Central Florida Future, Vol. 21 No. 15, October 11, 1988

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he Central Florida Future
© 1988 The Central Florida Future
Volume 21, Number 15
University of Central Florida/Orlando
Tuesday October 11,1988
Program lets parents prepay college
by Eric C. Holman
CENTRAL FLORIDA FUTURE
The Florida Prepaid College
Program charges parents
today's tuition prices for their
children's college enrollment
up to 18 years in the future.
Tuition increases at
Florida's state universities
have averaged 7 percent a year
since 1980. This year, the
Board of Regents has asked
for twice that amount - 14.7
percent.
"It is the middle class that
is most affected by [these]
tuition increases," said UCF
Student Body President Denver Stutler. "Financial aid is
available to lower income
students [which] takes care of
them."
The program gives parents
a way to beat rising tuition and
dormitory costs and save
money for their children's college education. Parents, relatives and other individuals can
prepay four years of tuition for
about $3,800. Dorm costs can
also be prepaid.
All of Florida's nine state
universities and 28 community colleges will participate in
the program.
The money can be paid in
one lump sum or in monthly
payments. Over a five-year
period the payments are $82.
Spread out over a maximum of
18 years until the student enters college they can be as little
as $8 a month.
"It's a great way of planning
and assuring your kid's education, a commitment to sav
ings," said Stutler.
The program is not an individual savings account. It is a
trust fund made up of all the
members' money, similar to a
pension fund. It is a self-supporting program.
"There is no cost to the
schools or the taxpayers," said
Stutler.  Taxes are deferred
SEE TUITION PAGE 8
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Solar plant starts up
Facility near UCF conducts research, supplies power
by Chris Hobby
CENTRAL FLORIDA FUTURE
Rob Arkovlch/CENTRAL FLORIDA FUTURE
Kein McKeever, a Florida Power employee, is inspecting solar panels at the Solar
Array Project on University Blvd.
One of the largest solar power
plants in the United States is located
just down the road from UCF on the
corner of University Boulevard and
Econlockhatchee Trail. This solar system, installed in August, is a research
project funded by Florida Power and
developed in conjunction with the Florida Solar Energy Center and Sandia
National Labs.
"Solar Progress" is a thin-film photovoltaic substation which means it i;
connected to Florida Power's transmission line grid and that it generates
energy from the sun.
Photovoltaics   ("photo,"   from   the
Greek word for light, and "voltaics,"
from the word volt - a unit of electricity) are solar cells which produce electricity when exposed to sunlight.
The cells, usually made of wafer-thin
slices of silicon, each produce about one
watt of direct current electricity. In a
solar energy system, the cells are wired
together to form modules and several
modules are connected to create an
array.
The array located on Econlockhatchee Trail generates about 15 kilowatts of electricity, or the equivalent of
the power consumed by six average
homes during peak usage periods, according to the information supplied by
the Florida Solar Energy Center.
SEE SOLAR PAGE 7
FSA offers tuition plan
Schedule of Events
by Bob Smith
CENTRAL FLORIDA FUTURE
The Florida Student Association board of
directors, meeting in Tampa on Sept. 24, decided on a counterproposal to the Board of
Regents' recently proposed 14.7 percent tuition
increase.
The plan, formulated by Student Body
Presidents Denver Stutler of UCF, Scooter
"This works out to an actual
overall increase of about 9
percent."
— Denver Stutler
Student Body President
Willis of the University of Florida and Tim
Benjamin of Florida International University,
would immediately return any tuition increases to the students.
The FSA board doesn't want to be tied to a
numerical increase.
It proposes to use the 1988-89 school year
state appropriation level as a base.
Out of the state university system appropriation, 72 percent is for instruction and research.
Students pay 20.8 percent of this money
through their tuition.
Under the FSA proposal, any tuition increases after 1988-89 would be returned directly to the universities for use in student
financial aid and student support systems.
The student support system funds will pay
for counselors, provide for aides in testing
programs and assist in other student-oriented
programs.
Stutler feels that the 14.7 percent tuition
increase is slightly misleading. "The increase is
only on the matriculation portion of the tuition,"
he said.
"This works out to an actual overall increase
of about 9 percent." In real terms, that means an
increase of about $3.75 a credit hour.
There will be another FSA board meeting
Oct. 22 at UCF to finish ironing out the counterproposal.
There is now a tuition prepaid program beginning that will allow parents and relatives to
prepay a student's tuition, room and board for
up to 18 years. The student must attend a
Florida university.
Oct. 12     Black N' Gold Celebrates the Silver
8:00 p.m., SCA
Oct. 14     Homecoming Parade
12 noon, Gemini Blvd.
Alumni Reunion Reception
5:00 p.m., SCA
Pep Rally
7:00 p.m., Education Building
Concert, Comedian Jerry Seinfeld
8: p.m., SCA
Post Concert Party
10:00 p.m., SCA
Oct. 15     Homecoming Tailgate Party
11:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m., Citrus Bowl
South Connecticut St. Football Game
2:00 p.m., Citrus Bowl
Oct. 16     Boardwalk and Baseball Special Day
I-4 and U.S. Highway 27
Look for The Central Florida Future's
special Homecoming edition
on Thursday.
SPORTS
■ A look at what went
wrong for the Knights on
Saturday. Also, coverage
of UCF soccer's sticky
matchups with the Tar
Heels.
OPINION
■ Forsake the Gators and
Seminoles, give your
hearts to the Black and
Gold instead. Also, letters
on Reaganomics and
Homecoming.
NEWS CLIPS
3
OPINION
10
COMICS
11
CLASSIFIED
12
SPORTS
16