Alexis Calatayud, Student Government Association president for Modesto A. Maidique Campus (MMC) and a senior political science student in the Green School of International and Public Affairs, has created a Change.org petition asking Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez and members of the Miami-Dade Commission to support the expansion of MMC to adjacent county lands. Calatayud says she wants students to understand the importance of the expansion for them, future students and the South Florida community. To sign the petition, click here. Read her letter to students below:
Dear Panthers,
On a November 2014 referendum, the Miami-Dade community demonstrated support for FIU’s expansion onto the land adjacent to the Modesto A. Maidique Campus by voting “Yes.”
Now, more than a year later, it is imperative that we move forward with the plan to find the Fair a new home.
I am an example of the impact FIU has on South Florida. As a Miami native, FIU has allowed me to stay close to home while providing me with countless leadership opportunities. FIU has given me invaluable tools to pursue a successful career and I will graduate with no debt. Other members of my family also have made the most of their FIU educations – my mother and brother are all FIU alumni.
FIU gives similar opportunities to thousands every year – we have 55,000 students and 200,000 alumni. These are our community’s leaders, engineers, doctors and entrepreneurs. FIU educates our community’s top teachers, employs thousands, and is helping to transform Miami into a cultural hub.
FIU’s success is our community’s success. FIU’s expansion would mean more and better jobs and educational opportunities.
As president of the FIU Student Government Association, I invite you to join me in asking Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez and members of the County Commission to please take action. Some 30 sites have been studied and the South Dade site really works. Relocating the Fair to South Dade is good for FIU and is good for the South Dade community, which has already expressed support and excitement about bringing the fair to their area.
Please sign and share my Change.org petition and help FIU create opportunities for 10,000 more students. Also, for more information on the university’s expansion efforts, visit expand.fiu.edu.
In Panther spirit,
Alexis Calatayud
President, Student Government Association
[…] SGA president starts FIU expansion petition on Change.org […]
I think this is nice that you want FIU to expand. But you mentioned moving the Fair further south is good for the “South Dade” community. I don’t think that’s fair (no pun intended). What about the North Dade community? Not everyone who goes to FIU lives down south. You should be trying to help all of Dade County. Make the fair be more centrally located and make sure it is a permanent location. If that is done, I will agree with this petition. As it stands, I don’t agree. I think we are making things better for FIU but to the detriment of an enjoyable community experince – THE FAIR.
If other possibilities have already been explored, but South Dade comes out as the most viable option, what’s wrong with driving a little farther to attend something you maybe visit once or twice a year? Affordable higher education is something much more valuable in today’s climate, and the benefit outweighs the inconvenience of driving a few extra miles for being entertained (surely the kids who attend the Fair will have better futures if we agree to make sensible choices).
I support
I have resided in Miami Dade County since I was 3 years old. I am now a professional working mother age 51, raising 2 young men who will be entering college within the next year. It is IMPERATIVE, URGENT and ABSOLUTELY Necessary for FIU to take immediate steps towards even more expansion of undergraduate and graduate programs. The University needs to be able to compete with schools such as UF and FSU. Those universities keep attracting many of our highly ranked local students because of their higher rankings, programs, and opportunities. Highschoolers prefer to get educated over there instead of staying here at FIU. Expanding and building more academic programs and especially creating a world class College of Engineering would be spectacular for our local students! We need to keep up with this fast moving technology into the 21st Century. The YOUTH FAIR can go somewhere else! I have been here for over 40 years and it is the same old thing.. Its a pricey Fair with only 2 weeks of enjoyment and then its WASTED LAND the rest of the year! We need education, we need jobs, we need to keep up with other Universities. Miami is falling behind in both University buildings and Hospitals, so lets get it together Miami-Dade Voters. You complain that you don’t have jobs.. Well, let FIU expand so your children can get educated and obtain a Job.
To make this change effective, you need to place your “foot in the door” so to speak. “Build it, and they will come”. Let’s start by moving the proposed soccer practice field there, instead of trying to cut down the Nature Preserve and offering $500K of OUR tuition dollars for it!
Let’s go FIU moves forward