Moria Dailey
Published: March 8, 2006
Members from the three branches of PJC’s Student Government Association plan to attend “The Rally in Tally” March 22-23 in Tallahassee.
The SGA groups plan to address two major issues during the rally: a bill limiting the number of credits a student can take and the proposed DREAM Act.
Senate Bill 246, sponsored by Senator Lee Constantine (R – Altamonte Springs), if passedwould require students to pay 75 percent more than the in-state tuition price after taking 120 percent of the required credits for their program of study. At PJC, this would mean students who have more than 72 credit hours would have to pay $109.11 per credit as opposed to the normal $62.35.
The bill was originally proposed last year, and was passed through both the Florida House and Senate; Governor Jeb Bush vetoed the bill, however, and it was not enacted.
“They’re against that [SB246]; it does nothing to help students. Why support a bill that hurts students rather than helps them,” Dennis Reynolds, director of student activities, said.
The SGA also plans to discuss the DREAM Act during the rally. The DREAM Act would allow high school graduates who are not legal U.S. residents but have lived or worked in Florida for three years to receive in-state tuition at Florida colleges and universities. They currently have to pay out-of-state tuition.
“We’re in favor of that [the DREAM Act]; we’re in favor of anything that helps someone go to school,” Reynolds said, emphasizing that in Florida, once a person has lived in the state for one year, they are considered legal residents and can pay in-state tuition, which is notably lower than out-of-state.
Pensacola campus SGA president, Veronica Walker, said, “We hope to get a great deal accomplished in Tallahassee.”
Prior to the rally, a presidents’ assembly is planned. The SGA presidents from each campus of Florida’s 28 community colleges will meet March 22, the evening before the rally to discuss and learn about several other bills relevant to community college students.
First, there is SB1554 and its companion, House Bill 15. These bills propose a sales tax exemption on college textbooks. Reynolds said the bill is currently being worked on by legislature committees. The second bill the presidents will be discussing is one that proposes allowing community colleges to have football teams, something that is currently illegal.
Drew Lovelace contributed to this article