A Typical Response from the Administration: Reporter: Why did Florida State spend $4-million dollars to finance the new 37-acre “frat row” called Heritage Grove? University: Heritage Grove is open to all students. Reporter: Have you seen this picture before? University: Yes, it’s an architectural sketch of the Heritage Grove property. Reporter: Did you notice the Greek lettering on top of all the apartment buildings? University: well, um (clears his throat)..... Heritage Grove is open to all students.
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(cont. from pg 5) How did this happen, you ask. FSU owned the Ocala Road property for a number of years before deciding what to do with it. Several ideas were batted around, including the construction of an “international village,” where international students and foreign language students could immerse themselves in the cultures of the world. But when a group of well-connected fraternity alumni said they wanted the site to be used “to help out the frats,” the University handed it over.
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So the good ol’ white boy club triumphs again! The interests of FSU students are routinely dismissed because well-connected alumni stomp their feet and demand things be done their way; take the construction of the University Center for example [see Athletics Over Academics, pg 4]. FSU should be working to ensure ALL students have affordable housing, not handing over 37 acres and $4 million to “help out the frats.” So here it is folks: Florida State and Leon County used a combined $27 million in public funds to build a non-profit apartment complex for fraternities. And since the project used money from a public bond sale, they pay no taxes and got a very low interest rate. This in turn allows Heritage Grove to (theoretically at least) offer cheap rents, forever. So the kids who drive BMWs to class get the affordable housing? Something is wrong with this picture. Heritage Grove is a slap in the face to every non-Greek student out there trying to pay rent. And to add insult to injury, President Wetherell scoffed at the notion of more campus housing in a recent speech to the Capital Tiger Bay Club. ‘Think of the impact on apartment revenues across the area,’ he said. It’s comforting to know TK cares more about some absentee landlord making a profit than how badly we students are getting screwed in rent.
These are cynical times. Times when opening our nation’s forests to logging and oil drilling is called “Healthy Forests.” Times when allowing more pollutants into the air is called “Clear Skies.” Times when “a university community for all students,” consists of 13 fraternity houses. But it does not have to be this way. If good people like you and me seize the reigns of power, we can use government to protect and promote the common good (like building affordable housing for all students). So come on folks, it’s time to take the shit over! • 6