07/06/2012
In light of the recent tuition hikes affecting state universities all over florida, we the gentlemen of Phi Sigma Kappa have decided to stand up and do our part to help reduce the costs of tuition for most students in the university and throughout the state via an innovate new fundraising and scholarship program. However this will only be possible with the full support of you the students standing together with us to tell the university's administration and the state to support our efforts to try to make a difference. See the attached press release (quoted below for easier reading):
July 5th, 2012
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
RE: RALLYING SUPPORT FOR AFFORDABLE EDUCATION
Within the past few weeks, there have been a series of events which have resulted in a significant reduction in the budgeted allocations to universities within the State University System of Florida for the third year in a row and significant increases in tuition through all state schools, inclusive of a 15% increase at FIU and another double digit increase at FAU. We the gentlemen of Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity, Lambda Septaton Chapter have decided, rather than complaining about another increase in tuition, to act and try to make a difference.
With the effects of the global recession still looming over the nation, a significant reduction in economic activity and the strained recovery in the housing market, all leading to reduced revenues for the state, the latest round of cuts comes as no surprise. In light of this, the tuition increase was a necessary move in order to protect, us the students from a drop in the quality of education afforded to us by this institution that would’ve become inevitable if there wasn’t some way to bridge the deficit created by this shortfall. However, we have come to the realization that every time there is a reduction in the budget, we the students cannot be the sole persons shouldering the full responsibility of trying to fill this gap, putting further financial strain on families trying to put their children through school on middle income salaries or for those who are not lucky enough to be able to go through school debt-free, pushing them further into debt.
As a result, we have tasked ourselves, over the past week, to find a way whereby we can make some sort of a difference to lessen the impact of this and future fund allocations to starve off future increases in tuition, all of which we as students personally, are unable to shoulder. What we have come up with is a comprehensive fundraising plan, leveraging the power of the entire student population and the support of members of the wider community, local and national business, university administration and state and federal programs to create large scale fundraising events, strategic partnerships with local businesses which would agree to a small tax-deductible donation from every sale generated through us and unique fundraising ideas and finally utilizing the state’s donation matching program to match any funds that we are able to raise dollar for dollar to create a new scholarship fund able to help the majority of the school community in affording a quality education.
What we are asking for isn’t the repeal of the recent increase nor is it a handout. What we are asking for is support. The support of the university’s administration in allowing we the students to champion our own cause and use our creativity and drive to raise the funds necessary to make an impact in reducing the cost of our education, the support of the local community to stand together with us and help support our efforts and events, the support of the business community in partnering with us as much as possible to play their part in reducing the escalating cost of education and the support of the state in affording us the same courtesy extended to any other donation made to any public university and matching any funds donated and raised, dollar for dollar, effectively doubling the impact that our efforts may achieve.
If you believe in our cause and would like to lend the power of your name and support us in this effort, please do not hesitate to like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fiupsk for more information, share it amongst your friends and ask them to do the same and look out for more information regarding updates on the status of this petition, specific events and measures that we will outline as our suggestions to help raise funds, way you can submit your ideas and volunteer your services to help this be successful and how to sign the official petition to Governor Scott to get the state to approve our efforts as part of the state’s donation matching program.
This is also not only to be relegated to Florida International University, but we expect this to just be the start of a national movement where we the students rise up and finally fight for more affordable education through our ingenuity and hard work. Individually we may be just one person but together we can make a change. If from another school, contact us to find out just how you can also make a difference at your school and see how we, the college attending population of the nation, can stand together and tell the nation, It’s Our Education and we will do our best to make it more affordable for each and every one of us.
Championing the cause,
Antonio Caesar Vincent Batista
Treasurer and Fundraising Chair President
Phi Sigma Kappa Phi Sigma Kappa
Lambda Septaton Chapter Lambda Septaton Chapter
