By Emily Wunderlich
A student-led petition opposing the bill that would end USF St. Petersburg’s separate accreditation has drawn only 150 signatures.
But its author, junior marketing major Mariah McQueen, vows to continue her efforts this week.
“I’m setting my expectations higher for myself and my peers, who I want to share the petition,” she said.
USF St. Petersburg students’ longstanding reluctance to get involved in things is one of her obstacles, McQueen said.
“We’ve always had an issue with student involvement,” she said. “What I hope to get out of this experience is to find something that students want to be involved in.
“I feel like that might bring us together – if we have a cause worth fighting for.”
Student apathy is old news at USF St. Petersburg.
When Student Government surveyed interest in bringing Greek life to campus, only 500 people responded. That’s 10 percent of the student population.
The turnout for last semester’s student Senate elections was even worse, with half as many votes as the Greek life response.
McQueen said she still hopes her petition will reach 1,000 signatures.
With faculty and administrators reluctant to voice their opinions for fear of jeopardizing their jobs, student opinion matters more than ever, McQueen said.
The petition is can be found at: https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/students-and-alumni-against-hb-423.
Header photo courtesy of Mariah McQueen
