View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by DigitalCommons@Florida International University Florida International University FIU Digital Commons The Beacon Special Collections and University Archives 7-3-2013 The Beacon, July 3, 2013 Florida International University Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper Recommended Citation Florida International University, "The Beacon, July 3, 2013" (2013). The Beacon. Book 498. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/student_newspaper/498 This work is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Collections and University Archives at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Beacon by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Forum for Free Student Expression at Florida International University Vol. 25, Issue 1 fiusm.com Wednesday, July 3, 2013 Tuition revenue JOB FAIR to improve finan- cial aid, advising REBECA PICCARDO revenue is needed to compensate Staff Writer for the losses generated by the downturn in the economy and State universities will expe- state budget cuts. rience a 1.7 percent tuition The automatic tuition increase increase for the 2013-2014 is also being triggered because academic year, an automatic larger tuition has been written inflation adjustment triggered into previous budgets approved by Gov. Rick Scott’s veto of a 3 by the Board of Governors. percent increase. Due to an annual work The increase will equal a plan meeting, members from $1.75 increase per credit hour, the Board of Governors were or an extra $21 a semester for unavailable for comment by ROBERTO JIMENEZ/THE BEACON a student enrolled in 12 credits. press time. 8th Annual Federal Government Statewide Conference hosted by FIU’s Career Services. Florida state law requires that “The state seems to be restor- resident undergraduate tuition ing money that was cut before per credit hour increases at the and may be providing some addi- increase will generate approxi- nalism major. “[It] has to charge Pascual, sophomore criminal beginning of each fall semes- tional money beyond that,” said mately $1,600,000 in additional accordingly and tuition fees must justice major. ter at a rate equal to inflation. Vice President of Governmental revenue. reflect the state of the economy.” Students are concerned about Although it is illegal to reject the Relations Steve Sauls in an inter- There will be more funds for However, not all students automatic tuition hikes on top of automatic tuition increase, Gov. view with Student Media. “Some financial aid and employment agree with how tuition is affected all the other expenses. Scott is lobbying for universities of that might be a small tuition at the university at a cost of less by the economy. “Tuition hikes really affect to cut tuition rates by the same increase.” than $2.00 per credit hour. “I don’t think the tuition college students,” said Vianca percentage to prevent tuition Ken Jessell, senior vice pres- “The University has to be should increase with inflation Picart, junior criminal justice hikes for students. ident and chief financial officer able to maintain itself,” said because salaries don’t increase TUITION, PAGE 2 University officials said, of the Board of Trustees, said Francesa Rosario, junior jour- with inflation,” said Jessica however, that the additional the University estimates the Court strikes down Defense of Marriage Act REBECA PICCARDO hinge upon marital status in the first place,” said Bobby 2008 Proposition 8 was unconstitutional and called for Staff Writer Joe Bracy, Jr., a second-year law student. the resumption of gay marriages in California. Justin Santoli, a sophomore in elementary education The ruling does not require that states recognize Last Wednesday proved to be a major victory for the and the president of the FIU Stonewall Pride Alliance same-sex marriages performed by other states, however. gay rights movement in the United States, when the club, said, “marriage is only one component of the gay Although the DOMA ruling advanced gay rights in Supreme Court had a 5-4 ruling to take out a section rights movement.” some states, it causes uncertainty for same-sex couples of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which According to Bracy, there are other issues that affect in other states, including Florida, which do not recognize denied federal benefits to same-sex couples. young members of the LGBTQA community, such as the same-sex marriage. Although last Wednesday proved to be a major victory rising HIV infection rates, which have not given enough “We’re only talking about Section 3 of DOMA,” said in favor of gay rights, not all members of the LGBTQA attention recently due to the push for same-sex marriage. Cyra Choudhury, associate law professor, in an email. community agree with the importance given to the According to Santoli, regardless of age, the DOMA “What the ruling did not do is require states to extend marriage issue. ruling is a huge stepping stone in changing public full faith and credit to foreign same-sex marriage.” “We, as a LGBTQA community, should question why opinion. access to basic human rights, like health care, should The Supreme Court’s ruling also declared that the DOMA, PAGE 2 University misses its Fresh Foods Company AILYS TOLEDO and faculty,” said Felecia Fresh Foods into Panther Contributing Writer Townsend, director of Dining’s and Orientation business and services. offices previous locations Students and patrons When Fresh Foods was and will install new seat- will have to go about first built in 2002, it was ing, including booths and their summer days at the located at the end of the a lounge area. New sta- University without Fresh Graham Center, next to tions and equipment will Foods. the Panther Dining and produce menu items like The dining location is Orientation offices. In gluten-free and vegan receiving a top-to-bottom 2004, the entrance of the food options. renovation, scheduled for restaurant was remodeled Townsend said Fresh fall 2013 completion. and relocated during the Foods offers a personal- Together, the Univer- renovations of GC into ized, innovative dining sity, Aramark and Fresh the Atrium. experience customized Foods Company recog- Since the minor change for the University com- in 2004, the restaurant is munity. nized the desire for a ANDRES CARDENAS/THE BEACON more social gathering on now undergoing a total “I am celiac and find- Workers continue to complete renovations to the Fresh Foods Company, which are set to campus. interior and exterior ing places to eat that offer be complete by fall 2013. “The more open and makeover. a good and healthy vari- inviting atmosphere will The process of the ety of gluten-free meals community’s health,” Fresh Foods has added mote their health, while encourage social inter- renewal is divided into is hard, so I’m happy that said Vanessa Salcedo, new items to its menu to action and foster collab- three phases. such a well-known place senior architecture major. cater to students and pro- oration between students Phase One will expand is investing in the FIU FOOD, PAGE 2 2 The Beacon – Wednesday, July 3, 2013 NEWS fiusm.com WORLD NEWS Tuition set to increase 1.7 percent Progress in peace talks TUITION, PAGE 1 The 70 percent of need-based aid will fund the University grant of $2,000, the upper division grant of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he major. “We have so many things to pay for already, and $2000, the leverage grant of $2,000 and the graduate is optimistic about narrowing the gaps between higher tuition makes things even more difficult.” need grant of $5,000. Israel and Palestine after visiting the region last However, part of the increase in funds will be applied The remaining 25 percent is split: 10 percent for week. Kerry is working on a “package” that may to financial aid, which will counteract the tuition academic based scholarships and 15 percent for admin- include release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel increase in some cases. istering the aid programs. and large amounts of international aid to the Pales- “Half of the increase will be allotted to need-based “The other half will be used to hire additional advisors tinians. Israeli agreement to allow Palestinians to financial aid,” said Jessell. to better serve our undergraduate students,” said Jessell. launch new development projects in the West Bank The average increase after applying the need-based “This will help them plan schedules and ensure they are and a Palestinian pledge to halt their campaign of financial aid is $10.50 per semester. Some students will taking the correct courses to assist them in graduating seeking recognition of their independence are also pay the full $21.00 but the students with the greatest as quickly as possible.” expected. financial aid need will pay $0, according to Jessell. While students may be pessimistic about the 1.7 “I don’t see how a $21 increase per semester is so percent tuition increase, the University said it intends to horrible, especially if part of it will allow for more use the revenue from the tuition increase to help put the Civil war results in big losses financial aid,” said Rosario. money back into students’ pockets by providing financial Seventy percent of the incoming revenue towards aid and improved advising. for Syria financial aid is used for need-based aid, according to [email protected] Director of Financial Aid Francisco Valines. A Syrian government minister has reported that two years of fighting and civil war has left the country with $15 billion in losses to the public sector with damage to over 9,000 state build- ings.