Florida State University - Renegade / Tally Ho Yearbook (Tallahassee, FL)

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9t 1 Leon County Cwic Center 2 VuHia Artj Center (Miuieuni) 3 Fine Art.i Center (Theatre) 4 F oruh State Conference Center R lans for the Museum and fine arts center show where the complex w ould be in relation to the Leon County Civic Center. The arts center would include three galleries for art exhibition including spaces for touring shows, galleries with educational exhibitions, a sculpture court and the fine arts theatre. Plan i courte ty of the A iuienm of Art TallahuMee. Museum 27

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a YOU GOTTA HAVE ART A STRUGGLE TO BRING ART TO TALLAHASSEE The stars, a blazing yellow, the sky, a thick midnight blue, the city below surrounded by dark evergreens and a black night. This painting, A Stary Night, by Vincent VanGogh is an example of what many students thought of when they thought of art. Or maybe they thought of the University ' s fine arts center and its plays and musicals presented by students, or even the small student art gallery at the center, but many were shocked to hear of a new fine arts and cultural center to be built in Tallahassee. While many considered the new s positive, others viewed the center a waste of good time and money. The proposed arts and cultural center was the idea of concerned citizens interested in bringing the arts and art education to the community. The proposed center would be located in downtown Tallahassee near the Leon County Civic Center and would include three galleries lor art exhibition including spaces for touring shows, galleries with educational exhibitions and a sculpture court. There would be an interactive media gallery with the latest in computer and laser technology so students would have hands-on experiences w ith art education. Proponents such as Susan Saldino, Director of the Museum of Art Tallahassee, cited improvements in cultural development, economic growth, social interaction and an improved image of the city of Tallahassee as reasons for the center ' s development. The most important thing the Museum of Art Tallahassee has tried to bring to our city is an exhibit of fine art never before seen here and an innovative art education program for children and adults Baldino said. The You Gotta Have Art campaign by the cultural center was used to help raise awareness of the facilities and to get people to vote on the referendum for the project. The H.E.A.R.T. campaign cited three benefits that the center ' s existence would bring about. Elducation was a prime objective of the facilities along with the economic benefits for the city and it ' s residents. The referendum was voted on Feb. 23 to decide whether the museum and fine arts center would receive city funds to help finance the project. It was estimated that 35 percent of the funding for the museum and 50 percent of the funding for the fine arts center w ould come from the city. While Tallahassee was asked to give financial aid, other revenue sources provided more than half of the money needed. Sources such as state and federal grants and corporate and private donations were a part ot the contributions. The referendum was voted down by citizens. Some cited the supposed effect on their utility bills as a reason for the failure. They felt that their bills would be increased in order to finance the center, while, in truth, the money for the museum and cultural center would have come from the city ' s General Fund, hence, the facility ' s funding w ould come from money given to the city by citizens for different projects, which, included the fine arts complex. Voting for the museum would not have increased the customers bill, nor would it decrease the bill if the customer voted against the museum. Proponents cite this misunderstanding as one of the major reasons for the failure of the referendum. It is frustrating to see all of the hard work that goes into bringing the museum to life torn apart by a misunderstanding Heather Schroeder, a volunteer student, said. Although there vas oppostion towards the center ' s development, many citizens felt strongly about continuing the push for the building of the facilities. The search for funding continued and it was proposed by the mayor, Dorothy Inman-Crews, that a referendum for the center be put on the ballot in February of 1994. She plans to start a petition drive which would show public interest in the project. The cultural center faced opposition, yet continued w ith the support of many in the community, to bring arts and art education to Tallahassee. A ,f -% BY KRISTIN HUCKABAY 26 Student Life

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ONE VISION when the budget cuts began hitting home with Florida ' s students, the Florida Student Association decided to do something about it. They organized two student rallies that converged upon the capitol, letting the legislators know that students did care, and yes, students did vote. Vision ' 92 was unique in that students actually worked together to find answers rather than just pointing out problems, delegate Joe Minor said. FSA ' s next step was a brave endeavor into student empowerment. They no longer encouraged students to skip class today and join in a march to the capitol, they actually gave student leaders a chance to interact with today ' s political figures. Representing the 187,000 public university students in the state , FSA joined with the community colleges and private universities to sponsor Vision ' 92 Empowering Florida ' s Future. A two-day, non- partisan, political student convention which took place on the University of Central Florida campus in September, Vision was the first of its kind. We want to show the nation that tomorrow ' s leaders are prepared to start working today to insure a prosperous future, Tracy Newman, director of FSA special projects and Vision co-chair, said. Student involvement is essential il Florida is ever going to reach the level ol education that we not only w ant, but the level that we deserve. FSA was formed in 1976 by a group of student leaders to represent the views of the nine state universities within the state of Florida. During the 16 years of existence, it has become known as one ol the largest and most effective student lobby groups in the country. The association was composed of the student body presidents of the nine state universities and a permanent staff of five including two full- time lobbyists. FSA brought together the top 382 student leaders ol the 1 .2 million post-secondary students in the state to formulate a platform on education. The number of students each school sent was based upon student population with five base delegates plus one delegate per 1,000 students. In an effort to maintain maximum diversity, these delegates were chosen by the universities ' student body presidents based upon leadership show n through student organizations. The Vision ' 92 platform addressed 10 educational areas: tuition, differential tuition, financial aid and scholarships, libraries, student regent, academic quality, dorm fees, Florida Public Interest Research Group, Florida ' s Office of Campus Volunteers and budget. The convention served as a catalyst to present a student agenda on issues relevant to the present state of education. The platform was designed to serve as a guideline to both state and national leaders, so that the needs of American students could be better understood. This very platform, designed entirely by Vision delegates, was hand-delivered to each of the presidential candidates at the presidential debate held in Lansing, Michigan. Vision allowed students to interact with current political leaders. On a local level, Governor Lawton Chiles addressed the convention, as did Eklucation Commissioner Betty Castor, Chancellor Charles Reed and Board ot Regents Chairman Alec Courtelis. Additional speakers included university student body presidents. State Representative Tom Feeney, President ol the American Bar Association Sandy D ' Alemberte, State Representative Alzo Reddick, Jeb Bush and United States Secretary of ExJucation Lamar Alexander. Once again Florida has led the way in student empowerment. For the first time the student voice was truly heard by today ' s political leaders, student senate president Jenn Tankersley said. We ' re finally taking control of our own future. BY NANCY FLOYD 28 Student Life