Ryan J. Moseley Student Body President

Independence Day Edition Volume 1 Issue 5 July 4, 2007 Lobby Efforts are Successful This is an exciting time for student- education since the GI Bill. oriented legislation, and the SG Execu- The bill looks to cut interest rates in tive Committee, which includes the half on subsidized student loans to make University of Student Body President, Vice President, student loans more affordable, increase Student Government Treasurer, Senate President, Senate Pell Grants for low-income students by PO Box 118505 President Pro-Tempore and External about 65 percent, and provide $5,000 Gainesville, FL. 32611 USA Affairs Director, has been working in loan forgiveness for graduates who 300-54 J. Wayne Reitz Union to ensure that the best interests of commit to five years of public service in Room 305 the student body of The University areas of national need, including nursing, (352) 392-1665 of Florida are protected locally and special-needs teaching and law enforce- www.sg.ufl.edu nationally. ment. On June 27, Gov. The committee also thanked made a vast contribution towards representatives for passing the Student Upcoming Events student interests by approving the Dif- Loan Sunshine Act, a bill that works to Exec. & Agencies Meeting July 5 1 p.m. ferential Tuition bill, a piece of legislation ensure transparency and clarity in the Credit Hour Incentive Study July 5 that will allow UF, along with two other student lending process. It bans private Secretaries Meeting July 5 6 p.m. universities, to raise its tuition up to 40 lending institutions from participating Student Senate July 5 7 p.m. percent over a number of years. on University Advisory Boards, prohibits Gatormania July 7 11 a.m. Academic Policy Meeting July 9 2 p.m. This bill is vitally important because preferred lender lists that are not in Transportation and Parking Meeting July 10 2 p.m. it provides the additional faculty and the best interest of students, requires Student Senate July 10 7 p.m. advisors that are necessary to expand that private lenders inform students of students’ educational experiences. federal borrowing options, and imposes With the additional funding provided stiff fines for any unfair lending practices SG Spotlight by this bill, the university can increase or violations of the act. the size of its faculty, improve the 21 to The Sunshine Act is currently be- 1 faculty-student ratio, and continue to ing read in the U.S. Senate. The senate attract the qualified, ambitious students is also considering its own version of for which The University of Florida is the College Cost Reduction Act that recognized. would eventually be reconciled with the The Executive Committee also House’s version. When meeting with spent part of the week between sum- senators, the Executive Committee made mer class sessions in Washington, D.C., a point to express their strong support meeting with more than 15 national for these bills and the benefits they will leaders over a course of four days to bring to students. Chris Denton discuss educational policy and a number This trip was not only a valuable Senator of bills that have the potential to legislative tool; the committee made reduce the financial burdens on college important connections with educational Senator Denton is a fourth-year double major in students. leaders in the capital. They spent some History and Forest Resources and Conservation. The committee met with members time speaking with Under Secretary of Senator Denton is currently training with the U.S. of the House of Representatives and Education Sarah Martinez Tucker about Coast Guard Reserves in New Jersey, and upon their staff members to convey the issues like funding for Upward Bound. Af- completion of his training will return to UF and student body’s steadfast support of the ter meeting with the committee, Under continue serving as a senator and a member of the Replacement & Agenda committee and the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007. Secretary Martinez Tucker expressed in- Judiciary committee. This bill is a wide-reaching reforma- terest in visiting the University of Florida tion of the student loan process that in the fall to speak to the student body. will provide numerous new services to Lobbying will continue to be a top students at no additional cost to taxpay- priority for the Gator Party Admin- ers. It will provide about $20 million in istration and SG as a whole, and it is grants and student loans over the next rewarding to see students benefit from five years, and represents the single correspondence with state and national largest federal investment in higher legislators.

This newsletter is now available online! Visit www.UFSGNews. com to sign up for the newsletter listserv, read press clippings about Student Government, and download press releases, “It has always been great to be a Florida letters and other SG information. This Web site is intended Gator, but with the Gator Party adminis- to increase access to information about SG and improve tration we hope to make it even better.” communication between SG, students and the media. If there is anything you would like to see on the site, please contact Kim Cruts at [email protected]. did you know...

For more information contact Kim Cruts at [email protected] Recent Developments

Sunday, June 24 Theta Chi fraternity and Florida Blue Key. and former UF Student Senate president. The Executive Committee, consisting of Rep. Mica is a member of the Transportation Rep. Wasserman-Schultz is the youngest Student Body President Ryan Moseley, Vice and Infrastructure Committee and the woman to have been elected into the House President Vanessa Goodwin, Treasurer E.J. Oversight and Government Reform of Representatives and a member of the Walicki, Senate President Robert Agrusa, Committee. Appropriations Committee and the Judiciary Senate President Pro-Tempore Kevin Committee. The UF Executive Committee Reilly and Executive Affairs Director David Wednesday, June 27 concluded their trip by meeting with Rep. Drescher, traveled to Washington, D.C. to The morning began as the Executive , UF alum and a senior meet with national leaders to lobby on Committee met with Florida’s Sen. Bill member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. behalf of the students at the University of Nelson. Sen. Nelson is a member of the Rep. Wexler was named one of the 50 Most Florida. Armed Services Committee, the Aging Influential Legislators in Congress by the Committee, the Budget Committee, . Monday, June 25 the Commerce Committee, the Foreign The Executive Committee met with Relations Committee and the Intelligence Monday, July 2 Eddy Acevedo, a legislative assistant Committee. The committee also spent Ryan Moseley met with President Machen for Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Acevedo time with Katie Platt, his aide in matters and the Finance and Facilities Committee works with education issues on behalf of education. The group went on to to discuss the hiring freeze and emerging of the representative. Rep. Ros-Lehtinen meet with Rep. , who budget management initiatives. The was the first Hispanic woman and first represents Florida’s 3rd district and serves university is committed to maintaining Cuban-American elected to Congress. The on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and graduate health insurance, funding for the committee also met with Rep. Tim Mahoney, the Transportation and Infrastructure Florida Opportunities Scholars, and salary the representative for Florida’s 16th district. Committee. The committee also met increases for faculty members who are Rep. Mahoney is specifically interested with Gator graduate Representative being promoted. In order to accomplish this in issues involving the insurance, the , a member of the Financial during a period of flat revenue and increasing environment, homeland security and seniors. Services committee and the Chairman of expenses, the university has created a the Republican Conference. The Executive Cost Reduction and Efficiency Task Force. Tuesday, June 26 Committee ended their day in a meeting The university is also looking into ways The Executive Committee met with Moira with the Under Secretary of Education, to enhance revenue that could impact the Lenehan-Razzuri, the legislative assistant Sarah Martinez Tucker, who expressed student body. Ryan Moseley is dedicated to for Rep. Ruben Hinojosa. Lenehan-Razzuri interest in visiting the University of Florida being involved with these measures to ensure serves as the Congressman’s committee to speak in the fall. that while improving UF, students are not liaison on all education and workforce financially overburdened. Interviews were issues. Rep. Hinojosa is a member of Thursday, June 28 also conducted for Supreme Court Justices the Committee on Education and Labor, The committee met with Jerry White, by Ryan Moseley’s Chief of Staff, Yooni Yi, and the Committee on Financial Services legislative director for Rep. . Sponsorships Secretary Ryan Day. and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Rep. Bilirakis is a UF alum who serves on The committee went on to meet with the Homeland Security Committee and the Tuesday, July 3 representatives and Rob Klein Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Afterwards, Ryan Moseley met with Provost Janie of the 6th and 22nd districts, respectively. they met with Gina Piek, legislative assistant Fouke to discuss incentives to encourage Rep. Stearns is a member of the Energy in charge of education to Senator Mel undergraduate students to take 15 credit and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Klein Martinez. Sen. Martinez serves on the hours a semester. Research Cabinet Director serves on the Financial Services Committee Armed Services, Banking, Housing and Moses Divaker will be conducting a study and the Foreign Affairs Committee. The Urban Affairs, Energy and Natural Resources Thursday to look into what incentives committee ended the day with Rep. John Committees. The group then met with Rep. would be effective. Yooni and Ryan Day also Mica, a UF Graduate and member of the Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, a Gator alum continued Supreme Court Justice interviews.