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

Page 32 text:

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

Page 31 text:

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

Page 33 text:

Je ' eb Bush, son of President George Bush, is a participant in the question and answer session with delegate Clarke Cooper. Various keynote speakers attended the conference giving students insight on different political issues. Photo hy Nancy Floyd G. overnor Lawton Chiles speaks to a full house of del- egates during the conference. The Florida Students Associa- tion sponsored the two-day conference for college students interested in the future of the political arena. Photo by Nancy Floyd Tbe Florida Stui .t Jl.ssociatioi I H ■ Piifl w j ST K W J Wl 1 jL 5, tudents break up into different caucases to fine-tune different planks of the student platform for presentation to the general assembly. This particular group ' s assigned plank w as multi- cultural and non-traditional students. Photo hy Nancy Fbyd Vision 29