FAMU student president: We don't want Bush (Gov)

Tallahassee Democrat ^ | March 07, 2002 | Bill Cotterell and Melanie Yeager

[sandlady]

Florida A&M University students do not want Gov. Jeb Bush as their commencement speaker, the student body president said Wednesday.

Senior Andrew Gillum spoke at an evening rally marking the second anniversary of a mass march on the Capitol protesting One Florida, the governor's program supplanting affirmative action in state university admissions and government purchasing.

FAMU's administration says it has extended an invitation for Bush to be the keynote speaker at graduation ceremonies next month, but the governor's office said Wednesday it has not received the invitation. FAMU spokesman Eddie Jackson confirmed earlier Wednesday that Bush was invited to give the main address.

"We don't have one Florida but a divided Florida," said Gillum, who is the only one of 13 FAMU trustees not appointed by the governor. "The Florida A&M graduating seniors will not sit through a ceremony adorned by a governor who doesn't believe in our institution."

His remarks drew loud, prolonged applause and shouts of encouragement from the mostly black crowd - which included scores of FAMU students - at St. Mary's Primitive Baptist Church. Gillum said he had told FAMU officials that students don't want Bush, who has also abolished the old Board of Regents and set up separate boards of trustees for each of the 11 institutions of the State University System.

After the rally, Gillum said he did not know whether students would boycott commencement exercises or walk out, if Bush is the speaker.

"Hopefully, we don't want it to get to that point," Gillum said. "It's my commencement, also. That's a very special moment for many of our relatives, so we don't want to see that happen."

Gillum said he hopes Bush will decline the FAMU invitation.

[SuziQ]

Too bad someone hasn't taught those kids MANNERS! As for the 'divided' Florida; that's the additude FAMU has taken for years. They consider themselves a BLACK school and don't want connection with or assimiliation with whites! So who's doing the dividing there, huh?

[Paul In Cape Two]

Maybe those university idiots would prefer someone less controversial. I don't know,.....maybe.....

Janet Reno!

[bandleader]

Right On!!!These"Spoiled Brats"badly are in need of an infusion of REALITY!!!!They sound to me like a bunch of Segregationalist,Black-Racists!!!!!!!!!!

[twigs]

The college where my husband works just snagged our governor as commencement speaker. It is considered an honor! His politics has nothing to do with it.

[Wonder Warthog]

"We don't have one Florida but a divided Florida," said Gillum, who is the only one of 13 FAMU trustees not appointed by the governor. "The Florida A&M graduating seniors will not sit through a ceremony adorned by a governor who doesn't believe in our institution."

I have a suggestion--any one of them who DOESN'T "sit through a (the) ceremony" simply won't get a degree.

This notion that the students should dictate University choices needs to also have "consequences", and the students need to learn that "academic freedom" doesn't consist of what THEY happen to want at the immediate moment.

Whether they like it or not, Governor Jeb Bush IS the CEO of the state that provided the tax dollars to fund their education.

[hellinahandcart]

His remarks drew loud, prolonged applause and shouts of encouragement from the mostly black crowd - which included scores of FAMU students - at St. Mary's Primitive Baptist Church.

I have a gift for finding uninentionally funny sentences hidden in articles that SHOULD make me mad. This one reminds me of a very un-PC scene in "Animal House".

[Ender@Game.now]

I recently read an article about a college in Florida that was set up as an all black school for low income students. After being closed for about 8 years due to lack of state funding, it was re-opened this year with funding that was appropriated by the Bush administration. Do you recall that college name or does anyone out there have a link to the article.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

American universities are the breeding grounds for socialism.

[Bigoleelephant]

"Ya gotchyo ooh mow mow..Oh Oh Oh Oh"..."That is why (That is why) That is whyyyy (That is why), You are my sugahdidideep. (Yea)"

[Texaggie79]

[hellinahandcart]

"What's your major?" :D

[FreeTally]

More typical stupidity from the folks at FAMU. Let me give you all another example of their lack of class: Several years ago, the FAMU was interested in purchasing a property that was an industrial park that was adjacent to the campus. The first problem was that FAMU did not have enough money in the budget to buy it. So another division at the State said, "Tell you what, we will buy it now, and when the money become available, you guys can just buy it back from us". Great deal, right? The folks at FAMU basically said, "No way! We don't trust that you will sell it to us once you buy it". No deal happened. Most tenants in the park had found other places to lease, it was half vacant, and the deal fell through and FAMU never got the site. They costed the State alot of money through appraisals, attorney's and etc. Its my understanding that many State agencies hate dealing with them. In addition, once or twice a year on average an employee is fired and prosecuted for stealing money, or taking bribes to give financial aid. Then, all the thugs and criminals in a 100 mile radius come here every year for FAMU homecomming and "Kappa Lueau" only to cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to the town and mall, and to rob pizza joints and convenience stores while they are here. And the folks at FAMU say merchants are racists for wanting to close their stores. Go figure.

[cake_crumb]

What I would like to know is:

HOW MANY Florida A&M students do not want Governor Bush at their commencement address?

One? Two? That's all it takes in either public shcools or institutions of higher learning these days to silence the voices of the majority.

[stainlessbanner]

I'm surprised the indoctrinated socialists at FAMU even know who their governor is.

[cake_crumb]

"The college where my husband works just snagged our governor as commencement speaker. It is considered an honor! His politics has nothing to do with it."

Which college, please? I may need the name of the college in order to rebut the Florideans who agree with the class prez of Florida A&M. FReepmail me if necessary.

[arly]

it's ashame karl mark isn't still around maybe they could get him as a speaker.

[ilgipper]

If Willard or Hillary had been named as my commencement speaker, I would have had a sour reaction, as well. The difference is that my comments weren't printed in every newspaper from coast to coast as part of a never ending negative PR campaign by the media.

The other difference is that these officeholders aren't criminals.

[sandlady]

American universities are the breeding grounds for socialism.

And then some of us mature....thankfully!

[sandlady]

Not surprising.