Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
We inform. You decide.
Friday, March 29, 2024

The Student Senate unanimously passed a bill to allocate $170,000 for maintenance in the Reitz Union Game Room at the meeting Tuesday night.

The last renovations nine years ago drew more students to the game room and increased revenue, according to the bill. The money will be used to replace the Point-of-Sale system, which tracks activity sales and controls the scoring system for bowling lanes.

Now that the money has been allocated, Budget and Appropriations Chair T.J. Villamil said he and his committee will hear bids from two renovation companies for the lowest costs.

“Think of the big picture,” he said. “The Reitz game room is falling apart, and we need to fix it. It’s a great thing for students to use, and it has been crumbling.”

During public debate, block tuition dominated the discussion. Seven students, some of whom  were senators, spoke out against the idea. UF’s administration is working on a proposal to bring to the Board of Trustees at its Dec. 9 to 10 meeting.

Senate President Ben Meyers, of the Unite Party, said SG will not pass a resolution until an official proposal comes out of Provost Joe Glover’s office. He did say the Senate’s opinion, across all three parties, mirrors the opposition expressed by many students.

Student Alliance party Sen. Michael Morales, who represents the Lakeside Residential area, spoke in opposition of block tuition. He said it alienates the employed students and makes it harder for them to participate in extracurricular activities.

“There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all degree, so why are they proposing a one-size-fits-all tuition?” he asked.

Progress Party Sen. Jose Soto said the administration was behaving as a monopoly based in bad economics.

“They know they have a captive audience,” he said. “They have us by our wallets.”

Dave Schneider, a member of Students for a Democratic Society and former Progress Party senator, also opposed block tuition, calling it the biggest assault on public education that he has seen in three years. The group plans to hold a rally Nov. 17 on Turlington Plaza at 12:30 p.m. to collect signatures on petitions opposing the measure to deliver to the administration.

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox
Support your local paper
Donate Today
The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 The Independent Florida Alligator and Campus Communications, Inc.