Barrett Buchanan – The Corsair
Wednesday, January 26 Pensacola State College’s Student Government Association held a meeting to gain insight into our student body’s position on legislation. The meeting focused on the effects of education issues that were selected for ratification.
I was shocked when I walked into the student life center and found myself and other members of PSC’s newspaper, The Corsair, to be the only ones present to give opinions on important legislation issues. The topics the SGA covered were broad and affected every student in Florida’s college system. They covered the Bright Futures scholarship and the possibility of extending it to cover summer terms as well as the spring and fall terms, as it already does. They also discussed redistributing the Florida budget to allot more money to the college system. Another topic discussed was the sustainability initiative, which has the possibility of raising tuition costs to help maintain and improve PSC’s campuses. Probably the most controversial topic discussed was continued support for undocumented students.
The Bright Futures law seems as though it could be a great thing for those who are trying to graduate early so they can get started in their careers. What about those who may not get Bright Futures if the qualifications get more strict, as the SGA feels it could? We have to think about wither or not it is more important for someone to graduate early, or for someone to go to college in general. Possibly opening up summer terms, only for those students enrolled in programs requiring them during the summer would be a better course of action, as far as the current economical situation is concerned.
Sustainability Initiative seems to me to be a well thought out piece of legislation as long as a couple of issues are covered. Will Bright Futures, Pell Grant, and other forms of financial aid cover the extra cost being charged to the student? With the way the extra money is supposedly being added to tuition, one would think that the costs would be covered. Until the specific wording is finalized, this is a valid question. Though all in all, having a cleaner environment, more access to computers, and updated facilities is never a bad thing.
When it comes to Continued Support for Undocumented Students we all have to think about what America really is. While it is overcrowded, if we cannot live up to the famous saying on the statue of liberty “…Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” than we need to take it down. While most of us take for granted the privileges of our country’s education system, these people risk everything for education. These kids just want an education the same as any of us. If student’s tuition will not be charged as in-state or be covered by pell grants, than what is the point in educating anyone?
Here is the SGA presentation, PLEASE READ