Students supporting the cause Fight Back Florida protested at USF St. Petersburg against recent increase of tuition costs.
Student protestors repeated the phrase “We can’t afford to pay for school,” during the Monday, Nov. 28 protest.
USFSP students and alumni gathered at the front of Harborwalk to raise awareness of the recent hike of tuition costs. The USF Board of Trustees have approved an additional 7 percent tuition increase in conjunction with the previous 8 percent increase for undergraduate students.
Together students are now paying 15 percent more in tuition than in past years. This comes to an extra $600 more a year for students. Students at USF Tampa have been protesting since August and Monday’s protest at USFSP signifies their joining forces.
Tyler Crawford called Monday’s protest “a day of action.” Crawford is an alumnus of USFSP and one of the original protesters. He plans to attend graduate school at USFSP.
“We feel that tuition increases need to end because it’s pushing people out of public education,” Crawford said.
Crawford rallies for the group Fight Back Florida and said their three main objectives are to start a campaign at USFSP that will end tuition increases and gain the university’s support, to increase funding for Bright Futures and scholarship programs, and to get students active in a cause.
“I’m just an organizer. Everyone who comes out and shows support for the cause are the true leaders,” Crawford said.
Monday was a rainy day, with students running from building to building with their umbrellas held high. But the weather did not stop the protest from happening.
“We had 40 people signed up to be here, but not everyone could come due to the rain,” Crawford said. “I’m happy for the support from those who were able to make it out though.”
Crawford also said that more protests are planned for January when the students return from winter break, as well as a rally once their numbers increase.
Campus police were also present on Monday.
“We had to indicate where they [the protesters] could peacefully and lawfully protest,” said Lieutenant Reginald Oliver of university police. “We’re out here to make sure it stays peaceful.”
Senior student Claudian Anderson attended the protest. She heard about that 15 percent increase and does not support it, she said, especially because Florida is ranked low in education standards.
“If they’re going to hike the tuition, then they need to hike the quality as well,” she said.
Sophomore student Kenya Ricks said that she feels this is a plot against the middle class.
“The wealthy are scared,” Ricks said. “The middle class graduates are moving up into the top set that run the world, and this tuition increase is a plot to keep people in their mind set.”
Protesters hoped to get the attention of primarily the students, and then together raise awareness through the media, capturing the attention of Florida’s legislatures.
“Tuition is too … high,” said senior student Jon Ellington. He said that he wasn’t sure what students were gathered for so he stopped by and now he fully supports their cause. “Education is something that should be valued, and should be affordable to everyone.”
Photos by Lexy Parr
