UCF President receives raise, students receive tuition hike
By Paul Thurston, of University of Central Florida SLAP
It was 8:30AM on an uncharacteristically cool morning, and everyone was wearing white t-shirts with the words “STUDENTS IN DEBT” stenciled on them as we marched towards the Board of Trustees meeting, where following budget cuts and tuition hikes there was talk about giving our University President a $26,500 raise (making him the 5th highest paid President in the country).
We wanted to get to the Board meeting early so that the Board members would hear our message on their way inside. As Trustees walked into the building, they were each greeted to our “Alternate State of the University”, which held our positions on student issues and ideas about the path moving forward. In front of the door we held a banner that read “We tightened our belts, you tighten yours. NO $26,500 RAISE!” It perfectly conveyed both our message and our outrage at the situation.
Not wanting to fall behind other national trends like average student debt upon graduation, the Board has routinely increased tuition to make sure students of the University of Central Florida stay in line with the rest of country. Students at the UCF have been hit with the 4th consecutive year of tuition hikes, the maximum 15% allowable by Florida law. This year, in a particularly contentious decision, the final vote rest with our own SGA President Cortez Whatley who chose to side with the administration over the students and approved the hike. Another example of the burdens of budget cuts being placed on those who can afford them least.
The Board was not done yet. Through a thorough investigation of the Board of Trustees upcoming agenda by a student at UCF, it was uncovered that at this particular meeting they would be proposing what they described as a “modest increase” of $26,500 to our Presidents salary. What they call a “modest increase,” we call a “slap” in the face to anyone suffering through mountains of debt to get an education.
When it came time for the vote, all twenty of us in matching shirts, and duct tape over our mouths-demonstrating the lack of student oversight, stood against the wall holding our banner, moving forward until we were blocked by police. In a move that shocked nobody, the Board voted to give President Hitt the $26,500 raise. However the lone “Nay” vote on the Board was from SGA President Cortez Whatley, usually a staunch supporter of the administration. Feeling the heat from weeks of SLAP campaigns and pressure from other outraged students, Whatley was forced to do the right thing and stand with students.
After the meeting, when talking to the press, we were sure to state our position that this so called modest raise could go to providing workers on campus free parking that they sorely need (they currently pay close to $200 dollars a year each just to park at work). Instead of adding to the bank account of a millionaire, that $26,500 could give over one hundred and twenty-five workers a $200 Holiday bonus or go to starting a scholarship fund for first generation children of low wage workers.
Seeing where the Board and Administration at University of Central Florida stood on this issue, at least we have one thing to look forward to: contract negotiations for AFSCME Local 3345. If we have the funds to give President Hitt a raise, we will make sure we find the funds to make sure workers get taken care of too, or this administration will have to answer to more than just students.
