To the Florida State Legislature,

 

The Student Body of Florida Recognizes: That Florida State University was not integrated until 1958, The University of Florida was not integrated until 1958, and The University of South Florida did not have its first black student until 1961 and

 

The Student Body of Florida Prides Itself In Its Diversity Programs: Such as Florida State Universities, Asian American Student Union, Black Student Union, Pride Student Union, Jewish Student Union, Hispanic and Latinx Student Union, Women’s Student Union and Veterans Student Union and

 

The Student Body of Florida is proud of the achievements of the organizations, students, and programs that have promoted Diversity, Equity, and inclusion in every realm of Florida. 

 

The Student Body of Florida seeks to maintain programs that will be negatively impacted by the passage of HB 999 such as,

Florida State University’s Center for Leadership and Social Change 
The University of Florida’s Student Life Center for Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s Diversity and Inclusion Council
The University of Florida’s Institute on Black Life
The University of West Florida’s Equal Opportunity Office
The University of Central Florida’s Athletics Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
Florida International University’s Office of Social Justice and Inclusion
The University of North Florida’s Hispanic Men and Women in University Program
Florida Gulf Coast University Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program
New College of Florida’s Outreach and Inclusive Excellence Program
Florida Polytechnic University’s International Day of Women and Girls in STEM

And the hundreds of other programs that promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at public higher education institutions and

 

The Student Body of Florida further believes: that HB 999 will have dramatic negative consequences on the very fabric of our university.

A massive loss of jobs for our universities
A massive loss in critical faculty that bring investment into our public schools
A massive loss and erasure in decades worth of efforts to build Florida public schools' prestige at the national level. 

The Student Body of Florida believes that: This erasure would constitute an unprecedented attack on the minority communities served by these entities, and would be a shameful step backward in our efforts to form a united community and Student Body, and​

Therefore we as the students of the State of Florida believe that: It is not the role of the Governor to dictate the programs, classes, and initiatives that Florida students are allowed to take. It is the role of the students who pay tuition dollars to these institutions. The students of Florida will continue to stand up for their academic freedom and the academic freedom of the faculty members who make our education possible.  United we will continue to speak out and make our voices heard on policies that will have a direct impact on our lives.