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News Clips 01/16/2013
UNF students fight back against tuition hikes
Source: WTEV-TV-Ch.47-Jacksonville, 01/10/13
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By Lorena Inclan
Enough is enough. That's the message student leaders at the University of North Florida hope to send lawmakers next week.
UNF students are banding together with other state universities in what's called "The Aim Higher Initiative" to urge legislators for $118 million to avoid raising tuition next year.
Student body president Carlo Fassi stopped in a few classes this morning to ask for the support of his fellow students.
Funding for state universities has seen a 40-percent cut over the past five years, meaning UNF students are seeing their tuition payments increase every year to make up for that loss.
"Students shouldn't have to pay 15-percent year-after-year for something that really is a societal necessity," said Carlo Fassi, Student Body President.
Fassi will be leading a rally in the Student Union Plaza next Monday. He hopes the rally will not only raise awareness but also send lawmakers a strong message.
"We're at a point where, if the state doesn't realize what we have, one of the best state university systems in the country, we're going to start losing programs," said Fassi.
If the funding is approved, UNF would receive roughly $4.5 million. According to Fassi, with that money students will not have to pay more next year.
After the rally, students will make four thousand postcards addressed to certain lawmakers. One thousand will go to the Speaker of the House, another thousand to the Senate president, and the other two thousand to the House and Senate budget chairs.
All the postcards will be hand delivered next month.
"We're hoping that with that amount of support for 'Aim Higher' they'll at least recognize that students at UNF in Jacksonville, Florida, are serious about not paying a dime more in tuition," said Fassi.
Student leaders say they will continue to write letters and follow-up with lawmakers until the end of the legislative session, which wraps up in March.
