AROUND HIGHER EDUCATION: UF glitch ups account balances

Independent Florida Alligator GAINESVILLE, Fla. (U-WIRE) -- When Amanda Sinclair withdrew money from the ATM over the weekend, she was pleasantly surprised by what she saw on the receipt -- extra money that had been directly deposited into her account. "I thought 'Wow, I have extra money to spend,'" said Sinclair, a freshman. "But later, I thought I better not do anything because it's not mine and someone must have made a mistake." The mistake was a computer error that has left more than two dozen University of Florida students with extra financial aid money in their accounts, some of them receiving as much as $1,200 more than usual. "It was a computer error," said UF Assistant Controller Ruth Harris. "We are aware of the problem and are working quickly to correct it." As of Tuesday evening, Harris did not have figures on exactly how many students were affected or how much extra money was distributed. But two dozen students reported an increase to the Alligator. Harris said the extra funds will be reversed out of students' accounts this week. But some students already noticed the considerable change in their bank accounts. "I didn't expect it to happen at all," Sinclair said. "I was definitely surprised." Freshman Marilyn Daorerk said she has come to expect UF glitches such as this one. "I figured something was wrong, but I'm not surprised that the university screwed up like that," Daorerk said. Freshman Sarah Christy said she was talking with about seven of her Trussler Hall floormates, who also got extra direct deposits from UF. "The first thing that came to my mind was free housing next year," said Christy. "We thought it was great. But we knew it had to be a mistake that they are going to fix sometime." Harris said UF can and will take the extra money out of students' accounts within five business days. "The correction has to take place," she said Tuesday afternoon. "Just like the students were credited for the money, the money will be debited from the students' accounts." Harris also stressed that students cannot spend the extra money. "It is not their money," she said. Sinclair wishes it was. "It's upsetting that they are going to take it away, but it's all right," Sinclair said.