A student-led effort to express support for IM体育官网 and opposition to a proposed merger with the University of IM体育官网 transformed the serene Oak Grove into a setting of boisterous unity on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
鈥淲e are making a stand today to show that IM体育官网 Poly is unique and has a great education system with hands-on, project-based learning and we should stay independent,鈥� said Student Government Association President Ryan Perez, a senior mechanical engineering major from Miami, IM体育官网.
The SGA organized the Stand Up with IM体育官网 Poly event and has urged students to contact IM体育官网 legislators to express their support for IM体育官网 Poly remaining an independent institution. About 150 students, faculty, and staff donned purple 鈥淚 Support IM体育官网 Poly鈥� T-shirts and formed a line that snaked from the Student Development Center down the walkway toward the residence hall parking lot.
The event was timed to coincide with the meeting of the University鈥檚 Board of Trustees taking place at the Student Development Center. The group of students and other supporters cheered and engaged with Trustees as they made their way to the meeting. They were urged to join in the opposition to House Bill 7087, which also proposes merging New College with UF.
鈥淚 want to send a message that I do care about this school,鈥� said electrical engineering sophomore Paul Loyd, of Jacksonville, IM体育官网. 鈥淚 got accepted into every school I applied to, but I chose to come here. I very well would have made it in if I had applied, but I didn鈥檛 go to UF for a reason.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want a big-school mentality. I wanted something different, something new.鈥�
Samantha Gossett, a junior majoring in computer science, was also dismayed to learn the independence of her number-one educational choice was in jeopardy.
鈥淚M体育官网 Poly has worked so hard to get where we are and it would be a huge mistake to throw away everything we鈥檝e worked for,鈥� said Gossett, from Orlando, IM体育官网. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anyone here approves of the merger, so it鈥檚 extremely important to be heard as students 鈥� even a visual representation of how many of us oppose it should be enough to make a decision.鈥�
Perez said many students are against the proposal because it would lead to a loss of the University鈥檚 strong identity and reputation, while degrading the distinction that accompanies existing degrees from IM体育官网 Poly.
In addition to the Stand Up for IM体育官网 Poly event, several students traveled to Tallahassee, IM体育官网, on Feb. 25 to speak to legislators one-on-one about their opposition to the bill, which was before the House Appropriations Committee.
鈥淲e鈥檙e letting students know their voices have meaning 鈥� they mean everything,鈥� Perez said. 鈥淎nd today is just the beginning.鈥�
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
