USF Funding Talk Set for Monday

As University of South Florida supporters plan a protest today, the school’s president is preparing for a trek to Tallahassee to discuss the Florida Senate’s proposal to cut funding.

According to The Tampa Tribune, president Judy Genshaft is scheduled to sit down with State Sen. JD Alexander on Monday. Alexander is the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, which recently approved cutting funding for USF by $103 million this year.

Alexander, a Republican from Polk County, is an outspoken critic of Genshaft. He has lobbied to have USF Polytechnic in Lakeland spun off from the Tampa campus as its own standalone school. In the past, he has accused USF officials of holding back the potential of the Lakeland university in favor of the larger Tampa campus.

Cuts to USF’s funding are part of an overall $400 million funding reduction for the state’s university system. USF, however, faces the largest cut in the system. In order for the cuts to take effect, the full Senate, the House and Gov. Rick Scott would also have to approve them.

While Genshaft and Alexander prepare for Monday’s meeting of the minds, Temple Terrace residents and other supporters of USF plan a protest today. The showing of support for the school takes place at 4 p.m. on the corner of 56th Street and Fowler Avenue.

“USF is our neighbor,” said Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce president Phil Lentsch, who is leading the rally. “I ask you to come and support USF with me. I’ll have signs for people to hold.”