One Florida Initiative Receives Mixed Reviews
By Bridgette McCloud
University of Florida

GAINESVILLE - The One Florida Initiative plan that was proposed by Governor Bush in early November has received mixed reviews from across the state. The One Florida Initiative has multiple components that will affect admissions into the state university system. The plan would eliminate race and ethnicity in the university admissions and guarantee the top 20% of students in every Florida high school graduating class admission to one of the state schools. Governor Bush says this plan will increase the number of blacks and Hispanics who get into these schools. Some critics feel the plan will hinder diversity while others feel it will enhance it.

"I think that it (One Florida Initiative) is a great idea because the make-up of Florida is changing every day. We are a culturally diverse state," said Ed McPadden, Lake Weir High School.

"I believe the One Florida plan will prevent minorities from being represented in state universities," said Jarvis Gray, University of Miami freshman. "It will do a good job of decreasing diversity, especially for blacks in the university system," he added.

In a press release Governor Bush said, "With my One Florida Initiative, we can increase opportunity and diversity in the state universities and state contracting without using policies that discriminate or pit one racial group against another." The Governor’s plan would also provide funding to make the Preliminary Scholastic Achievement Test available to all Florida tenth graders, increase availability of Advanced Placement courses and create a new partnership with the College Board to improve college preparation for students at the low-performing high schools. Bush signed an agreement with the College Board, which will assist in identifying, motivating and better preparing students in low-performing schools.

"Making the PSAT available to all 10^th graders will help prepare more students for the college entrance exams they will take a year later, and the ‘Talented 20’ program is a unique way to make sure higher education is available to those students who would not ordinarily make it," said senior Brittany Alexander of Edwin High.

"The state has always been rather slow in administering funds in the past, and I believe students, especially minorities, suffer if this plan is imposed," said John Roberts, a resource counselor at St. James High.

The plan also pledges to increase need-based financial aid by $20 million.

"I feel that students from the privileged families will continue to excel and that minority students must be determined in order to get opportunities; they (minorities) will be forced to rely more on funding from private and government sources," said Kathy Taylor, a journalism graduate of the University of Florida.

"I believe students like me will benefit from the financial aid increase because I know a lot of people who want to attend college, but they don't qualify for awards like the Bright Futures Scholarships," said sophomore James Baton.

While some agree and disagree with the One Florida Initiative, others have their own ideas of how to make university admissions fair.

"The university system should be based on grades and that’s all," said Paul Webber of St. Johns Community College

"College should be open to everyone, no matter what their backgrounds, grades, gender or race is," said Palatka High senior Myia McCloud.

The elimination of affirmative action by doing away with race sensitive admission policies can be seen in states like California where the enrollment of minorities dropped by 50% at UCLA and the University of California at Berkeley after race and ethnicity were taken out of consideration in admissions.

"I feel that affirmative action is needed to assure diversity in the university system," Tonette Wilson, a marketing major said. "Substituting the One Florida plan for affirmative action is no way an equal advantage for minorities," Wilson said.

"My initiative ends racial preferences, racial set-asides and race-based admissions, not affirmative action properly understood. The One Florida Initiative transcends traditional notions of affirmative action and increases opportunities for Floridians of all racial backgrounds in the ways that unite us, not divide us," added Bush at his press conference.

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