Tampa, FL – On May 7, 80 students and community members gathered at the entrance of the University of South Florida (USF) Forest Preserve to demand that USF protect the preserve instead of selling it for development. The protest was hosted by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Save USF Forest Preserve.

On April 1, USF put out a Request for Information to receive business inquiries for developments on the Preserve, the USF Golf Course, and the Riverfront Park. Speakers at the event addressed the importance of the Preserve due to its environmental impact, but also because of its educational purposes.

The Preserve is also a home to several indigenous cultural sites. Members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) and Florida Indigenous Rights and Environmental Equality (FIREE) spoke about the importance of preserving the land.

SDS spoke about their campaign to defund the university police. Last fall, USF announced $36.7 million in budget cuts that would mainly affect education and student services. The campus police department’s current budget is over $7 million.

Ben Braver, member of Tampa Bay SDS, stated, “USFPD is an inefficient, incompetent, discriminatory office that needs to be defunded. All they do is arrest protesters. Shield far-right extremists like Kaitlin Bennet, who come to this school seeking to provoke outrage, from the very students they should be protecting.”

Despite the school year being over, SDS plans to continue their campaign to defund the campus police into the summer. They also plan to continue to fight back against USF administration's attempts at cutting down and developing the Forest Preserve.

#TampaFL #PeoplesStruggles #EnvironmentalJustice #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #TampaBaySDS

Tampa, Fl – Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held a 20-person protest outside the University of South Florida’s (USF) entrance on April 20 opposing the university’s budget cuts and a state bill restricting the Bright Futures scholarship. Bright Futures provides 75 to 100% of an eligible student’s tuition. USF is implementing $36.7 million in cuts to areas such as student success, financial aid and health services.

Senate Bill 86 initially restricted Bright Futures based on whether a student’s major would lead to employment. The current bill version requires students to complete modules on career outlook for their majors. Many students worry that data from these modules and graduation rates will become evidence to cut scholarships for non-STEM majors.

“This bill really exposes Florida’s true priorities, they only care about students when it’s profitable to them,” said Gia Davila, member of Tampa Bay SDS.

The funding of Bright Futures as a whole may also be subject to change. SB 86 would remove the strict 75-100% tuition coverage and have the program’s budget discussed annually. The bill would make it easier for legislators to reduce Bright Future’s funding. This year, Florida is considering removal of the $600 textbook stipend included with Bright Futures.

“The fact that the bill targets majors that are pursued primarily by marginalized people who already have difficulties securing jobs let alone get equal pay is especially troubling,” said Gareth Dawkins, a member of Tampa Bay SDS.

USF’s budget cuts could have similar consequences to SB 86. Reducing staff, course options, scholarships and health services would negatively impact students and workers. Several positions were eliminated from the athletics department last fall.

“It is absurd to see USF lay off workers and make cuts to our education while simultaneously constructing a $54 million building. They are getting rid of workers who are essential to the quality of our education and the inner workings of the university,” said Laura Rodriguez, a member of Tampa Bay SDS.

USF promised to cut the police budget by 5% last fall. Tampa SDS began demanding USF defund its police after the Justice for George Floyd movement last summer. SDS delayed starting the April 20 event to hear the verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial. The organizers agreed that if Chauvin was found not guilty, the protest would have focused on the verdict. After the guilty verdict, protesters still chanted, “Take it to the streets, defund the police! No justice, no peace!” The rest of the event demanded defunding the police as part of SDS’s Chop from the Top campaign.

Tampa SDS will continue to oppose measures that harm students and university workers, at USF across the state of Florida. They plan to continue their fight against the school’s budget cuts into the summer.

#TampaFL #PeoplesStruggles #TampaBayStudentsForADemocraticSocietySDS #UniversityOfSouthFlorida

Tampa, FL – Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) hosted an email-in on Wednesday, May 20, fighting back against the University of South Florida’s administration. Under the panic of the COVID-19 crisis, USF administration has defunded, suspended and effectively disbanded the Video Game Club (VGC) at USF. The student organizers demanded the reinstatement of the VGC, in addition to maintaining students’ prior demands of refunds for ‘distance learning fees’ and all activity and service fees, as the mandatory off-campus learning gives the fees no reason to be charged.

The suspension of student-run Video Game Club came along with the announcement of a new electronic sports, or esports, program hosted by the school. Esports is an industry that has generated over a billion dollars in revenue. The decision to create the program while shutting down the group that has been a student video game club is no coincidence. The actions of the school’s administration highlight the intentions of the university as it focuses on adding programs and punishing student organizations, instead of providing relief and aid for students.

The event was successful in inspiring students to fight back against the administration’s disbanding of other organizations in pursuit of profit. Gareth Dawkins, a student organizer with Tampa SDS said, “This event exposed the amount of power the school has and how they use it to exploit students on both a small and large scale.” Tampa Bay SDS will continue demanding that the university provide aid to students and cancel their fees while continuing the fight to meet these demands through action.

#TampaFL #PeoplesStruggles #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #TampaBaySDS #VideoGames

Tampa, Fl – On September 10, students at the University of South Florida (USF) participated in a national day of action that was called by National Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) to speak out against the Trump administration’s attacks on undocumented immigrants. The event was hosted by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Over 30 students and staff attended.

During President Donald Trump’s tenure, his administration has engaged in escalating attacks against undocumented immigrants. Some of these attacks include Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detaining undocumented children in horrid camp conditions indefinitely, and building urban warfare training facilities meant to replicate the conditions of the U.S. Southwest.

Many of these occurrences were addressed in speeches given by SDS members. They also addressed how these attacks on immigrants can be seen on campus and how to fight back against them through their “Immigrants are Here to Stay” campaign.

“We want USF administration to agree to be non-compliant with agencies, such as Customs and Border Protection and ICE, that seek to detain and deport undocumented immigrants. We encourage students to unite with us to protect our fellow immigrant students,” said SDS member, Ilena Scapicchio.

Although a small group of students that support these racist attacks on immigrants tried to halt and distract others from the event, SDS members and attendees chanted, “No Trump, no wall, legalization for all,” against them. The Trump supporters were ultimately silenced.

“We plan on holding more campaign events which will pressure USF administration, and the new university president, Steven Currall, to make policy change in order to make campus safe for undocumented people,” said Scapicchio.

#TampaFL #ImmigrantRights #OppressedNationalities #US #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #DonaldTrump #TampaBaySDS

Tampa, FL – On February 28, the Tampa Bay chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held a Black Lives Matter rally at the University of South Florida for the seventh anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s death. In 2012, Trayvon Martin, 17, was shot and killed by George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida, after returning from a nearby gas station. The trial of Zimmerman became a national phenomenon with him walking free due to Florida’s ‘stand your ground’ law. The shooting is still fresh on Florida’s mind, with many questioning the judicial system that let a man off with murder.

The protest was aimed at the judicial system, the police, and the university’s administration, which is not unfamiliar with political scandal. Just last week, the USF administration came under fire for allowing the white supremacist Patriot Front to post flyers around campus and refused to condemn the group’s presence.

The protest saw many students from all backgrounds attend and stand against racism. The roar of the chants condemning the racist system resonated across campus.

“It’s important to hold these rallies so we don’t allow ourselves and our community to forget the vast corruption in our judicial system. You find that many students have not forgotten about it and are outraged at how this country politically functions,” said Tampa Bay SDS member Mia Montano.

The Tampa Bay SDS chapter continues to fight against racist policies and procedures that they face on their campus. This rally was one of many that SDS nationally put on to speak out against racism on campuses all over the country.

#TampaFL #InJusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #TrayvonMartin #USF