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Jonathan Lowell is currently attending Florida A&M University as a graduate student in broadcast journalism.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Senate Bill 1752


By Jonathan Lowell, 

Today University of Florida president Bernie Machen and Florida State University president Eric Barron met with Florida governor Rick Scott to discuss house bill 1752 that will allow universities to exceed current limits on university tuition. Governor Scott says he has received feedback about the bill in the weeks after legislative session.

"You know I get letters from people I get emails. When you travel state and back, because session's over I've been traveling quite a bit I talked to people around the state. I've listened to families. If I stop in a coffee shop whether this bill or something else people are giving me a lot of ideas," said Scott.

FSU has one of the lowest tuition rates of all research universities in the country. Barron says he will not be looking to raise it to the national average, but instead will base his recommendation on program needs.

"I don't want to just say I'm going to do X or Y or go to the national average. I'm going to back into based on what we actually need to do to be good,"  said Barron.

While the two presidents and the governor discussed the bill inside, students outside voiced their concerns about the new legislation.

"Tuition increases are a tax on working students who can't really afford to pay any more. I feel as though this is definitely an issue. If this bill is passed it's an additional tax on students, and governor Scott has said he's against any new taxes or tuition increases previously. I hope he stands by his word, and stands by students."

Governor Scott still has until next Friday to pass the bill. Students in Tallahassee and the rest of Florida will be eagerly awaiting his decision.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

FAMU Dress Standard Package

By Jonathan Lowell,


This fall, the "Millennial Famuan" will have to abide by a new dress standard. Set to be implemented in the fall semester of 2012, faculty will be able to deny a student admission to class or other functions based on their dress. Florida A&M President James Ammons says certain types of dress should never be seen at a university.


"Saggy pants that show underwear. That just has no place on the university's campus, and to be honest with you that has no place in a public setting," said Ammons.

Other types of dress prohibited include pajamas, mesh or netted shirts and hoods in classrooms. Students will also not be allowed to wear any clothing with offensive messages in words or pictures

"I think it's a good idea. I feel as though when we're on campus we should be dressing for success. This is one step away from our actual careers, and I feel as though when we're on campus we should dress as though we are prepared to go into the workforce," said student Renee Mowatt.

"I feel like there's only so much you can do because people are grown they're going to do what they want to do regardless. I feel like in certain ways there should be enforcement, but on the other hand people are going to dress the way they want to dress," said student Raven Whitehead.

There is no word yet on what the punishment will be for any level of violation. Under the standard, faculty will be responsible for reporting all violations to the dean of students office and are even encouraged to add the standard to their class' syllabus.