# @wmnf885 on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DU1oDpwjcld
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70139910-wmnf885-instagram
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- **Posted:** 2026-02-16T23:52:56.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** WMNF Community Radio (@wmnf885) — https://gondola.cc/wmnf885

## Caption

A proposal advanced through a state house committee Monday that would, among other things, transfer the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee to New College. 

But the bill raised concerns from some Democrats. 

PCB HEB 26-01 would transfer facilities and properties from the USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus to New College. 

But it would also mean that the school’s debt would be taken over by New College. The bill’s presenter, Republican Representative Demi Busatta, said that’s about $53 million. 

“We want to provide the best education possible right here in our backyard and that is what we are doing.” Rep. Busatta said.

Democratic Representative Daryl Campbell joined others in questioning the move. 

“If this were a private transaction, the board would be sued for breach of duty before the ink dried.” Rep. Campbell said.

Various representatives cited a report from the state’s DOGE department showing New College had the highest spending per student out of all state universities. 

Democratic Representative Anna Eskamani questioned whether New College could properly serve students. 

“New College at this point is really more of a conservative experiment; it’s not necessarily shifting itself to meet the workforce needs like we see all of our other universities shift towards.” Rep. Eskamani said.

But Democratic Representative RaShon Young says he has heard from a number of students against the proposal.

“They didn’t enroll expecting kind of their campus identity and the uniqueness that they have formed to change midstream.” Rep. Young said.

The legislation would also allow university boards to set out-of-state fees for students.

The bill passed the committee 9 to 4.

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#WMNF #FLPolitics #HigherEducation #Sarasota #LocalNews

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sarasota, localnews, flpolitics, highereducation, wmnf

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