matthew Powers and all those others who have stated, “Undergraduates haven’t the right to complain about the fee.” To all of those, I return your “Shut up, undergrads,” with a “Shut up, graduates, and think about it.”
In Patrick Poage’s response to Tuesday’s guest column, he took offense to the characterization of the United States’ actions against al-Qaida and other terror organizations as a “war on terror.”
Sitting in the Reitz Union yesterday, I was approached by a student senator who encouraged me to sign a petition in favor of a “small fee” that would favor a new student union. He assured me that the fee would “only be a couple of dollars” and that I would be leaving a legacy for future Florida students.
Are undergrads seriously up in arms over a $20 flat fee plus $3 per credit hour for the new Reitz Union? I’m an out-of-state student receiving $0 in government aid. In case you’re unaware, out-of-state tuition is now approaching $800 per credit. My Reitz student fee of $65 would buy me a little more than one hour of class at UF.
On Wednesday, the UF Graduate Student Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing additional student fees for the renovation of the Reitz Union. This measure was taken to contest the recent resolution passed by UF Student Government proposing such fee increases.
I’d like to express my utter disgust at the student senators who completely disregarded their student constituents last night. More than 70 students attended the Senate meeting in opposition of a resolution that would support UF administration charging all students a fee for the expansion and renovation of the Reitz Union. Majority party senators approved this bill while simultaneously rejecting a proposed amendment that would bring it to a Student Body referendum. It is understood that the repairs are necessary. The expansion, however, is debatable pork.
The Student Senate should not have approved the resolution favoring the implementation of a new fee to pay for the proposed expansion of the Reitz Union.
In response to the expansion and renovation of the Reitz Union, I would like to express support, despite the objections raised concerning extra fees. Another beautiful and utilitarian building on the UF campus further fortifies the quality and progress that distinguishes Florida from other higher learning institutions.
The Alligator never seems to disappoint. Wednesday’s article “Senate approves Reitz Union student expansion fee” left out some important facts in the case for the Reitz Union renovation and expansion. For instance, a petition was signed by about 1,500 students in less than 24 hours in support of the renovation and the student fee to pay for it. That would seem to outweigh the 70 or so graduate students who attended Tuesday night’s Senate meeting.
This morning, while I strolled through Turlington Plaza, I was delighted to see that people were handing out copies of “The Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin. This seemed a vast improvement over coupons and fliers. Then I opened the book and found the “special introduction” urging me to accept an intelligent designer and “receive the gift of eternal life.”
This is in response to Wednesday’s letter to the editor “’War on terror’ not a war.” I must disagree with Patrick Poage’s position that calling our “global effort to eliminate terrorists” a war allows al-Qaida and others to justify their actions against our country and our soldiers.
This letter is not so much a response to Jeremy Piven’s last minute cancellation, but rather to the Accent Speakers Bureau’s choice in speakers. The fact that $85,000 was going to be spent on a second-rate actor is pathetic.
I am disappointed in Gators fans. With the SEC Championship tickets selling out in less than an hour last night, it was disappointing to students who missed out. However, what is most disappointing is learning that the reason tickets sold out so quickly is because many people logged in to purchase tickets only to sell them for a few hundred bucks. What is wrong with you? I mean, you cannot even get the tickets from the box office without a driver’s license and UF ID.
Illegal billboards should be removed
This is in response to Tuesday’s guest column, “Trials give terrorists better treatment than they deserve.” While most of Warren Rhea’s opinion was intelligently argued, the final paragraph certainly gave me pause. Speaking about the Bush administration’s war on terror, he wrote, “It’s a war, let’s start treating it like one.” I disagree with this.
As a graduate student, the dream of being financially solvent seems a distant one. Most grad students live below the poverty line. Yet, once again, UF is attempting to raise student fees — this time to pay for the renovation and expansion of Reitz Union. And these fees will affect graduate students differently; we actually have to pay for our fees (unlike undergrads who receive Bright Futures and/or prepaid).
I wanted to thank Mike McCall for his article in Monday’s paper, “Meyer, Spurrier not to be compared,” which was about comparing the “Old Ball Coach” to Urban Meyer. It is like comparing apples to oranges.
Station to increase student staff
Solutions by The State News
