Within the first month of his term, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed $100 million in cuts to the University of California for the current academic year as part of his $1.9 billion budget reduction package.

Although attempts certainly must be made to lower California’s $8 billion budget deficit, taking money from an institution that has already seen monetary support repeatedly withdrawn over the past year is surely not the solution.

The proposal would include cutting $24.7 million in state funding to the UC Outreach Program, effective Jan. 1; withdrawing $2 million in funding for labor studies for the remainder of the academic year and $18.4 million in unallocated cuts; and transferring $55 million of revenues from land sales at UC Riverside from the UC budget to the state general fund.

These cuts are unacceptable. Students have seen their fees rise three times in the past year. The budget for the University of California was cut by $654 million, with student fee increases offsetting $230 million of the loss.

This proposed cut runs counter to a significant part of the governor’s platform regarding education.

Effectively eliminating the UC Outreach program will cripple an institution devoted to generating the very kinds of opportunities that he has championed.

Schwarzenegger’s Proposition 49 aimed to keep kids off the streets. The UC Outreach Program has similar goals directed toward a similar age group. If this proposal passes, Schwarzenegger will be attacking the very group he sought to help.