After asking the University of South Florida (USF) to remove an inquiry into developing USF Forest Preserve land and receiving over 19,000 signatures against development, students—including a group that was suspended by USF last year—will hold a rally to save the preserve on Friday, May 7 at 6 p.m.
Activists say that the USF administration has acknowledged that it failed to notify deans and faculty before publicizing their interest in selling conservation land to developers through a “request for information” about the land. The activists add that USF leadership admitted in meetings that they failed to consult with any experts about the importance of the land, its biodiversity, its Indigenous cultural heritage sites, and its value as a core educational facility.
“In response to USF's refusal to rescind the RFI despite acknowledgments of their procedural failures to consult with deans or expert faculty, we will be demonstrating our commitment to fighting for the protection of this ecologically, culturally, and educationally significant land,” Jeannie Mounger, USF Ph.D candidate and activist, wrote in a statement to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
USF Director of Media relations Adam Freeman told CL that the school is exploring options that might be available on the property.
“The RFI allows USF to gauge interest and obtain information to consider the best strategy for a potential project that could provide greater financial resources to support the university’s mission and benefit our students, faculty and staff,” Freeman wrote in an email.
For example, says Freeman, funds generated annually from a ground lease on the property could be invested in an endowment that grows over time and provides new resources for USF to fund student scholarships, recruit new faculty members or support research opportunities.
Freeman says that USF is gauging demand and listening to proposals, and that they’re not required to take action on any of the proposals submitted by developers.
USF’s chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) is co-hosting Friday’s protest, despite being suspended by the university in the fall of 2020 for protesting budget cuts at USF. In February, USF accused the group of violating USF Policy for holding a protest against their suspension on campus that was not approved by the administration. Five people were arrested and charged with trespassing.
SDS member Simon Rowe, 20, was arrested during the protest and says SDS has been unfairly persecuted by university officials.
“SDS has pushed back against USF defunding the college of education and other budget cuts, so it does feel targeted,” says Rowe, who is a psychology major at USF. “Other students have held gatherings on campus and were left alone.”
Even far-right grifter and gun nut Kaitlin Bennett made her presence known on campus without pushback from school officials.
USF did not respond to requests for comments on the suspension of SDS, and the groups claims that it was specifically targeted. Despite the suspension, SDS wants to continue its work, in this case to help save the preserve. “SDS members have been to the forest preserve and learned a lot there, which is why we want to help uplift the voices of Save the USF Forest Preserve,” Rowe says.
The students who organized the event invite members of the Tampa Bay community who support the cause to join them at 6 p.m. on Friday to rally in front of the USF Forest Preserve on E Fletcher Avenue. More information can be found via the @save.usfforestpreserve on Instagram.
We've updated our parking information!
Links to our parking info and the sign up form for our shuttle can be found here:https://t.co/kpUYzZzPzZ.
Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow! #saveusfforestpreserve pic.twitter.com/uoN7sJXYjL
— Save USF Forest Preserve (@saveUSFpreserve) May 6, 2021
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This article appears in May 6-12, 2021.