Every April, the new University of Florida Student Body Officers are elected to serve students interests on-campus and represent the student body within the university administration. In the past, these three students have received a collective salary of almost $28,000 for their work throughout the year. This year, however, the officers decided to forgo their earnings and donate the money to the Florida Opportunity Scholars.
The officers put a great deal of thought into how and where to donate the money and carefully selected MFOS because of its direct connection to students and the issues they face.
“College accessibility and affordability are the greatest challenges to higher education today, and MFOS is a national model for how a public university can begin to address these issues,” Student Body President Joselin Padron-Rasines said.
This donation is part of a continued effort by student government to advocate for widespread availability of education at an economic cost, increased fiscal transparency within SG and student leadership that benefits students at the University of Florida.
Student Body Treasurer Nicholas Carré explained that the move also stemmed from a campaign promise to serve students above all else.
“Student Government officials receive salaries with funds paid out of students’ pockets, through the Activity and Service Fee. I should not be inclined to perform my job, as Student Body Treasurer, because of a monetary incentive,” Carré said. “Rather, I am inclined to perform my job, based upon the faith of those who elected me.”
“We knew that these funds could be put to better use in a way that makes a tangible difference in the lives of students here at the University of Florida,” Student Body Vice President Kevin Doan said. “This has always and will continue to be our mission.”
The University of Florida Student Body Officers are helping to pave the way for thousands of students to get a college education at the University of Florida and fostering a partnership between SG and MFOS, as well as other university entities.
“The three of us are happy to be a small part of such an impactful program,” Padron-Rasines said.
