Local student leaders from University Central Florida will hold a rally in response to Rick Scott’s “college affordability” tour on Friday, June 13 at 9:30am, just prior to Scott’s campaign stop in Orlando.
Scott has been trying to persuade the public about his commitment to education, even though he has a long track record of putting private interests over the needs of Florida’s students. In his second year in office, he cut $300 million in funding to the state’s public universities, which then compelled those same universities to raise tuition by up to 15% percent.
This year, Rick Scott continued his annual tradition of gutting the Bright Futures Scholarships program, limiting access to college for many of our best and brightest students. Furthermore, Scott and his allies in the Legislature made eligibility for the scholarships so stringent, approximately 26,000 college students will be locked out of the program altogether. Most hard hit will be Hispanic and African-American students.
After keeping education on the back burner through most of his tenure as Governor, Rick Scott is making a last minute push to make higher education look like a priority. Leaders and students will be on hand to let Scott know that his “college affordability” tour is “not working” for us.
WHAT: UCF student leaders will protest deep cuts to Bright Futures Scholarships and Rick Scott’s failure to make college affordable.
WHO: Robert Walters, member of the UCF College Democrats, and Sam Coleman, Statewide Organizer for Florida For All.
WHEN: Friday, June 13, 2014
9:30 am
******Just prior to Rick Scott’s campaign event at 10:00am***
WHERE: In front of 4Rivers Smokehouse Restaurant
11764 University Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32817
