Why Should I Care?

Here are some of the ways that your Student Government (SG) mismanages its power and influence at the university:

Illegal Elections

Student Senate elections take place in a multi-member district system that violates the Student Body Constitution and the Fourteenth Amendment. The Student Senate has ignored repeated court mandates to change this system, and all students are being denied equal representation. Students can vote this March to elect Senators who will change that system.

Student Legal Services

Through SG, students pay a staff of lawyers in the Student Legal Services office. The University has overstepped its legal authority by informing these lawyers that they may not represent students in cases against the University. Students should be outraged at being denied the legal respresentation they have paid for.

University Athletic Association

The UAA is an independent corporation the controls ticket sales for the largest sports teams at UF, operating at a tremendous profit. Students must wait in long lines to pay high prices for the few available tickets to major sporting events. SG must spend $1.6 million of students' money each year to provide rec centers and varsity sports that the UAA chooses not to support. Students can replace the UAA with a non-profit association

Unethical Political Practices

Student Government is the primary training ground for your future state political leaders. Instead of providing a model of how responsive government should work, SG teaches defiance of court orders, blackmail, corruption, and (especially) voter apathy. Students can elect future leaders committed to the highest ethical and democratic standards.

Reitz Student Union

The Student Union is owned and operated by SG for $2.6 million each year. However, the Union continues to be expanded with facilities for University use as a conference center, not for student activities. Students should demand to see changes in the use of the Student Union.

Student Government Banking

Student Government is required by state law to deposit the $6.5 million contributed by students to SG each year into a University account. This account is non-interest bearing and entails a $24,000 annual "administrative fee". What bank in the world would take your $6.5 million, not pay interest, and the ask you to pay for checking? Students can pressure SG to confront the UF administration on this issue.

Board of College Councils

Through the college councils, the BOCC funds every college-related student organization on campus. But each year, the Student Senate provides the BOCC with less the 3% of the total SG budget to do so. Students should demand to see a fair return on their investment in SG.

Campus Food Service

Student Government continues to grant the University food-service contract to an independent profit-making corporation each year, instead of considering the option of a student-run, non-profit food service that can provide better services at a reduced cost. Students can work together to make these changes happen!