The Florida legislature seeks to silence education opponents

From Scathing Purple Musings

by Bob Sykes

JD Alexander told Board of Governors student member Michael Long “his conduct on the board had been “highly inappropriate” and darkly hinted the young man had jeopardized his future career.” The New College sophomore dared to call out Alexander on his abuse of power in threatening to withhold funding if he didn’t get his way on an independent USF Polytech. Looks as if Alexander is following through on his threat:

The idea to remove as a member of the Florida Board of Governors the president of the Florida Student Association is up again, with a joint resolution filed by today by Sen. Bill Montford.

The bill would instead have the member simply be a student body of a state university. A similar bill came up last session, sponsored by Democratic Representative Alan Williams and supported by Montford.

Rep. Matt Gaetz brought the idea up for the first time this session last month, saying that it wasn’t fair that students have to be part of the association — a group made up of student body presidents of all the universities, which has membership dues — to have the opportunity to serve on the board that governs Florida’s 11 public universities. He said the point was to avoid what he saw as a “pay to play” situation. Gaetz’s bill would have the Governor make the appointment.

The student who currently holds that Board of Governors position, New College sophomore Michael Long, said it’s not a good idea.

Being part of the Florida Student Association is not a prerequisite to getting elected to that board seat, Long said. The statute that outlines the position states that a member of the FSA, or the equivalent, is elected by his or her peers. If the students wanted to choose someone not part of the FSA, they could, Long said.

Ten of the 11 universities’ student body presidents are part of the FSA. Only Florida State University, Gaetz’s alma mater, does not participate.

No one ever thought that Alexander would take action himself against Long. Other untouchables politicians like Gaetz or Montford are doing it for him.

This current bunch of republican legislators have demonstrated a despicable pattern of using their unchecked power to eliminate opponents. The sponsor of SB736, Senator Steve Wise of Jacksonville, attempted to end school board member salaries in the last session.

Wise, Alexander, Monntford and Gaetz are guilty of the worst kind of exercise in power as their moves are an attempt to silence critics. The state’s school board association strongly opposes their education agenda. They don’t like being challenged by popular school board members like Colleen Conklin and Bill Sublette. Republicans don’t want the media looking for Michael Long during the next Board of Governors meeting either. What better way than to just change the rule to eliminate his position?

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