Call to action: FIU needs you now

[FIUBlue82]

For those of you that want to know how we can contribute to our university, there is no better time than now.

As you know Governor Crist wants to delay the startup of our medical school. While we are indeed in a budget crunch in Florida, our medical school should NOT be on the chopping block.

So how can you help? Click on the link below. Insert your address. Find your legislator and write to them. Send the email. Then follow up with a phone call to their office. Your message: DO NOT DELAY THE STARTUP OF FIU'S MEDICAL SCHOOL. Then contact your friends that live outside of Miami-Dade and Broward and get them to do the same for their legislators. Apply enough pressure, and we can have an impact.

We face an uphill battle. The culture in Tallahassee is not favorable. But in order for our voices to be heard, we have to take action. So, get to it. If you care enough about FIU, you will.

www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/officials/?lvl=L

Finally, I received this email. Many FIU alums will as well. Read it. Pass it along. Take action.

Family and Friends of FIU:

We are very disappointed at Governor Crist's state budget cut recommendations, especially his proposal to delay funding for the FIU College of Medicine. At FIU, we have already hired nationally-recognized faculty members, chairs and deans; we have signed an affiliation agreement with Jackson Memorial Hospital to provide care to the indigent; and we have received approval for an accreditation site visit by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting agency in medical education.

Any move to postpone the opening of the College of Medicine in 2009, would be a breach of an agreement ratified by the Governor and the Legislature, and will deal an enduring blow to economic development in Miami-Dade and the State of Florida. The College of Medicine will not only offer educational and healthcare opportunities to South Floridians, but also literally generate more than a billion dollars in economic activity. Given our unique mission of caring for the disadvantaged in this community, the impact will be felt for many years to come. The Legislature already approved funding for the College of Medicine and we fully expect that they will honor that commitment to Miami-Dade.

Overall, FIU and Miami would sustain the largest cut in higher education. In addition to the College of Medicine funding, the Governor is also cutting funding for our pre-med program and hurricane research.

The university community is already working on a thoughtful, sober plan to make the required cuts to our overall university budget, based on the state's financial reality. These additional cuts undermine our common goal of providing affordable educational opportunities to students throughout South Florida and fostering the economic development of our state.

We remain confident in the Legislature's commitment to FIU and the College of Medicine. However, it is now time for the entire South Florida community to act. Contact your elected officials immediately by visiting this web page
government.fiu.edu

Florida International University is committed to providing South Floridians access to a great public education. Your support is needed now.

Modesto A. Maidique
President, Florida International University

[FIUBlue82]

Here is the information for Governor Crist. Call his switchboard, email him and stay on message: DO NOT DELAY THE STARTUP OF FIU'S MEDICAL SCHOOL. Again, if you care enough and take the time, you can have an impact.

www.flgov.com/contact_form

Telephone:
Citizen Services Hotline: [phone]
Executive Office of the Governor Switchboard: [phone] [Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time]

[2006PA]

I just wrote an email to my representative... Everyone should do the same.

[kevinkagy]

I just wrote an e-mail to all the representatives and the governor. This is ridiculous, FIU is always getting the lower end of the stick, enough is enough!

[FIUFanatic]

I wrote...Please write your sentiments....We have gotten this thing too far along, hiring nationally recognized faculty members, having the agency for early accreditation ready to come here, agreements have been suscribed with local hospitals, etc. Call to action indeed!

[fiulife]

While the administration maintains its confidence in the Legislature, the Student Government Association is preparing to rally in Tallahassee Sept. 20.

The rally will be free and open to all FIU students, according to Viviana Jordan, director of legislative affairs for SGA.

"We want to get students out there as soon as possible," Jordan said.

Busses will leave from the University Park campus Sept. 19 at 10 p.m. and arrive in Tallahassee the next morning.

Breakfast and refreshments will be provided by SGA, Jordain said.

The rally will start at noon and end at 1 p.m.

"It's going to be short, sweet and to the point," Jordan said.

To participate in the rally, students must sign up in the SGA office located in the Graham Center, room 211, by Sept. 18 at 5 p.m.

SGA will not limit the number of students who can attend to the rally. Anyone interested will be allowed to attend.

[FIUPantherFan]

That's awesome. Our students should be at the forefront of this movement.

[kevinkagy]

I'm going to try and go and represent! This is insane!

GO FIU!!

[fiulife]

There is also a petition

www.petitiononline.com/FIUSGA/petition.html