Edison College considering sex offender ban

Read the proposal HERE

10-14-2013 Florida:

The Edison State College Board of Trustees is gearing up to make a major decision about who can earn degrees there.

The board is considering a new proposal that bans all sex offenders from studying there or enrolling in online classes.

Some don't think the ban is fair.

"To ban them entirely - even from online classes - doesn't make sense," said student Tommy Frank.

College officials did not want to comment on camera, but they did send us the following statement:

"Edison State College is committed to providing its students with a safe environment. Part of our student body consists of minors who are taking classes as dual-enrolled or collegiate high school students. The legislature has given the Board of Trustees the authority to adopt standards that take into consideration the past actions of persons applying for admission and to deny admission if the past conduct is deemed not to be in the best interest of the institution or the students it serves. Consistent with the statutory grant authority, an amended board rule has been proposed which would deny admission to sexual predators or sexual offenders and individuals who have been convicted of an offense described in Section 1012.315 of Florida statutes."

Our news partners at the Naples Daily News reported a Charlotte County man, who is a student and registered sex offender, recently dropped out.

Meanwhile, some students like Lilly Espiau don't think the ban is fair.

"If this person or any person is bettering themselves, who are we to say they can't?" she said.

And even though she's a mom to four boys, she doesn't think the proposal really protects anyone.

"We're allowing our 12 and 13-year-old kids to go to the mall or movies, and [sex offenders] are there. We don't know where they are. They don't have a stamp that says sex offender. I don't think it makes a difference if they're here or not," she explained.

The board meets again on October 22. It is unclear if they will discuss the issue.

Click here to search sex offenders by university or college affiliation. ..Source.. by WBBH-TV